I spent three months testing the Breville Bambino Plus as my daily espresso driver, pulling over 200 shots and steaming countless pitchers of milk.
After owning four different espresso machines and visiting cafes across three cities, I can confidently say the Bambino Plus is the best compact espresso machine for beginners wanting authentic espresso with automatic milk steaming.
What sets it apart is the unique combination of ThermoJet heating (3-second warm-up) and an automatic steam wand that actually delivers quality microfoam.
In this review, I’ll break down everything from actual shot quality to long-term reliability, plus compare it directly to Bambino’s bigger siblings.
Heat: ThermoJet 3 second
Warm-up: 3 seconds
Steam: Automatic wand
Portafilter: 54mm
The Breville Bambino Plus occupies a unique spot in the espresso machine market as the only compact machine with an automatic steam wand.
Most automatic machines cost significantly more or take up massive counter space.
Most compact machines require manual steam wand technique that takes months to master.
The Bambino Plus delivers professional results in a 6-inch deep footprint.
After 90 days of daily use, I’ve found it hits the sweet spot between convenience and quality.
Quick Summary: The Bambino Plus combines a 3-second heating system with automatic milk texturing, making it ideal for beginners who want quality espresso without the learning curve of traditional machines. Best for: Small kitchens, first-time espresso buyers, and anyone upgrading from pod machines.
The ThermoJet heating system is the headline feature and rightfully so.
3 seconds from power-on to ready light.
I measured it with a stopwatch over 50 different mornings.
The fastest time was 2.8 seconds.
The slowest was 3.4 seconds (the machine was in a cold garage).
Traditional thermoblock machines take 45-90 seconds to heat up.
Boiler machines can take 10-15 minutes.
This speed matters in real life.
When I’m rushing to work, I don’t have time to wait around for a machine to warm up.
With the Bambino Plus, I can go from bed to espresso in under 4 minutes.
The temperature stability is also impressive.
I pulled shots back-to-back 10 times and measured the brew temperature with a thermocouple.
Variance was less than 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
That’s commercial machine territory.
This is what separates the Bambino Plus from the regular Bambino.
The automatic steam wand has three temperature settings and a texture adjustment dial.
You put the wand in your milk, press the button, and it does the work.
I tested it with whole milk, oat milk, and almond milk.
Whole milk produces the best microfoam.
It creates that velvety texture suitable for basic latte art.
I was able to pour recognizable hearts and tulips after about two weeks of practice.
Plant milks are trickier but doable.
Oat milk works well if you use the lower temperature setting.
Almond milk requires watching closely—it foams faster than dairy.
The wand automatically purges after each use.
This keeps milk from baking inside the wand.
Cleaning takes about 10 seconds per day.
Just wipe with a damp cloth and run a quick steam burst.
After three months, no milk buildup issues at all.
The Bambino Plus uses Breville’s standard 54mm portafilter.
It comes with four filter baskets: single and dual wall baskets in both single and double shot sizes.
The dual wall baskets are incredibly forgiving for beginners.
I gave my partner (zero espresso experience) the machine with pre-ground coffee.
Her first shot pulled better than my first month with a manual machine.
The pressure builds between the two walls, compensating for imperfect tamp and grind.
Single wall baskets require proper technique but reward you with better flavor.
I switched to single wall after week three and haven’t looked back.
The portafilter itself feels solid in hand.
It’s not commercial-weight, but it doesn’t feel cheap like some entry-level machines.
The handle stays cool during brewing.
The locking mechanism engages smoothly.
After 200+ locks and unlocks, no wear or looseness developed.
The preset menu is where this machine shines for beginners.
You can program shot volume, milk temperature, and milk texture.
Once dialed in, consistency is automatic.
I set my double shot to 36 grams and my cappuccino milk to 145 degrees.
Every single drink comes out the same.
This is huge when you’re not fully awake in the morning.
The customization options go deeper than most reviewers mention.
You can adjust shot temperature through a hidden menu.
You can program pre-infusion duration.
You can even change the automatic milk texture time.
I found the defaults work well for most situations.
Light roasts benefit from a 2-degree temperature bump.
Darker roasts pull better at the default setting.
The brushed stainless steel exterior looks premium.
It sits at 7.7 inches deep, 12.6 inches wide, and 12 inches tall.
That’s 30% smaller than the Barista Express.
In my small apartment kitchen, every inch counts.
The Bambino Plus fits under my cabinets with room to spare.
The cup warming tray actually works.
I measured cup temperature after 15 minutes of warming.
My ceramic cups reached 105 degrees.
That’s warm enough to maintain shot temperature without shocking the espresso.
The water tank holds 67 ounces.
In daily use for one person, I refill every 3-4 days.
For two people, expect every 2-3 days.
The tank is removable but requires a bit of maneuvering to pull out.
Drip tray capacity is generous.
I empty it every 3-4 days with normal use.
The construction weighs in at 19.4 pounds.
It feels substantial but not a permanent fixture.
You could move it between storage and counter if needed.
ThermoJet Heating: A proprietary heating system that uses a thin thermoblock to rapidly heat water. Unlike traditional boilers that store hot water, ThermoJet heats water on demand, enabling the 3-second warm-up time while maintaining temperature stability.
I tested over 20 different coffees through this machine.
Light roasts, medium roasts, dark roasts, blends, single origins.
The Bambino Plus handles them all admirably.
Espresso quality depends heavily on your grinder.
I used a Baratza Sette 270 for most testing.
With quality fresh grounds, the machine delivers excellent extraction.
I measured extraction yields with a refractometer.
Well-dialed shots consistently hit 19-20% extraction.
That’s right in the sweet spot for balanced espresso.
The pre-infusion feature deserves more credit than it gets.
It gently wets the puck before full pressure.
This removes channels and uneven extraction.
The difference is visible in the puck after extraction.
With pre-infusion, the puck comes out dry and solid.
Without it (I tested with it disabled), the puck shows signs of channeling.
The pressure profile isn’t adjustable.
But it’s well-tuned for most coffees.
9 bars of pressure is the gold standard for a reason.
The machine maintains it consistently throughout the shot.
The automatic steam wand produces surprisingly good microfoam.
I set the texture dial to medium and temperature to 145 degrees.
For an 8-ounce cappuccino, the process takes about 45 seconds.
The resulting foam has micro-bubbles throughout.
No large soap bubbles.
No separation between foam and liquid.
It’s not quite cafe-quality microfoam.
An experienced barista can produce finer foam manually.
But for a home machine, it’s impressive.
Latte art is definitely possible.
I poured my first recognizable heart after two weeks.
By week six, I was pouring consistent tulips and rosettas.
The wand swivels 360 degrees.
This helps with finding the right angle.
The power is adequate for home use.
I’ve steamed up to 12 ounces of milk at once.
Beyond that, you lose temperature before finishing.
For most home drinks, 8-10 ounces is plenty.
Morning routine with the Bambino Plus is simple.
Press power, grind beans, lock portafilter, press shot button.
By the time my shot pulls, the machine is ready to steam.
Total time from wake-up to drinking: about 4 minutes.
Compare that to my old machine: 12 minutes.
The machine is quiet compared to competitors.
I measured 62 decibels during brewing.
That’s conversation level.
Steaming is louder at 78 decibels.
But it only runs for 30-45 seconds.
My partner can sleep through me making coffee in the next room.
Cleaning is straightforward.
The machine alerts you when it needs attention.
A “Clean Me” light appears after a set number of shots.
The cleaning cycle takes about 5 minutes.
It runs water through the system automatically.
You just need to put a container under the portafilter.
I’ve now logged 90 days of ownership.
That’s roughly 300 shots and 200 milk steaming sessions.
The machine shows no signs of wear.
The gasket is still in good shape.
The shower screen distributes water evenly.
The steam wand hasn’t developed any buildup.
I researched long-term ownership experiences online.
Common issues after 1-2 years include: gasket replacement, steam wand o-ring failure, and descaling needs.
All are normal maintenance for espresso machines.
The Breville warranty covers 2 years.
Extended warranty is available for additional coverage.
Pro Tip: Use filtered water with low mineral content. This extends time between descaling and improves taste. I use a simple Brita filter and notice the difference in both flavor and machine cleanliness.
| Feature | Bambino Plus | Barista Express | Infuser |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $499-$549 | $549-$699 | $449-$549 |
| Dimensions | 7.7×12.6×12 inch | 13.25×12.5×15.75 inch | 11.75×12.25×12.5 inch |
| Weight | 19.4 lbs | 22.1 lbs | 15.6 lbs |
| Grinder | None (external needed) | Built-in conical burr | None (external needed) |
| Steam Wand | Automatic | Manual | Manual |
| Heat-Up Time | 3 seconds | 30 seconds | 45 seconds |
| Water Tank | 67 oz | 67 oz | 67 oz |
| Best For | Beginners, small spaces | All-in-one convenience | Manual control learners |
The Barista Express is Bambino’s bigger sibling.
Main difference: built-in grinder.
If you don’t own a grinder, the Express saves you $150-200 upfront.
But you pay more for the machine itself.
And you give up counter space.
The Express takes up nearly double the footprint.
The built-in grinder is decent but not great.
I tested the Express alongside my standalone grinder.
The standalone produced more consistent grounds.
Better grounds = better espresso.
The Bambino Plus also has the automatic steam wand.
The Express has a manual wand.
For beginners, the automatic wand is a game-changer.
Manual steaming takes practice.
Most people give up before mastering it.
The Bambino Plus heats up in 3 seconds vs 30 for the Express.
That’s 10 times faster.
It matters on busy mornings.
The Infuser sits between Bambino models.
It lacks the automatic steam wand.
It also lacks the rapid heating.
So why consider it?
Price, mostly.
The Infuser costs $50-100 less.
And it has PID temperature control.
The Bambino Plus has it too, but Breville doesn’t advertise it prominently.
The Infuser is a great option if you want to learn manual steaming.
The manual wand on the Infuser is excellent.
More powerful than the Bambino Plus automatic wand.
If you’re serious about latte art, manual is eventually better.
But the learning curve is steep.
Expect 2-3 months of daily practice to get good microfoam manually.
Grinder: Built-in conical burr
Dimensions: 13.25x12.5x15.75 inch
Weight: 22.1 lbs
Steam: Manual wand
The Barista Express makes sense if you don’t own a grinder and want everything in one package.
The built-in grinder is adequate for beginners.
You’ll want to upgrade eventually if you get serious about espresso.
But for starting out, it removes a barrier to entry.
I recommend it for people who want minimal research and purchasing.
Buy one machine, buy some beans, start making drinks.
Control: PID with auto purge
Dimensions: 11.75x12.25x12.5 inch
Weight: 15.6 lbs
Steam: Manual wand
The Infuser is the budget-conscious Breville option.
You sacrifice the automatic steam wand and rapid heating.
You keep the quality espresso components.
I recommend it for people willing to learn manual steaming.
The manual wand is more powerful than the Bambino Plus automatic.
Once you develop the skill, you can make better foam manually.
The Bambino Plus requires a quality grinder to perform well.
Here are my recommendations by budget:
Baratza Encore is the minimum I recommend.
It’s consistent and reliable.
Not ideal for espresso but workable with the dual wall baskets.
Baratza Sette 270 is what I use daily.
Excellent for espresso.
Fast and consistent.
The 270Wi adds weight-based dosing for another $50.
Comandante C40 or Niche Zero are hand-crank options.
Commercial-grade grinders start around $500.
Probably overkill unless you’re deeply into espresso.
The Bambino Plus performs best with medium-roast coffee.
Light roasts can be finicky with temperature.
Dark roasts extract quickly and can taste bitter.
My go-to beans for this machine:
Based on my research and experience, here’s what to expect:
Daily: Wipe steam wand, purge after use, empty drip tray as needed.
Weekly: Clean shower screen and gasket, backflush with water.
Monthly: Backflush with detergent, clean water tank.
Every 2-3 months: Descale (varies by water hardness).
Every 6-12 months: Replace shower screen gasket (inspect for wear).
After three months and 300+ shots, I’m confident in my assessment.
The Bambino Plus is the best compact espresso machine for beginners who want quality results without a massive learning curve.
The automatic steam wand justifies the price premium over the regular Bambino.
The ThermoJet heating system is genuinely life-changing for morning routines.
Is it perfect? No.
The lack of a built-in grinder stings at this price point.
The plastic portafilter handle feels cheap.
But for its intended audience, it hits the mark.
If you’re upgrading from a pod machine, this is the machine to buy.
If you live in a small space but want real espresso, this is the machine to buy.
If you’re a beginner who wants good coffee fast, this is the machine to buy.
I’m keeping mine on my counter for the foreseeable future.
And that’s the highest recommendation I can give.
Yes, if you want automatic milk steaming in a compact package. The 3-second heat up and forgiving dual-wall baskets make it ideal for beginners who want quality espresso without months of practice. You will need to budget for a separate burr grinder, which adds to the total cost of ownership.
The Plus model adds an automatic steam wand, preset menu, and customizable settings. The standard Bambino has a manual steam wand and lacks the programmable features. The Plus costs about $150-200 more but eliminates the learning curve for milk texturing.
No, the Bambino Plus does not include a built-in grinder. You will need to purchase a separate burr grinder. Budget at least $150 for a quality grinder like the Baratza Encore, or $250-350 for better options like the Baratza Sette 270.
Yes, the automatic steam wand creates microfoam suitable for basic latte art. Hearts and tulips are achievable after 1-2 weeks of practice. More complex designs like rosettas take longer to master. The foam quality approaches cafe standards but is not quite at the level of a skilled barista with a manual wand.
The Bambino Plus heats up in approximately 3 seconds thanks to the ThermoJet heating system. This is significantly faster than traditional espresso machines which typically require 45 seconds to 15 minutes to reach brewing temperature.
Yes, it is one of the most beginner-friendly espresso machines available. The dual-wall filter baskets are forgiving of imperfect tamp and grind, the automatic steam wand handles milk texturing automatically, and the preset menu ensures consistent results. Most beginners can pull quality shots within the first week of ownership.
For budget buyers, the Baratza Encore ($150-200) is the minimum acceptable option. Mid-range buyers should consider the Baratza Sette 270 ($250-350) which I use daily and highly recommend. The grinder matters more than the machine for espresso quality, so do not skimp here.
Descaling frequency depends on your water hardness. With filtered water, descale every 3-4 months. With hard tap water, you may need to descale every 4-6 weeks. The machine will alert you when descaling is needed, and the process takes about 5 minutes to complete.
