Should I buy the Breville Bambino Plus or Barista Express?

Buy the Breville Bambino Plus if you want the easier, more flexible setup: it’s compact, strong for milk drinks, and lets you pair it with a better separate grinder. Buy the Barista Express if you specifically want an all-in-one machine with a built-in grinder and fewer separate pieces on the counter.

My pick for most people: Bambino Plus + a good separate grinder. The grinder matters a lot for espresso, and an external grinder gives you more room to upgrade later. The Barista Express is convenient, but you’re tied to its built-in grinder.