Breville Bambino vs De'Longhi Stilosa
Quick take: The De'Longhi Stilosa costs $150 less; the Breville Bambino heats up faster (3 seconds).
| Spec | Breville Bambino | De'Longhi Stilosa |
|---|---|---|
| Standout features | PID Control, Pre-Infusion | Compact Design, Pressurized Basket |
| Approx. price | ~$300 | ~$150 |
| Type | Semi-Automatic | Semi-Automatic |
| Boiler | Thermoblock | Single Boiler |
| Built-in grinder | No | No |
| Pump pressure | 15 bar | 15 bar |
| Water capacity | 47 oz | 34 oz |
| Warm-up time | 3 seconds | 40 seconds |
| Steam wand | Manual | Manual |
| Basket type | Pressurized & Unpressurized | Pressurized Only |
| Best for | Beginners | Beginners |
| Dimensions | 7.7 x 12.6 x 12.2 in | 8.1 x 13.5 x 11.2 in |
| Weight | 10 lbs | 8.6 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 Stilosa
- ✓Cheapest path to real pump-driven espresso
- ✓Proper manual steam wand instead of a panarello at this price
- ✓Compact and lightweight - easy to tuck away
- ✓Simple mechanics with a big modding community
- ✗Pressurized baskets only - fake crema until you buy aftermarket baskets
- ✗Lots of plastic; feels every bit of its $110 price
- ✗No PID or temperature control, so shots run hot and cold
- ✗Odd 51mm size limits tamper and accessory upgrades
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 Stilosa: common questions
Which is cheaper, the Breville Bambino or the De'Longhi Stilosa?
The De'Longhi Stilosa is the cheaper of the two at roughly $150, about $150 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 Stilosa?
The Breville Bambino is ready sooner — 3 seconds against 40 seconds for the De'Longhi Stilosa. 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 and the De'Longhi Stilosa?
The Breville Bambino uses a thermoblock and the De'Longhi Stilosa 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.