Breville Bambino Plus vs Breville Barista Express

For most beginners the Bambino Plus is the sweet spot - real espresso, auto milk froth and a tiny footprint - with a separate grinder added later. Choose the Barista Express if you'd rather have the grinder built in, or the Gaggia Classic Pro if you want to truly learn the craft.

Breville Bambino Plus

Buy it

Cafe-quality shots and hands-off milk froth in a tiny footprint - the easiest real espresso machine to live with.

• Near-instant ThermoJet heat-up (about 3 seconds) and consistent, rich shots
• Automatic milk texturing rivals a cafe, plus a manual steam wand when you want control
• Compact stainless build fits where a toaster would go

• No built-in grinder - you must budget for a separate burr grinder
• Auto volume/shot-stop can be inconsistent; experts suggest stopping shots manually

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Breville Barista Express

Buy it

Grinder, brewer and steam wand in one box - the all-in-one that still teaches you the craft.

• Built-in conical burr grinder with 16+ settings - grind-to-cup in one machine
• Pressure gauge and dose/temp controls build real skill and give consistent results
• Capable manual steam wand for smooth microfoam once dialed in

• Pricier, and getting grind/dose/time right takes patience at first
• Steam wand is weaker than higher-end machines; needs regular cleaning and descaling

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Side by side

The bottom line

Our overall pick is the Breville Bambino Plus - Cafe-quality shots and hands-off milk froth in a tiny footprint - the easiest real espresso machine to live with. Choose the Breville Barista Express instead if beginners who want one countertop box that does everything and rewards learning.

Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete Best Beginner Espresso Machines: 3 Worth Buying (and 1 Popular One to Skip).