Breville Barista Express vs. Breville Bambino

If you’re in the market for a quality espresso machine then you’ve probably come across the Breville Barista Express and the Breville Bambino.

Both machines are great choices for those who want to make espresso at home but which one is right for you?

In this article we’ll compare the two machines and help you decide which one is best for your needs.

Let’s brew!

Breville Barista Express vs.

Breville Bambino

Let’s take a look at each of the two Breville espresso machines and see which one makes the most sense for you to go with; starting with Breville Barista Express.

Breville BES870XL Barista Express

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The Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine is a top-of-the-line option for those looking to bring third wave specialty coffee into the comfort of their own home.

This machine is part of the Barista Series, which offers all-in-one espresso machines with integrated grinders that can go from beans to espresso in under one minute.

One of the standout features of this machine is its Dose Control Grinding, which utilizes an integrated precision conical burr grinder that 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.

This ensures that you always have the perfect amount of coffee for your espresso shot.

Another key feature of the Breville Barista Express is its Optimal Water Pressure.

The machine has a low pressure pre-infusion that gradually increases pressure at the start and helps ensure that all of the flavors are drawn out evenly during the extraction process for a balanced and delicious cup of coffee.

Additionally, the machine has 16 precision grind settings, giving you complete control over the strength and flavor of your espresso.

The machine also includes a Digital Temperature Control (PID) which delivers water at precisely the right temperature, ensuring optimal espresso extraction.

This machine also comes with a manual microfoam milk texturing feature, which allows you to hand texture microfoam milk that enhances flavor and enables the creation of latte art.

The Breville Barista Express also has a grind size dial that is simple and intuitive, giving you control over the grind size no matter what type of bean you’re using.

Additionally, this machine has a built-in coffee grinder, which is an innovative feature that allows any at-home barista to grind directly into the espresso portafilter for the perfect espresso.

In terms of accessories, this machine comes with a Razor Dose Trimming Tool, 54mm Stainless Steel Portafilter, 1 & 2 cup Single & Dual Wall Filter Baskets, Coffee Scoop, Integrated Tamper, Stainless Steel Milk Jug, Cleaning disc, tablets, brush tool & Allen Key, Water Filter & Filter Holder.

The machine also has a 1-year limited product warranty and is powered by 1600 watts and operates at 120 volts.

Pros:

Dose Control Grinding for precise and consistent coffee
Optimal Water Pressure for balanced and delicious cup of coffee
16 precision grind settings for complete control over strength and flavor
Digital Temperature Control for optimal espresso extraction
Manual microfoam milk texturing for enhanced flavor and latte art
Grind size dial and built-in coffee grinder for convenience
Comes with a variety of accessories for a complete experience
1-year limited product warranty

Cons:

Expensive
Trouble with consistency in brewing process
Some customers have had difficulty programming the output of water
Some customers have had trouble getting the right grind size
Grinder is too loud

Breville Bambino

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The Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine is the perfect addition to any coffee lover’s kitchen.

This compact machine packs a powerful punch, delivering third wave specialty coffee at home using the 4 keys formula.

Part of the Bambino Series, this machine offers a faster way to professional results at home in a compact footprint, making it perfect for those with limited counter space.

One of the standout features of the Bambino Plus is its dose control grinding.

This feature allows you to achieve a consistent and balanced espresso using the right amount of ground coffee.

The 54mm porta-filter with 19 grams is the key to full flavor and cafe quality coffee.

The Bambino Plus also boasts optimal water pressure with its low pressure pre-infusion, which gradually increases pressure at the start and helps ensure all the flavors are drawn out evenly during the extraction for a balanced tasting cup.

In addition to its impressive grinding and water pressure capabilities, the Bambino Plus also has a faster heat up time, thanks to its innovative ThermoJet heating system.

This system achieves the optimum extraction temperature in just 3 seconds, saving you valuable time in the morning.

The Bambino Plus also has precise espresso extraction with its digital temperature control (PID), which delivers water at precisely the right temperature, ensuring optimal espresso extraction.

Another great feature of the Bambino Plus is its automatic microfoam milk texturing.

The automatic steam wand allows you to adjust the milk temperature and texture to suit your taste, delivering barista quality microfoam that enhances flavor and enables creation of latte art.

The Bambino Plus also has a compact footprint, measuring just 7.7 inches in width, making it easy to fit on your countertop without compromising on the 4 keys formula for third wave specialty coffee.

The Bambino Plus also has an auto purge feature, which automatically purges the heat system after steaming, ensuring your next espresso is extracted at the right temperature.

And with a 2 year limited product warranty, you can rest assured that your investment is protected.

Pros:

Fast startup time
Dose control grinding
Optimal water pressure
Faster heat up time
Precise espresso extraction
Automatic microfoam milk texturing
Compact footprint
Auto purge feature
2 year limited product warranty

Cons:

Filter needs to lock in tight to be sealed under pressure
Machine is so light that it will slide around your counter before accepting the filter
No handle to grab, so the only way to make this work is by wrapping your arms around the whole machine

So which espresso machine is better?

Both the Breville BES870XL Barista Express and the Breville Bambino are high-quality espresso machines that offer a variety of features to produce third wave specialty coffee at home.

However, the Breville BES870XL Barista Express is the better overall option.

It offers more advanced features such as Dose Control Grinding, 16 precision grind settings, and a manual microfoam milk texturing feature, which allows for greater control over the strength and flavor of your espresso.

Additionally, it comes with a variety of accessories and has a 1-year limited product warranty.

On the other hand, the Breville Bambino is a more compact option and is a good choice for those with limited counter space.

However, it does not have as many features as the Barista Express and thus not as versatile.

And…the winner is: BARISTA EXPRESS