Breville Bambino Plus Review (BES500)

The Breville Bambino Plus (BES500) is the machine to buy if you want real espresso and milk drinks from a small, fast machine, and you will add a burr grinder. Breville lists it at about $500, and it usually sells for an estimated $400 to $500. The automatic steam wand is the reason to choose it: it textures milk to a set temperature without your help. If you do not want to buy a grinder, the Barista Express costs more but includes one.

This review draws on manufacturer specifications, manuals and long-term owner reports, not on our own use.

Who the Bambino Plus is for

It fits a person or couple who makes one to three lattes, cappuccinos or flat whites a day and has limited counter space. The machine heats in about 3 seconds, so it suits a quick morning routine.

It is a poor fit for three buyers. If you mostly drink Americanos, the lack of a hot water outlet means a kettle on the side. If you want to learn pressure profiling or watch a gauge, the Bambino Plus shows you nothing. If your budget has no room for a separate grinder, a machine with a built-in grinder is the better value.

What the automatic steam wand does

Place the 16 oz jug on the drip tray, under the wand. A sensor reads the milk temperature. You choose one of 3 temperatures and one of 3 foam levels, press the button, and the wand stops when the milk is ready. It then purges itself.

That removes the skill most beginners find hardest. Low foam suits a flat white, high foam suits a cappuccino. You can also steam in manual mode once you want to learn latte art.

The wand works best with the supplied 16 oz jug, because the sensor is tuned to it.

Shot quality and the grinder you need

The 54 mm portafilter takes an 18 g dose in the double basket. The 1-cup and 2-cup buttons stop the shot by volume, and you can reprogram both. There is no shot timer, so use a scale and a phone timer when you dial in. Aim for about 36 g out in 25 to 30 seconds as a starting point.

Breville includes single wall and dual wall (pressurized) baskets. The dual wall baskets let you use pre-ground coffee and still get crema. They hide the difference between a good and a bad grind, so switch to the single wall baskets once you grind fresh.

Fresh grinding matters more than the machine. Two grinders cover most buyers:

• The Breville Smart Grinder Pro is the common pairing at a similar price tier, with a portafilter cradle.
• The Baratza Encore ESP is a simpler grinder with fine steps in its espresso range.

Our espresso grinder guide compares these and others.

Size and placement

The Bambino Plus is under 8 in wide and weighs about 11 to 12 lb. The 64 oz tank is removable, so you can carry it to the sink to fill it. It is one of the few machines with automatic milk that fits a narrow counter. Our guide to espresso machines for small kitchens compares widths and tank access.

The trade for the small size is a small drip tray. It fills quickly with purge water and steam wand drips, so empty it every day.

Cleaning and maintenance

• After every shot: Knock out the puck, rinse the basket and wipe the group.
• After milk: The wand purges itself. Wipe it with a damp cloth right away.
• Every day: Empty the drip tray and refill the tank.
• When needed: Run the cleaning cycle with the cleaning disc and a cleaning tablet. The manual lists the steps.
• On schedule: Descale as the manual says. The ThermoJet has a narrow water path that scale can block. Our descaling guide sets the interval by water hardness.

Bambino Plus vs Bambino and other Breville models

The original Bambino (BES450) uses the same heater and portafilter but has a manual steam wand only and costs less. Buy it if you want to learn steaming by hand and save the money.

The Barista Express adds a grinder and a pressure gauge but heats slower and switches to steam slower. The Barista Pro adds a grinder and ThermoJet speed at a higher price. Our Breville brand guide maps the full range.

The De’Longhi Dedica is narrower and cheaper but has a weaker steam wand and no automatic milk.

Buying advice

The US model is the BES500. In the UK and Europe, Breville sells it under the Sage name. Budget for the grinder at the same time as the machine. Register it with Breville for the 2-year US warranty.