Breville Bambino Plus vs Barista Express: Compact vs Full-Size

Let's address the elephant in the room: the Bambino Plus takes up 60% less counter space than the Barista Express. At just 7.7 inches wide, it fits into spaces where the 13.3-inch Barista Express simply won't go. I tested this in my old apartment where counter space was measured in inches, not feet.

But size isn't just about fitting into tight spots. The compact design means you can slide the Bambino Plus under cabinets, store it easily when not in use, or dedicate minimal counter real estate to your espresso setup. The Barista Express demands a permanent home. Once you place this 23-pound machine (vs 13 pounds for the Bambino Plus), it's staying put.

This is where the Barista Express shines brightest. That integrated conical burr grinder with 18 adjustment settings delivers fresh grounds directly into your portafilter. No separate device taking up counter space, no additional purchase, no workflow juggling. The grind size dial sits right on the top, making adjustments intuitive.

The Bambino Plus requires a separate grinder, which means an additional $100-500 investment depending on quality. I tested it with everything from a budget Baratza Encore ($150) to a premium Niche Zero ($650). The good news: you get to choose exactly the grinder that fits your budget and quality expectations. The trade-off: two devices instead of one, more counter space needed, and an extra step in your workflow.

Here's what surprised me: the Barista Express's built-in grinder performed better than I expected. It's not competing with $500 dedicated grinders, but it produces consistent, quality grounds that make excellent espresso. For most home users, it's absolutely sufficient. The built-in grinder also means beans stay fresh right until grinding, no stale pre-ground coffee degrading in a doser.

The Bambino Plus's 3-second heat-up time is genuinely transformative. I timed my morning routine: from pressing the power button to pulling my first shot takes under 90 seconds total. That's faster than my pod machine used to be. The ThermoJet heating system is Breville's engineering masterpiece, instantly ready for espresso and steam.

The Barista Express needs 45 seconds to heat up with its ThermoCoil system. That's still reasonably fast compared to traditional machines, but it fundamentally changes the experience. Those 45 seconds become a moment to gather your thoughts, prepare your tools, and shift into coffee-making mode. Some people love this ritualistic aspect. Others want their cappuccino immediately. (If you want the best of both worlds, the Barista Pro offers 3-second heating with a built-in grinder.)

In real-world testing, the difference compounds. Making back to back drinks for guests? The Bambino Plus transitions between brewing and steaming instantly. The Barista Express has brief recovery periods. Rushing out the door for work? Every second counts, and the Bambino Plus delivers. Weekend morning with nowhere to be? The Barista Express's pace feels meditative, not slow.

The Bambino Plus features automatic milk texturing that produces consistently excellent microfoam with zero skill required. Insert the steam wand into your milk jug, press a button, and walk away. Two minutes later, you have perfectly textured milk at the ideal temperature. I made over 100 cappuccinos during testing, and the system never produced bad foam.

The Barista Express comes with a traditional manual steam wand. This requires learning proper milk frothing technique: positioning, angle, depth, and timing all matter. The analog pressure gauge helps you dial in the right pressure (9-11 bars for optimal extraction). Expect 2-3 weeks of practice before your foam rivals the Bambino Plus's automatic system.

Here's the trade-off: manual steaming gives you complete control over foam texture. Want dry cappuccino foam? Silky flat white microfoam? Latte art-perfect microfoam? You can achieve all of these with the Barista Express's steam wand once you develop the skill. The Bambino Plus produces one excellent texture, perfect for most drinks but not adjustable.

Here's the truth that might surprise you: both machines produce excellent espresso when paired with quality beans and proper technique. They both use 54mm portafilters, Italian 15-bar pumps, and precise temperature control. The espresso itself tastes nearly identical.

The real difference is consistency and learning curve. The Barista Express's integrated grinder and pressure gauge make it easier to dial in the perfect shot. You adjust grind size, dose amount, and watch the pressure gauge to ensure you're in the optimal 9-11 bar range. This feedback loop teaches you proper espresso extraction faster.

The Bambino Plus lacks the pressure gauge, so you're relying more on taste and observation. However, its precise temperature control and fast heat-up mean your shots stay consistent throughout a session. Both machines can pull café-quality espresso. The Barista Express just makes it slightly easier to understand what you're doing right or wrong.

The Barista Express typically costs $100-200 more than the Bambino Plus at first glance. But let's do the real math. The Bambino Plus requires a separate grinder. A decent entry-level grinder runs $100-150 (Baratza Encore). A mid-tier option costs $300-400 (Niche Zero or Fellow Ode). Suddenly, the Bambino Plus setup costs significantly more.

However, there's another consideration: upgradeability. When you outgrow the Barista Express's grinder (and many enthusiasts eventually do), you'll need to buy a separate grinder anyway. With the Bambino Plus, you can start with a budget grinder and upgrade when ready. Your espresso machine remains excellent regardless of grinder choice.

After three months of alternating between both machines, I noticed distinct patterns in how they fit into my life. The Bambino Plus became my weekday workhorse. Wake up, press button, grind beans separately, pull shot, auto-froth milk, drink coffee, rush to work. Total time: under 5 minutes including cleanup.

The Barista Express became my weekend ritual. Saturday morning, I'd take my time with the integrated workflow. Grind directly into portafilter, tamp, pull shot while watching the pressure gauge, steam milk manually to perfect microfoam, attempt latte art (getting better!). Total time: 10-12 minutes, but it felt meditative rather than rushed.

The Bambino Plus's smaller water tank (47 oz vs 67 oz) meant refilling every 5-6 drinks. Not a dealbreaker for one or two people, but noticeable. The Barista Express's larger tank lasted all week for my household. Both machines clean easily, with removable drip trays and simple maintenance routines. Neither requires more than 5 minutes of daily cleaning.

If I could only keep one machine, which would it be? Honestly, it depends on my living situation. In my current apartment with limited counter space, the Bambino Plus wins. It delivers excellent espresso, heats instantly, and disappears when I need the counter space. Paired with my Niche Zero grinder, it matches any café quality.

But if I had a dedicated coffee station with ample counter space? The Barista Express would be my choice. That integrated grinder workflow feels seamless. The pressure gauge taught me so much about proper extraction. The manual steam wand improved my technique dramatically. It's the machine you grow with, not outgrow.

For first-time buyers, I typically recommend the Bambino Plus if you're space-constrained or already own a grinder. Choose the Barista Express if you want everything in one purchase and have the counter real estate. Both will serve you well for years. Neither is a compromise, just different approaches to the same excellent result. (Also consider checking out our Breville vs De'Longhi and Gaggia Classic Pro vs Barista Express comparisons for more options.)