In the Breville Bambino vs Barista Express decision, the real question is whether you’ll buy a separate grinder. A Bambino plus a separate grinder matched or beat the Express in the cup for less money, according to Craft Coffee Spot, a YouTube channel that compares espresso gear, but the Express was easier for beginners.
The $299.95 Bambino has no grinder and reached brewing temperature in about 3 seconds for Morgan Eckroth, a barista and coffee YouTuber. The $699.95 Express builds in a grinder and a pressure gauge (Amazon listings, Oct 16, 2026).
Breville bambino vs barista express: Specs Side by Side
Prices checked on Amazon Oct 16, 2026. I may earn a commission from links, at no cost to you.
| Breville Bambino (BES450BSS) | Breville Barista Express (BES870XL) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (Oct 16, 2026) | $299.95 | $699.95 |
| Amazon rating | 4.0 (2,669 ratings) | 4.4 (27,932 ratings) |
| Bought in past month | 5K+ | 10K+ |
| Grinder | None (needs a grinder or pre-ground coffee) | Built-in conical burr grinder, grind-size dial |
| Heating | ThermoJet, 3-second heat-up, PID | Thermocoil, PID (about 30 s heat-up per Coffee Kev) |
| Milk | Steam wand | Manual steam wand |
| Portafilter | 54 mm (19 g dose) | 54 mm |
| Other | Low-pressure pre-infusion, compact body | Low-pressure pre-infusion, pressure gauge, hot water outlet |
| Buy | Check price | Check price |
Who Should Buy Which
- Breville Bambino (BES450BSS): Fast 3-second heat-up and a small footprint at about $300; pair it with a separate grinder.
- Breville Barista Express (BES870XL): The classic all-in-one: built-in grinder, PID and a manual steam wand for latte art practice.
My Planned Test
Planned test: I plan to pull shots with the same beans on a Bambino plus separate grinder and on the Barista Express, then taste them blind. I will add my results and my Home Smart video here when they are done. Until then, nothing on this page is a hands-on claim from me.
What YouTube Reviewers Found
These findings are paraphrased from the video transcripts and credited to each creator. They are the creators’ own test results and opinions, not mine.
- Craft Coffee Spot: the Bambino plus a Baratza Encore ESP (about $500 total at filming) made espresso as good as or a little better than the Barista Express (about $750 at filming). A DF64 grinder with the Bambino tasted noticeably better still.
- Craft Coffee Spot: for beginners, the Barista Express wins on convenience: one plug, a grinder built for its portafilter, grind settings matched to the machine and less mess. Their advice for experienced users is to upgrade the grinder before the machine.
- The YouTube channel Morgan Eckroth (Bambino): it reached brewing temperature in about 3 seconds, and the default double shot gave thick crema and good body. The portafilter is partly plastic and the seal can be stiff to break, so give it room on the counter.
- Coffee Kev: the integrated grinder is convenient, but it is not much easier to use than a Bambino paired with a separate grinder. The Barista Pro steamed the same milk about 35 seconds faster in his test.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Bambino better than the Barista Express?
For espresso quality per dollar, Craft Coffee Spot found the Bambino plus a good grinder at least as good. For convenience, the Express wins.
Do I need a grinder for the Bambino?
Yes, unless you use pre-ground coffee. For fresh beans you need an espresso-capable grinder, which adds to the cost.
Which heats up faster?
The Bambino: about 3 seconds per Breville and Morgan Eckroth. Coffee Kev measured about 30 seconds on the Express.
What about the Bambino Plus?
It adds automatic milk texturing and listed at $485.00 on October 16, 2026.
Sources
- Amazon “Customers say” review summaries on each listing (AI-generated by Amazon from customer reviews), checked October 16, 2026
- Amazon product listings for the espresso machines linked above, checked October 16, 2026
- Amazon search results for “espresso machine” (snapshot October 16, 2026)
- Craft Coffee Spot: “Breville Bambino Vs Barista Express: Should You Get An Espresso Machine With A Grinder?”
- Morgan Eckroth: “Let’s Talk About The Breville Bambino Espresso Machine”
Related: Breville Barista Express Review | De’Longhi Classic Signature vs Bambino | Best Espresso Machine Under $500
Notes and disclosure
Note: Prices, ratings and “bought in past month” badges come from Amazon listings and Amazon search results on October 16, 2026. Prices change often, so check the current listing. Test results quoted below come from the YouTube reviewers credited in each section. My own hands-on results will be added after my planned test.
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