Head to head
Bambino vs Barista Express.
2 min readUpdated October 24, 2026
The short answer
Both are Breville espresso machines with a 54 mm portafilter, a 15-bar pump and a 1-year limited warranty, and on both you tamp by hand. The Barista Express has a built-in grinder with 16 settings and a manual steam wand. The Bambino has no grinder, heats up in 3 seconds, froths milk with an automatic steam wand and measures 6.3 inches wide, about half the width of the Barista Express.
Where they differ.
Grinder
The Barista Express grinds beans straight into the portafilter. The Bambino needs pre-ground coffee or a separate grinder.
Milk
An automatic steam wand on the Bambino, with milk temperature and texture settings. A manual steam wand on the Barista Express.
Heat-up
The Bambino lists a 3-second ThermoJet heat-up. The Barista Express does not list a heat-up time.
Size and water
6.3 inches wide and a 47 oz tank on the Bambino; 12.5 inches wide and a 67 oz tank on the Barista Express.
Spec by spec, where they differ.
| Specification | Bambino | Barista Express |
|---|---|---|
| Grind settings | Not listed | 16 |
| Heat-up | 3 s (ThermoJet) | Not listed |
| Heating | Not listed | Thermocoil with PID |
| Water tank | 47 oz | 67 oz |
| Bean hopper | Not listed | 1/2 lb |
| Portafilter | 54 mm (19 g) | 54 mm |
| Extraction | Not listed | 9 bar |
| Power | 1560 W | 1600 W |
| Voltage | 110–120 V | 120 V |
| Dimensions (W × D × H) | 6.3 × 13.7 × 12 in | 12.5 × 13.8 × 15.9 in |
From each Amazon listing and, where it is silent, the manufacturer’s website. Specifications both models share are not shown.
2 models
The two machines
Breville
Barista Express
Espresso machine with grinder
16 grind settings
- Grind settings
- 16
- Water tank
- 67 oz
- Portafilter
- 54 mm
1 model
Pairing the Bambino with a grinder
If you choose the Bambino and want to grind fresh beans, the Smart Grinder Pro is the grinder in our collection.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a grinder with the Bambino?
The Bambino has no built-in grinder: you use pre-ground coffee or a separate grinder. The Barista Express grinds the beans itself.
Which one is better for small counters?
The Bambino: 6.3 inches wide, against 12.5 for the Barista Express, as listed.
Do you test these machines?
No. We compare the specifications each model publishes in its Amazon listing and, where the listing is silent, on the manufacturer’s official website. We do not rank machines by our own tests, and we never show borrowed ratings.
