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Quick answer: Both are excellent 54 mm Breville espresso machines, and the choice comes down to one machine or two, and manual or automatic milk. The Bambino Plus (~$500) is the best pick for small spaces and easy milk: it heats up in about 3 seconds (ThermoJet) and its automatic, hands-free steam wand froths milk to a set temperature and texture — but it has no built-in grinder. The Barista Express (~$550) is the all-in-one: it packs an integrated conical burr grinder with 16 settings plus PID temperature control, so it grinds and brews in one machine, but its steam wand is manual and it takes far more counter space. Buy the Bambino Plus if you want a compact machine with fuss-free milk (and already have a grinder or buy pre-ground); buy the Barista Express if you want grind-to-cup in one box and enjoy learning latte art.
The Core Difference: Compact and Automatic vs. All-in-One
Both machines pull genuinely good espresso through the same 54 mm portafilter, so this is not a quality gap — it is a design philosophy. The Bambino Plus is built around a small footprint and hands-off milk: it is fast to heat, froths milk automatically, and stays out of the way on a tight counter. The Barista Express is built around self-containment and control: it grinds its own beans, gives you PID temperature stability, and hands you a manual steam wand so you can learn to texture milk yourself. Pick the one whose trade-off matches how you want to make coffee.
The Grinder: Separate vs. Built In
This is the headline difference. The Barista Express has an integrated conical burr grinder with 16 grind settings, so it grinds fresh, doses into the portafilter, and brews — one machine, bean to cup. The Bambino Plus has no grinder at all, so you will need a separate grinder or pre-ground coffee. If you want the simplest single-appliance setup, the Barista Express wins outright; if you already own a good grinder (or plan to buy one later), the Bambino Plus lets you skip paying for a built-in one.
Milk: Automatic vs. Manual Steaming
The Bambino Plus has an automatic, hands-free steam wand with three milk temperatures and three texture levels — you set it and it steams the milk for you, which is why it is the friendlier machine for beginners and for anyone who just wants a reliable latte without practice. The Barista Express uses a manual steam wand for hand-crafted microfoam; it takes practice, but it gives you full control over texture and is the machine to choose if latte art is part of the appeal.
Heat-Up and Temperature Control
The Bambino Plus uses Breville’s ThermoJet system and is ready in about 3 seconds, so it is the quicker machine from cold. The Barista Express uses a Thermocoil heating system with PID temperature control that holds a stable brew temperature around 200°F; it takes longer to warm up but the PID keeps shot temperature consistent. If speed from a cold start matters most, the Bambino Plus; if steady temperature across back-to-back shots matters most, the Barista Express.
Size and Counter Space
The Bambino Plus is compact at about 11.9 x 7.4 x 14.3 inches — one of the smallest footprints in a proper espresso machine. The Barista Express is much larger at roughly 15.9 x 13.1 x 12.4 inches because it houses the grinder and bean hopper. For apartments and tight counters, the Bambino Plus fits where the Barista Express often will not, and that alone decides it for a lot of buyers.
Price and What You Get
The two are close on price — roughly $500 for the Bambino Plus and $550 for the Barista Express — but you are buying different things. The Barista Express’s price includes a grinder you would otherwise buy separately, so it is strong value if you need one. The Bambino Plus costs a little less and assumes you will grind elsewhere. Prices shift with sales, so check the current price on both before buying.
Head-to-Head Spec Comparison
| Feature | Bambino Plus (BES500) | Barista Express (BES870) |
|---|---|---|
| Typical price | ~$500 | ~$550 |
| Built-in grinder | No | Yes (16 settings) |
| Milk steaming | Automatic, hands-free | Manual microfoam |
| Heat-up | ThermoJet, ~3 sec | Thermocoil + PID |
| Portafilter | 54 mm | 54 mm |
| Footprint (WxDxH) | 11.9 x 7.4 x 14.3 in | 15.9 x 13.1 x 12.4 in |
| Best for | Small spaces, easy milk | Grind-to-cup, latte art |
Which Should You Buy?
Buy the Breville Bambino Plus if you want a compact machine, effortless milk, and a fast start — and you already have a grinder or are happy with pre-ground. Its ThermoJet heat-up, automatic steam wand, and small footprint make it the easiest, most space-friendly way into real espresso.
Buy the Breville Barista Express if you want one machine that does everything and you enjoy the craft. Its built-in 16-setting grinder, PID temperature control, and manual steam wand make it the all-in-one pick for grind-to-cup coffee and latte art — as long as you have the counter space.
☕ New to espresso and not sure which kind of machine to get? Start with our guide to semi-automatic vs super-automatic vs manual espresso machines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Breville espresso machine is better for beginners?
The Bambino Plus is the easier starting point. Its automatic, hands-free steam wand froths milk to a set temperature and texture for you, and it heats up in about 3 seconds, so there is less to learn. The Barista Express asks you to steam milk manually, which is more of a skill but gives you full control once you learn it.
What is the biggest difference between the Bambino Plus and the Barista Express?
The grinder. The Barista Express has an integrated conical burr grinder with 16 settings, so it grinds, doses, and brews in one machine. The Bambino Plus has no built-in grinder, so you need a separate grinder or pre-ground coffee. The other key difference is milk: the Bambino Plus steams automatically, while the Barista Express is manual.
Do both machines use the same portafilter size?
Yes. Both use a 54 mm stainless steel portafilter, so accessories and technique carry over between the two. Both are designed to pull espresso at the same core pressure standard.
Which one should I buy if counter space is tight?
The Bambino Plus. Its footprint is about 11.9 x 7.4 x 14.3 inches, far narrower than the Barista Express at roughly 15.9 x 13.1 x 12.4 inches. If your kitchen counter is limited, the Bambino Plus fits where the Barista Express often will not.