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Breville Bambino Espresso Machine (BES450)
Espresso machine review

Breville Bambino review — the smaller, simpler sibling of the Bambino Plus

Breville Bambino Espresso Machine (BES450)

Researched by the WhyToBuyThis team · Updated November 2026 · How we choose

The short answer

The same fast ThermoJet shot as the Plus in a smaller body, with a manual steam wand. Best if you mostly drink espresso and spend the savings on a grinder.

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Price: $299.95

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Our verdict

The Bambino is the compact, simpler sibling of the Bambino Plus. On the espresso side they match: the ThermoJet heater has it ready in about 3 seconds, every shot starts with low-pressure pre-infusion before the 9 bar extraction, and it uses the same 54 mm portafilter with an 18 g dose and one-touch 1-cup and 2-cup buttons.

The difference is milk. The Bambino has a manual steam wand: it can make proper microfoam, but you hold the jug and judge the texture and temperature yourself. The Plus does that for you, purges its wand automatically, and adds a bigger water tank and the Razor dosing tool. So if you mostly drink espresso or Americanos, or you enjoy learning to steam, the Bambino is the smarter buy, and the money you save is best spent on a good burr grinder.

Who it's for

A great fit if

  • Espresso and Americano drinkers
  • Anyone who wants to learn to steam milk by hand
  • The tightest kitchens: it is the more compact Bambino
  • Buyers who'd rather put the savings into a better grinder

Skip it if

  • You make milk drinks every day and want them hands-free (get the Bambino Plus)
  • You want the grinder built in (the Barista Express has one)
  • You want a pressure gauge to learn from
  • You won't buy a grinder and don't want pre-ground coffee

What it does well

Ready in seconds

The ThermoJet heating system reaches extraction temperature in about 3 seconds, the same as the Bambino Plus.

The same shot as the Plus

Low-pressure pre-infusion, then 9 bar extraction from a 15 bar pump, with the same 54 mm portafilter and 18 g dose.

A real steaming skill

The manual steam wand can make proper microfoam for latte art. You control the texture and temperature yourself.

Small and simple

The more compact of the two Bambinos, with one-touch 1-cup and 2-cup buttons and a steam button.

The catch

Like the Plus, there's no grinder and no pressure gauge, so plan for a separate burr grinder and dial in by shot time and taste. And the milk is all on you: the wand doesn't texture milk or stop on its own, so expect a few practice jugs before it's silky.

Skip it if you make lattes every morning and don't want to learn to steam: the Bambino Plus adds hands-free milk, auto purge and a bigger tank.

Bambino vs Bambino Plus at a glance

Bambino vs Bambino Plus. Both heat up in about 3 seconds and share the same shot: 54 mm portafilter, 18 g dose, low-pressure pre-infusion then 9 bar, one-touch 1 and 2 cup buttons. Milk: manual steam wand, versus hands-free with 3 temperatures and 3 textures. Wand cleaning: by hand, versus auto purge. Water tank: about 47 oz, versus about 64 oz. Razor dosing tool: not included, versus included. Size: the Bambino is more compact. Neither has a grinder.BambinoBambino PlusHEAT-UPReady in about3 secondsReady in about3 secondsMILKManual steam wandHands-free, 3 tempsx 3 texturesWAND CLEANINGPurge it by handAuto purgeafter steamingWATER TANKAbout 47 ozAbout 64 ozRAZOR DOSING TOOLNot includedIncludedSIZEThe morecompact oneSlightly biggerGRINDERNone: add a grinderNone: add a grinderSAME SHOT: 54 mm, 18 g, pre-infusion,9 bar, one-touch 1 and 2 cupbettertrade-offmissing

Key specs

Breville Bambino Espresso Machine (BES450) specifications
HeatingThermoJet heating system, ready in about 3 seconds
Pump15 bar Italian pump; low-pressure pre-infusion, then 9 bar extraction
GrinderNone built in
Portafilter54 mm, designed for an 18 g dose
Filter basketsSingle wall and dual wall, 1-cup and 2-cup
MilkManual steam wand for microfoam
ControlsOne-touch 1 cup and 2 cup, plus steam
Water capacityAbout 47 oz
Pressure gaugeNone

From Breville's Bambino product page and major US retailers. Check the Amazon listing for your exact color and version.

Your first good shot

  1. 1Rinse and fill the water tank, then run a little water through with no coffee to warm the portafilter.
  2. 2Grind about 18 g into the 2-cup single-wall basket, or use the dual-wall basket with pre-ground coffee.
  3. 3Level the grounds and tamp straight and firm.
  4. 4Press the 2-cup button. Aim for about 36 g of espresso in roughly 25 to 30 seconds.
  5. 5Fast and sour? Grind finer. Slow and bitter? Grind coarser. Change one thing at a time.
  6. 6For milk: purge the wand, start with the tip just under the surface to add air, then lower it to spin the milk. Stop when the jug gets too hot to hold, and purge the wand again.

What's in the box

  • 54 mm portafilter
  • 1-cup and 2-cup filter baskets, single wall and dual wall
  • Tamper
  • Milk jug
  • Steam wand tip cleaning tool
  • Descaling powder

Questions people ask

The espresso side is the same: ThermoJet heat-up in about 3 seconds, low-pressure pre-infusion, a 54 mm portafilter and one-touch 1-cup and 2-cup shots. The Plus adds hands-free milk (3 temperatures x 3 textures, and it stops on its own), auto purge of the steam wand, a bigger water tank (about 64 oz vs 47 oz) and the Razor dosing tool. The Bambino is the more compact of the two.

New to home espresso? Read our espresso buying guide first.

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