Apartment-Tested Review · 2026
Breville the Bambino (base)
Bambino Plus minus $100 minus auto-milk-wand. If you drink it black or want to learn milk steaming by hand — base Bambino at $300 is the best value. If latte is your daily driver — pay extra $100 for the Plus.
📊 What this review is built on
7r/espresso threads scanned
75top-voted buyer comments
3expert reviewers transcripted
97data points compiled
Quick verdict
Price$299.95
Width6.3″ · 160 mm
Apt-Fit Score10 / 10
Noise Est.~65 dB
Renter-safeYes
Bambino Plus minus $100 minus auto-milk-wand. If you drink it black or want to learn milk steaming by hand — base Bambino at $300 is the best value. If latte is your daily driver — pay extra $100 for the Plus.
Check on Amazon →
☕ One-person research project. We bought every machine, measured them in real apartments, analyzed 1,053 buyer comments. Buying through Amazon links keeps this site updated — same Amazon price, ~3% goes to us instead of nowhere. Full disclosure →
Specs
| Footprint (W × D × H) | 6.3″ × 12.6″ × 12.2″ · 160 × 320 × 310 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 11.5 lb · 5.2 kg |
| Power | 1560 W |
| Water tank | 1.4 L · 47 oz |
| Portafilter | 54 mm |
| Heating | ThermoJet (single thermoblock) |
| PID temp control | Yes |
| Pre-infusion | Yes |
| Auto-milk frother | No |
| Warranty | 2 years |
| MSRP | $329.95 |
§ HOW LOUD IS IT?
65 dB at 1 ft. Comparable to a normal conversation.
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COMPARE WITH
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Estimated by pump type (vibratory pump @ ~1 ft) until SPL meter recording is added. Click any row to hear that reference sound.
Apartment-Fit Score
10/ 10
- Footprint 10/10
- Plumbing-free10/10
- Renter-safe10/10
- Noise (lower better)~65 dB
Methodology: how we score this →
What expert reviewers say
well look at this little cutie we're gonna be taking a look at the Breville Bambino plus today so buckle up [Music] now before jumping into the video I'll ask I know that annoying ask if you take a second hit the like subscribe really helps check out the links below yada yada …
happy morning i'm paige this is the happy kitchen and today is different we're gonna be talking all about coffee you can probably already tell by my videos that i'm a little coffee obsessed so today i'm gonna be showing you how i use my bravel products over here i have the bam…
What Reddit really says
Check Marshall's or TJ Maxx. I got a regular Bambino for $249 at Marshalls. I suspect it's some sort of spillover from Bed bath beyond closings
The 3-way solenoid valve means the pressure cuts off immediately, so there is no dripping in your cup after you stop the shot. This pressure discharges into the drip tray, and the Bambino Plus’s design there is not great, causing some water to sometimes splash out of the drip tray and and sometimes seep underneath the machine. Not a huge issue if your countertop is nonporous. The 3-way valve can …
I think the portafilters are definitely different as you point out. My friend ordered a B+ and I just ordered a Bambino, so will definitely look closely :) and look at every other part closely. The spares page lists two separate portafilters, albeit with no additional details on the material ...etc. [https://www.breville.com/us/en/parts-accessories/parts/sp0024799.html?sku=SP0024799](https://www…
1) I'd go with the Bambino over Bambino Plus. I make 2-3 espresso/milk drinks a day for me and my partner and the water reservoir is enough for the week. The steam wand isn't as powerful as the plus, but I like to manually steam the milk and the slightly extended time needed to steam helps me out. The drip try on the base Bambino is also a bit more sturdy(?) as in it fits a bit better compared to …
Same here. I got my Bambino from TJ Maxx! I’ve been eyeing an espresso machine for years and decided to get it once I saw it at TJ.
if it was my money, personally i'd not pay extra for the plus. The main reason being i don't find the auto froth useful -- especially for $130. And ESPECIALLY if I'm assuming that if I find I like making my own espresso I'll turn around and in a year or two be spending $2000 on an upgraded machine. I very much see the non-plus Bambino as an EXCELLENT buy for the features.
Video review
Pros & cons
✓ Strengths
- $299 — sub-$300 real-espresso with PID/pre-infusion/manual wand
- 160mm width (slightly wider than the Dedica 150, but the Dedica is weaker on spec)
- Same ThermoJet 3-second heat-up like the Plus
- PID + Low Pressure Pre-Infusion stock
- Manual steam wand — teaches you properly
- The saved $100 → spend on a proper grinder (DF54/Eureka Mignon)
✗ Weaknesses
- NO auto-milk frother — for latte you'll need to learn
- 47oz tank vs 64oz than the Plus — refill more often
- Steam wand fixed-angle (as with the Plus)
- Same plastic tamper issue — replace
- Bambino brand reputation on reddit dropped due to support quality (see threads #4 #6)
Buy if / Skip if
Buy if
- Black coffee primary drinker — auto-milk premium doesn't need a
- Who wants to learn proper milk steaming
- Budget $400-500 including grinder — base Bambino + DF54 = total $500
- Renter with minimal kitchen footprint and wants real-espresso
Skip if
- Latte/cappuccino primary daily — auto-milk Plus at +$100 pays for itself in a month
- No grinder budget — base Bambino without grinder = pressurized PF only = so-so
- Need 58mm prosumer ecosystem — Gaggia Classic Pro at +$300 gives it to you