Start with the Bambino BES450 if you want manual milk steaming and a separate grinder; consider the Bambino Plus BES500 for automatic milk texturing, or the Barista Express BES870 if you want the grinder built in. Budget for the complete setup before choosing the lowest machine price.
This is a bounded comparison of three Breville models using manufacturer specifications and US listed prices checked on 16 October 2026. It is a desk comparison, not a hands-on test or a ranking of the whole beginner market.
Why the shortlist is three models, not the market
These three share a platform: a 54 mm portafilter, an 18 g dose, a 15 bar Italian pump, low-pressure pre-infusion followed by 9 bar extraction, and single and dual wall baskets in one and two cup sizes. The differences come down to workflow, milk handling and whether a grinder is included.
The list stops there on purpose. Dual boiler and heat exchanger machines, lever machines, super-automatics and pod systems are separate categories with different budgets; the site's guide to dual boiler machines covers one of those groups.
Neither Bambino includes a grinder, so the machine price is not the setup price. All three are semi-automatic machines with a steam wand, not bean-to-cup machines.
Decision matrix
Feature | Bambino BES450 | Bambino Plus BES500 | Barista Express BES870 |
|---|---|---|---|
Milk | Manual steam wand | Automatic steam wand, 3 temperatures and 3 texture levels; manual texturing also available | Manual steam wand |
Grinder | None included | None included | Integrated conical burr, 16 grind settings, auto grind and dose |
Heating | ThermoJet, manufacturer claim of ready in 3 seconds | ThermoJet, same claim | Thermocoil with PID, manufacturer claim of water at 200°F |
US list price, 16 Oct 2026 | $299.95, listed out of stock | $499.95, add to cart | $699.95, listed out of stock |
Where each one fits, and where it does not
Bambino BES450 suits a buyer who wants a separate espresso grinder and is willing to learn manual milk steaming. It is a poor match if automatic milk texturing or an integrated grinder is a requirement.
Bambino Plus BES500 suits a buyer who wants automatic milk texturing while retaining a separate grinder choice. It also permits manual texturing. Espresso-only drinkers should decide whether that extra milk feature justifies the price difference.
Barista Express BES870 suits a buyer who wants an integrated grinder and manual steam wand in one machine. If you already own a suitable grinder, compare the extra cost and counter space against a machine without one. Separate components can be changed independently later.
Choose a machine and a grinder together
For the two Bambinos the grinder is a separate purchase, so decide it alongside the machine rather than after. The requirement is a burr grinder producing fine, adjustable, repeatable grounds, ideally stepless or with enough steps to make small changes as a bean ages. A blade grinder does not qualify: it chops rather than grinds, gives an uneven particle size distribution, and offers no repeatable way to move finer or coarser.
All three include dual wall, or pressurized, baskets alongside the single wall ones. Those tolerate pre-ground coffee, so you can start there, but a dual wall basket is a workaround, not a substitute for an espresso-capable grinder, and it caps what you can dial in. On the Barista Express the grinder is integrated with 16 settings and auto grind and dose — convenient, and also the ceiling if you later want better grind quality.
Prices, stock and what they exclude
All figures are US dollars, read from Breville's US product pages on 16 October 2026. They exclude sales tax, shipping and bundle pricing, and stock status can change the same day. On that date the BES450 was listed at $299.95 out of stock, the BES500 at $499.95 with add to cart active, and the BES870 at $699.95 out of stock.
Promotions, colours and availability vary. Recheck the exact model listing before ordering.
Budget worksheet
The machine price is one line, not the budget. Grinder, scale, cleaning consumables and repairs were not verified here, so no totals are given. Fill in current local prices yourself:
- Machine: $____
- Espresso-capable burr grinder, if not included: $____
- Scale accurate to 0.1 g: $____
- Milk pitcher sized to the drinks you make: $____
- Backflush and descaling products, filters if water is hard: $____
- Fresh beans with a roast date, monthly: $____
- Contingency for gaskets, wear parts and repairs: $____
Maintenance you should expect
Each machine uses a 54 mm basket, a steam wand and a drip tray, and each ships with cleaning provisions: the BES450 a wand tip cleaning tool and descaling powder, the BES500 a cleaning tool and disc, the BES870 a cleaning disc and tablets, a brush and tool, and a water filter. Rinse the basket and clean the wand as the exact model manual directs. Cleaning cycles and descaling procedures differ: do not apply another machine's backflush routine. Use the products and schedule specified for your own model.
If a Breville's pressure gauge reads above the espresso range, that is usually puck resistance rather than a fault. Grind, dose, basket type and blocked basket holes are the usual causes; the site's guide to Breville espresso pressure reading too high works through them in order.
Make the choice around your routine
Buy for the morning you will actually have, not the machine you imagine yourself becoming. A forgiving setup that fits your counter, your budget and the drinks you make most often will teach you more than a spec sheet can. If none of these three matches your routine, look outside the shortlist.
Sources
Breville product pages, read 16 October 2026: the Bambino BES450, the Bambino Plus BES500, the Barista Express BES870.
