The Breville Bambino Plus (model BES500) is a compact, manual-portafilter espresso machine whose main advantage over the standard Bambino is automation on the milk side: automatic milk texturing and an automatic steam-wand purge. For someone who makes espresso mainly as a black shot, the extra cost and footprint are harder to justify. For a household that makes lattes or cappuccinos most days and wants less hands-on steaming, the Plus is the more useful machine.
What the Plus adds over the standard Bambino
Both machines use the same basic workflow: you grind, dose, tamp and lock a portafilter, then pull a shot. The Plus changes what happens after that. Breville’s current U.S. product page describes automatic milk texturing at three temperature settings and three texture settings, and says manual steaming is also available. The machine also has a larger removable tank and ships with a Razor dosing tool. Those are the differences that matter for daily use; the espresso brewing itself is not presented by Breville as a different category of machine.
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Official specifications
The figures below come from Breville’s U.S. product page and the BES500 U.S. instruction manual (T23 edition). They describe the U.S. variant. Regional versions may differ, so check the listing for your country before buying.
| Specification | Breville U.S. listing or manual | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Bambino Plus, BES500 | Breville U.S. product page |
| Portafilter | 54 mm stainless steel | Breville U.S. product page |
| Dose | 18 g coffee | Breville U.S. product page |
| Extraction | Low-pressure pre-infusion, then a stated 9 bar extraction | Breville U.S. product page |
| Pump label | 15 bar | Breville U.S. product page |
| Heating | ThermoJet; Breville states ideal extraction temperature in 3 seconds | Breville U.S. product page and BES500 manual |
| Water tank | 64 fl oz (1.9 L), removable | BES500 U.S. instruction manual |
| Electrical | 120 V / 60 Hz / 1560 W | BES500 U.S. instruction manual |
| Dimensions (W × D × H) | 11.9 × 7.4 × 14.3 in (about 30.2 × 18.8 × 36.3 cm, converted) | Breville U.S. product page |
| Energy | Up to 32% less annual energy than a Thermoblock system | Breville internal benchmark, November 2022; not an independent test |
Not every published figure agrees. A September 2026 TechRadar buying guide lists the Plus at 1.4 L capacity and 31 × 19.5 × 32 cm. Those numbers do not match Breville’s 1.9 L tank or its listed dimensions, which suggests a regional or product-version difference, or a specification error in the guide. Use the official specification for the market you are buying in, and measure your counter space before ordering.
#1 Best Overall
- MICROFOAM MILK TEXTURING: Cappuccino maker and latte machine has an automatic steam wand allowing you to adjust milk temperature and texture, creating barista-quality microfoam for latte art at home
- FASTER HEAT UP TIME: Espresso maker includes innovative ThermoJet heating system that achieves optimum extraction temperature in 3 seconds; Make your own cappuccinos and lattes at home without waiting
- BALANCED-TASTING CUP: Manual espresso machine features low pressure pre infusion that gradually increases pressure at the start; All flavors are drawn out evenly during the extraction
- RECEIVE 2 FREE BAGS OF SPECIALTY COFFEE: Included when you purchase and register any Breville coffee machine; T&Cs apply
- HOME ESPRESSO MACHINE WITH PRECISE EXTRACTION: Digital temperature regulation (PID) delivers water at precisely the right temperature, allowing for even espresso extraction
Milk: automatic texturing and purge
The milk features are the reason to choose the Plus, so it is worth understanding how they work.
Automatic texturing
In automatic mode, the machine texturizes milk at one of three temperatures and one of three foam levels. The manual names the temperature settings Warm, Ideal and Hot, and the foam settings Low, Medium and High. You choose the combination; the machine handles the steaming. Manual texturing remains available for people who want to control the wand themselves.
Rank #2
- MICROFOAM MILK TEXTURING: Cappuccino maker and latte machine has an automatic steam wand allowing you to adjust milk temperature and texture, creating barista-quality microfoam for latte art at home
- PRECISE DOSE GRINDING: This semi-automatic espresso machine allows you to achieve a consistent and balanced espresso using the right amount of ground coffee with the 54mm porta-filter with 19 grams
- WATER PRESSURE: Low pressure pre-infusion gradually increases pressure at the start and draws out all flavors evenly during the extraction so home baristas can enjoy a balanced-tasting cup of espresso
- RECEIVE 2 FREE BAGS OF SPECIALTY COFFEE: Included when you purchase and register any Breville coffee machine; T&Cs apply
- FASTER HEAT UP TIME: Coffee maker includes innovative ThermoJet heating system that achieves extraction temperature in 3 seconds; Make your own cappuccinos and lattes at home without the wait
Automatic wand purge
According to the manual, the wand purges automatically once it is returned to its downward position after steaming. This clears milk residue from the wand without a separate step, which also reduces the chance of leftover milk drying at the tip. Breville presents this as a feature of the machine, and the independent reviews below describe it favourably.
What independent reviewers observed
Both reviews below are publication-specific observations, not measurements taken by this site.
Rank #3
- MICROFOAM MILK TEXTURING: Cappuccino maker and latte machine has an automatic steam wand allowing you to adjust milk temperature and texture, creating barista-quality microfoam for latte art at home
- PRECISE DOSE GRINDING: This semi-automatic espresso machine allows you to achieve a consistent and balanced espresso using the right amount of ground coffee with the 54mm porta-filter with 19 grams
- WATER PRESSURE: Low pressure pre-infusion gradually increases pressure at the start and draws out all flavors evenly during the extraction so home baristas can enjoy a balanced-tasting cup of espresso
- RECEIVE 2 FREE BAGS OF SPECIALTY COFFEE: Included when you purchase and register any Breville coffee machine; T&Cs apply
- FASTER HEAT UP TIME: Coffee maker includes innovative ThermoJet heating system that achieves extraction temperature in 3 seconds; Make your own cappuccinos and lattes at home without the wait
TechRadar (September 2026 buying guide)
TechRadar recommends the Plus as its pick for compact spaces. Its reviewer confirmed the fast heat-up in testing, found milk frothing easy across the temperature and texture settings, and liked the automatic purge. The caveats were practical: expect a learning curve with basket choice, grinding, tamping and dose trimming; two espresso cups can be hard to fit under the spout; and the guide notes there is no automatic switch-off. The guide describes the machine as compact and capable, but not a pod machine or a fully automatic coffee maker.
Tom’s Guide (comparison published December 27, 2025)
Tom’s Guide compared the standard Bambino with the Plus. Its reviewer found the espresso results broadly similar between the two and said the Plus’s clearest advantage is its more capable steam wand together with the automatic milk and purge functions. The article described the Plus as the more expensive model in the U.S. at that time. Those prices are historical, so compare current prices directly before deciding.
Rank #4
- MICROFOAM MILK TEXTURING: Cappuccino maker and latte machine has an automatic steam wand allowing you to adjust milk temperature and texture, creating barista-quality microfoam for latte art at home
- PRECISE DOSE GRINDING: This semi-automatic espresso machine allows you to achieve a consistent and balanced espresso using the right amount of ground coffee with the 54mm porta-filter with 19 grams
- WATER PRESSURE: Low pressure pre-infusion gradually increases pressure at the start and draws out all flavors evenly during the extraction so home baristas can enjoy a balanced-tasting cup of espresso
- RECEIVE 2 FREE BAGS OF SPECIALTY COFFEE: Included when you purchase and register any Breville coffee machine; T&Cs apply
- FASTER HEAT UP TIME: Coffee maker includes innovative ThermoJet heating system that achieves extraction temperature in 3 seconds; Make your own cappuccinos and lattes at home without the wait
Espresso performance: reading the claims
Two numbers appear in Breville’s material and are easy to misread. The pump is labelled 15 bar, but Breville describes the extraction itself at 9 bar, preceded by low-pressure pre-infusion. The 3-second heat-up is a Breville statement, quoted in the BES500 manual as “Innovative ThermoJet® technology achieves ideal extraction temperature in 3 seconds.” TechRadar reported that heat-up in its own testing, but no independent source in this review measured it under controlled conditions.
On espresso quality, the only independent comparison found here reports similar results between the Bambino and the Plus. The Plus does not appear to make better espresso than the standard model. Your shot quality will depend far more on grind, dose, tamp and basket than on the pump label.
Best Value
- MICROFOAM MILK TEXTURING: Cappuccino maker and latte machine has an automatic steam wand allowing you to adjust milk temperature and texture, creating barista-quality microfoam for latte art at home
- PRECISE DOSE GRINDING: This semi-automatic espresso machine allows you to achieve a consistent and balanced espresso using the right amount of ground coffee with the 54mm porta-filter with 19 grams
- WATER PRESSURE: Low pressure pre-infusion gradually increases pressure at the start and draws out all flavors evenly during the extraction so home baristas can enjoy a balanced-tasting cup of espresso
- RECEIVE 2 FREE BAGS OF SPECIALTY COFFEE: Included when you purchase and register any Breville coffee machine; T&Cs apply
- FASTER HEAT UP TIME: Coffee maker includes innovative ThermoJet heating system that achieves extraction temperature in 3 seconds; Make your own cappuccinos and lattes at home without the wait
Included equipment
Breville’s U.S. product page lists the following in the box:
- 54 mm tamper
- Razor precision dosing tool
- 480 ml stainless steel milk jug
- One-cup and two-cup single-wall filter baskets
- One-cup and two-cup dual-wall filter baskets
- Cleaning tool and cleaning disc
The U.S. manual also illustrates a steam-tip cleaning tool, cleaning tablets and descaling powder. Confirm the exact contents of your regional bundle, since accessories can vary by SKU.
The one purchase many buyers will need is a grinder. The machine’s workflow depends on fresh, finely ground espresso, and Breville’s listing does not include a grinder. Choose one that can produce espresso-fine grinds; this site has not tested a specific model for that purpose.
The Tool Desk
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Work through these questions in order. The first one usually decides the matter.
- Do you make milk drinks most days? If you do, the automatic texturing and purge reduce daily effort, and the Plus is the stronger choice. If you mostly drink espresso or americanos, the standard Bambino covers the same brewing and costs less.
- Do you want to steam by hand? If you enjoy manual steaming and control over the wand, the standard model suits you. The Plus still allows manual texturing, but its main advantage is the automation.
- Is your counter deep enough, and do you need two cups at once? Measure the footprint against the official dimensions, and check the cup clearance under the spout if you often serve two cups at once. The reviews above flag that clearance as tight.
- Are you ready for a portafilter workflow? You will need to choose baskets, grind, dose, tamp and trim. If that sounds like too much work, a pod or fully automatic machine will suit you better, and this machine is not one.
- Is the price premium justified? Compare the live price of the Plus with the standard Bambino in your country on the day you buy. If the gap is small relative to how often you use the milk functions, the Plus is a reasonable buy. If the gap is large and you drink mostly espresso, it is not.
For a household that makes milk drinks regularly and has the counter space, the Plus is the better machine. For an espresso-first buyer, the standard Bambino gives the same brewing performance for less.
Quick Recap
Ongoing care and consumables
- Cleaning tablets and descaling powder are shown in the U.S. manual. Use the products the manual specifies for maintenance, and check the manual before substituting a third-party product.
- Wand and tip cleaning is supported by the automatic purge, but the manual’s steam-tip cleaning tool is still the right tool for residue around the tip.
- The removable 1.9 L tank makes refilling and cleaning straightforward, since you can lift it out rather than working around the machine.
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