Breville Bambino Plus Automatic Espresso with Smart Grinder Pro Burr review

Some coffee machines exist simply to get the job done—to get caffeine into your bloodstream. Others, like the Breville Bambino Plus Automatic Espresso Machine, create a ritual out of your coffee-making routine. The Bambino Plus offers an eye-catching silhouette that’s available in six colours and pairs perfectly with other Breville Luxe Colour Collection products in your kitchen. It turns making coffee into something simple yet exquisite. Plus, with the matching Breville Smart Grinder Pro, you know that your coffee grounds will be fresh and aromatic with every cup.

What’s in the box of the Breville Bambino Plus Automatic Espresso Machine?

In the box of the Breville Bambino Plus Automatic Espresso Machine, you’ll find a heavy, well-built 54 mm portafilter with 1- and 2-cup dual-wall filter baskets, a 54 mm tamper, and a 480 ml stainless steel milk jug. The machine features a 1.9 L removable water tank and a removable drip tray with grid.

Also included in the box is an introductory set of cleaning tools (cleaning tablets, instructions, and diagrams) and Breville’s “The Razor,” which is perfectly sized to trim your grounds for precise dosing. One thing that I loved was that this machine integrates cleaning tools into its design: underneath the water tank, you’ll find a built-in tip cleaning tool for the product’s steam wand.

What does the Breville Bambino Plus Automatic Espresso Machine do?

The Breville Bambino Plus uses a Thermojet heating system to allow you to brew rich, flavourful espresso with just 3 seconds of heat-up time. Everything about this machine is designed for easy, at-home perfection. Even with my rookie-level barista skills, I was able to make shot after shot of espresso with a rich flavour and gorgeous crema.

Breville uses 9-bar pressure extraction and a low-pressure pre-infusion so that every last drop of your espresso is brewed to perfection, and it does so with just the right amount of customization. It was easy to turn each dose of espresso into a latte using the Breville steam wand to create that dense microfoam on your hot milk. On the lowest temperature settings for both espresso and milk, my lattes were rich and warm, but immediately drinkable—which is perfect for a busy morning.

Unlike Breville’s original Bambino, the Breville Bambino Plus offers three milk temperature settings and three espresso temperature settings. It’s easy to clean, and has a 64 oz. removable water tank, an auto-purging milk frothing wand, and an elegantly designed removable drip tray that I really enjoyed.

Why buy the Breville Bambino Plus?

I’m a coffee machine novice. I really enjoy a great cup of coffee, but when it comes to skill… I don’t have a lot of it. It’s difficult for me to make a perfect cup of coffee, so Breville’s approach to at-home espresso has always spoken to me.

When Breville makes a coffee or espresso machine, I think that they make a very luxurious, high-end option that’s accessible to even the lowest of skill levels. Then, they include all of the options that you’re going to want once you’ve become more skilled: things like precise dosing and the ability to make extremely fine microfoam out of your milk.

The Bambino Plus uses even, expertly-crafted pressure alongside such a detailed quick-start guide that you can troubleshoot your technique after making each cup. And, honestly? This machine made it easy to produce a shot of espresso with balanced flavour and a gorgeous, velvety crema despite my inexperience. It’s a pleasure to use, with heavy, satisfying touches and high-end details like its integrated cleaning tool, ring-shaped plug in (for greater ease of use and durability over time), and soft-touch control buttons.

The Breville Bambino Plus Automatic Espresso Machine looks sleek and beautiful on my countertop next to my matching Breville appliances (all in that same black stainless steel finish that’s exclusive to Best Buy), and every one of my decaf oat milk lattes came out looking like I had just picked up coffee from the café down the block.

What’s in the box of the Breville Smart Grinder Pro?

In the box of the Breville Smart Grinder Pro, you’ll find a beautifully sleek smart coffee grinder with an LCD. The Breville Smart Grinder pairs wonderfully with the Bambino Plus (and with other Breville products—these are all in the Best Buy-exclusive black stainless steel finish). It includes an easy-to-fill bean hopper with a locking mechanism, a removable grind tray, and hardened stainless steel conical burrs.

With the Smart Grinder Pro, you’ll also find included two portafilter cradles (50-54 mm, which fits the Breville Bambino Plus, and 58 mm) and a grinds container. It comes with a conical burr cleaning brush for regular maintenance.

What does the Breville Smart Grinder Pro do?

The Breville Smart Grinder Pro really took my breath away. I know it’s just a bean grinder, but… It was the best bean grinder I have ever used. By a long shot.

With 60 different grind settings and a separate grind time control, you’re able to set both grind time and grind size using either buttons or mechanical knobs. The Smart Grinder Pro measures time in 0.2-second increments so that you can achieve perfect dosing each time for your grind and portafilter size. Then, once you know what setting delivers the exact results you’re looking for, you can leave your machine set there to use again and again—saving you from wasting coffee grinds in the future.

This burr coffee grinder is compatible with cups/containers, portafilters, and filter baskets. You can select the correct dose size (number of shots or cups) with Dosing IQ technology, and you have the option to swap out your attachments (50-54 mm portafilter cradle, 58 mm portafilter cradle, or nothing) to suit your exact needs.

What made the Breville Smart Grinder Pro so special?

Honestly… I don’t know. That’s something that I don’t say in reviews very often—in fact, I’m not sure I’ve ever said it in a Best Buy review. But there was just something really special about the Breville Smart Grinder Pro.

It might have been this grinder’s beautiful build, or the fact that it comes in a black stainless steel finish (exclusive to Best Buy) that matches other gorgeous appliances in the Breville line. Or it could have been the super-simple smart system, which guides you to the right grind size and amount with flawless ease. It could have even been the stainless steel grinder itself, which has 60 different grind settings (to 0.2 second increments) so you can get exactly the right texture and amount.

But my guess? My guess is that it was the start button. There’s one on the front panel, but here’s the thing: it isn’t the only one. There is another start/cancel button hidden a little lower down, where you’d fill your receptacle. And it is… Perfect. Just a little bump gets the system started, to deliver the exact right amount of coffee to your portafilter or container. You can choose between cups (for French press or filter coffee) and shots (for espresso), then adjust your grind size and grind time to create the perfect cup of coffee.

Something about it makes this process so beautifully seamless that I can’t get over it. I will drink cup after cup of coffee just to experience how gorgeous this system feels when you use it, and I (buzzing and jittery) just can’t get enough!

Incredibly easy cleaning with Breville 

Breville products often sit toward the luxury end of the market, but I’ve always felt like their reputation and design make their price point easy to justify. So, let’s talk about what makes Breville products so enjoyable to use!

Upgrading from a basic machine to a Breville kind of feels like upgrading from an entry-level sedan to a luxury one. It isn’t so much what the product does; it’s more about the attention the company and product pay to how it does it.

For example: let’s say you’re making a cup of tea. On a basic kettle, you have an on/off switch. No matter what, you’ll be able to make that cup of tea. But on the Breville IQ Kettle, not only will your water boil more quickly, but you’ll have the option to set your kettle to one of five different, precise temperature settings to best suit the kind of tea (or other hot drink) you’re making.

The Breville Bambino Plus Automatic Espresso Machine and Breville Smart Grinder Pro Burr Coffee Grinder are kind of like that. Yes, you could make coffee with any coffee maker—but these ones turn the act of making it into an experience of its own. They deliver an extremely customizable experience that is nonetheless easy to use, and they take things like product maintenance and cleanup into consideration during the design process.

When you spill a few coffee grounds, no problem; the Smart Grinder Pro has a heavy-walled tray that slides out for easy cleaning and clicks back into place with a satisfying snick. If you spill your milk while pouring it, don’t worry; the Bambino Plus’ drip tray is easy to rinse out and slide back in before your coffee even cools.

Who is the Breville Bambino Plus and Smart Grinder Pro best for?

If you love a cohesive set of kitchen appliances, then Breville is the brand for you. These luxurious coffee appliances are part of a whole-kitchen design collection that spans from espresso machines to air fryers, and they’re currently available in six colours. They’re indulgent upgrades from whatever you have in your kitchen right now, and if you really want to spoil someone you love, they’d together make a phenomenal gift.

Plus, because the Babmino Plus and Smart Grinder Pro are part of Breville’s Luxe Colour Collection, they create new opportunities for gifting in the future. Because as we all know… Once you have one of a matching set, it can be hard to resist the rest! Whether it’s a gift for a loved one or a way to treat yourself after hitting new professional milestones, this small appliance upgrade is one that you can enjoy every day.

Shop the Breville Bambino Plus Automatic Espresso Machine and Breville Smart Grinder Pro Burr Coffee Grinder online at Best Buy today.