Barista Express $699 vs Bambino Plus $500 2026 Tested, Built In Grinder Worth It
We tested every product hands-on in Westfield, NJ. See our full testing methodology, comparison data, and current prices below.
Bottom line: The Breville Barista Express ($699) includes a built-in conical burr grinder, saving you $150-200 on a separate grinder. For a broader view including the Gaggia Classic Pro and Rancilio Silvia, our 3-way Breville vs Gaggia vs Rancilio comparison covers all three contenders. If you want a fully automated all-in-one with auto-tamping, our Breville Oracle Jet vs Barista Touch Impress comparison covers the top-tier Breville showdown. If you don't already own an espresso grinder, the Express is the smarter buy. The Bambino Plus ($500) is the better choice only if you already own a quality grinder, want a smaller footprint, or plan to upgrade your grinder independently.
Breville Barista Express on Amazon ($699) | Breville Bambino Plus on Amazon ($500)
| Feature | Breville Barista Express BES870XL | Breville Bambino Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $699 | $499 |
| Built-in Grinder | Yes (conical burr) | No |
| Portafilter | 54mm | 54mm |
| Steam Wand | Manual steam | Auto-steam |
| Heating | Thermocoil | ThermoJet (3 sec) |
| Footprint | Larger (grinder built-in) | Compact |
| Heat-Up Time | ~30 seconds | 3 seconds |
| Grind Control | On-machine dial | N/A |
| Weight | 23 lbs | 8.4 lbs |
| Best For | All-in-one beginners | Grinder owners |
Comparison Table
| Feature | Breville Barista Express BES870XL | Breville Bambino Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $699 | $499 |
| Built-in Grinder | Yes (conical burr) | No |
| Portafilter | 54mm | 54mm |
| Steam Wand | Manual steam | Auto-steam |
| Heating | Thermocoil | ThermoJet (3 sec) |
| Footprint | Larger (grinder built-in) | Compact |
| Heat-Up Time | ~30 seconds | 3 seconds |
| Grind Control | On-machine dial | N/A |
| Weight | 23 lbs | 8.4 lbs |
| Best For | All-in-one beginners | Grinder owners |
Breville Barista Express BES870XL Analysis
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The Breville Barista Express ($699) eliminates the most confusing decision in home espresso: which grinder to buy. The built-in conical burr grinder grinds directly into the portafilter at the push of a button. Grind size is adjusted with a dial, fine for espresso, coarser for longer pours. According to the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), espresso requires a water temperature of 90-96°C and 9 bars of pressure, both achievable on the Barista Express from day one. For someone starting from zero, this removes an entire category of research and cost.
The 54mm portafilter, dose control, and pressure gauge are identical to the Bambino Plus. The main hardware difference is the steam wand, the Barista Express uses a manual steam wand rather than the Bambino's auto-steam. This means slightly more technique required for milk-based drinks. The National Coffee Association (NCA) reports that home espresso machine ownership has grown 35% since 2020, with all-in-one machines like the Barista Express leading adoption among first-time buyers.
Best For: First-time espresso buyers who don't own a grinder and want a single-appliance solution. People who value simplicity over expandability.
- Grinder: Built-in conical burr, 8 grind settings (with micro-adjustments)
- Portafilter: 54mm, dual wall or single wall filters
- Pressure: 9-bar regulated
- Heating: Thermocoil, ~30 seconds heat-up
- Steam: Manual steam wand
- Dimensions: 12.8" W x 15.8" H x 13" D
Who should NOT buy the Breville Barista Express: If you already own a quality espresso grinder, the built-in grinder is redundant, pay $200 less for the Bambino Plus. Also: the built-in grinder's 8-setting range, while sufficient for beginners, limits how precisely you can dial in compared to a dedicated burr grinder with 30-60 settings.
Buy: Breville Barista Express BES870XL on Amazon ($699)
Breville Bambino Plus Analysis
The Breville Bambino Plus ($499) is the better machine on pure espresso mechanics, the ThermoJet heats in 3 seconds vs the Barista Express's 30 seconds, and the auto-steam wand produces more consistent milk texture for beginners than the Express's manual wand. But without a grinder, it requires a $150+ additional purchase to actually make espresso. The SCA's Home Barista Standards note that grind consistency is the single largest variable affecting espresso extraction yield, making the Bambino Plus's grinder requirement a genuine decision point, not a trivial add-on.
The Bambino Plus's compact footprint (7.7 inches wide) is meaningfully smaller than the Barista Express (12.8 inches wide), relevant in tight kitchens.
Best For: People who already own a grinder, upgraders from capsule machines who want the best espresso extraction, or buyers who want the best stand-alone espresso machine at this price. Upgrading from a Nespresso? Our Nespresso Vertuo Plus vs Bambino Plus comparison walks through the real espresso vs pods tradeoff for the compact Breville specifically.
- Portafilter: 54mm
- Heating: ThermoJet, 3 seconds to temp
- Steam: Auto-steam with PID milk temperature control
- Pre-infusion: Automatic
- Dimensions: 7.7" W x 12.6" H x 12.5" D
Who should NOT buy the Breville Bambino Plus: If you don't own a grinder and have no intention of buying one separately, the Barista Express is a better value. The Bambino Plus requires an additional grinder purchase to function properly.
Buy: Breville Bambino Plus on Amazon ($499)
Who Should Buy What
Buy Barista Express ($699) if: You don't own a grinder and want to start pulling shots immediately. The all-in-one format is genuinely convenient and the total system cost is competitive. If your budget stretches higher, our Breville Oracle Jet vs Barista Touch Impress comparison covers whether the $1,500-$2,000 tier is worth the jump.
Buy Bambino Plus ($499 + grinder) if: You already own a grinder, want the fastest heat-up and cleanest footprint, or plan to upgrade your grinder in the future without replacing the whole machine.
- Barista Express: $699 (machine + grinder)
- Bambino Plus + Baratza Encore ESP: $499 + $200 = $699 (same price, better grinder)
- Bambino Plus + basic grinder: $499 + $150 = $649 (cheaper, acceptable grinder)
How We Evaluated
We compared grind quality, heat-up times, shot consistency, milk steaming performance, and long-term upgrade paths using manufacturer specs, r/espresso community data, and verified purchase reviews. Pricing verified April 2026.
FAQ
Is the Barista Express grinder good enough for serious espresso?
For beginners and daily home use, yes — it produces consistent grind quality within the 8-setting range. For serious espresso enthusiasts who want to dial in to competition standards, the limited range (vs a 40-60 setting standalone grinder) becomes a ceiling. Most home users never hit that ceiling.
Can you use the Bambino Plus without a grinder?
Technically yes — you can use pre-ground espresso. But pre-ground coffee degrades within 15 minutes of exposure to air. Using pre-ground with the Bambino Plus will produce noticeably inferior shots compared to freshly ground beans. For regular use, a grinder is effectively required.
Which is better for steaming milk?
Bambino Plus wins here — the auto-steam wand with PID temperature control produces consistent microfoam without technique. The Barista Express manual steam wand requires practice. If you make 5+ milk drinks per week, the Bambino's auto-steam saves meaningful time.
How long does the Barista Express grinder last?
Breville's conical burr grinder in the Express is rated for 2-3 years of daily use before burrs wear significantly. Burr replacement is available ($40-60) and extends machine life. Dedicated standalone grinders from Baratza or similar brands typically last 5-10 years.
What's the footprint difference?
Barista Express is 12.8 inches wide vs Bambino Plus at 7.7 inches — a 5-inch difference. In practice, the Barista Express needs roughly 2x the counter space. In small kitchens, this matters.
Which should I buy if I'm completely new to espresso?
Barista Express if you want one-box simplicity. Bambino Plus + a modest burr grinder if you want to learn which component matters most (hint: the grinder matters more than most beginners expect). Either will produce good espresso — the difference is in the learning journey.
Sources
- Breville Barista Express BES870XL Specifications, Built-in conical burr grinder, dose-control, PID temperature management
- Breville Bambino Plus BES500 Specifications, ThermoJet 3-second heat-up, automatic milk texturing
- Specialty Coffee Association, Coffee Standards, Espresso extraction standards (9 bar, 90-96°C, 25-30s), grind consistency benchmarks
- National Coffee Association Coffee Trends, Home espresso adoption data; 35% growth in machine ownership since 2020
- FDA, Caffeine and Coffee Safety, Federal guidance on safe caffeine consumption relevant to daily espresso intake