when you subscribe to Taste of Home today!
Every editorial product is independently selected, though we may be compensated or receive an affiliate commission if you buy something through our links. Ratings and prices are accurate and items are in stock as of time of publication.
Nicole Doster/Taste of Home
Late one night my partner asked me, “What’s the one thing in the house you couldn’t live without?” Before I had a moment to answer, he blurted, “I’ll go first: our coffeemaker.” I laughed with a snort at the comment but ultimately agreed. Our Breville Bambino Plus espresso machine has held a firm grip on our morning routine for years. We use it to make lattes in the morning (mine, hot and foamy; his, chilled and sweetened), after-dinner espressos and hot chocolates for the nieces and nephews around the holidays. When we’re feeling especially indulgent, we even treat ourselves to the occasional espresso martini. It’s truly our most-used appliance.
As a former barista, I had always dreamed of owning my own espresso machine. I could never bite the bullet, though, as traditional espresso makers were bulky and thousands of dollars outside of my price range. And while I’ve tried dozens of coffee products to mimic the lattes I served at my former cafe, it wasn’t until I bought the Breville Bambino Plus that I was able to make cafe-quality espresso drinks at home.
The Breville Bambino Plus is a compact espresso machine that’s great for novice and pro baristas alike. The machine has the same core features as any traditional espresso maker: the ability to make rich, flavorful espresso and foam milk until it’s light and frothy. However, what sets the Bambino Plus apart is its pre-set push-button controls that make brewing your favorite coffee fast and convenient.
What’s more, it has a super small footprint that doesn’t take up much counter space. I’ve designated a small kitchen island cart as our defacto coffee bar and the Bambino Plus fits with plenty of room for must-have accessories like a grinder, knock box and kettle.
I’ve been using this product for about two years and I’ve found it to be extremely reliable for espresso and other coffee drinks as it brews quickly and consistently.
To put my trusty Breville Bambino Plus to the test for this review, I performed a time trial to show just how quickly each pre-set option works:
From start to finish, it takes just about 2 minutes to make a hot latte and under 30 seconds to enjoy a shot of espresso. The Breville Bambino Plus heats up quickly, meaning you spend less time waiting for your morning pick-me-up.
To see how it would perform for larger groups, I’ve also put this machine to the stress test of a large family dinner, where it was capable of serving up to eight espressos with ease. I didn’t even have to refill the machine’s tank, which conveniently holds up to 64 fl. oz. of water.
Nicole Doster/Taste of Home
The Breville Bambino Plus is more compact than most coffeemakers and espresso machines, measuring just over a foot tall and 7 inches wide. The machine clocks in at 12.6 inches deep. Measure your space if you have shallow countertops to ensure you can access the water tank.
The machine has an illuminated front display with buttons for one-shot, two-shot and steam presets. The milk steaming presets come with three settings for temperature (warm, ideal and hot) and three settings for desired texture (low, medium and high foam). There is a small metal sensor at the base of the machine that detects when your milk has reached the right temperature for hands-free frothing.
The Breville Bambino Plus comes with most of the accessories you’ll need to get started, including a 54-millimeter portafilter, two single-wall filter baskets, two dual-wall filter baskets, a tamper, a stainless steel milk jug, cleaning tablets, descaling powder and a leveler they call “The Razor” for sculpting your grounds into a perfect puck. (I admit, I seldom use the razor as I find it a bit fussy.)
What we liked about the Breville Bambino Plus:
What to consider about the Breville Bambino Plus:
The Breville Bambino Plus needs light cleaning after every use.
The machine will signal that it needs to be descaled by flashing the one-shot and steam button and the two-shot button alternately. This may happen every 60 to 90 days.
When the Bambino starts “winking at you” (aka when the single-shot and double-shot buttons begin to alternately flash) you’ll know it’s time to backflush the machine. This step forces water back through the system to remove buildup.
To manually turn off the machine, press the one-shot and steam buttons. The Breville Bambino Plus will automatically shut off after a period of time if not in use.
This machine does not come with a coffee bean grinder.
If you are looking for a quality grinder, I’d recommend buying a burr grinder. Experts say burr grinders help protect the coffee bean’s flavor and achieve a consistent grind. For ease of use, look for a model that grinds directly into your portafilter basket.
I recently purchased the Breville Smart Grinder after months of using a budget-friendly blade grinder and noticed a huge difference. The Breville Smart Grinder has super precise settings that are fun to play with to get the perfect taste. It also is great for grinding beans for French press and other brewing methods.
Arguably the best part of making your own espresso is finding your favorite flavor profile. There are so many options for ordering whole beans online that it really comes down to personal taste. If I’m not sourcing my beans from my local coffee shop, I often opt for these two brands:
Unsure of where to start? Try a coffee subscription box to get a sense of what type of beans you like.
Nicole Doster/Taste of Home
Many experts in the coffee community deem this coffeemaker as a good beginner’s espresso machine.
Reviewers rave about their purchase, too. Joseph Qamar says, “I got the Bambino plus instead of a grinder/espresso maker combo because I live in a condo and don’t have much room in the kitchen. It heats up in 3 seconds which is amazing. Temperature is very consistent and the machine produces amazing coffee.”
In his 5-star review, user Seven Bates comments “This Bambino unit is actually worth the hype. You likely watched a bunch of YouTube videos where people were obviously sponsored in their reviews, and you’re likely skeptical. I was too. I took a risk and splurged, instead of buying a bunch of the units in the same range, between $500 and $700 bucks. I could tell by the first cup, that I had made a smart choice.”
The Breville Bambino Plus is the second model in Breville’s Bambino series. This leads many to ask, “What’s the difference between Breville Bambino and the Breville Bambino Plus?” Both models are very similar, but the base Bambino model does not have the automated milk steam settings that the Bambino Plus has. We would recommend the base model as a better option for those who don’t care as much about frothing milk for steamed drinks. Additionally, the Breville Bambino is slightly smaller than the Breville Bambino Plus.
I’d recommend this product to anyone who is looking to upgrade their coffee game and learn how to make espresso drinks at home. The Breville Bambino Plus is easy to set up and can make an impressive range of drinks—from iced americanos to milk steamer to cappuccinos and more. It’s become an absolute essential in our household and will be a great addition to any coffee lover’s set-up.
You can buy the Breville Bambino Plus at major retailers like Amazon, Williams Sonoma and Bed Bath and Beyond. You can also order it directly from Breville.
Want more fun product picks and money-saving deals from our shopping experts and Test Kitchen? Sign up for the Stuff We Love newsletter.