The short version
The Breville Bambino Plus (model BES500) is a compact semi-automatic espresso machine built for one job: making milk drinks easy. It pulls espresso through a 54mm portafilter, heats up in about 3 seconds thanks to Breville's ThermoJet system, and — the thing that separates it from the base Bambino — steams milk automatically with selectable temperature and foam levels.
Is it worth roughly $500? If you drink lattes and cappuccinos, want real espresso underneath, and don't want to spend a month learning to steam milk by hand, it's the most beginner-friendly machine in its price range. If you drink straight espresso, care about tinkering, or want to keep the budget tight, there are better ways to spend the money. That's the whole review in two paragraphs — keep reading for the details.
Key specs
| Spec | Bambino Plus (BES500) |
|---|---|
| Price | ~$500 retail |
| Heat-up time | ~3 seconds (ThermoJet) |
| Pump | 15-bar Italian pump, low-pressure pre-infusion |
| Portafilter | 54mm |
| Milk steaming | Automatic microfoam (3 temp × 3 foam settings) |
| Water tank | 64 fl oz (1.9 L) |
| Temp control | Digital (PID), 3 brew-temp settings |
| Solenoid | 3-way — pucks come out dry |
| Baskets included | Pressurized single + double, non-pressurized single + double |
| Footprint | Very compact — about 7.5" wide |
| Power | 1600 W |
What it does well
Speed. Three-second heat-up is not a gimmick — it means there's no warm-up ritual. Turn it on, grind, tamp, pull. For busy mornings, that alone removes one of the biggest frictions of home espresso.
Automatic milk. This is the headline feature. You set the temperature and foam level, drop the wand in the pitcher, and it steams hands-free while you finish the espresso. The result is genuinely silky microfoam — good enough to pour simple latte art on the lower foam settings. Beginners who struggle for weeks with a manual wand get drinkable milk on day one.
Forgiving start, real ceiling. It ships with pressurized (dual-wall) baskets, so you can pull passable shots with pre-ground coffee while you learn. When you add a proper grinder, the included non-pressurized baskets let the machine punch well above its price — low-pressure pre-infusion and a stable PID temp control are features machines twice the price have.
Footprint. At about 7.5 inches wide, it fits where most machines don't — apartments, dorms, tiny kitchens. The 64-ounce tank is larger than you'd expect for the size.
Workflow touches. The 3-way solenoid means pucks knock out dry instead of soupy, and the auto-purge brings the wand back to a safe temperature right after steaming. Small things, but they make daily use noticeably nicer.
Where it falls short
No grinder, and you need one. The Bambino Plus has no built-in grinder, and the non-pressurized baskets that make it shine require espresso-fine, adjustable grounds. That means another ~$150–$200 for a capable beginner grinder. The real cost of a Bambino Plus setup is closer to $650–$700, and people forget this constantly.
54mm portafilter. Most serious accessories (tampers, distributors, precision baskets) are made for the 58mm standard. 54mm accessories exist, but the selection is smaller and slightly pricier. Not a dealbreaker, just a mild annoyance.
Auto-steam trades control for convenience. The automatic wand is consistent, but you can't do the fine manual adjustments a skilled barista uses for different milk types or textures. Oat milk, in particular, can be finicky in the auto wand. If learning manual steaming sounds fun rather than scary, you're paying for a feature you don't need.
Small drip tray, small cups clearance. The drip tray fills fast and the cup clearance is tight for travel mugs. Fine for home use; mildly annoying daily.
Limited modding ceiling. If you love tinkering — pressure gauges, PID mods, OPV adjustments — the Gaggia Classic Pro in a similar price range is the hobbyist machine. The Bambino Plus is an appliance: excellent at its job, not a project.
Bambino vs. Bambino Plus
The base Bambino costs roughly $150 less and shares the 3-second heat-up, 54mm portafilter, and pre-infusion. Here's what the Plus adds:
- Automatic milk steaming — the base model has a manual steam wand you learn yourself.
- 3-way solenoid valve — drier pucks, cleaner workflow.
- Larger water tank — 64 oz vs. the base model's smaller tank.
- More temp control — three brew-temp settings.
Simple rule: if lattes are the goal and hands-off milk appeals to you, the Plus is worth the extra money. If you mostly drink straight espresso or americanos, or you'd enjoy learning manual steaming (our milk steaming guide covers the technique), save the $150 and buy the base Bambino — then put the savings toward the grinder.
The grinder question (read this first)
This is the part people skip and then regret. The Bambino Plus's pressurized baskets will make okay shots with pre-ground coffee — but "okay" is the ceiling, and you'll outgrow it in weeks. The non-pressurized baskets (also in the box) need fresh, dialed-in grounds that only a burr grinder can produce.
- Minimum realistic budget: about $150–$200 for a capable electric espresso grinder.
- What happens without one: sour, fast, thin shots that no amount of technique fixes — the classic problem covered in our sour espresso guide.
- Don't count the grinder as optional. A $350 machine with a $200 grinder will out-shoot a $700 machine with pre-ground coffee, every single time.
If the combined $650–$700 total makes you flinch, look at our espresso setups by budget instead — there are honest ways to start cheaper, including the base Bambino or a manual setup.
Who should buy it — and who shouldn't
Buy the Bambino Plus if…
- You mainly drink lattes, cappuccinos, or flat whites.
- You want the easiest possible path to good milk drinks — no steaming practice required.
- You have a small kitchen and need a compact footprint.
- You'll pair it with a real espresso grinder (budget $150–$200 more).
Skip it if…
- You drink mostly straight espresso or americanos — you don't need the auto-steam and there are cheaper routes. See our beginner machine guide.
- You want to learn manual milk steaming or tinker with mods — the Bambino vs. Gaggia Classic comparison lays out the hobbyist case.
- Your total budget including a grinder is under $500 — start cheaper and upgrade the grinder first.
Bottom line: the Bambino Plus is the easiest beginner machine for milk drinks, full stop. The price is fair for what it does — as long as you walk in knowing the grinder is mandatory and the auto-steam is a convenience you either want or don't. Want the full field before deciding? Our best beginner espresso machines guide compares every realistic option side by side.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Breville Bambino Plus worth it?
For milk-drink beginners who want café-style lattes without learning to steam milk by hand, yes — the 3-second heat-up and automatic microfoam are genuinely useful. But you must budget separately for a real espresso grinder; the machine alone is not the whole setup. Straight-espresso drinkers can get more control for the money with a different machine.
What is the difference between the Bambino and the Bambino Plus?
The Plus adds automatic microfoam milk texturing (hands-free steam wand with temperature and foam settings), a 3-way solenoid valve for drier pucks, a larger 64-ounce water tank, and three brew-temperature settings. The base Bambino heats up just as fast but has a manual steam wand and costs roughly $150 less.
Do you need a grinder with the Bambino Plus?
Yes. It ships with pressurized baskets that work with pre-ground coffee, but the real improvement comes from the included non-pressurized baskets — which need a burr grinder that grinds fine enough for espresso. Budget around $150–$200 for a capable beginner grinder.
Can the Bambino Plus make good latte art milk?
It produces silky, textured microfoam that can pour simple latte art, especially on the lower foam settings. It's more consistent than a beginner steaming by hand, though it offers less manual control than a pro-level steam wand. Oat milk can be trickier in the automatic wand.
How long does the Bambino Plus take to heat up?
About 3 seconds, thanks to Breville's ThermoJet heating system. It's the fastest heat-up of any beginner machine in its price range — no warm-up ritual needed.
The $6 companion
Buying a Bambino Plus? Start here first.
The Quick-Start Guide is a 15-page PDF: your first shot step by step, a dial-in fix-it flowchart, milk basics, and a fridge-ready cheat sheet. $6, instant download, yours forever.