Breville Bambino Plus vs. Barista Express

The better choice between the Bambino Plus and Barista Express, it’s by design and performance that the winner is the Breville Barista Express. With functions such as hand-free operation and dose-control grinding that are convenient for new users or those who are just learning to make coffee.

The Barista Express has the grinding function that supports you in grinding any type of coffee bean without losing the flavor or aroma of the beans. So, for someone who drinks a lot of espresso and who knows coffee’s many aromas, the Barista Express will tickle and satisfy all your coffee senses.

The Bambino Plus, on the other hand, costs less than the Barista Express. And yet, it offers hands-free automatic steam wand function with which you can comfortably and quickly create silky micro-foam milk for your lattes and cappuccinos. It’s less “hands-on” than the Barista Express, so it is suitable for someone who is on a tight budget and who doesn’t want to learn about making espresso just right!

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Breville Bambino Plus vs Barista Express: Differences

The final result, out of the comparison of both amazing espresso machines – the Bambino Plus vs Barista Express, the latter is completely ahead of the game, winning 3 – 1 against the former.

Benefits like precise grinding of coffee beans and more user-friendly functions helped Barista Express take first place. However, you’ll also find many similarities between both espresso makers so read more to find out the needle in the haystack.

1. Taste Of Espresso

The Winner: Breville Barista Express

Let’s talk about espresso for a minute.

You will find only a few good espresso machines that are less than $1,000 that make rich and delicious espresso. And the Breville Bambino Plus and Barista Express are two exceptions.

The Breville Bambino Plus comes equipped with a 4-key formula with dose control and optimal temperature. No grinding but a balanced and barista-grade portafilter. Combined with the low-pressure pre-infusion technology, you pull espresso shots that are full-bodied and aromatic.

The first key difference lies in their coffee grinders which the Bambino Plus DOES NOT HAVE.

This means you have to either buy a separate coffee grinder to use alongside freshly ground coffee (we all know that grinding beans fresh, right before brewing, results in a more intense and full-bodied flavor). Or you can buy pre-ground coffee from your nearest local coffee shop. Request for an espresso machine grind so you get the exact fineness, taking away your guesswork.

The Barista Express has a coffee grinder with a bean hopper. The grinder is steel conical. And it has 16 grind levels with volume controls at the press of a button.

This improves the quality of espresso. But that which the Bambino Plus creates is smooth and hot. And the ease with which it does so is also worth considering. Especially when the Bambino Plus is such an affordable choice.

You can say the same for the Breville Barista Express. But only that this one is a high-performing espresso maker with more customizable options. The Barista Express has more buttons than Bambino Plus. This means more control over espresso taste and volume.

Not only does this very quality elevate the flavor and texture of espresso. It also transforms the way you brew coffee on a regular basis. It does have a learning curve. But once you do, there’s no going back.

You can make creamy lattes, cappuccinos, flat whites, mochas and so much more.

Heating System

The comparison is between ThermoJet and Thermocoil. Here the Bambino Plus wins because it has a 3-second heating window. The Thermocoil boiler, of the Barista Express, offers no such added value.

This does not affect espresso flavor in any way because both machines use ‘Thermo’ technology to get going. Only that the Bambino Plus is a few seconds faster in heating up than the Barista Express.

2. Dose Control

The Winner: Breville Barista Express

The Breville Barista Express is more advanced. It offers a more nuanced espresso with a programmable strength, volume and grind setting.

Though both machines follow the same 4-level formula; that pre-infused the ground coffee to intensify its flavor and texture. However, the Barista Express bean-to-cup espresso extraction with direct dose control grinding into the portafilter (single and double shot 19g) is impressive.

The grind size dial is intuitive in that it accommodates all types of coffee beans you want. This type of precise espresso extraction is quite popular because it means you have more control over how concentrated you want your espresso to be.

The level of customization via button control and an analog gauge is one of the easiest and most authentic ways to use an espresso machine at home. And the Barista Express is a real delight in that regard because it offers all the hands-on features that a real barista does!

Now, the Bambino Plus offers similar technology but without the coffee grinding directly into the portafilter. So you don’t have to measure out the dose by hand or using a coffee scale. You can manually override the Bambino Plus to decide how long a single/double shot you want. But that’s as much control you can expect from the Bambino Plus.

3. Milk System

The Winner: Breville Bambino Plus

For milk steaming, you can customize the temperature and pressure of the steam for smooth milk texturing in the Bambino Plus. Unlike the Barista Express, which uses a manual steam wand, the automated features of the Bambino Plus let beginners produce smooth and well-textured milk without messing it up.

We also found that the milk texturing on the Bambino Plus is a lot smoother and faster to control. The hand texturing steam wand on the Barista Express which demands your skills can take some time to learn than on the Bambino Plus.

That is why we prefer the steam wand on the Bambino Plus. It produces hot and creamy milk consistently with an adjustable milk texture and temperature setting. Breville Bambino Plus literally delivers a shot at the press of a button. It also features an auto-purge setting that self-cleans the steam wand after you use it.

4. Utilities

The Winner: Breville Barista Express

The goal for any home espresso maker is to compartmentalize as many intricate features as possible to make it easier for you to pull a shot effectively. In the Breville Bambino Plus, this means a sturdy 54mm portafilter, well-organized buttons, light indicators – these make the Bambino Plus user-friendly for beginners.

In a compact and lightweight espresso machine, the customizations of the Bambino Plus are functional and accurate. Making it easier for beginners to make the richest espressos, better than what you drink in a barista.

With the Barista Express, you get more flexibility. The same 54mm portafilter and a pressure gauge to let you know how much pressure is optimal for extracting full-bodied espresso. It also features a magnetic tamper that you can push back into the machine after tamping.

The Barista Express has buttons for controls too but there are more options that you can experiment with. While the Bambino Plus features a single shot, double shot, and steam pressure button with 2 adjustable buttons for milk temperature and texture. The Barista Express has the power button, grind size control, filter size, pressure gauge, program, single, and double shot. Plus, a button for cleaning and the hot water function.

Breville Bambino Plus vs Barista Express: Similarities

What makes both the Breville Bambino Plus and Barista Express unique is their ability to deliver truly delicious and rich espresso at home. So you don’t need to go to an expensive coffee shop for it.

Both machines use fresh coffee, not pods or capsules. They come with a 54mm portafilter and tamper that matches the authentic barista experience. And a steam wand that lets you froth milk that is perfect for practicing latte art with.

Both machines are also made up of sturdy and high-quality stainless steel parts. With a twin brewing cycle that lets you make a single and double shot of espresso. You can adjust the coffee volume by manually overriding the single and double shot buttons.

With the 15 bar pump pressure, which is the ideal for home espresso makers, a beginner won’t feel intimidated when using a Breville machine. Both stay quiet, consistent, and make programmability for a drink like espresso comfortable and flexible. And all this at the touch of a few buttons!

Feature/Specification	Breville Bambino Plus	Breville Barista Express
Brand	Breville	Breville
Color	Brushed Stainless Steel	Silver
Product Dimensions	12.5 x 7.6 x 12.2 inches	12.5D x 12.6W x 13.1H centimetres
Special Feature	Automatic	Manual
Coffee Maker Type	Espresso Machine	Espresso Machine
Capacity	Not specified	1.81 Kilograms
Material	Stainless Steel	Stainless Steel
Item Weight	3.1 pounds	23 Pounds
Wattage	Not specified	1600 watts
Key Features	– Automatic microfoam milk texturing – Fast heat up in 3 seconds – 54mm portafilter	– Dose control grinding – Optimal water pressure – Precise espresso extraction – Manual microfoam milk texturing – Built-in coffee grinder
Price	Check Price	Check Price

Final Verdict

Both coffee makers are great for pulling rich espresso shots at home. Plus, they have their very own steam wand for making creamy lattes and cappuccinos. Switching to an espresso maker is never an easy thing to do. But having the right espresso machine by my side has definitely made things easier.

The Breville Bambino Plus and Barista Express each has its pros and cons. Some more than others depending upon what you’re looking for. What you see here are just a few things we’ve picked up on over the years and find most helpful when buying a barista-grade espresso maker for home use.

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Last update on 2024-04-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API