Espresso machines · owner-verdict comparison

Breville Bambino Plus vs Breville Barista Express: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the Breville Bambino Plus: 83% of 66 owners recommend it, vs 54% of 602 for the Breville Barista Express.

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

Breville Bambino Plus

83%of 66 owners recommend
83% recommend · 12% neutral · 5% don't
Owners praise
  • Great espresso quality for the price
  • Compact footprint saves counter space
  • Heats up fast for quick shots
Owners complain about
  • Forced cleaning cycle you can't bypass
Full owner report →

Breville Barista Express

54%of 602 owners recommend
54% recommend · 19% neutral · 27% don't
Owners praise
  • Great value for the price
  • Durable, lasts many years of daily use
  • Excellent beginner/starter machine
Owners complain about
  • Mediocre, inconsistent built-in grinder
  • Won't auto-stop extracting / flow-meter failure
  • Struggles with lighter roasts
Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

Get the Breville Bambino Plus if
  • ✓Espresso beginners learning the basics
  • ✓Small kitchens needing a tiny footprint
  • ✓Medium and dark roast drinkers
  • ✓Anyone wanting fast heat-up and auto milk
Skip it if
  • Light-roast fans wanting temperature stability
  • Anyone annoyed by the forced cleaning cycle
Get the Breville Barista Express if
  • ✓Espresso beginners wanting a built-in-grinder all-in-one
  • ✓Milk-drink drinkers making lattes and cappuccinos
  • ✓Medium-to-dark roast drinkers
  • ✓Bargain hunters who find it discounted, not full price
Skip it if
  • Light-roast enthusiasts, since the grinder struggles
  • Those wanting shot-to-shot consistency without a separate grinder

What Breville Bambino Plus owners say

“It’s such a crazy good machine”
— @bradyvilhauer4445 on YouTube
“I love this machine.”
— @edmundowhite on YouTube
“It was a nightmare to keep clean”
— @catbert88 on YouTube

What Breville Barista Express owners say

“He saw this video and got the machine and he's been really happy with the purchase!”
— @1ucky1ux on YouTube
“it works like new !”
— @hadrianopolis1968 on YouTube
“So currently following this review my decision is NOT to buy the machine, I don't have the time in the morning to wait 10 minutes until my cup of coffee is ready”
— @imamezalefet on YouTube

Breville Bambino Plus vs Breville Barista Express: frequently asked questions

Is the Breville Bambino Plus or the Breville Barista Express better?

Real owners lean toward the Breville Bambino Plus: 83% of 66 owners recommend it, vs 54% of 602 for the Breville Barista Express.

Who should get the Breville Bambino Plus?

Owners point the Breville Bambino Plus at espresso beginners learning the basics, and small kitchens needing a tiny footprint.

Who should get the Breville Barista Express?

Owners point the Breville Barista Express at espresso beginners wanting a built-in-grinder all-in-one, and milk-drink drinkers making lattes and cappuccinos.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the Breville Bambino Plus is forced cleaning cycle you can't bypass. For the Breville Barista Express, it's mediocre, inconsistent built-in grinder.