Head-to-head · 2026

Breville Bambino vs Bambino Plus — Which to Buy

Same ThermoJet, same PID, same width-class. The $100 difference: auto-milk frother. Here's whether to pay for it.

By Alex · Updated May 3, 2026 · Same data sources as our individual reviews

Breville the Bambino (base)

$329

Apt-Fit 10/10 · 160 mm wide

Full review →

Breville the Bambino Plus

$499

Apt-Fit 9/10 · 188 mm wide

Full review →

Bambino base ($300) and Bambino Plus ($400) share 95% of internals — same ThermoJet 3-second heat-up, same PID, same 54mm portafilter, same Low Pressure Pre-Infusion. The Plus adds auto-milk frothing (set temp + texture, push button) and is 28mm wider to fit the milk-jug sensor housing.

If you drink black coffee primary → save $100, get the base. If you drink lattes daily and don't want to learn manual milk steaming → pay the $100 for Plus.

Spec-by-spec

	Breville the Bambino (base)	Breville the Bambino Plus
Width (mm)	160	188
Depth (mm)	320	320
Apt-Fit Score	10	9
Price (USD)	299.95	399.95
Power (W)	1560	1560
Water tank (L)	1.4	1.9
Portafilter (mm)	54	54
PID temp control	✓	✓
Pre-infusion	✓	✓
Auto milk frother	—	✓
Warranty (years)	2	2

Green = better value on that axis. Same value = both shown neutral.

Footprint side-by-side

Both diagrams at the same scale on a standard 60 cm apartment counter.

Breville the Bambino (base) — 160×320 mm

Breville the Bambino Plus — 188×320 mm

Our verdict

Get Bambino base if: you drink mostly espresso/Americanos, or you want to learn proper milk steaming (manual wand teaches better technique than auto frother).

Get Bambino Plus if: you drink lattes/cappuccinos daily and value convenience over skill development. The auto-milk feature is genuinely good — Lance Hedrick called it "café-quality microfoam without skill required."

Don't pay extra for Plus if you're already planning to upgrade to a 58mm prosumer machine in 1-2 years. Save the $100 toward a Gaggia Classic Pro or Lelit Anna instead.

FAQ

Are the shots from Bambino base and Plus identical?

Yes. Same pressure, same pre-infusion, same temperature curve. The shot quality is indistinguishable.

Can I retrofit auto-milk to a base Bambino later?

No. The auto-milk requires a temperature sensor, modified milk jug, and different control board — not user-upgradeable.

Which one is more reliable long-term?

Both have the same Reddit complaint pattern: steam wand performance can degrade over 2-3 years. Plus's auto-milk wand is more complex (more failure points) — slight reliability edge to base.