1
Breville
Bambino Plus
77% positive of 1,081 users
Fast heat-up, easy for beginners; inconsistent shots, annoying cleaning.
Barista Slimline VCF185
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Sentiment score67% positive
4
1
1
Last updated: Jul 5, 2026
Reddit Reviews
42 of 42 reviews
G3BEWDBetween these two the barista slimline, but the bambino is better in my opinion
Ive-no-ideaI have a Breville Mini Barista since...two years?! So far so good!
ShaggyRogershThey are vastly different machines. If you want espresso and milk based drinks, 100% the Breville for consistency. A few purchases like a hand grinder and an unpressurized basket and you'll pulling cafe quality shots. If you prefer pour over with the occasional espresso from time to time and aren't too fussy about getting a consistent flavour profile every shot, then go for the Ninja. It will be far more beginner friendly and easy to use.
amorphis89Barista series requires the whole grouphead to be replaced. DB series has a removable diffuser which cracks and deforms - but is easily replaceable luckily.
Ancient_Fun_2783You can make very good late with a Breville Barista, the built in grinder is good enough, and steam wand works well, all in a compact machine for ~600
Appropriate-Eye-8035I bought a brevillie barista recently and I love it!! :) I’m sure I would’ve loved that too and i got a good price on this model
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Rankings by Use Case
Best for Fast morning workflows
Ranked #1
Breville - Bambino Plus
Busy professionals or parents who need high-quality caffeine quickly without a lengthy 'ritual.'
See rankings → Best for Hosting and entertaining
Ranked #1
ECM - Synchronika II
Users who frequently make multiple drinks for guests or large families and need high throughput.
See rankings → Best for Light roast specialty coffee
Ranked #1
Lelit - Bianca
Enthusiasts who enjoy 'Third Wave' coffee and want to extract complex, fruity, and floral notes.
See rankings → Best for Long-term repairability
Ranked #1
Gaggia - Classic Pro E24
'Buy It For Life' (BIFL) consumers who want a durable machine that can be maintained for decades.
See rankings → Best for Milk-based drinks
Ranked #1
Breville - Bambino Plus
Users who primarily drink lattes, cappuccinos, and flat whites and want cafe-standard microfoam.
See rankings → Best for Minimal effort brewing
Ranked #1
Breville - Bambino Plus
Users who want quality espresso with minimal manual effort — whether transitioning from pod machines, new to espresso, or simply uninterested in the barista hobby.
See rankings → 
