Breville Bambino vs De'Longhi ECP3420
Quick take: The De'Longhi ECP3420 costs $135 less; the Breville Bambino heats up faster (3 seconds).
| Spec | Breville Bambino | De'Longhi ECP3420 |
|---|---|---|
| Standout features | Steam Wand, PID Control, Pre-Infusion | Manual Milk Frother, Pressurized Baskets, ESE Pod Compatible, Adjustable Drip Tray, Self-Priming |
| Approx. price | ~$300 | ~$165 |
| Type | Semi-Automatic | Semi-Automatic |
| Boiler | Thermoblock | Thermoblock |
| Built-in grinder | No | No |
| Pump pressure | 15 bar | 15 bar |
| Water capacity | 47 oz | 37 oz |
| Warm-up time | 3 seconds | 40 seconds |
| Steam wand | Manual | Manual (Panarello) |
| Basket type | Pressurized & Unpressurized | Pressurized 51mm |
| Best for | Beginners | Beginners |
| Dimensions | 7.7 x 12.6 x 12.2 in | 7.25 x 9.6 x 11.9 in |
| Weight | 10 lbs | 10.6 lbs |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year |
Pros & cons
Breville Bambino
- ✓Cheapest entry into real espresso
- ✓Tiny footprint
- ✓Manual wand great for learning latte art
- ✓Heats up almost instantly
- ✗No grinder
- ✗Plastic build
- ✗Small drip tray fills fast
- ✗Steam pressure weaker than Bambino Plus
De'Longhi ECP3420
- ✓One of the cheapest ways to get real pump-driven espresso with reliable crema
- ✓Two-tier adjustable drip tray fits travel mugs and taller cups up to 5 inches
- ✓Panarello-style frother makes passable cappuccino foam with zero technique
- ✓Self-priming boiler and ESE pod support keep the learning curve gentle
- ✗Pressurized baskets limit flavor clarity and there is no official unpressurized upgrade
- ✗Lightweight plastic body vibrates and slides around during extraction
- ✗Short steam wand struggles to make true latte-art microfoam
- ✗Single thermoblock forces a wait between pulling shots and steaming milk
What owners say
Breville Bambino
The standard Bambino is the smaller, cheaper sibling of the Bambino Plus — a compact brew-only machine with a real 54mm portafilter, PID temperature control, fast ThermoJet heat-up (about 3 seconds), and a manual steam wand (rather than the Plus's automatic one). It's one of the best value entry points into legitimate espresso, especially for people comfortable steaming milk by hand. Full owner insights →
Breville Bambino vs De'Longhi ECP3420: common questions
Which is cheaper, the Breville Bambino or the De'Longhi ECP3420?
The De'Longhi ECP3420 is the cheaper of the two at roughly $165, about $135 less than the Breville Bambino at ~$300. Both figures are approximate list prices and street prices move with sales.
Which heats up faster, the Breville Bambino or the De'Longhi ECP3420?
The Breville Bambino is ready sooner — 3 seconds against 40 seconds for the De'Longhi ECP3420. That gap matters most on weekday mornings; if you pull shots at a relaxed pace it makes little practical difference.