Breville’s the Bambino Plus line quickly became a favorite among coffee lovers who want a reliable espresso machine with a smaller footprint. Following its success, the company released the Bambino, the smaller, more affordable sibling of the Plus model. To help you choose the espresso machine for you, we deep dive into the similarities and differences of the Breville Bambino and Bambino Plus below.
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Breville Bambino vs Bambino Plus Espresso Machine Comparison Chart
| Model | Breville Bambino | Breville Bambino Plus |
 | Amazon product | |
| Price | Check Price on Breville | Check Price on Amazon |
| Standout Features | Great for espresso and Americano drinkers | More advanced milk frothing features |
| Water Tank Capacity | 47 fl oz | 64 fl oz |
| Automatic Microfoam Milk Texturing | No | Yes |
| 3 Second Heat Up | Yes | Yes |
| Bar Pump | 9-Bar | 15-Bar Italian Pump |
| Pre Infusion Function | Yes | Yes |
| Auto Purge Function | No | Yes |
| Hot Water Outlet | Yes | No |
| Warranty | 1-Year Limited Warranty | 2-Year Limited Warranty |
| Dimensions | 7.7″ x 12.6″ x 12.2″ | 7.7″ x 12.6″ x 12.2″ |
| Colors | 1 | 7 |
Design & Build Quality
The Bambino is slightly smaller than the Bambino Plus and doesn’t have as many color options
Breville’s the Bambino sports a similar profile to the Bambino Plus, but it’s slightly slimmer, has fewer control buttons, a smaller tank capacity, and only comes in one color: brushed stainless steel. On the other hand, you get a lot of colors to choose from with the Bambino Plus: Black Truffle, Brushed Stainless Steel, Smoked Hickory, Sea Salt, Royal Champagne, Damson Blue, and Oyster Shell.
Since it has a smaller footprint, it makes sense that the Bambino only has a tank capacity of 47 fl oz (1.4 L) while the Bambino Plus’s is 64 fl oz (1.9 L). Where the entry-level Bambino has the slight edge over the Plus is in its drip tray. For some reason, Breville’s the Bambino has a more solid drip tray that attaches to the base more seamlessly. The drip tray on the Bambino Plus wobbles slightly and is a bit loose compared to the Bambino.
Espresso Quality
These Breville machines offer the same espresso-making features
These espresso machines are pretty much the same in terms of espresso-making. The Breville Bambino and Bambino Plus boast precise espresso extraction, thanks to their low-pressure pre-infusion and Digital Temperature Control features. Both come with a 54mm porta-filter as well, which can carry 19 to 22 grams of ground coffee.
The Breville Bambino and Bambino Plus also let you choose from single or double espresso shots. You can also program them to your preferred shot length by simultaneously pressing the single and double cup buttons before extraction.
Steaming Performance
The Breville Bambino is equipped with a hot water outlet, while the Bambino Plus boasts automatic microfoam milk texturing
One of the fastest heating systems available in espresso machines to date, the Breville ThermoJet Heating System allows the Bambino and Bambino Plus to start extracting espresso in as little as three seconds. This means you don’t have to wait for your machine to heat up or program the machine the night before so it’s ready when you wake up. Transitioning from espresso brewing to steaming is also super quick on either machine.
The major difference between the Breville Bambino and Bambino Plus is their milk frothing functions. With the entry-level Bambino, you’ll have to manually steam the milk using its single-hole steam wand. It’s still possible to achieve the ideal microfoam in your milk using the Bambino, but it requires a higher learning curve to do so. Meanwhile, the Bambino Plus boasts three levels of automatic temperature and texture control. This means even if you’ve never textured milk before, you’ll still end up with a barista-grade milk microfoam with the Bambino Plus. The Plus’s wand also has four holes, which makes it the better option even if you prefer steaming your milk manually.
A feature that the Breville Bambino has that the Bambino Plus is missing is the hot water outlet. This lets the Bambino release clean hot water from its wand, perfect for a cup of Americano.
Additional Features
The Breville Bambino Plus has an auto-purge function and a steaming jug out of the box
Another difference between the Breville Bambino and the Bambino Plus is the auto-purge function that comes with the latter espresso machine. Breville added this feature to the Plus to make sure that the machine reaches an optimal extraction temperature after every espresso shot you make. The Bambino Plus also comes with a 480ml stainless steel milk jug out of the box, unlike the Bambino.
Their warranty is also different. Breville offers a two-year limited warranty on the Bambino Plus while the base Bambino’s is only one year. With that said, both espresso machines are sturdy, and like most Breville machines, have a solid build.
Verdict
Get the Bambino Plus if you like milk-based espresso drinks like latte or cappuccino
Amazon productWhether you should save and get the Breville Bambino or spend a little more for the Bambino Plus depends on how much you’re willing to pay extra for the convenience that comes with the Plus model. Latte, flat white, and cappuccino drinkers will benefit from the Bambino Plus’ automatic milk texturing feature and temperature control. If you’d rather learn how to manually texture the milk yourself or you just drink espresso or Americano, then the entry-level Breville Bambino is more than enough for your needs.
FAQs
The major differences between the two are the automatic milk frother, bigger tank capacity, and more color options on the Bambino Plus. We cover the difference between the two in more detail in our article above.
The four holes in the steam wand of the Bambino Plus is more common. You can still froth milk properly with the single-hole steam wand of the Bambino, but it requires different techniques.
Yes, you can choose to do it automatically or manually.
Yes, the Bambino and Bambino Plus can be used with the charcoal filter pods.