Best Breville Espresso Machine (2026): Express, Bambino Plus, and Touch
The best Breville espresso machine for most kitchens is the Barista Express. Choose the Bambino Plus when you already own a grinder, or the Barista Touch when you want a guided touchscreen workflow.
By Harper Lin
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The short answer: The Breville Barista Express (paid link) is the best Breville espresso machine for most homes. Choose the Bambino Plus (paid link) if you already own a grinder and want compact auto milk, or the Barista Touch (paid link) if guided drink profiles are worth the step up.
Our picks
Breville's home lineup solves the same morning problem three different ways. One machine grinds and pulls. One stays tiny and expects a separate burr. One puts recipes on a screen so the first week feels less like homework.
This guide is for US buyers comparing those paths, not every Breville SKU ever sold. If you only want the Express deep dive, use our Barista Express page. For budget ceilings, see under $500. Wider fits live in the best espresso machine hub.
One box, separate grinder, or guided screen
Start with how you want the morning to feel. The Barista Express is the classic answer: hopper, burr, portafilter, and steam wand on one footprint. You learn real semi-auto habits without building a two-box setup on day one.
The Bambino Plus flips that deal. It heats fast, steams with an automatic wand, and stays small. You still need a real espresso grinder, or the cup stays thin no matter how quick the ThermoJet is.
The Barista Touch keeps the all-in-one idea and adds a touchscreen. Drink profiles help when you want the machine to suggest the next step. You pay more for that guidance, and many owners eventually ignore half the presets once muscle memory shows up.
All three use Breville's 54mm system. Plan tampers and baskets around that. Hard water still ruins more machines than a weak pump, so follow the descaling path in the manual.
Quick comparison
Shop: Barista Express (paid link) · Bambino Plus (paid link) · Barista Touch (paid link)
Top pick: Breville Barista Express
The Breville BES870XL Barista Express (paid link) is the best Breville espresso machine when you want grind, shot, and steam without a second appliance. That is still the honest reason people search this brand. Fill the hopper, grind into the portafilter, tamp, pull, and steam.
The built-in conical burr is good enough to learn on. It is not as fine-stepped as a dedicated espresso mill over the long haul. Plenty of owners keep the Express as the machine and upgrade the grinder later. That is a fine path if counter space is the bottleneck now.
Look for the BES870XL in brushed stainless. Measure hopper height under your cabinets before you order. The body is wider than a Bambino, and you still need room to pull the drip tray and lift the tank.
Who it is for: Households that want one weekday box and a real portafilter workflow without shopping for a separate grinder first.
Pros
- True all-in-one morning kit
- Semi-auto habits that transfer if you upgrade later
- Steam wand covers household milk drinks
- Easy to compare against Bambino and Touch on the same counter job
Cons
- Integrated mill trails a dedicated espresso burr
- Larger footprint than Bambino
- 54mm parts are Breville-specific
Shop: Breville Barista Express on Amazon (paid link)
Best compact: Breville Bambino Plus
The Breville Bambino Plus is the Breville to buy when the Express feels too tall or too wide, and you already plan a separate espresso burr. ThermoJet heat-up is fast enough for a busy Tuesday. The automatic steam wand keeps lattes from turning into a project while you learn dose and tamp.
It is still a compact 54mm machine, not a cafe group. Auto milk is help, not a replacement for grind quality. If you make several drinks in a row, give the wand a moment to recover so the second latte is not lukewarm foam.
Look for the BES500 (or the current US Bambino Plus listing). The body is small, but you still need room for a grinder beside it. If that second box does not fit, go back to the Express.
Who it is for: Small kitchens, milk-drink homes, and anyone who would rather spend on a better separate mill than on a built-in hopper.
Pros
- Ready almost immediately
- Auto milk reduces steam anxiety
- Small footprint with a serious portafilter workflow
- Leaves the long-term grind upgrade path open
Cons
- No built-in grinder
- Kit cost rises once you add a real burr
- Not the pick if you refuse a two-box setup
Shop: Breville Bambino Plus on Amazon (paid link)
Best guided: Breville Barista Touch
The Breville Barista Touch is the step-up all-in-one when you want recipes on a screen and less guessing in week one. You still grind, tamp, and steam. The touchscreen just makes the first drinks feel more like following a clear path than inventing one.
Choose it when the budget is already in Touch territory and guided profiles matter more than saving money for a future separate grinder. Skip it if you are happy learning the Express by feel and would rather keep the difference for beans, a scale, and better milk pitchers.
It still shares the 54mm ecosystem and the same weekday jobs: hot group, even puck, milk finished before the shot goes cold. The screen does not fix stale beans or a dirty wand.
Who it is for: Buyers who want Breville's one-box kit with more guidance and are fine paying for that comfort.
Pros
- Touchscreen drink profiles lower early stress
- Integrated grinder keeps the morning to one appliance
- Feels finished for guests who do not want a workshop counter
- Clear upgrade from Express when guidance is the gap
Cons
- Costs more than Express for features some owners stop using
- Still not a dedicated prosumer grinder long term
- Larger spend than Bambino Plus plus a mid grinder for some kits
Shop: Breville Barista Touch on Amazon (paid link)
What a Breville kit still needs
A brand name is not a full setup. You still want:
- Fresh beans and a grind that can move in small steps
- A tamper that matches the 54mm basket
- A 0.1g scale once you care about repeatable shots
- Water that matches the maker's hardness guidance
- Counter depth and tank access you will not hate
If you are brand-new to home espresso, pair this page with the beginner machine guide. If milk drinks are the whole point, also skim how to steam milk at home.
Bottom line
Buy the Barista Express if you want one Breville appliance for a normal home. Buy the Bambino Plus (paid link) if the counter is tight and a separate grinder is already in the plan. Buy the Barista Touch (paid link) when guided profiles are worth the premium. Everything else in the Breville aisle is usually a trim or a colorway of those three jobs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Breville espresso machine for most people?
The Barista Express. It covers grind, shot, and steam in one machine, which is the job most buyers are actually shopping for.
Should I buy the Barista Express or the Bambino Plus?
Buy the Express if you want one box and no separate grinder on day one. Buy the Bambino Plus if you already have (or will buy) an espresso burr and want a smaller machine with auto milk.
Is the Barista Touch worth the upgrade?
Yes if guided drink profiles lower your stress and the budget is already there. Skip it if you are happy dialing the Express by hand and would rather spend the difference on beans and a better separate grinder later.
Do Breville home machines use 54mm or 58mm baskets?
These three are 54mm Breville systems. Buy 54mm tampers and baskets. Do not assume cafe 58mm parts will fit.
Can I use a Breville without a scale?
You can, and shots will wander. A 0.1g scale makes dose and yield a number instead of a guess. See our espresso scale guide once the machine is on the counter.
When should I skip Breville entirely?
If you want a repairable 58mm learner path with a separate prosumer grinder from day one, look at Gaggia-class kits instead of a Breville all-in-one. Start with the best espresso machine hub if that is you.