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.
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
What Real Buyers Are Saying
What buyers love
"Had this machine for almost 2 years and love it — heats up to boil in under 10 seconds and the auto steam wand is amazing. Would buy again."
Source: Slickdeals verified owner, May 2023
"I use it every day and cannot go back to Nespresso. Even with cheap Lavazza beans it tastes better than Starbucks. Absolutely recommend the Bambino Plus."
Source: Slickdeals verified owner, September 2025
"Generally considered the best starter level machine — small footprint, fast heat up, and the auto steam wand makes milk drinks accessible for beginners."
Source: Reddit r/espresso community consensus
Common complaints
No built-in grinder pushes total setup cost toward the Barista Express
A quality burr grinder capable of espresso-fine grinding adds $150–350 CAD to the setup; the combined cost frequently approaches the Barista Express, which includes the grinder.
The commercial standard is 58mm; third-party baskets, distribution tools, and bottomless portafilters are far fewer for 54mm, limiting the customization and improvement path.
Source: r/espresso, r/Coffee
Auto-steam wand produces less precise milk texture than manual technique
The default auto-froth attachment makes warm frothy milk easily but produces large bubbles rather than proper microfoam needed for latte art; getting true microfoam requires removing the attachment and learning manual technique.
Source: r/espresso, r/latteart
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.