Head-to-head

Bambino Plus vs Gaggia Classic Pro E24

Specs side by side and a straight answer on which to buy.

By Julien A. · Updated June 2026

Bambino Plus

$499.95

Gaggia Classic Pro E24

$549

Our takeJulien A. · CoffeeGearHQ

This is the cleanest 'two roads into espresso' choice on the site. The Bambino Plus is the modern, low-fuss route — it heats in seconds, textures milk for you, takes up almost no counter and asks very little of you beyond a grinder. The Gaggia Classic Pro is the old-school route — a bare 58mm machine with a manual wand, a higher skill ceiling and a mod scene that never sleeps.

Neither is 'better'; they reward opposite temperaments. If you want great milk drinks with minimal practice and the smallest possible footprint, the Bambino Plus is hard to beat. If you suspect espresso is going to become a proper hobby and you want a machine to grow into and tinker with, the Gaggia is the platform. Decide which sentence sounds more like you — that's your answer.

Specs head-to-head

Spec	Bambino Plus	Gaggia Classic Pro E24
Pump pressure	15 bar	15 bar
Portafilter	54 mm	58 mm
Heating system	—	Single aluminium boiler
Milk texturing	Hands-free milk texturing	—
Water tank	64 fl.oz	61 oz
Power	1560 W	1425 W
Voltage	110-120 Volts	—
Dimensions	7.5” x 13.5” x 12”	—
Weight	4.95 kg	—

Which should you buy?

Two very different routes into espresso. The Bambino Plus is the modern, low-fuss pick — ~3-second heat-up, automatic milk texturing, a tiny footprint and a 54mm portafilter. The Gaggia Classic Pro is a commercial-style 58mm single-boiler with a manual steam wand, a higher skill ceiling and a legendary mod community, but a slower warm-up and steeper learning curve. Pick the Bambino Plus for convenience and automatic milk; pick the Gaggia Classic Pro to learn the craft, grow into mods and keep a machine you can repair for years. Neither has a grinder.

Full reviews: Bambino Plus · Gaggia Classic Pro E24