The only meaningful difference is the steam wand. The Bambino Plus has an automatic steam wand that textures milk hands-free. The regular Bambino has a manual steam wand you operate yourself. Everything else — the espresso quality, heat-up time, portafilter, basket, and body — is identical.
If you make milk drinks regularly, the Plus is worth it. If you drink mostly black espresso, save the $150.
Breville's naming convention doesn't make this obvious. "Plus" could mean anything. But strip away the marketing and there are only three hardware differences between these two machines — and one of them matters a lot.
The 3 real differences
1. Steam wand type — this is the big one.
The regular Bambino has a manual steam wand. You position the wand, open the steam, and control the angle, depth, and duration yourself. It works well — it's the same kind of wand you'd find on machines costing much more. But it requires practice to use well, and most beginners produce bubbly, uneven foam for the first week or two.
The Bambino Plus has an automatic steam wand. You fill the pitcher, submerge the wand, and press a button. The machine textures the milk to 140°F automatically. The result is consistent microfoam every time — and you don't need to learn the technique. For beginners making lattes or cappuccinos, this is a significant quality-of-life upgrade.
2. Auto-purge.
After steaming, the Bambino Plus automatically purges the steam wand with a burst of steam to clear milk residue. On the regular Bambino, you have to open the valve manually to purge. It's a small thing, but it extends wand life and keeps maintenance simpler.
3. Price.
The Bambino runs around $300. The Bambino Plus runs around $499. That's roughly $150–200 difference depending on when and where you buy.
Everything that's identical
| Feature | Bambino | Bambino Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Espresso quality | Same | Same |
| Heat-up time | 3 seconds | 3 seconds |
| Portafilter size | 54mm | 54mm |
| Basket type | Non-pressurized | Non-pressurized |
| PID temperature control | Yes | Yes |
| Water tank | 64oz | 64oz |
| Pump pressure | 9 bar | 9 bar |
| Body & footprint | Identical | Identical |
| Pre-infusion | Yes | Yes |
| Steam wand | Manual | Automatic ★ |
| Auto-purge | No | Yes ★ |
| Price | ~$300 | ~$499 |
Both machines pull the same quality shot. The Bambino Plus does not improve your espresso — only your milk. If your goal is better espresso, look at your grinder before your machine. A better grinder makes a bigger difference than any machine upgrade at this price range.
Who should get which
You want to save $150
- You mostly drink black espresso or Americanos
- You're happy learning manual steaming
- Budget is tight and you'd rather spend the difference on a better grinder
- You want to develop real barista skills
Milk drinks are your thing
- You make lattes, cappuccinos, or flat whites daily
- You don't want to spend weeks learning steaming technique
- You want consistently good milk from day one
- Others in your household will use the machine
Where to buy
Considering other machines too?
See all four of our beginner machine picks ranked at every budget.