Apartment-Tested Review · 2026
Breville the Bambino Plus
Slimmest real-espresso machine that actually makes good shots — apartment default rec, with one known weakness (auto-steam wand reliability over time).
📊 What this review is built on
Quick verdict
Slimmest real-espresso machine that actually makes good shots — apartment default rec, with one known weakness (auto-steam wand reliability over time).
Check on Amazon →Specs
| Footprint (W × D × H) | 7.4″ × 12.6″ × 12.2″ · 188 × 320 × 310 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 12.1 lb · 5.5 kg |
| Power | 1560 W |
| Water tank | 1.9 L · 64 oz |
| Portafilter | 54 mm |
| Heating | ThermoJet (single thermoblock) |
| PID temp control | Yes |
| Pre-infusion | Yes |
| Auto-milk frother | Yes |
| Warranty | 2 years |
| MSRP | $499.95 |
Apartment-Fit Score
- Footprint 9/10
- Plumbing-free10/10
- Renter-safe10/10
- Noise (lower better)~65 dB
Methodology: how we score this →
What expert reviewers say
well look at this little cutie we're gonna be taking a look at the Breville Bambino plus today so buckle up [Music] now before jumping into the video I'll ask I know that annoying ask if you take a second hit the like subscribe really helps check out the links below yada yada …
hello fellow coffee botherers in this video I'm doing an updated review on the sage or Rebel Bambino plus and answering the question is this the best coffee machine under £400 or $500 I first reviewed the Bambino plus back in March 2020 it was the sixth video I published here …
I Just Wanna Have Fun clap my hands turn around now and dance dance dance today we're going to take a look at the Bambino plus by Breville now the Bambino plus is a very interesting machine for all the features that it offers and at that price point so I want to take a look at…
What Reddit really says
I'd sell a lot of stuff to scrape up 800 if it came to me. 🤣
It’s a solid built machine, but it’s expensive for what you get. I have one and I love it but this is the criticism it gets (no PID, heat exchange instead of dual boiler, a lot of $$$)
Nice! Wat would be wrong with an appartamento?
That’s a great start, enjoy your coffee
Nice! I have a standard Bambino — hell of a machine for the money. For espresso the Breville Smart Grinder Pro is meh, when possible I would get an Encore ESP for $200 as an easy upgrade to up the quality. That's a fantastic first apartment setup tho, congrats to moving in and to having a dad with good taste!
So I'm going to get some hate for this but I think you should keep what you have. If you want to upgrade then wait until you can get a Decent or an ACS Vesuvius Leva (or something similar). I went from a Gaggia classic pro with PID to a MaraX and the quality in the cup did not change. The MaraX has a better user experience but it did not make better tasting espresso. So I would definitely wait unt…
Video review
Pros & cons
✓ Strengths
- 188mm width fits any apartment counter
- 3-second heat-up via ThermoJet
- PID temp control — rare at this price
- Low Pressure Pre-Infusion built in
- Auto-milk works for beginners (texture good for 35-second steam)
- Comes with both pressurized AND non-pressurized baskets (rare — most starters force you to pressurized)
✗ Weaknesses
- Auto-steam wand can clog/lose power over time (Amazon 'Frequently Returned' tag)
- Included tamper is plastic and widely panned — replace day 1
- No hot water function (no Americano without manual workaround)
- Steam wand fixed-angle (won't swing aside)
- Drip tray small — empty after each session
- 54mm portafilter is Breville-specific size — accessories ecosystem narrower than 58mm prosumer standard
Buy if / Skip if
Buy if
- First espresso machine for renter / apartment
- Latte/cappuccino daily driver where milk steaming convenience matters
- Counter under 8 inches wide available
- Budget $400-500 with intent to invest in grinder separately
Skip if
- Black-coffee-only drinker (auto-milk premium wasted; get base Bambino at $329)
- Plan to upgrade to 58mm prosumer in <2 years (skip to Gaggia Classic Pro)
- Need rotary pump silence (this is vibratory ~65dB, not whisper-quiet)
Prices verified 2026-05-03. Live snapshots may differ — click through to see current.
More angles
Frequently asked · apartment edition
Will the Breville the Bambino Plus fit a 13-inch counter?
At 7.4″ wide, yes — with about 4.6″ of clearance left over after a 1″ margin for steam wand swing. For tighter counters under 12″, use the Will-It-Fit calculator above.
Is the Breville the Bambino Plus loud enough to wake my partner?
Estimated ~65 dB during the pump cycle — manageable for early-morning use even with a sleeping partner nearby. Vibratory pumps cycle for ~10–25 sec per shot, then go quiet. The grinder is usually louder than the brew cycle.
Does it need plumbing?
No. The Breville the Bambino Plus runs entirely off its own water tank — no water line, no drain. Standard for renter-friendly machines.
Will it run on a standard US 110V outlet?
Yes — native 120V (US). Plug into any standard outlet. No 220V dedicated circuit needed.
Who should skip the Breville the Bambino Plus?
- Black-coffee-only drinker (auto-milk premium wasted; get base Bambino at $329)
- Plan to upgrade to 58mm prosumer in <2 years (skip to Gaggia Classic Pro)
- Need rotary pump silence (this is vibratory ~65dB, not whisper-quiet)
How long is the warranty?
2 years from Breville on the machine. Amazon adds 30-day returns on top. Most failures Reddit users report happen after the warranty — specifically the steam-wand and pump cycle.
Who is the Breville the Bambino Plus best for?
- First espresso machine for renter / apartment
- Latte/cappuccino daily driver where milk steaming convenience matters
- Counter under 8 inches wide available
- Budget $400-500 with intent to invest in grinder separately