Breville Bambino Plus BES500 vs Breville Barista Express BES870
As of August 1, 2026, the Breville Bambino Plus BES500 ($500) is about $200 cheaper than the Breville Barista Express BES870 ($700).
If you're newer to espresso or watching the budget, the Breville Bambino Plus BES500 is the easier place to start — it sits in the entry tier and costs less. The Breville Barista Express BES870 is a prosumer-tier machine that rewards you if you plan to grow into it. Both use a fast-heating thermoblock, so the brewing experience is broadly similar — the gap is in features and price, not boiler type. At today's prices the Breville Bambino Plus BES500 saves you about $200 (40%), a meaningful gap worth weighing against the features above. Both are MAP-priced, so retailers hold the line — shopping around won't move the price much on either. Remember the all-in cost: the Breville Barista Express BES870 has a built-in grinder (ready to brew near $820), whereas the Breville Bambino Plus BES500 needs a separate grinder, pushing a complete setup to about $999.
Price history
Key differences
- Tier: Breville Bambino Plus BES500 — entry; Breville Barista Express BES870 — prosumer
- Boiler / architecture: Breville Bambino Plus BES500 — semi-auto ThermoJet; Breville Barista Express BES870 — semi-auto ThermoCoil
- MSRP: Breville Bambino Plus BES500 — $500; Breville Barista Express BES870 — $750
- Current price: Breville Bambino Plus BES500 — $500; Breville Barista Express BES870 — $700 (40% gap)
- Built-in grinder: Breville Bambino Plus BES500 — no; Breville Barista Express BES870 — yes
- Complete setup from: Breville Bambino Plus BES500 — $999; Breville Barista Express BES870 — $820
| Breville Bambino Plus BES500 | Breville Barista Express BES870 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest now | $499.95 | $699.95 |
| Cheapest at | seattlecoffeegear | seattlecoffeegear |
| MSRP | $500 | $750 |
| Savings | save $0 vs MSRP | save $50 vs MSRP |
| Tier | entry | prosumer |
| Type | semi-auto ThermoJet | semi-auto ThermoCoil |
| Retailers tracked | 3 | 3 |
| Price spread | 0% (MAP-tight / near-zero dispersion) | 0% (MAP-tight / near-zero dispersion) |
| Complete setup from | $999 | $820 |
Which is cheaper, the Breville Bambino Plus BES500 or the Breville Barista Express BES870?
The Breville Bambino Plus BES500 is cheaper at $500, about $200 less than the Breville Barista Express BES870 at $700 (as of August 1, 2026).
How big is the price difference between the Breville Bambino Plus BES500 and Breville Barista Express BES870?
About $200 (40%) at today's prices — the Breville Bambino Plus BES500 is $500 and the Breville Barista Express BES870 is $700.
Is the Breville Bambino Plus BES500 or Breville Barista Express BES870 better for a beginner?
The Breville Bambino Plus BES500 is the friendlier first machine — it sits in the entry tier and costs less, while the Breville Barista Express BES870 is a prosumer-tier pick better suited once you know what you want.
Does either the Breville Bambino Plus BES500 or Breville Barista Express BES870 have a built-in grinder?
The Breville Barista Express BES870 has a built-in grinder; the Breville Bambino Plus BES500 does not, so you'll need a separate grinder (a complete setup runs about $999).
Prices last updated August 1, 2026. The cheaper pick is highlighted; “complete setup” adds a recommended grinder + essentials (see each product’s setup builder). Confirm the final price at the retailer.