Breville Bambino Plus Review: Fast, Compact Espresso Machine

So you’re rich in espresso love but poor in counter space? Don’t despair! Here’s an espresso maker made just for you.

The Breville Bambino Plus is a fully automatic machine that takes up about as much space as your toaster — and is almost as simple to use!

Keep reading to find out if it’s the answer to your prayers.

SUMMARY: The Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine

• Compact and stylish design in brushed stainless steel finish
  
• User-friendly automatic steam wand with a self-cleaning feature
  
• Thermocoil with 3-second heat up time

“The Bambino’s combination of size, simplicity, and efficiency makes it an excellent choice for new home baristas.”

– Seattle Coffee Gear

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The Breville Bambino Plus espresso Machine Review

Breville espresso machines are known for their quality and reliability, and the Bambino Plus is no exception. This little brewer is packed with more technology than you’d imagine, making it the perfect first espresso maker. 

Let’s dig a little deeper into the details to find out if it’s the best one FOR YOU.

The Bambino Plus

• Brewing Capacity
• Ease of Use
• Milk Frothing
• Cleaning and Maintenance
• Build Quality

4

Brewing Capacity – 4/5

With the Bambino Plus, you can craft whatever espresso drink you’re craving (1). This is thanks to its 15-bar pump, pre-infusion step, and automatic milk steamer. And with buttons to adjust both milk and brew temperature, it’s easy to customize it to your liking.

The water tank is surprisingly large for such a compact machine, measuring 64 ounces. This is enough for 30 espresso shots before a refill. For comparison, the DeLonghi Dedica, another brewer designed for small spaces, has a capacity of only 34 ounces.

The Bambino comes with a pretty IMPRESSIVE pile of accessories. Such are a tamper, high-quality milk jug, some cleaning tools, and the Breville Razor trimming tool, which helps you get the perfect dose every time.

The only thing this Breville machine lacks is a built-in grinder, which may or may not be negative. I like the flexibility of having a separate grinder, but if you’re pressed for space, you might prefer a model with a grinder included.

Ease of Use – 4/5

The Bambino Plus is the best beginner espresso machine. It’s remarkably easy to use, which is why I love recommending it as an entry-level machine. 

It’s operated with only 5 buttons: single and double shot, steam on/off, milk temperature, and brew temperature. I find it a bit annoying that there’s no power button (you have to simul-press single shot and steam on/off), but this is a minor quibble.

Once you turn it on, it takes only 3 seconds to come to the right temperature! Definitely the best in its class. All you need to do is grind the beans, dose them into the filter-basket, and tamp. Because this is a fully automatic machine, it will take charge of shot timing (2). 

It comes standard with a one-cup and two-cup dual-wall filter baskets. Though professional baristas might scoff, these are great for espresso novices because they’re more forgiving. Even if your grind size isn’t quite perfect, you’ll still get a nice rich crema on your espresso.

Milk Frothing – 4.5/5

A difference between the Breville Bambino and Bambino Plus is that the steaming function is automatic on the latter. However, you can also use it manually if you’d like more control. All you need to do is turn it on and set your milk temperature control to achieve the perfect milk froth. 

I love that a stainless steel milk pitcher comes with the purchase!

It doesn’t have quite the steam power of a commercial steam wand, but you can still get good enough milk foam to practice your latte art (3).

Cleaning and Maintenance – 3.5/5

The cleaning and maintenance for this little beast are on par with any other home coffee machine, which is to say it’s a bit annoying but nothing to cry over. Make sure you wipe it down after every use and describe it every six months or so, and you’ll be a happy camper. 

The milk steaming system is automatically self-cleaning, which is excellent for those of us who might be too excited about our latte to remember to purge it.

With its 11.8” x 7.7” x 12.6” measurements, the compact size of this coffee maker does make it prone to messiness. The little drip tray is quick to fill (and over fill), and it’s hard to avoid spraying a bit of your counter when the steaming wand purges.

Build Quality – 3.5/5

The first thing you’ll notice about the Bambino is its compact size, which is fitting since bambino is the Italian word for child. 

If you’re short on counter space, this will be a huge selling point.

With this machine, Breville has put some obvious thought into the details. The design is sleek and attractive. Plus, it’s available in 7 colors, one of which is sure to match your kitchen. The buttons are pleasingly tactile and responsive, a nice change from the sometimes frustrating touch screens.

I’d love to see more stainless steel and less plastic, but it was a conscious choice of priorities by Breville to keep this espresso maker’s price below $500:

The Bambino’s small size and plastic components do mean it’s quite light. So you need to have a pretty good grasp on it when you twist the portafilter in and out, or it’ll slide around on your counter.

Do Not Buy the if….

You’re an espresso pro. The Bambino Plus is an excellent entry-level brewer. If you already know your way around a home espresso machine and are looking to upgrade, consider a higher-end model, like the Breville Infuser, the 800ESXL, the Duo Temp Pro, or the BES920XL Dual Boiler.

You want a machine with grinder. If you’d rather not buy yet another appliance, Breville makes some fantastic machines with integrated grinders, which means you can say no to pre-ground coffee. Check out the  BES870XL Barista Express, the Barista Touch, or the fancy-pants Oracle. You can also consider the new Barista Pro, which also has a built-in grinder with 30 grind settings.

You’re on a tight budget. I consider the Bambino Plus a very affordable option, but you can go cheaper and still get a decent espresso. If you’re counting your pennies, the Cafe Roma may be just what you’re looking for.

The Verdict

The Breville Bambino Plus certainly brews a tasty espresso, but its compact size is what makes it stand out from the crowd. Few other machines in its class can deliver this quality of espresso from such a small footprint and with so little effort. 

If you thought your small kitchen would prevent you ever making café quality espresso at home, think again! With this machine, you can make the perfect espresso drink that taste like those made in coffee shops every day!

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