Breville Bambino
Specs, pros & cons and how the Bambino compares to 331 other espresso machines from $99.95.
Synthesised from owner reviews and expert coverage of the Bambino.
- Price
- $299.95
- Pump pressure
- 15 bar
- Portafilter
- 54 mm
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The verdict
The Bambino is Breville's smallest, cheapest entry into real espresso — and it delivers a surprising amount of it. You get the same ~3-second ThermoJet heat-up and 54mm portafilter as pricier models in an ultra-compact body, for a fraction of the cost.
To hit the price it drops the automatic milk system of the Bambino Plus (you steam manually) and, like its siblings, has no grinder. For tight budgets and tight spaces, it remains the value benchmark.
What we like
- Lowest-cost route to genuine ThermoJet espresso
- ~3s heat-up and tiny footprint
- Standard 54mm portafilter; better in the cup than the price suggests
What to know
- Manual steam wand only (no auto-froth like the Plus)
- No grinder; small water tank
- Very light — can move around on the counter when locking the portafilter
What owners say
Owners are consistently impressed by how much espresso quality the Bambino extracts for the money, and treat the manual steaming as a feature (you learn the skill). The expected caveats — no grinder, small tank, lightweight — come with the territory at this price.
What you give up vs the Plus
The main difference is milk: the base Bambino has a manual wand, while the Plus automates frothing. If you want hands-free lattes, step up to the Plus; if you want to learn (or drink mostly straight espresso) and save money, the Bambino is the pick.
Specifications
- Pump pressure
- 15 bar
- Portafilter
- 54 mm
- Milk texturing
- Manual milk texturing
- Water tank
- 47 fl.oz
- Power
- 1560 W
- Voltage
- 110-120 Volts
- Dimensions
- 6.25" × 13.5" × 12"
- Weight
- 4.725 kg
How it compares
| Spec | Bambino $299.95 |  Duo-Temp Pro $499.95 |  Bambino Plus $499.95 |  Gaggia Classic Pro E24 $549 |  Barista Express $699.95 |  De'Longhi La Specialista Arte EC9155MB $699.95 |  Barista Pro $849.95 |  Rancilio Silvia $995 |  Barista Touch $999.95 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pump pressure | 15 bar | 15 bar | 15 bar | 15 bar | Extraction Feedback pressure gauge | 15 bar | 15 bar | 15 bar | 15 bar |
| Portafilter | 54 mm | 54 mm | 54 mm | 58 mm | 54 mm | 51 mm | 54 mm | 58 mm | 54 mm |
| Heating system | — | — | — | Single aluminium boiler | Thermocoil heating system | Thermoblock | — | Single brass boiler | — |
| Integrated grinder | — | — | — | — | Steel conical burrs | Conical burr, 8 settings | Steel conical burrs | — | Hardened steel conical burrs |
| Milk texturing | Manual milk texturing | Manual milk texturing | Hands-free milk texturing | — | Manual milk texturing | — | Manual milk texturing | — | Hands-free milk texturing |
| Water tank | 47 fl.oz | 61 fl.oz | 64 fl.oz | 61 oz | 67 oz. | 1.7 L | 67 oz. | 2 L | 67 oz. |
| Power | 1560 W | 1600 W | 1560 W | 1425 W | 1600 W | 1400 W | 1680 W | 1100 W | 1680 W |
| Voltage | 110-120 Volts | 110–120 Volts. | 110-120 Volts | — | 110–120 Volts. | — | 120 volts | — | 110–120 Volts. |
| Dimensions | 6.25" × 13.5" × 12" | 12.6" x 10.1" x 13.1" | 7.5” x 13.5” x 12” | — | 12.5" x 13.8" x 15.9" | — | 13.5" x 13.9" x 13.5" | — | 12.4" x 12.8" x 13.4" |
| Weight | 4.725 kg | 6.618 kg | 4.95 kg | — | 10.018 kg | — | 9.488 kg | — | 9.888 kg |
See it in action
Want to see the Bambino pull a shot before you buy? ▶ Watch hands-on reviews on YouTube
Frequently asked
Is the Bambino good enough for real espresso?
Bambino vs Bambino Plus?
How we research & test
Helpful guides: Dialing in your grind · Steaming milk · Descaling