Semi-automatic and prosumer machines

What Do You Get for the Extra $200 on a Bambino Plus?

Published · By the Espresso Shortlist editors · Prices and specs as of that date, from the pages under Sources

Summary

Mostly a steam wand that textures milk on its own. The Bambino ($299.95) and Bambino Plus ($499.95) brew the same way, with a 54 mm portafilter, an 18 g dose, ThermoJet heating that reaches extraction temperature in 3 seconds, and low-pressure pre-infusion before 9 bar. The Plus heats and foams the milk to a setting you choose, stops by itself, and cleans the wand when you lower it.

How the Plus steams milk for you

The Plus gives you two sets of milk settings. Temperature has three levels, Warm, Ideal, and Hot, and foam has three more, Low, Medium, and High, which the manual describes as running from a silky latte to a creamy cappuccino. You fill the jug between its MIN and MAX marks and set it on the drip tray, where a temperature sensor under the jug reads the milk. Texturing stops when the milk reaches the temperature you picked. When you swing the wand back down, an automatic purge clears the leftover milk.

You can still steam by hand on the Plus. In that mode the automatic texturing and shut-off are turned off, and the manual's cue for the right temperature is a jug that feels hot to the touch, which it puts at 60 to 65°C (140 to 149°F). On the plain Bambino, hand steaming is the only way, and Breville describes its wand as "manual hand-crafted microfoam."

Where else the two differ

BambinoBambino Plus
Price on Breville's U.S. site$299.95$499.95
MilkManual steam wandAutomatic wand with 3 temperatures and 3 foam levels, or manual
Dimensions (W x D x H)11.9 x 6.1 x 13.5 in11.9 x 7.4 x 14.3 in
Milk jug in the boxMilk jug, size not listed16 fl oz (480 ml) stainless steel

The Plus is 1.3 in deeper and 0.8 in taller, and the width is the same. The baskets are identical, 8 to 11 g for 1 Cup and 16 to 19 g for 2 Cup in both manuals, and neither machine has a grinder, so the extra $200 goes almost entirely into the milk side of the machine.

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Sources

  1. Breville — the Bambino (BES450)
  2. Breville — the Bambino Plus (BES500)
  3. Breville — the Bambino Plus instruction book (US)
  4. Breville — the Bambino instruction book (US)

We have not tested these products. Specs, prices, stock and terms are as published on these pages on the date above and can change; check the manufacturer or retailer before you buy.

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