Sage Bambino Plus Review: The Best Compact Espresso Machine?

The Sage Bambino Plus is proof that a serious home espresso machine doesn't need to dominate your kitchen worktop.

At just under 20cm wide, it's considerably smaller than most machines we've reviewed.

But the more important story is what Sage has managed to fit inside it.

You get a 54mm portafilter, rapid ThermoJet heating, volumetric espresso controls and an automatic steam wand that lets you choose milk temperature and texture.

What you don't get is a grinder.

And that distinction is important.

The Bambino Plus isn't trying to be an all-in-one appliance.

It's a compact espresso machine designed to be paired with a grinder of your choice.

For the right person, that's actually an advantage.

Coffee Machine Reviews Verdict

Overall: 9.2/10

Best for: Anyone wanting proper home espresso from a genuinely compact machine.

Avoid if: You don't already own — or don't want to buy — a separate grinder.

Machine type: Espresso

Built-in grinder: No

Portafilter: 54mm

Water tank: 1.9 litres

Milk: Automatic and manual steam wand

Our verdict: One of the strongest compact espresso machines for beginners because it makes milk easy without removing the proper espresso workflow.

Sage Bambino Plus Pros and Cons

Pros

• Extremely compact
• Rapid heat-up
• Proper 54mm portafilter
• Automatic milk texturing
• Adjustable milk temperature
• Adjustable milk texture
• Manual steaming available
• Simple controls
• Single and dual-wall baskets included
• Excellent machine to learn on

Cons

• No grinder
• Grinder substantially increases total setup cost
• Less guidance than Touch Impress
• Small footprint means a relatively lightweight machine
• Still requires proper espresso preparation

Bambino Plus vs Bambino: Don't Confuse Them

Sage sells both:

Bambino

and

Bambino Plus.

They're not the same machine.

The biggest reason to pay more for the Plus is its milk system.

Bambino Plus can automatically texture milk according to your chosen temperature and texture level.

The standard Bambino uses a more conventional manual approach.

If you mainly drink straight espresso, the cheaper Bambino becomes interesting.

If latte, cappuccino and flat white are regular drinks, we'd strongly consider the Plus.

How Small Is the Bambino Plus?

Very.

Current specifications put it at roughly:

19.4cm wide × 36.2cm deep × 30.4cm high.

Width is the standout number.

Compare that with a large integrated-grinder machine and the difference is enormous.

Of course, you then need somewhere to put your grinder.

But this gives you flexibility.

The espresso machine can remain compact while you choose a grinder based on your budget and ambitions.

The 54mm Portafilter

Bambino Plus uses Sage's 54mm portafilter.

Both single-wall and dual-wall baskets are included.

That's useful for beginners.

Dual-Wall Baskets

More forgiving.

Particularly useful with pre-ground coffee or when your grinder isn't producing ideal espresso grounds.

Single-Wall Baskets

Give you more control and make more sense with freshly ground coffee from a capable grinder.

That means Bambino Plus can effectively grow with you.

Start forgiving.

Move towards greater control as your technique improves.

Coffee Quality

Don't mistake the Bambino Plus's size for lack of capability.

With:

• good fresh beans;
• an espresso-capable grinder;
• sensible puck preparation;
• correct grind;

this machine can produce seriously good espresso.

But there's an important caveat.

Your grinder matters enormously.

Pair Bambino Plus with poorly ground supermarket coffee and you'll never see what the machine can really do.

Pair it with a capable grinder and fresh beans and the entire proposition changes.

Do You Need a Grinder?

Ideally, yes.

And not simply any coffee grinder.

Espresso requires sufficiently fine and precise adjustment.

This is why the Bambino Plus's apparent price can be misleading.

If the machine costs around £400 and you then spend £200–£400 on a grinder, your real setup cost is considerably higher.

However, there's a benefit.

Your grinder and machine remain separate.

That means you can upgrade either one independently later.

For enthusiasts, that's a better long-term route than an integrated machine.

Espresso

Bambino Plus keeps the controls deliberately simple.

You get one-cup and two-cup volumetric controls rather than a touchscreen full of drink icons.

That's enough.

The machine heats rapidly and lets you get into espresso preparation without waiting around for a traditional boiler to warm up.

You still control the variables that matter most:

• coffee;
• grind;
• dose;
• puck preparation;
• extraction.

It's far more hands-on than bean-to-cup but substantially less intimidating than many traditional espresso machines.

Automatic Milk Frothing

This is the Bambino Plus's killer feature.

Place the milk jug onto the temperature sensor.

Choose your preferred:

• milk temperature;
• texture.

Then let the machine handle the steaming.

This is particularly valuable because milk texturing is one of the hardest skills for beginners to learn.

Instead of simultaneously trying to understand espresso extraction and steam-wand technique, you can concentrate on the coffee first.

Can You Steam Milk Manually?

Yes.

And that's why we like this system.

Automatic milk isn't a dead end.

As your confidence improves, you can take more control.

That gives Bambino Plus a much better learning path than a machine where milk is permanently hidden inside an automatic carafe.

Latte

Excellent.

Automatic microfoam makes the Bambino Plus one of our favourite compact machines for latte drinkers.

You still pour the milk yourself.

That means you can eventually start practising latte art rather than having the machine dispense everything directly into the cup.

Flat White

Arguably even better suited.

Being able to select a finer milk texture makes the machine particularly attractive for flat-white drinkers.

If you want café-style milk without immediately learning manual steaming, Bambino Plus is difficult to ignore.

Cappuccino

Increase the milk texture and you've got a straightforward cappuccino setup.

Again, the advantage is control.

You're not limited to one fixed milk programme.

Is It Easy to Use?

Yes — within the context of an espresso machine.

That qualification matters.

Compared with Rivelia?

No.

You have to grind, dose, tamp and handle the portafilter.

Compared with a traditional espresso setup?

Very.

The simple controls, fast heating and automatic milk remove several pain points without taking the coffee-making process away from you.

Cleaning

Day-to-day cleaning involves:

• knocking out used coffee;
• rinsing the portafilter;
• wiping and purging the steam wand;
• emptying the drip tray;
• cleaning the group head.

Periodic cleaning and descaling are also required.

The steam wand automatically purges after milk preparation, which is useful.

But wipe the wand immediately after steaming.

Dried milk doesn't become more enjoyable to remove if you leave it until tomorrow.

Bambino Plus vs Barista Express Impress

This is really:

separate grinder vs integrated grinder.

Bambino Plus

Better if:

• worktop width matters;
• you want to choose your own grinder;
• automatic milk appeals;
• long-term upgradeability matters.

Express Impress

Better if:

• you want everything in one machine;
• assisted dosing and tamping appeal;
• you want manual milk;
• you don't want to choose a separate grinder.

Bambino Plus vs Ninja Luxe Café

Ninja gives you considerably more:

• built-in grinder;
• scale;
• grind recommendations;
• filter coffee;
• cold coffee;
• assisted preparation.

Bambino Plus gives you something different:

simplicity and modularity.

Pair it with a strong grinder and you've got a compact espresso setup that can develop with you.

Who Should Buy the Bambino Plus?

Buy it if:

• kitchen space is limited;
• you want proper espresso;
• you want automatic milk assistance;
• you want to learn;
• you're happy buying a separate grinder;
• you want equipment you can upgrade independently.

Who Shouldn't Buy It?

Look elsewhere if:

• you want everything built into one machine;
• you want one-touch coffee;
• you don't want to handle a portafilter;
• you don't want to buy a grinder;
• you want a huge touchscreen drinks menu.

Is the Bambino Plus Worth It?

Yes — provided you understand what you're buying.

It's not an all-in-one coffee station.

The missing grinder isn't an oversight.

It's part of the proposition.

For somebody who wants:

compact machine + separate grinder + proper espresso + easy milk

the Bambino Plus remains an exceptionally strong combination.

Final Verdict

The Bambino Plus gets the balance right.

It makes one of the hardest parts of beginner espresso — milk steaming — dramatically easier.

But it doesn't remove the parts that help you learn.

You still grind.

You still dose.

You still tamp.

You still extract.

And eventually, if you want to, you can steam manually too.

Add the tiny footprint and it becomes one of our favourite first espresso machines.

Coffee Machine Reviews Score: 9.2/10

Best for: Compact home espresso with genuinely useful milk assistance.

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