Breville · Thermocoil · ranked #2 of 8
Bambino Plus
Best for fast, small, beginner-friendly.
87
SpecScore
75
temp stability
1 min
warm-up
The heat system, explained
The Bambino Plus is a thermocoil machine. A thermocoil is a refined flow heater: water runs through a coiled path embedded in a heated aluminum block, which smooths out temperature swings compared with a basic thermoblock — especially when paired with digital temperature control, as Breville does. You still get one-minute warm-ups and a compact build, and you still switch modes between brewing and steaming.
Temperature control note: Digital temp control.
Key facts
- Thermocoil heats in about a minute — the fastest path from switch to shot
- Digital temperature control keeps brew temp consistent shot to shot
- Automatic milk texturing makes it the most forgiving first machine
- Small footprint; the trade-off is a lighter, more appliance-grade build
Our verdict
Who it's for: fast, small, beginner-friendly. At $499 typical street, you are buying a thermocoil with controlled brew temperature and a ~1 min warm-up — the gauge cluster above is the honest summary the box won't print.
Who should skip it: buyers chasing the absolute spec ceiling — this one trades peak spec for balance.
It currently tops 2 of our use-case rankings: Best Espresso Machines for Beginners, Best Espresso Machines for Small Kitchens.
Whatever you pair it with, dial it in properly — the dial-in calculator walks the 25–32 second window one variable at a time.