Thats maybe the best beginner Espresso Machine
Praise
Kitchen Appliances
Breville Bambino Plus (BES500BSS)
Best Compact Espresso Machine
The Breville Bambino Plus is the best compact espresso machine in Canada for home baristas who want genuine café quality without a large footprint. It heats up in just 3 seconds using ThermoJet technology, and the automatic steam wand textures milk to the right temperature and consistency for flat whites and lattes without any manual technique required. At a fraction of the counter space of the Barista Express (and without a built-in grinder), it pairs perfectly with a separate burr grinder if you want to go all-in.
11 mentions · 7 threadslast mention Mar 2026ClearPick Score
7.4 / 10
Mixed Reviews
Score informed by 11 owner mentions across 7 Reddit threads · see every quote ↓
4 positive2 mixed5 negative
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Best Compact Espresso Machine
Breville Bambino Plus (BES500BSS)
~$600 CAD est. on Amazon.ca
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Every mention, sourced
Real comments from Reddit, linked to the original thread. Nothing paraphrased.
I have this same machine with Baratza Encore ESP and am happy with it. I use the grinder for everything from espresso to pour over.
Praise
btw Bambino is horrible for shots back to back. Surprised it’s not melted yet - although your beans are.
Complaint
You're grinding too fine. When you grind too fine, you amplify inconsistencies in grind size and puck prep as the water finds the channel of least resistance, under extracting some parts (sourness) and over extracting other parts (bitterness). This is especially apparent on a lower grade grinder and machine like Bambino.
Complaint
I've had the best luck with about 17g in a Bambino Plus with the stock basket depending on the roast. I've gone as high as 18g and as low as 16g. It really depends on the beans
Mention
On my Bambino plus, a pull of 18G for 36-40 seconds hit the sweet spot for me. This is a slight modification of the dial-in recommendations I found here. Also, get a grinder ASAP so you can control that aspect too. I use a manual Kingrinder K6, set to 40, and it's just fantastic with Lavazza Super Crema beans. Good luck!
Praise
I used it for the first time and the espresso tastes burnt and there’s no sign of crema
Complaint
I keep getting tiny streams of coffee and it splatters all over the place.
Complaint
Getting a honey drip and crazy splatter seems paradoxical. If the taste is to your liking just use a spouted portafilter
Mention
Did you get a diagnosis for the failures? If your water is hard and you don't descale frequently enough, the machine can get clogged which impedes or stops water flow.
Mention
Focus on reducing the need to descale at all with better water. Scale kills machines and so do the harsh chemicals used to descale - it kills seals and rubber.
Complaint
✅ What Works
- Heats up to brew temperature in 3 seconds — the fastest heat-up time of any home espresso machine, which makes pulling a morning shot before work genuinely practical rather than a waiting exercise
- Automatic steam wand delivers microfoam milk texture with one touch — removes the most technically difficult part of latte and cappuccino making for beginners
- Compact footprint at 7.7 inches wide is the smallest full-featured espresso machine available — fits in Canadian apartment kitchens where the Barista Express won't
- Three-way solenoid valve releases pressure after extraction for dry pucks that fall cleanly from the portafilter — a quality-of-life feature that experienced espresso drinkers specifically seek out
⚠️ Worth Knowing
- No built-in grinder — you need a separate espresso grinder, which adds cost and counter space. The Baratza Encore ESP is the most commonly recommended pairing in the espresso community
- Manual microfoaming requires practice if you want latte art — the auto steam wand delivers good results but serious milk texturing takes skill development
- Better paired with a quality grinder than used with pre-ground coffee — the machine's quality is limited by grind consistency, and pre-ground espresso produces mediocre results regardless of machine quality
ClearPick Verdict
The Breville Bambino Plus is the espresso machine for Canadians who want café-quality lattes and cappuccinos at home without barista training or a large machine footprint. The 3-second heat-up and automatic steam wand make daily use genuinely effortless. Pair it with a quality grinder and you have a setup that rivals machines costing twice as much. If you want the grinder built in for simplicity, look at the Barista Express — but for pure espresso quality in the smallest possible package, the Bambino Plus wins.
