Espresso machines · owner-verdict comparison

Breville Bambino Plus vs Barista Pro: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the Breville Bambino Plus: 83% of 66 owners recommend it, vs 63% of 151 for the Barista Pro.

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 →

Barista Pro

63%of 151 owners recommend
63% recommend · 19% neutral · 18% don't
Owners praise
  • Makes espresso and milk drinks that many owners compare favorably with cafe coffee
  • Easy to learn and quick to use, with the grinder built into the same machine
  • Many owners report years of daily use without problems
Owners complain about
  • The built-in grinder draws the most complaints: inconsistent, prone to choking, and weak with light or very fresh roasts
  • Shot-to-shot inconsistency and a dialing-in learning curve, including a factory shot volume that can cut shots short
  • Some owners report breakdowns, including grinder failures and replacement units that failed again
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 Barista Pro if
  • ✓A first espresso machine for someone who wants the grinder built in
  • ✓Daily latte and cappuccino drinkers who want a drink ready a few minutes after switching on
  • ✓Households brewing medium or dark roasts
  • ✓Buyers who want good coffee at home without turning it into a hobby
Skip it if
  • Light roast drinkers chasing high-clarity shots
  • Enthusiasts who want to go deep into espresso as a hobby

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 Barista Pro owners say

“I find it to be a brilliant little machine with all the mod cons and it doesnt take much tinkering to make an espresso or flat white that’s on par with my local barista.”
— Dry_Manager_6216 on Reddit
“I like my Barista Pro, I did buy a separate grinder if I want to dial in for espresso but usually leave the hopper full on the built in grinder and make my morning capacino.”
— lilbluetruck on Reddit
“I couldn’t get that machine with the internal grinder to give me good espresso at 5, it was 2-3 on the internal setting depending on oxidation levels of the coffee.”
— Goontard420 on Reddit

Breville Bambino Plus vs Barista Pro: frequently asked questions

Is the Breville Bambino Plus or the Barista Pro better?

Real owners lean toward the Breville Bambino Plus: 83% of 66 owners recommend it, vs 63% of 151 for the Barista Pro.

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 Barista Pro?

Owners point the Barista Pro at a first espresso machine for someone who wants the grinder built in, and daily latte and cappuccino drinkers who want a drink ready a few minutes after switching on.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the Breville Bambino Plus is forced cleaning cycle you can't bypass. For the Barista Pro, it's the built-in grinder draws the most complaints: inconsistent, prone to choking, and weak with light or very fresh roasts.