Breville Bambino Plus vs Gaggia Classic Pro E24
Quick take: The Breville Bambino Plus costs $49 less; the Breville Bambino Plus heats up faster (3 seconds).
| Spec | Breville Bambino Plus | Gaggia Classic Pro E24 |
|---|---|---|
| Standout features | Steam Wand, Auto Milk Texturing, PID Control, 3-Second Heat Up | Lead-Free Brass Boiler, Commercial Steam Wand, 58mm Stainless Portafilter, 9-Bar OPV, 3-Way Solenoid Valve, Cup Warmer |
| Approx. price | ~$500 | ~$549 |
| Type | Semi-Automatic | Semi-Automatic |
| Boiler | Thermoblock | Single Boiler |
| Built-in grinder | No | No |
| Pump pressure | 15 bar | 9 bar |
| Water capacity | 64 oz | 72 oz |
| Warm-up time | 3 seconds | 5 minutes |
| Steam wand | Auto | Commercial Manual |
| Basket type | Pressurized & Unpressurized | Pressurized & Unpressurized |
| Best for | Beginners | Enthusiasts |
| Dimensions | 7.7 x 12.6 x 12.2 in | 8 x 9.5 x 14.2 in |
| Weight | 11 lbs | 19 lbs |
| Warranty | 2 years | 2 years |
Pros & cons
Breville Bambino Plus
- ✓Very fast heat-up
- ✓Compact footprint
- ✓Automatic milk steaming
- ✓Great starter machine
- ✗No built-in grinder
- ✗Small water tank
- ✗Auto steam offers less control than a manual wand
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
- ✓Brass boiler holds temperature noticeably better than the old aluminum Classics
- ✓Bigger boiler capacity means stronger steam and more back-to-back drinks
- ✓Same 17-gauge stainless body and 58mm group the mod community has upgraded for decades
- ✓Factory-tuned 9-bar OPV so shots pull correctly out of the box
- ✗Still no PID from the factory - temperature surfing or a mod kit required
- ✗Single boiler means waiting between brewing and steaming
- ✗$50-100 premium over the outgoing Evo Pro for the same workflow
- ✗Small drip tray fills fast
What owners say
Breville Bambino Plus
The Bambino Plus is the $500 version of the same tiny Thermojet machine, and the extra $200 buys the milk. Its steam wand carries a temperature and texture sensor, so you drop it into the pitcher, press once, and it shuts off on its own at a chosen warmth and foam level - which is why it is the machine most often suggested to someone buying their very first setup, and the one that keeps showing up in households where a partner, a roommate or a teenager also has to be able to make a latte. It also adds a solenoid valve for drier pucks and no post-shot dripping, a 64 oz tank instead of 47 oz, and a second year of warranty. Heat-up is still about three seconds, the basket is still 54mm, and it still takes up almost no counter. Full owner insights →
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
The E24 is the current Gaggia Classic - the 2024 revision that both the original Classic Pro and the 2023 Classic Evo Pro have now been retired into, so at $549 this is the machine you actually buy if you want a new one. The headline change is the boiler: out goes the old aluminium unit (and the coated version whose lining infamously flaked into people's drinks and triggered a wave of returns), in comes a larger lead-free brass boiler, which owners credit for steadier brew temperature and noticeably stronger steam than the Classics that came before it. Around that sits everything the line has always been: stainless body, commercial 58mm group and portafilter, three-way solenoid for a dry puck, factory 9-bar pressure, a cup warmer, a two-year warranty, and a choice of finishes - matte black, navy, yellow, red - that people genuinely buy on looks. Full owner insights →
Breville Bambino Plus vs Gaggia Classic Pro E24: common questions
Which is cheaper, the Breville Bambino Plus or the Gaggia Classic Pro E24?
The Breville Bambino Plus is the cheaper of the two at roughly $500, about $49 less than the Gaggia Classic Pro E24 at ~$549. Both figures are approximate list prices and street prices move with sales.
Which is better for lattes and cappuccinos, the Breville Bambino Plus or the Gaggia Classic Pro E24?
The Breville Bambino Plus steams and textures milk automatically, while the Gaggia Classic Pro E24 uses a manual steam wand you texture milk with yourself. An automatic system gets you a consistent milk drink with no practice; a manual wand takes a few weeks to learn but gives you proper microfoam and latte art once it clicks.
Which heats up faster, the Breville Bambino Plus or the Gaggia Classic Pro E24?
The Breville Bambino Plus is ready sooner — 3 seconds against 5 minutes for the Gaggia Classic Pro E24. That gap matters most on weekday mornings; if you pull shots at a relaxed pace it makes little practical difference.
What is the difference in boiler design between the Breville Bambino Plus and the Gaggia Classic Pro E24?
The Breville Bambino Plus uses a thermoblock and the Gaggia Classic Pro E24 uses a single boiler. Boiler design drives temperature stability and whether you can brew and steam at the same time, which is the main reason two otherwise similar machines behave differently once you start making milk drinks back to back.