Breville Barista Express vs. Bambino Plus: Which Should You Buy?

The Grinder Is the Whole Decision

Everything else about these two machines is a secondary consideration once you answer one question: do you want the grinder built in, or are you fine buying one separately? The Barista Express (BES870) bundles a genuinely capable conical burr grinder into the machine itself. The Bambino Plus (BES500) skips the grinder entirely in exchange for a smaller footprint and a dramatically faster heat-up — and expects you to bring your own.

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The Core Difference in One Paragraph

The Barista Express has a built-in 40mm conical burr grinder with 16 settings calibrated specifically for espresso, a larger 67 oz water tank, and a full-size footprint (13.3" wide) to house it all. The Bambino Plus has no grinder at all — you need a separate one — but it makes up for that with a 3-second ThermoJet heat-up (versus the Express's slower thermocoil warm-up), an automatic steam wand, and a footprint 60% smaller (7.7" wide). Both use the same 54mm portafilter format and produce genuinely good espresso once dialed in.

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Quick Picks

• Best if you want one machine that does everything, grinder included: Barista Express
• Best for a tight counter or if you already own a grinder: Bambino Plus
• Best for fastest morning routine, power-on to first shot: Bambino Plus (under 90 seconds total)
• Best value if you're starting from zero, including the grinder: Barista Express — buying a separate grinder for the Bambino Plus adds real cost

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Barista Express — Best for an All-in-One Setup

The Barista Express remains one of Breville's most popular machines specifically because it removes a separate grinder purchase from the equation entirely.

What we like:

• Built-in 40mm conical burr grinder with 16 settings produces consistent, espresso-appropriate grounds without a separate purchase
• Larger 67 oz tank means fewer refills than the Bambino Plus
• Full manual control over dose and grind size for anyone who wants to dial in shots precisely
• One machine, one warranty, one thing to maintain instead of two separate appliances

Where it falls short:

• Significantly larger footprint (13.3" wide) — a real problem on a tight counter
• Slower heat-up than the Bambino Plus's ThermoJet system
• Steam wand is noticeably slower and noisier than the Bambino Plus's automated version
• If the grinder starts producing inconsistent or jammed grounds, see our Barista Express-era grinder guide — it's one more system that can need attention compared to a machine without a built-in grinder

Price range: $499-599 depending on sales

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Bambino Plus — Best for Speed and Small Spaces

The Bambino Plus assumes you're either bringing your own grinder or willing to buy one, and in exchange delivers speed and footprint the Express can't match.

What we like:

• 3-second ThermoJet heat-up means you can go from power button to pulling a shot in under 90 seconds total
• Automatic steam wand with temperature and froth presets produces consistent microfoam hands-free
• 60% smaller footprint than the Barista Express — genuinely fits tight kitchens
• Same 54mm portafilter and pre-infusion as the Express — no compromise on shot quality itself

Where it falls short:

• No built-in grinder — budget an extra $100-150 for a decent standalone burr grinder if you don't already own one
• Smaller 47 oz base tank compared to the Express's 67 oz (though the Bambino Plus's tank is still larger than the base Bambino's)
• The auto-steam system is one more mechanism that can eventually need attention — see our Bambino Plus error lights guide for the most common patterns

Price range: $399-499 depending on sales

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Reliability: What Actually Breaks

The two machines share pump- and boiler-related scale issues in similar measure — regular descaling prevents most problems on either. Where they diverge is exactly where their designs diverge: the Barista Express's built-in grinder is an additional mechanical system that can jam or need burr cleaning, something the Bambino Plus simply doesn't have to worry about since it has no grinder at all. In exchange, the Bambino Plus's automatic steam wand is a system the Express doesn't have — the Express's manual wand is mechanically simpler and has less to fail, even though it takes more skill to use well.

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Is Skipping the Built-In Grinder Actually a Downgrade?

Not necessarily. The Barista Express's built-in grinder performs well for a machine at this price, and for most home users it's genuinely sufficient — but several coffee experts still recommend pairing a Bambino Plus with a quality standalone grinder over relying on the Express's integrated one, since a dedicated grinder can outperform it and gives you room to upgrade independently later. If you're starting from zero on equipment, the Express's bundled grinder is the lower-hassle, lower-total-cost path. If you already own a grinder you like, the Bambino Plus lets you skip paying for a second one you don't need.

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Can You Go Wrong Either Way?

Not on espresso quality once dialed in — both use the same portafilter format and deliver genuinely good shots. Where buyers regret their choice is picking the Bambino Plus without budgeting for a separate grinder, then feeling like they didn't actually save money once that cost is added in, or picking the Barista Express for a small kitchen and immediately regretting the counter space it eats. Price out the full setup, grinder included, before comparing the two machines head to head.

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FAQ

Is the Barista Express's built-in grinder as good as a standalone grinder?

It performs well and is genuinely sufficient for most home espresso, but it's not considered top-tier compared to dedicated standalone grinders in the same price range. Many owners are happy with it long-term; more particular users eventually upgrade to a separate grinder.

Can I add an automatic steam wand to the Barista Express later?

No — the auto-steam system is built into the Bambino Plus's wand assembly specifically. There's no retrofit path for the Express's manual wand.

How much should I budget for a grinder if I choose the Bambino Plus?

A decent entry-level espresso-capable burr grinder runs $100-150. Once you factor that in, the total cost gets close to the Barista Express, though you get more flexibility to upgrade the grinder independently later.

Which machine is faster for a single morning shot?

The Bambino Plus, by a wide margin — its 3-second heat-up beats the Express's warm-up time significantly, especially if you're not leaving the machine on standby.

Does the Barista Express's larger tank make it better for a household?

It helps — 67 oz versus 47 oz means noticeably fewer refills if multiple people are pulling shots throughout the day, independent of the grinder question.

My Barista Express grinder jammed — is that a common issue?

It happens, usually from oily dark-roast beans or an incorrect grind setting. See our Breville grinder not working guide for the standard fixes before assuming it needs replacement.