Espresso Comparison Updated: September 28, 2026 ~11 min read

Breville Barista Express vs Bambino Plus (2026): Which Should You Buy?

If you're shopping Breville espresso machines in 2026, these two models keep showing up side by side: the Barista Express (BES870XL) and the Bambino Plus (BES500BSS). One is the classic all-in-one with a built-in conical burr grinder and PID. The other is a tiny ThermoJet machine that heats in about three seconds and froths milk automatically — but ships without a grinder.

They share a 54mm portafilter ecosystem and Breville's approachable design language, but they solve different problems. This comparison lays out the real trade-offs: workflow, milk drinks, counter space, learning curve, and — most importantly — total cost of ownership once you add a grinder to the Bambino.

For the wider under-$500 field (and machines that sit near these two), see our Best Espresso Machines Under $500 guide and the Coffee & Espresso hub.

Quick Verdict: Which Should You Buy?

Barista Express — Best All-in-One

Built-in conical burr grinder (16 grind settings)
Digital PID temperature control
One-machine workflow: grind → tamp → pull
Manual steam wand (learning curve)
Larger footprint (~13" wide, ~22 lbs)
Best for: buyers who want one complete box

Bambino Plus — Best Compact & Fast

No grinder — budget a burr grinder separately
ThermoJet heat-up in ~3 seconds
Automatic milk temp + texture control
Tiny footprint (~7.7" wide, ~10 lbs)
Lower machine price; similar total with grinder
Best for: small kitchens & milk-drink beginners

Our recommendation: Buy the Barista Express if you want a single appliance that grinds and pulls without shopping for a second machine. Buy the Bambino Plus if counter space and speed matter more — and you're willing to pair it with a real espresso grinder (we like the Baratza Encore ESP). Shot quality can be excellent on both; the deciding factors are workflow, milk automation, and whether you already own a grinder.

Check Barista Express Price ↗

Check Bambino Plus Price ↗

The Core Trade-Off: Grinder vs Speed & Size

Everything else in this comparison flows from one decision Breville already made for you.

Barista Express (BES870XL) All-in-one · PID · Manual steam

Integrated conical burr grinder, thermocoil with digital PID (±1°C class stability), low-pressure pre-infusion, and a manual articulated steam wand. Heat-up is roughly 30 seconds — fast for a traditional thermocoil, slow next to ThermoJet. You get a complete espresso station in one chassis.

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Bambino Plus (BES500BSS) Compact · ThermoJet · Auto milk

No grinder. ThermoJet heating that is ready in about three seconds. Automatic steam wand with temperature and foam-level settings — excellent for beginners who want latte art–ready milk without mastering a manual wand. Footprint is roughly half the Express width.

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💡 Total Cost of Ownership

Do not compare sticker prices alone. A Bambino Plus without a grinder is not a finished espresso setup. Pair it with a capable burr grinder — our top pick under $200 is the Baratza Encore ESP — and your total often lands near (sometimes under) a Barista Express, with a stronger dedicated grinder and two appliances on the counter.

Side-by-Side Spec Comparison

Feature	Barista Express	Bambino Plus
Model	BES870XL	BES500BSS
Built-in Grinder	Yes — conical burr, 16 settings Winner	No — buy separately
Heating System	Thermocoil + digital PID	ThermoJet Faster
Heat-Up Time	~30 seconds	~3 seconds Winner
Pump / Extraction	15-bar Italian pump, pre-infusion	15-bar pump, 9-bar OPV extraction
Portafilter	54mm — Both (accessories often shared)
Milk / Steam	Manual articulated wand	Automatic temp + texture Easier
Dimensions (W×D×H)	~13.2" × 12.5" × 15.8"	~7.7" × 12.6" × 12.2" Compact
Weight	~22 lbs	~9.9 lbs Lighter
Typical Street Price	~$600–$700 (machine only)	~$400–$500 (machine only)
Complete Setup Cost	Machine only Simpler	Machine + burr grinder (~$570–$700)
Learning Curve	Grind/dose + manual milk	Grind/dose only; milk is automated Easier milk
Best For	One-box home baristas	Small kitchens, fast milk drinks

Espresso Quality & Temperature Control

Both machines can pull solid home espresso when dialed in with fresh beans and a good grind. The Barista Express's digital PID on the thermocoil is a real advantage for temperature consistency shot to shot — it holds brewing temperature tightly once warmed. The Bambino Plus uses Breville's ThermoJet system: blisteringly fast to temperature, very good for daily doubles, and impressive for the size, though purists chasing absolute PID stability often still prefer the Express or a dual-boiler path.

Neither machine is a dual-boiler prosumer rig. Back-to-back milk drinks will expose single-boiler / single-heater limits on both. For most households pulling one or two drinks at a time, either is plenty.

The bigger quality variable is usually the grinder. The Express integrated burrs are competent and convenient; they are not as refined as a dedicated espresso grinder at the same money. That is why a Bambino Plus + Baratza Encore ESP combo can match or beat Express shot quality for some drinkers — at the cost of a second appliance.

Milk Texturing: Manual Wand vs Automatic

If you mostly drink straight espresso or Americanos, milk differences matter less. If you live on flat whites and lattes, this section may decide the purchase.

Barista Express: Fully manual steam wand. Capable of good microfoam once you learn tip depth, stretch, and temperature by feel. There is a short wait switching from brew to steam on the single heating path — typical for this class. Practice pays off; the first week of milk can be messy.

Bambino Plus: Automatic milk system with selectable temperature and foam level. You place the jug, press a button, and get consistent steamed milk with far less technique. That is a genuine beginner-friendly advantage and one of the strongest reasons to choose the Bambino over the Express.

⚠️ Don't Skip the Grinder on a Bambino

Pre-ground supermarket espresso and blade grinders will make either machine taste mediocre. If you buy the Bambino Plus, plan the grinder into the budget on day one. Start with our Best Burr Grinders Under $200 guide — Baratza Encore ESP is the espresso-capable pick we recommend most often.

Footprint, Weight & Kitchen Fit

The Bambino Plus is the clear winner for apartments and crowded counters: about 7.7 inches wide and under 10 lbs. The Barista Express needs a dedicated slab of counter — roughly 13 inches wide, taller, and over 20 lbs — plus clearance for the bean hopper. If you already own a grinder, the Bambino + grinder can still use more total width than the Express alone; if you don't, the Express is the more compact complete system.

Who Should Buy Each

✓ Buy the Barista Express If You…

Want one machine that grinds and pulls espresso
Value PID temperature control in a familiar Breville package
Have room for a mid-size espresso station
Are willing to learn a manual steam wand
Prefer a simpler shopping decision (no separate grinder hunt)
Want the model we also highlight on our Best Picks coffee list

✓ Buy the Bambino Plus If You…

Need a tiny footprint or lighter machine
Want ~3-second heat-up for quick weekday shots
Prefer automatic milk temp and foam levels
Already own (or will buy) a good burr grinder
Are newer to milk drinks and want fewer variables
Care more about speed and size than one-box convenience

Want More Detail?

This page is the head-to-head decision guide. For hands-on depth on each machine, read the full reviews:

Breville Barista Express Review · Breville Bambino Plus Review · Best Espresso Machines Under $500 · Best Burr Grinders Under $200

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Breville Barista Express better than the Bambino Plus?

It depends on what you need. The Barista Express is better if you want a built-in conical burr grinder and a single-machine workflow. The Bambino Plus is better if you want a tiny footprint, near-instant ThermoJet heat-up, and automatic milk temperature/texture — but you must buy a separate grinder for real espresso.

Does the Bambino Plus need a separate grinder?

Yes. The Bambino Plus has no built-in grinder. For proper espresso you need a capable burr grinder — we recommend the Baratza Encore ESP as the most logical pairing under $200. Without a good grinder, you will not get café-quality shots from either machine.

Which is cheaper overall: Barista Express or Bambino Plus plus a grinder?

Street prices vary, but the Barista Express typically lands around $600–$700 as a complete package. A Bambino Plus (~$400–$500) plus a Baratza Encore ESP (~$170–$200) often lands in a similar total range — sometimes slightly less, sometimes about even — with a better dedicated grinder than the Express built-in unit, at the cost of more counter space and a two-machine workflow.

Which Breville is easier for beginners?

The Bambino Plus is easier day-to-day: 3-second heat-up and automatic milk frothing lower the skill floor for lattes. The Barista Express still requires dialing in grind and dose, and its steam wand is fully manual. If you want one box and are willing to learn, Express is fine; if you want faster milk drinks with less practice, Bambino Plus wins.

Do both machines use the same portafilter size?

Yes. Both use a 54mm portafilter, so many accessories (baskets, dosing funnels, some tampers) are interchangeable across the Barista Express and Bambino Plus.

Ready to Choose?

Check live Amazon prices for both machines, then pick the workflow that fits your kitchen.

Barista Express ↗ Bambino Plus ↗