Breville Barista Express Vs Bambino Plus: Amazing Comparison You Should Read

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Breville Barista Express Vs Bambino Plus are two common expresso machines in the market. Based on design and performance, the Breville Barista Express is the best choice between the Bambino Plus and Barista Express. The winner is the Breville Barista Express, thanks to features such as hand-free operation and dose-control grinding, helpful for new users or anyone just getting started with coffee.

The Barista Express is an espresso and coffee machine that supports its users in grinding any type of coffee bean without losing out on its wonderful aroma. For someone who drinks a lot of espressos, it’s guaranteed to present all the best tastes you’d come to expect from some finely brewed joe.

The Bambino Plus costs less than the Barista Express. Still, it offers a hands-free automatic steam wand function with which you can comfortably and quickly create silky micro-foam milk as smooth and fluffy as a cloudlet to deliciously froth up your lattes or cappuccinos. This machine has fewer hands-on features than the Barista Express, so you don’t have to be an expert at making espresso just right to enjoy yourself!

Breville Barista Express Vs Bambino Plus: Comparison Chart

Image
The Winner (#1)
Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine BES870BSXL, Black Sesame
The Runner-up (#2)
Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine BES500BSS, Brushed Stainless Steel
Model
Breville Barista Express BES870
Breville Bambino Plus BES500
Dimensions (LxWxH)
12.5 x 12.6 x 13.1 Inches
12.5 x 7.6 x 12.2 Inches
Capacity
1.9 Liters
1.8 Liters
Material
Steel
Stainless Steel
Color
Stainless Steel
Brushed Stainless Steel
Weight
23 Pounds
3.1 Pounds
Heating System
1600W Thermocoil–Integrated
600W ThermoJet–Integrated
Power
1600 Watts
1560 Watts
Pre Infusion Function
Dose-Control Grinding
Removable Water Reservoir
Proprietary Thermojet Heating System
Precise Espresso-Extraction
Purge Function
Hands-Free Grind Operation
Hans-Free Automatic Steam Wand
What I Like
Price
$996.00
$499.95
The Winner (#1)
Image
Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine BES870BSXL, Black Sesame
Model
Breville Barista Express BES870
Dimensions (LxWxH)
12.5 x 12.6 x 13.1 Inches
Capacity
1.9 Liters
Material
Steel
Color
Stainless Steel
Weight
23 Pounds
Heating System
1600W Thermocoil–Integrated
Power
1600 Watts
Pre Infusion Function
Dose-Control Grinding
Removable Water Reservoir
Proprietary Thermojet Heating System
Precise Espresso-Extraction
Purge Function
Hands-Free Grind Operation
Hans-Free Automatic Steam Wand
What I Like
Price
$996.00
More Info
The Runner-up (#2)
Image
Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine BES500BSS, Brushed Stainless Steel
Model
Breville Bambino Plus BES500
Dimensions (LxWxH)
12.5 x 7.6 x 12.2 Inches
Capacity
1.8 Liters
Material
Stainless Steel
Color
Brushed Stainless Steel
Weight
3.1 Pounds
Heating System
600W ThermoJet–Integrated
Power
1560 Watts
Pre Infusion Function
Dose-Control Grinding
Removable Water Reservoir
Proprietary Thermojet Heating System
Precise Espresso-Extraction
Purge Function
Hands-Free Grind Operation
Hans-Free Automatic Steam Wand
What I Like
Price
$499.95
More Info

Last update on 2024-04-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Breville Barista Express Vs Bambino Plus: Differences

There’s no doubt that both the Breville Bambino Plus and the Barista Express espresso machines make excellent espresso, but the Barista Express comes out on top with a 3-1 ratio.

The features that helped Barista Express take first place include precise grinding of coffee beans and more user-friendly functions. Then again, these two espresso makers share a great deal in common as well, so find out more about them in this article.  

1. Taste Of Espresso

The Winner: Breville Barista Express

+ Coffee Grinder

The grinder of Breville Barista Express
The grinder of Breville Barista Express

First of all, I’d like to talk about espresso makers – one of my favorite topics. In terms of espresso machines under a thousand dollars, there are very few that can produce rich and delicious espresso. But there are two exceptions!

 The Breville Bambino Plus and Barista Express come fitted with 4 important settings with dose control for those who want their coffee strong or weak to suit the taste of the moment. 

These machines ensure the proper temperature necessary for balance in every cup. They use low-pressure pre-infusion technology that gives your grinds a head start before your brewing process begins, each offering you more full-bodied shots!

The first difference between these two appliances is that the Breville Bambino Plus does not have a built-in coffee grinder. It means you will have to buy a separate burr grinder that provides a more even grind. Otherwise, you will have to purchase pre-ground coffee beans or grounds from your nearest local coffee shop, prepared by them and with instructions on how coarse or fine to grind them.

In fact, a good grinder can make all the difference in pulling off a delicious brew, but consistency is hard to find! When you don’t have any experience buying a grinder, it can turn into a nightmare for you. That’s why the grinder in the Barista Express machine is remarkable compared to its competitors.

The Express’s coffee grinder makes use of a conical steel burr to ensure quality grinds are produced time and time again. Its bean hopper maintains an optimal level of freshness. It grinds up to 16 variable fineness levels and has a volume control with the push of a button. Lastly, the convenience of selecting any grind size with complete precision is a great time saver.

Nevertheless, what the Bambino Plus produces is smooth and hot. Due to its ease of use, the Bambino Plus is particularly appealing, especially as it is affordable.

For the Breville Barista Express, you can say the same thing. Its only difference is that this is a more customizable espresso maker that performs remarkably well. With more buttons on the Barista Express than the Bambino Plus, you can better control the flavor and volume of your espresso. 

Not only is this very characteristic elevating the flavor as well as the texture of espressos and lattes. Also, it transforms how you brew coffee daily by giving your options to all these drinks, including flat whites, mochas, cappuccinos, etc.

+ Heating System

Temperature adjustment of Bambino Plus
Temperature adjustment of Bambino Plus

ThermoJet in Bambino Plus and Thermocoil in Barista Express are the two common types of heating systems. 

It was found that the Bambino Plus offers an added 3-second window for heating up compared to Barista Express’ 5 seconds. This does not impact the espresso flavour since they both offer ‘Thermo’ technology. The only difference is that Bambino Plus has a few seconds shorter wait time before your first cup of coffee or espresso can be made after it’s plugged in.

2. Dose Control

The Winner: Breville Barista Express

The Breville Barista Express is more advanced. It offers a more nuanced espresso with myriad customizable options like grind setting, volume, and strength. Despite both machines following the same 4-level process, they pre-infused the ground coffee to intensify its flavor and texture to provide an optimal extraction. Compared to Bambino Plus, the Barista Express directly doses at the portafilter (single and double-shot 19g) produces impressive results.

The Barista Express offers a host of features that will cater to all types and coffee enthusiast levels. You’ll also find a simple, intuitive interface available with buttons to control the grind size, as well as an analog gauge so you can see your espresso’s color and concentration.  

Thus, you are more in control of the final product, making it easier than ever to create a perfect cup of espresso at home. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced coffee lover, the Barista Express is sure to please.

As opposed to its counterpart, the Bambino Plus automatically doses out the optimal amount of ground coffee instead of grinding it directly into the portafilter. Additionally, this machine can also be manually adjusted to acquire any amount to obtain a single/double shot. However, there’s no more control you can expect from this model.

3. Milk System

The Winner: Breville Bambino Plus

The steam wand of Breville Barista Express
The steam wand of Breville Barista Express

For milk steaming, the Bambino Plus has temperature and steam pressure settings for smoother milk texturing than the Barista Express. The automated features on the Bambino Plus let beginners produce smooth and well-textured milk without messing up as often as they would with a manual steam wand on the Barista Expresso. The hand-texturing steam wand on the Barista Express that demands your skills may take more time to learn than the automated features for milk steamers on the Bambino Plus.

Therefore, I find the steam wand on the Bambino Plus to be superior. This is an excellent tool because it consistently produces hot and creamy milk with an adjustable textured milk setting that lets you mimic espresso. And it makes a solid latte too! It also has an auto-purge function that self-cleans the steam wand after you use it to save you some time.

4. Utilities

The Winner: Breville Barista Express

The goal for any espresso machine is to compartmentalize specific features like size adjustments to make it easier for you. 

With the Breville Bambino Plus, this means a sturdy 54mm portafilter, easy-to-read controls, and convenient buttons so that you can set up your device without having to worry about whether or not you’re doing something incorrectly. Tiny lights that tell you when and where your next step should be – these are all ways that the Bambino Plus helps beginner users get the most out of their espresso experience.

The customizations of the Bambino Plus are both valuable and precise in a compact and lightweight espresso machine. It makes it simpler for novices to produce the finest espressos than what you get in a barista.

Making your morning cappuccino will no longer be a mystery. With Barista Express, you can get high-quality espresso exactly how you like it every time. It features a patented tamper system to ensure that ground coffee is positioned perfectly to help extract the best-tasting cup without smearing or spilling. And with a pressure gauge, you can be sure your espresso maintains its rich flavor from the first sip to the last drop.

Coffee brewers come in different shapes and sizes with different features, no doubt. The Barista Express has added buttons on the device’s face to change up aspects such as the grind size, pressure levels, and more.

This way, you have a lot more control over your coffee brewing method. These include some nifty extras similar to what you might find on a top-end machine but could also be seen as a sacrifice when it comes down to functionality in other areas (cup size, for example).

Breville Barista Express Vs Bambino Plus: Similarities

Making a shot with Bambino Plus
Making a shot with Bambino Plus

In my opinion, the Breville Bambino Plus and the Barista Express are both unique because they can deliver delicious and rich espresso at home. The machines don’t use pods or capsules but rather use fresh coffee. 

The coffee maker comes with a 54mm portafilter and tamper, allowing you to experience the authentic barista experience. The steam wand lets you create perfect lattes with frothy milk. Both machines are made up of high-quality stainless steel parts, and both have a twin brewing cycle so you can make a single and double shot of espresso. 

You can change the coffee volume manually by overriding the single and double shot buttons on one or both machines. The 15 bar pump pressure is suitable for home espresso makers, so even inexperienced users will be comfortable using Breville equipment. Both models are quiet, consistent, and simple to program for drinks like espresso.

Quick Rundown Of Breville Barista Express BES870

Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine BES870BSXL, Black Sesame
  • Earn up to $200 cashback with a Beanz coffee subscription when you purchase a selected Breville espresso machine. Valid Aug 1, 2023 until Jun 30, 2024
  • The Breville Barista Express delivers third wave specialty coffee at home using the 4 keys formula and is part of the Barista Series that offers all in one espresso machines with integrated grinder to go from beans to espresso in under one minute
  • DOSE CONTROL GRINDING: Integrated precision conical burr grinder grinds on demand to deliver the right amount of freshly ground coffee directly into the portafilter for your preferred taste with any roast of bean
  • OPTIMAL WATER PRESSURE: Low pressure pre-infusion gradually increases pressure at the start and helps ensure all the flavors are drawn out evenly during the extraction for a balanced tasting cup
  • PRECISE ESPRESSO EXTRACTION: Digital temperature control (PID) delivers water at precisely the right temperature, ensuring optimal espresso extraction

Last update on 2024-04-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Pros
  • The built-in burr grinder is a durable and efficient device.
  • It has beginner-friendly and advanced functions. 
  • The built-in self-cleaning options are quite handy. 
  • The toolkit is complete with all the necessary components.
  • The pressure gauge makes espresso extraction more accurate.
Cons
  • A few parts of the machine are made of plastic.
  • A learning curve is involved in using the steam wand.
  • A regular refill is required for the water tank.

Quick Rundown Of Breville Bambino Plus BES500

Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine BES500BSS, Brushed Stainless Steel
  • Item Package Dimension: 17.64L x 16.99W x 10.24H inches
  • Item Package Weight - 15.74 Pounds
  • Item Package Quantity - 1
  • Product Type - COFFEE MAKER

Last update on 2024-04-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Pros
  • An easy-to-use interface with proper functionality.
  • With a narrow and compact design, less cleanup is required.
  • Quickly heats up and extracts espresso automatically.
  • Manually texture milk for better results.
  • Keeping milk at the right temperature and texture.
  • An excellent choice for beginners.
Cons
  • There is a bit of weakness in the drip tray and portafilter design.
  • It does not include a grinder.
  • Less coffee strength adjusting.

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