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Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine Review (2026)

John Carter Doe

9.6

Excellent

What actually stood out to us

What we really loved

So, if you're looking at Breville Bambino Plus reviews, here's the deal after months of using it every day. The Bambino Plus just nails the hard parts of making espresso at home. And here's the thing—there's almost no frustrating learning curve. It heats up in seconds, pulls shots that are consistently good, and its automatic steam wand creates this silky milk that's perfect for cappuccinos and flat whites. The whole setup—the 54mm portafilter, the gentle pre-infusion—it's all surprisingly forgiving, especially if you pair it with a decent grinder. It's also tiny, the workflow is fast, and cleanup is painless. For most people starting out or just pressed for time, this is easily the best path to drinks you'll actually feel proud of.

What actually stood out to us

But, a few things to keep in mind

First, no built-in grinder. You really have to budget for a good separate burr grinder, or you're just leaving performance on the table. That automatic steam wand is brilliant for microfoam, don't get me wrong, but it isn't the fastest if you're making a bunch of milk drinks back-to-back. Shot temperature is solid for medium roasts, but very light roasts can ask a little more from the machine. The drip tray is small. And like all machines with this kind of heater, you've got to descale it regularly and use filtered water if you want it to last. There's no dedicated hot water spout, and you don't get advanced controls for tinkering. Believe it or not, none of these are deal-breakers for most people, but it's important to be clear about them.

So here's my take. I'd tell a friend to buy this if they want fantastic, café-style drinks without a ton of fuss, in a small package that heats up almost instantly. But you should probably skip it if you want a built-in grinder, love to tinker with advanced controls, or you're deep into brewing super-light roasts. In those cases, you'd be happier with something like the Barista Express Impress or a more classic machine like the Gaggia Classic Pro.