Splurge
Breville
Oracle Jet
8.4Great
Auto grind, dose and tamp into a 58 mm portafilter plus hands-free milk and cold brew: barista-level results with little skill, at a price.
Espresso Machines5$2,000
Best overall
Breville
Bambino Plus
A compact 54 mm machine that heats in 3 seconds and textures milk hands-free; just add a good grinder.
8.4
Great
Coffee Reviews score
See the breakdown →
Community
—/10
- Type
- Semi-automatic espresso machine
- Heating system
- ThermoJet; reaches extraction temperature in 3 seconds; PID temperature control
- Pump
- 15-bar Italian pump; low-pressure pre-infusion, then 9-bar extraction
- Typical price
- $499.95
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Last reviewed October 17, 2026 by the Coffee Reviews editors · How we score
A compact 54 mm machine that heats in 3 seconds and textures milk hands-free; just add a good grinder.
A compact semi-automatic espresso machine with ThermoJet heating that Breville says reaches extraction temperature in 3 seconds, PID control, low-pressure pre-infusion and a 54 mm portafilter. Its steam wand textures milk automatically (three temperatures, three texture levels) or manually. It has no grinder, so it is best paired with a capable espresso grinder; long-term owners and reviewers praise its reliability and milk performance.
Best for
- Milk-drink lovers who want hands-free microfoam
- Small kitchens
- Pairing with a quality standalone grinder
What we like
- Ready to brew in about 3 seconds (ThermoJet)
- Hands-free milk texturing with 3 temperature and 3 texture settings, plus manual mode
- Compact footprint with a 54 mm portafilter and pre-infusion
- 2-year limited warranty
Watch-outs
- No grinder: budget for a capable espresso grinder
- Tiny drip tray needs frequent emptying
- Brew temperature is fixed at about 200°F
- Hot water only through the steam wand
How it scored
The breakdown.
8.4Great
Gear score out of 10, weighted across five factors.
- Performance30%8.4
Coffee Kev says it gets the espresso fundamentals right (54 mm, 9-bar, pre-infusion) and its four-hole auto steaming is quick, though the fixed 200°F brew temperature favors medium-dark roasts.
- Build & reliability20%7.8
Stainless construction and a 2-year limited warranty; a three-year daily owner at Taste of Home reports it stayed reliable with periodic cleaning, but the drip tray is tiny.
- Ease of use15%8.9
3-second heat-up, one-touch shot buttons and hands-free milk make it one of the easiest real-espresso machines to live with.
- Value20%8.3
$499.95 for a compact machine with auto milk, but a capable grinder is an extra cost.
- Community love15%8.9
Widely recommended by creators (Coffee Kev used it as his home machine for years; Lance Hedrick and Alternative Brewing reviewed it in depth) and by long-term owners.
Creator video reviews
Watch it in action.
2 positive2 mixed
Independent creators, verified with YouTube and TikTok. We don’t pay for reviews and creators don’t pay us.
What people are saying
From the forums.
Verbatim from Reddit, forums and long-term owner write-ups — linked so you can read the full thread.
“The Bambino Plus is the more complete package if your daily coffees are cappuccinos, lattes, flat whites, and similar drinks. The four-hole tip is quicker, the steam texture is slightly easier to get right, and the auto frothing is genuinely useful.”
“Bambino Plus: Tiny drip tray is a pain. Lots of water ends up in there, so it needs to be emptied regularly.”
“I began using this product in January 2021 and have since found it extremely reliable for espresso and other coffee shop drinks as it brews quickly and consistently.”
“The biggest downside of the Bambino is that if you want freshly ground espresso (which I highly recommend), you need a separate grinder—which can take up more counter space—defeating the point of a small-footprint espresso machine.”
Specifications
By the numbers.
- Model
- BES500BSS
- Heating system
- ThermoJet; reaches extraction temperature in 3 seconds; PID temperature control
- Pump
- 15-bar Italian pump; low-pressure pre-infusion, then 9-bar extraction
- Portafilter
- 54 mm stainless steel; 1- and 2-cup single- and dual-wall baskets
- Milk
- Automatic hands-free texturing (3 temperatures, 3 texture levels) or manual steaming
- Shot control
- 1-cup and 2-cup volumetric buttons
- Hot water
- Via the steam wand
- Grinder
- None (separate grinder required)
- Water tank
- 64 fl oz
- Included
- 54 mm tamper, Razor dosing tool, 16 fl oz stainless milk jug
- Voltage
- 110–120 V
- Dimensions
- 11.9 × 7.4 × 14.3 in (as listed by Breville, W × D × H)
- Weight
- 10.91 lb (4.95 kg)
- Power
- 1560 W
- Warranty
- 2-year limited
- Brews
- Espresso, Lattes & milk drinks
- Typical price
- $499.95 (checked October 2026)
Community
Member tasting notes & discussion.
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Discussion
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FAQ
Good questions.
Does the Bambino Plus have a grinder?
No. You need pre-ground coffee or a separate grinder. Breville includes single-wall baskets for fresh grounds and dual-wall (pressurized) baskets that are more forgiving.
How fast does it heat up?
Breville says the ThermoJet heating system reaches the optimum extraction temperature in 3 seconds, so there is almost no warm-up wait.
Can you adjust the brew temperature?
Not in normal use. Coffee Kev notes both Bambino models brew at a fixed 200°F, which suits medium-dark to dark roasts best.
Bambino or Bambino Plus?
The Plus adds automatic milk texturing, a four-hole steam tip and a 3-way solenoid valve. Coffee Kev suggests the Plus for mostly milk drinks and the plain Bambino for mostly black coffee.
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