Breville Bambino Espresso Machine

Name: Breville Bambino Espresso Machine - Expert Reviews
Brand: Breville

4.0

(5)

Verdict

The Breville Bambino is the better choice if you mostly drink Americanos, long blacks or straight espresso and want a simple, compact machine that still nails espresso fundamentals. It delivers the same shot quality as the Bambino Plus with a more convenient hot water button, less fussy drip tray and excellent value, especially when paired with a good grinder.

Pros

Speed & time-to-cup ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 reviews 4.9
Heating-element power ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.8

A 1,450W thermojet heating circuit provides powerful, instant brew and steam performance while still consuming significantly less energy than traditional single-boiler machines like the Rancilio Silvia.
Popularity ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 4.8

A widely recommended Breville for space-conscious home baristas and the standard-bearer pick on CoffeeGeek’s Best Budget Espresso Machines list, and multiple ex-barista testers have chosen it for their own homes, reinforcing its strong reputation in the entry-level market.
Value & Price ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 reviews 4.7
Espresso & beverage quality ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 reviews 4.6
Recognition & certifications ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 4.6

The Bambino has been selected for CoffeeGeek’s Best Budget Espresso Machines list, described as the standard-bearer in its price class, earned a Best Buy award in comparative lab testing, and is highlighted by outlets like Business Insider as a beginner-friendly favorite, reinforcing its strong third-party recognition.
Pump pressure consistency ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 4.6

A true 9 bar OPV and firmware controlled pump deliver commercial-like, repeatable pressure, and a simple manual button trick lets advanced users gently ramp down pressure at the end of the shot for softer finishes.
Milk, steam & frothing ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 reviews 4.6
Overall user experience ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 reviews 4.5

Once you learn the brief preheating routine, day-to-day use is smooth with instant brew, steam and hot water, and the dedicated hot water button and less fussy drip tray make it especially convenient for Americano drinkers; reviewers praise how well it balances quality, convenience and affordability for beginners while still being rewarding as their skills improve.
Brewing performance & consistency ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 4.5

PID temperature control, preinfusion and true volumetric dosing give stable extractions, and manual modes plus a simple pressure-downshift trick let enthusiasts fine tune shots beyond the factory timings, and reviewers find it consistently pulls balanced, full-bodied shots once dialed in.
Design, ergonomics & footprint ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 reviews 4.3
Assembly & Setup ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 4.3
Cup, tray & carafe handling ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 4.1
Water system, maintenance & descaling ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 4.0
Build quality & durability ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 reviews 3.7
Accessories ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 reviews 3.6

The Bambino ships with a full starter kit including a portafilter, multiple baskets, a milk pitcher, descaling powder and a steam-wand cleaning tool so beginners can brew out of the box, but the bundled plastic tamper and lightweight stubby portafilter feel low quality, tend not to split shots evenly, and many owners quickly upgrade these accessories.

Cons

Automation & sensors ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 3.0

Single-touch buttons and pre-programmed shot volumes simplify operation, but users cannot adjust brew temperature or pre-infusion timing, so most automation focuses on delivering consistent shots rather than deep customization.
Capacity ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 3.0

The tiny footprint means a modest 1.4L water tank and small drip tray, which are adequate for a few drinks at a time but require more frequent refilling and emptying than larger machines.
Design flaws ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 3.0

Key compromises include the lack of a 3-way solenoid valve, a small drip tray, a misleading stainless-steel claim for the aluminum portafilter on the box, and a plastic insert in the portafilter that can trap rancid coffee if not removed.
Grinder, hopper & dosing system ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 2.5
Mess-free used-puck disposal ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 2.5

Because there is no 3-way solenoid valve, pucks stay wet and knocking them out right after brewing can be messy unless you wait a few minutes or until after steaming.
Accuracy of marketing claims ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 2.0

The retail box repeatedly labels the portafilter as stainless steel even though it is aluminum, a labeling mistake the reviewer highlights as inaccurate and potentially misleading.
Environmental packaging sustainability ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 2.0

Ships in a large styrofoam cocoon with extensive plastic wrap, which the reviewer criticizes as wasteful and urges Breville to replace with more recyclable, eco-friendly packaging.