Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine

Pros

• Speed & time-to-cup ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 5.0
  The ThermoJet system brings the machine from cold to brew ready in about three seconds and switches to steam almost instantly, enabling rapid back to back drink preparation with little waiting between espresso and milk steaming.
• Heating-element power ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 4.8
  Breville’s thin film, flow through ThermoJet heater draws short bursts of up to about 1560 watts to heat water almost instantly and maintain tight temperature control, while sipping very little power when the machine is idle.
• Pump pressure consistency ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.8
• Automation & sensors ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 4.7
  Volumetric shot buttons with programmable single and double volumes, built in preinfusion control, a low water sensor, maintenance prompts and a tray mounted temperature sensor for fully automatic milk frothing make the Bambino Plus unusually automated and sensor rich for its price.
• Brewing performance & consistency ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 4.6
  PID control, preinfusion and the 54 mm group deliver repeatable shots once dialed in; a stable 200°F brew temperature and a 9 bar OPV support 4–5 star extractions, though preheating the cups, grouphead and portafilter with a flush still helps maintain body and sweetness.
• Milk, steam & frothing ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 4.6
• Value & Price ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 4.6
  It delivers class leading features like instant on ThermoJet heating, true microfoam auto steaming and PID controlled espresso for under $500, making it strong value for convenience focused beginners, but the lightweight build, lukewarm default espresso and toy like feel mean more serious home baristas may eventually outgrow it in favor of more robust machines.
• Popularity ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.5
• Design, ergonomics & footprint ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 4.4
  Tiny footprint and polished, modern finishes make it easy to place on most counters, while mirror finished panels, an angled backsplash for viewing shots and straightforward front controls reinforce the machine’s premium, space saving feel.
• Espresso & beverage quality ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 4.4
  Produces balanced, cafe calibre shots from medium to dark roasts with good body, and when paired with a capable grinder and proper preheating it can deliver consistent 4–5 star extractions, though running cool without warming the portafilter and cups can thin out sweetness and texture.
• Overall user experience ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 4.4
  Fast heat up, simple volumetric shot controls and forgiving auto steaming make the Bambino Plus very approachable for beginners, with its main workflow quirks being a tiny drip tray and the need for a preheat flush to warm the grouphead and portafilter.
• Water system, maintenance & descaling ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 4.4
  A 1.9 liter reservoir with a molded grip ring is easy to remove and fill, the machine supports Breville’s Claris filter holder with inexpensive third party filters, and built in prompts, cleaning tablets, descaler and automatic steam wand purges keep water system maintenance straightforward.
• Assembly & Setup ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.3
  Straightforward setup and a simple button driven interface let new owners go from unboxing to pulling shots quickly, and Breville’s manual provides clear guidance for adjusting shot volumes and preinfusion without overwhelming beginners.
• Accessories ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 3.8
  The Bambino Plus ships with four filter baskets, a basic but serviceable 54 mm tamper, a 500 ml steaming pitcher, cleaning tablets, descaler, a Razor dosing tool and a wand cleaning multi tool, giving new owners nearly everything they need except a water filter and grinder.
• Capacity ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 3.5
  A 1.9 liter water reservoir with an integrated grip ring offers generous capacity and easy handling for multiple drinks, but the very small drip tray underneath fills quickly, especially when using warm up flushes and the three way valve’s post shot drain.