Breville esp8xl vs Bambino Plus Espresso Maker: Which One is Better?

Coffee is the third most consumed beverage in the world, only surpassed by tea and water. It’s also one of the most popular drinks in the world. If you spend any time near a coffee shop, you know how much people love their coffee. It’s no wonder then that so many people have started making their own at home.

Ease of use and high demand for instant coffee has made automatic coffee makers very popular. If you’re looking for a simple way to get your instant coffee fix at home, an automatic coffee maker is a great choice. There are a variety of different models, each with their own unique features. This article will compare Breville esp8xl vs bambino plus espresso maker side by side to find out which is better at making great espresso. Stay tuned!

Breville esp8xl vs Bambino Plus Espresso Maker

Breville esp8xl vs Bambino Plus Comparison

FeaturesBreville esp8xl Espresso MakerBreville Bambino Plus
Dimensions9x9x12 Inches13x8x12 Inches
MaterialStainless-Steel / AluminumStainless-Steel
Weight13 lb14 lb
ColorBrushed Stainless-SteelBrushed Stainless-Steel
Water Reservoir1.2L / 41 Oz1.8L / 64 Oz
ControlsDial / Manual Control1 cup, two cups, steam button
Power1000W/110-120V1560W/110-120V
3 Sec Heat up TimeNoYes
Purge FeatureNoYes
Pre-Infusion FeatureNoYes
Removable Drip trayYesYes
Adjustable Steam WandYesYes
15 Bar Italian PumpYesYes
Warranty1 Year Limited Warranty2 Year Limited Warranty
Amazon Rating4.3/5 Star (3.8K Reviews)4.4/5 Star (944 Reviews)
PriceBuy on AmazonBuy on Amazon

Differences: Breville esp8xl vs Bambino Plus

Appearance & Design

Breville esp8xl café Roma has a minimalist design that fits well on most kitchen, office or coffee bar counter. Made out of stainless-steel and aluminum, with brushed stainless-steel exterior Breville esp8xl café Roma is a treat to the eyes. The Breville esp8xl café Roma espresso maker has dimensions of 9x9x12 inches and it weighs about 13 pounds.

Breville Bambino plus has slightly bigger footprint measuring at 13x8x12 Inches and weighs about the same weight as of Breville esp8xl. The stainless-steel construction makes it durable enough to last through extensive use.

Controls

Breville esp8xl café Roma and Bambino plus are entry level espresso makers, so if you are new to the world of espresso, Breville Café Roma and Bambino Plus are just the right choices. In terms of control, Breville esp8xl café Roma has a manual dial to let you either pull an espresso shot or steam milk. The coffee maker doesn’t have fancy bells and whistles, a perfect machine for beginners in my opinion.

On the contrary, Breville Bambino plus has slightly advanced 5 button control panel. The buttons include 1 cup, 2 cup, steam, froth temperature and texture settings.

Water Reservoir

Breville esp8xl café Roma comes with water capacity of 1.5 liter or 41 fluid ounces, while Breville Bambino plus comes with a 1.8 liter or 64 fluid ounces water reservoir.

The water reservoir in both Breville esp8xl and Bambino plus is easily removable to fill when required.

Fastest Heating System

The Breville Bambino Plus features innovative ThermoJet heating system which heats up and achieve the required temperature for extraction in just 3 seconds.

On the other hand, Breville esp8xl café Roma has ThermoBlock heating mechanism which heats up the water pretty fast but it doesn’t come close to the performance of Breville Bambino Plus.

The Breville bambino plus is a 1560 watt espresso maker whereas Breville esp8xl café Roma is a 1000 watt machine. More power, better performance!

Purge Function

The Breville Bambino plus automatically purges the heating system once you pull a shot of espresso to make sure you don’t get burnt espresso next time. It brings the temperature down from about 135C to 95C for brewing. Breville café Roma however does not have purge function.

Pre-infusion Feature

The bambino plus comes with a pre-infusion feature which enhances the process of espresso extraction. It saturates the coffee ground with by increasing pressure for optimal deliciousness by extracting and drawing out all the flavors. The machine uses a temperature controller to ensure that the water delivered to espresso has precise temperature for a great tasting espresso shot. Breville esp8xl café Roma doesn’t share this feature.

Dose Control

The Breville esp8xl Café Roma has straightforward manual control consisting of a dial that you turn left to start the steam wand and turn right to pull your espresso shot – nothing complicated! On the other hand, bambino plus consists of 5 button controls which allows you to select between 1 cup or two cups and also to start the steam wand. The Top button out of two on the right side, lets you adjust the wand temperature and the 2nd one lets you select the texture of froth.

Steam Wand

You might be wondering what’s the difference when both espresso makers have steam wands. Here is the difference. You can adjust the temperature on steam wand in Breville Bambino Plus and also you can adjust the texture of the milk for a variety of coffee beverages. On the contrary, Breville esp8xl café Roma doesn’t have this feature.

Similarities: Breville esp8xl vs Bambino Plus

  1. Both espresso makers use pre-ground coffee via portafilter.
  2. Both machines have 15-bar Italian pump mechanism.
  3. Both machines have durable stainless-steel construction with brushed stainless-steel exterior.
  4. Steam wands have finger-loop that gives you total control over milk texturing.
  5. Both espresso makers come with additional accessories such as cleaning tools, tamper and drip tray indicator.

Quick overview of Breville esp8xl Espresso Maker

Sale
Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma Stainless Espresso Maker,1.2...
  • Stainless-steel espresso machine with 15-bar thermoblock pump
  • Dual-wall filter system for excellent crema; froth enhancer, cup-warming plate
Pros
  • User friendly controls
  • Compact and attractive design
  • Durable stainless-steel construction
  • Small footprint
  • 40 fluid ounces removable water tank
  • Multiple handy accessories
  • Adjustable steam wand
  • Cup Warming tray
Cons
  • Only fits small cups
  • No cleaning indicator

Breville BES500BSS Bambino Plus Espresso Machine

Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine BES500BSS, Brushed...
  • Item Package Dimension: 17.64L x 16.99W x 10.24H inches
  • Item Package Weight - 15.74 Pounds
Pros
  • Durable construction
  • Premium looking design
  • User-friendly intuitive controls
  • Adjustable steam wand
  • Cup warming pad
  • 3 wand temperature settings
  • Adjustable froth texture
  • ThermoJet heating system
  • Auto purge heating system
Cons
  • Way too Expensive

Breville esp8xl vs Bambino Plus: Conclusion

Choosing between Breville esp8xl vs bambino plus is simple as ABC. If you are looking for an espresso machine for beginners you should pick Breville esp8xl café Roma for it is simple to operate and makes great espresso shots with controlled output.

On the other hand, if you are looking for a few additional features and functions, a lot more precision perhaps, Breville Bambino plus would be a great addition to your kitchen or office. But unlike esp8xl café Roma espresso maker, Bambino Plus is quite an expensive machine. So, if you are comfortable spending about 600$, go for it.

Which one would you choose and why? Tell us about your first coffee or espresso machine experience in the comment section below!