The Breville Bambino is still one of the best espresso machines you can buy for about $300. It heats up in 3 seconds, pulls real espresso through a 54mm portafilter, and has a manual steam wand strong enough for proper latte milk. The catch is that it needs a good grinder, and its fixed brew temperature makes very light roasts harder.

If you mostly drink lattes and cappuccinos and want the milk done for you, the Bambino Plus makes the same espresso and adds automatic milk frothing for $200 more. Below we cover how the Bambino performs, what owners report after months of use, how it compares to the Plus, and the grinder and upgrades that get the most out of it.

What Is the Breville Bambino?

The Bambino (model BES450) is Breville’s smallest and cheapest semi-automatic espresso machine. You grind and tamp the coffee yourself, press a button, and the machine handles water temperature and pressure. It sits below the Bambino Plus, which adds automatic milk frothing, and below the Barista Express, which adds a built-in grinder.

It’s often searched as the “Breville Bamboo,” but the name is Bambino, Italian for “little one.” That fits: at about 6.3 inches wide, it’s narrower than most drip coffee makers.

Breville Bambino specs

Specs come from Breville and the Amazon listing (both retrieved 2026-10-15).

Espresso Quality

For its price, the Bambino pulls very good espresso. Three features do most of the work.

The ThermoJet heater brings water to brewing temperature in about 3 seconds. You can turn it on and pull a shot almost right away, with no 20-minute warm-up like a traditional boiler machine.

Digital temperature control (PID) keeps the water at a steady temperature from shot to shot. Steady temperature means more consistent taste, which helps a lot while you’re learning.

Low-pressure pre-infusion wets the coffee gently before full pressure kicks in. It helps water flow evenly through the coffee puck, so you get fewer sour or bitter shots from water finding weak spots.

Barista champion Morgan Eckroth called the Bambino “really, really insane value at $300” in her popular YouTube review, while noting that the Gaggia Classic has a higher quality ceiling.

Where it falls short

Fixed brew temperature. You can’t change the temperature. Coffee Kev measured it at around 200°F (93°C) (Coffee Kev, retrieved 2026-10-15). That’s ideal for medium and dark roasts. Very light roasts usually taste better a little hotter, so they’re harder to get right on the Bambino.

The stock portafilter. The included dual-spout portafilter doesn’t split a double shot evenly between two cups. Coffee Kev calls it the machine’s weakest point. If you brew into one cup, it doesn’t matter. If you want to see what’s happening during the shot, a bottomless portafilter (covered below) is the fix.

Pressurized baskets. The Bambino comes with both pressurized (dual-wall) and regular (single-wall) baskets. The pressurized ones are forgiving with pre-ground coffee, but they hide mistakes and limit flavor. Switch to the single-wall baskets as soon as you have a proper grinder.

Tip: manual pre-infusion

Many owners extend pre-infusion manually by holding the shot button down instead of tapping it. The machine stays in low-pressure pre-infusion while you hold, and goes to full pressure when you let go. It’s a free trick that can smooth out shots, especially with lighter roasts.

Steaming Milk

The Bambino has a manual steam wand with a single-hole tip. It’s slower and gentler than a café machine, which actually makes it easier to learn on. You have more time to get the milk texture right.

Coffee Kev timed it at about 52 seconds to steam 170 ml of milk to 140°F, compared with about 40 seconds on the Bambino Plus. That’s fine for one or two milk drinks.

With practice, the wand makes silky microfoam good enough for latte art. Owners on Amazon particularly praise how easy the milk steaming is to learn.

Quick tip: if the milk makes a loud screaming sound, the tip is too deep and you’re not adding enough air. Lower the jug slightly until you hear a soft hiss, then raise it again once the milk has grown about a third.

Living With the Bambino Every Day

Speed. The 3-second heat-up is the feature owners mention most. Morning espresso takes about as long as using a pod machine once you have a routine.

Size. At about 6.3 inches wide and 12 inches tall, it fits under almost any kitchen cabinet.

Hot water. The dedicated hot water button makes Americanos easy, and it’s one thing the Bambino does better than the Plus.

Vibration. Like many small pump machines, it vibrates enough that cups can slowly walk across the drip tray. A rubber mat under the cup fixes it.

Cleaning. Wipe and purge the steam wand after every use, rinse the portafilter, and empty the drip tray every day or two. Breville includes descaling powder in the box, so you can descale from day one.

Water tank. The 47 oz tank is on the small side. If you make several drinks a day, you’ll refill it every day or two.

What Owners Say

On Amazon, the Bambino has 4.0 stars from 2,665 ratings. Target shows 4.2 stars from 1,270 reviews.

What owners like: how easy it is to use, especially milk steaming. The compact size. The fast heat-up, with many owners mentioning back-to-back espressos without waiting. Shot quality, with some comparing their cappuccinos to coffee shop drinks.

What owners don’t like: durability is the main complaint. Some owners report their machine failing within the first few months, while others say theirs has run for years. Opinions on value split along the same line.

That matches what we see across Breville’s small machines: most units run fine, but there’s a real share of early failures. Buy from a seller with an easy return policy, register the warranty, and descale on schedule.

Breville Bambino vs Bambino Plus

The Bambino and the Bambino Plus use the same espresso system. Coffee Kev found shot quality practically identical. The differences are all about milk, water and convenience.

Choose the Bambino if you drink espresso, Americanos or the odd milk drink, you want to learn to steam milk, or you’d rather put the $200 difference toward a better grinder.

Choose the Bambino Plus if most of your drinks are lattes or cappuccinos and you want them right from day one with no practice. It also comes in more colors on Amazon, including Black Truffle ($485.00) and Damson Blue ($499.95).

Coffee Kev, who used both, ended up keeping the regular Bambino at home, mainly for the hot water button and the drip tray that doesn’t fill up as fast.

Want the Plus with a grinder? Breville sells a Bambino Plus and Baratza Encore ESP bundle for $649.95 (4.3 stars, 38 ratings).

You’ll Need a Good Grinder

This is the most important part of buying a Bambino. The machine has no grinder, and espresso needs a very fine, even grind. Pre-ground coffee works with the pressurized baskets, but the shots will be flat. A grinder made for espresso makes a bigger difference to taste than any upgrade to the machine itself.

Here are three grinders that pair well with the Bambino:

The Smart Grinder Pro is the simplest choice. It’s the most-reviewed of the three and comes in matching Breville finishes. The Bambino and Smart Grinder Pro together come to $499.90. For more options, see our best burr grinders under $200.

Best Upgrades for the Breville Bambino

The Bambino uses Breville’s 54mm portafilter. Most aftermarket tampers and screens for it are sized at 53.3mm to fit inside the basket. Here are the upgrades worth buying, in order:

1. A spring-loaded tamper. The included plastic tamper is light and hard to keep level. The Normcore V4 53.3mm tamper ($42.29, 4.6 stars from 3,373 ratings) applies the same pressure every time.
2. A puck screen. A thin metal screen on top of the coffee spreads water more evenly and keeps the shower screen clean. The Normcore 53.3mm puck screen costs $13.99 (4.6 stars from 1,115 ratings).
3. A bottomless portafilter. It fixes the uneven spout split and lets you see exactly how the shot flows, which makes dialing in much easier. The Normcore 54mm bottomless portafilter is $69.99 (4.4 stars from 2,519 ratings). Breville’s own walnut naked portafilter is $99.95 (4.2 stars from 66 ratings).

For upkeep, Breville’s BEC250 cleaning tablets (4.8 stars from 5,815 ratings) and Breville descaler ($28.59 for 10 uses) keep the machine running properly. Scale build-up is a common cause of early failures, so don’t skip descaling.

Our best espresso accessories guide covers more tools by basket size.

Breville Bambino Alternatives

Breville Bambino Plus ($499.95): same espresso, automatic milk frothing. Best for latte drinkers.

Gaggia Classic Evo Pro ($449.00, 4.3 stars from 3,200 ratings): steel body, commercial 58mm portafilter and a stronger steam wand. Slower to heat up and no PID, but built to last for many years.

De’Longhi Stilosa ($139.00, 4.2 stars from 13,871 ratings): the cheapest real espresso machine worth buying. Slower and less consistent than the Bambino, but half the price.

Breville Barista Express (about $685 on Amazon now): adds a built-in grinder. See our Breville Barista Express review for whether the extra cost makes sense. A Bambino plus a separate grinder often makes better espresso for less money.

For more options at this price, see our best espresso machines under $300.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a Breville Bamboo espresso machine?

No. “Bamboo” is a common misspelling of the Breville Bambino. The Bambino (BES450) and the Bambino Plus (BES500) are Breville’s compact espresso machines.

What size is the Breville Bambino portafilter?

The Bambino uses a 54mm portafilter, the same size as other Breville espresso machines like the Barista Express. Tampers and puck screens for it are usually sold as 53.3mm so they fit inside the basket.

Does the Breville Bambino have a grinder?

No. You need a separate grinder or pre-ground coffee. The Breville Smart Grinder Pro and Baratza Encore ESP are popular pairings at about $200.

Can the Breville Bambino make lattes and cappuccinos?

Yes. It has a manual steam wand that can make microfoam for lattes, cappuccinos and flat whites. It takes some practice. The Bambino Plus does it automatically.

Does the Breville Bambino have PID?

Yes. It uses digital (PID) temperature control for steady brewing temperature, but you can’t adjust the temperature yourself.

Is the Breville Bambino good for beginners?

Yes. It’s one of the most beginner-friendly espresso machines: fast, compact and forgiving, with pressurized baskets for pre-ground coffee while you learn.

How long does a Breville Bambino last?

Many owners report years of use, but some report failures in the first few months. Regular descaling and cleaning help, and the warranty covers early defects. Keep your receipt and register the machine.

What colors does the Bambino come in?

On Amazon, the regular Bambino is sold in Brushed Stainless Steel. Other colors, like Almond Nougat, are sold through Breville and some other retailers when in stock. The Bambino Plus comes in several colors on Amazon, including Black Truffle, Black Stainless Steel and Damson Blue.

Should I buy the Bambino or the Bambino Plus?

Buy the Bambino if you mostly drink espresso or Americanos, or want to spend more on a grinder. Buy the Plus if most of your drinks have milk and you want automatic frothing.

Bottom Line

The Breville Bambino is still one of the best ways to start making real espresso at home. It’s fast, small and capable, and $299.95 leaves room in the budget for a proper grinder, which matters more than any other upgrade.

Best setup: Bambino + Breville Smart Grinder Pro for $499.90.

For latte drinkers: the Bambino Plus.

First upgrades: a spring-loaded tamper and a bottomless portafilter.

Check Bambino Price on Amazon

And don’t forget the beans: our best coffee beans for espresso guide has picks that suit the Bambino’s fixed temperature.