Breville Bambino vs Bambino Plus: Is the Plus Worth the Extra Money
The Bambino and the Bambino Plus look almost identical, and in many ways they are the same machine. Both are small, both heat up in about 3 seconds, and both use a 54mm portafilter. The price gap between them is roughly $200. So the question is simple: what does that $200 actually buy you, and is it worth it?
The short answer
Buy the Bambino Plus if you mostly drink milk drinks and want the machine to steam the milk for you. Buy the regular Bambino if you drink straight espresso or Americanos as often as lattes, or if you would rather put that $200 toward a better grinder. For most beginners, the regular Bambino plus a good grinder is the smarter total setup.
What is the same
Both machines use Breville's ThermoJet heating system, which reaches brewing temperature in about 3 seconds. In practice that means no waiting around in the morning. Both have a 54mm portafilter, both are compact enough for a small kitchen, and both make genuinely good espresso when paired with a decent grinder and fresh beans. Neither machine includes a grinder, so whichever one you buy, you still need to budget for grinding. That shared fact matters more than any difference on this page, because the grinder affects your coffee more than the badge on the machine.
What the Plus adds
The Bambino Plus adds automatic milk texturing. You set the milk temperature and the foam level, and the machine steams the milk itself to that setting. A flat white gets silky, thin foam. A cappuccino gets thick, airy foam. You get the same result every time without learning steam wand technique. The Plus also has a larger water tank, so you refill it less often, and it comes with a stainless steel milk jug in the box.
The regular Bambino has a manual steam wand. You control the steam yourself, which means your first lattes will be uneven and your tenth will be better than anything the automatic setting makes. Manual steaming is a skill, and like any skill it takes a few weeks of practice before it feels natural. Some people enjoy that learning curve. Some people just want a latte before work.
The price math
The regular Bambino typically sells around $300. The Bambino Plus typically sells around $500. That $200 gap is roughly the price of a good entry level espresso grinder. So the real choice is not between two machines. It is between automatic milk plus your existing grinder, or manual milk plus a grinder upgrade. If you already own a grinder you like, the Plus is an easy recommendation for milk drink lovers. If you do not own a grinder yet, the regular Bambino plus a Baratza Encore ESP or a similar espresso capable grinder will make better coffee overall than a Bambino Plus paired with a cheap grinder or preground coffee.
Who should buy which
Buy the Bambino if you drink straight shots and Americanos at least half the time, if you enjoy learning a hands on skill, or if you still need to buy a grinder and want the best total setup for your money. Buy the Bambino Plus if lattes, cappuccinos, and flat whites are your daily drinks, if more than one person in your home makes coffee and you want consistent results no matter who is holding the jug, or if you have tried manual steaming before and know you do not enjoy it.
The bottom line
The Plus is worth the extra money for one specific buyer: the milk drink lover who already owns a grinder and values consistency over craft. For everyone else, the regular Bambino is the better buy, and the $200 you save buys the grinder that actually determines how good your coffee tastes. Either machine will serve you well. Spend the savings where it counts.
Prices mentioned here are typical US retail observed in late 2026 and change frequently. Affiliate links will be added once the site is approved by the relevant programs; this page currently contains no affiliate links.