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Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine (BES500)
Espresso machine review

Breville Bambino Plus review — a compact espresso machine that froths milk for you

Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine (BES500)

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

The short answer

Small, fast and easy with milk: ready in about 3 seconds and froths milk hands-free. The catch: there's no grinder, so plan for one.

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Price: $485.00

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Our verdict

The Bambino Plus is Breville's compact espresso machine for people who mostly drink lattes and cappuccinos. Its ThermoJet heater has it ready in about 3 seconds, every shot starts with a low-pressure pre-infusion before the full-pressure extraction, and the steam wand textures milk for you: pick one of three temperatures and three textures and it steams hands-free.

What it leaves out is just as important. There's no grinder built in and no pressure gauge. For real espresso you'll want a separate burr grinder, and you'll judge each shot by its time and taste. If you'd rather have one appliance that grinds too, the Barista Express is the all-in-one alternative; if you already own a good grinder, or you're happy to add one, the Bambino Plus is the quicker, smaller and easier machine.

Who it's for

A great fit if

  • Latte and cappuccino drinkers who want milk done for them
  • Small kitchens with limited counter space
  • Busy mornings: it's ready in about 3 seconds
  • Anyone who already owns, or will add, a good burr grinder

Skip it if

  • 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
  • You make milk drinks for a crowd, back to back

What it does well

Ready in seconds

The ThermoJet heating system reaches extraction temperature in about 3 seconds, so there's no long warm-up before your first shot.

Hands-free milk

The steam wand textures milk automatically: three temperatures and three textures. You can still steam by hand if you prefer.

A gentle start

Low-pressure pre-infusion wets the coffee evenly before the 9 bar extraction, which helps prevent channeling.

Compact

A narrow footprint that fits a small counter, with simple buttons: 1 cup, 2 cup and steam.

The catch

There's no grinder. For real espresso you'll need a separate burr grinder; the dual-wall baskets also work with pre-ground coffee, with less control. There's no pressure gauge either, so you dial in by shot time and taste.

Skip it if you want one appliance with the grinder built in: the Breville Barista Express is the all-in-one alternative.

Barista Express vs Bambino Plus at a glance

Barista Express vs Bambino Plus. Grinder: built in with 16 settings, versus none. Milk: manual steam wand, versus hands-free with 3 temperatures and 3 textures. Heat-up: needs a warm-up, versus about 3 seconds. Feedback: pressure gauge, versus time and taste. Footprint: bigger but 2-in-1, versus compact. Both: 54 mm portafilter, 18 g dose, low-pressure pre-infusion.Barista ExpressBambino PlusGRINDERBuilt in,16 settingsNone: add a grinderMILKManual steam wandHands-free, 3 tempsx 3 texturesHEAT-UPNeeds aproper warm-upReady in about3 secondsFEEDBACKPressure gauge onthe frontNo gauge: timeand tasteFOOTPRINTBigger, but 2-in-1CompactBOTH: 54 mm portafilter, 18 g dose,low-pressure pre-infusionstrongertrade-offmissing

Key specs

Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine (BES500) specifications
HeatingThermoJet heating system, ready in about 3 seconds
Pump15 bar Italian pump; low-pressure pre-infusion, then 9 bar extraction
Temperature controlDigital PID (per US retailer listings)
GrinderNone built in
Portafilter54 mm stainless steel
Filter basketsSingle wall and dual wall, 1-cup and 2-cup
MilkAutomatic microfoam: 3 temperatures x 3 textures, or manual
Controls1 cup, 2 cup and steam buttons
Water capacityAbout 64 oz
Power1560 W, 110-120 V
WidthAbout 7.7 in

From Breville's Bambino Plus product page and major US espresso 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, Breville's ideal dose, into the 2-cup single-wall basket, or use the dual-wall basket with pre-ground coffee.
  3. 3Level the grounds, tamp straight and firm, and trim with the Razor tool if needed.
  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. 6Fill the jug with cold milk, pick a temperature and texture, and let the wand do the rest.

What's in the box

  • 54 mm stainless steel portafilter
  • 1-cup and 2-cup filter baskets, single wall and dual wall
  • 54 mm tamper
  • Razor precision dosing tool
  • 16 oz stainless steel milk jug
  • Cleaning tool and cleaning disc

Questions people ask

The Bambino Plus adds automatic milk texturing (temperature and froth buttons with low, medium and high settings, and it stops on its own), an automatic steam purge, a bigger water tank (up to 64 oz vs 47 oz) and the Razor dosing tool. Both share the ThermoJet heater that's ready in about 3 seconds, low-pressure pre-infusion and a 54 mm portafilter. The plain Bambino steams milk by hand.

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

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