The Breville Bambino Plus is my cheat code to barista-quality coffee at home, and it's randomly on sale right now

the breville bambino plus in stainless steel silver photographed against a blue background shown with its accessories including milk jug, tamper, portafilter, and shown in use extracting espresso — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

If you're looking for an espresso machine that won't break the bank, will fit in any kitchen, and is easy to use, I'll let you in on my worst-kept secret: the Breville Bambino Plus. This tiny, unassuming espresso machine is under $500, but it has a cult following, and there's one reason why... It's simply fantastic.

I recommend this espresso machine to everyone who'll listen — it's without a doubt one of the best espresso machines money can buy. Whether you're a coffee nerd who doesn't want (or need) a dual boiler or a complete beginner, you'll love the Bambino Plus.

Right now, the Bambino Plus is just $399 — the lowest-ever price. We usually see this price around Black Friday, but sometimes it'll dip randomly. But not for long — according to Amazon, this deal will end at 3 AM EST, tomorrow morning (May 12)/midnight tonight PST (May 11). Hurry!

What actually makes the Bambino Plus so good?

The Breville Bambino Plus / Sage Bambino Plus in stainless steel silver, photographed against blue shown with its accessories — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

If you've been here before, you'll know I love the Bambino Plus — and I also love its younger sibling, the Bambino. Both of these machines are incomprehensibly good for their price.

For $299, the Bambino gives you a PID controller, a powerful, 1-hole steam wand, and customizable pre-infusion wrapped up in a 6-inch wide body.

Comparatively, for $499 ($399 right now), the Bambino Plus gives you a PID controller, a powerful 4-hole steam wand (+ auto frothing), customizable pre-infusion, and a three-way solenoid valve that makes cleanup easy. A solenoid valve effectively sucks out the water from the puck post-extraction, so you can whack the entire coffee puck into the trash (or compost) without needing to get your hands dirty.

You also get weighty accessories with the Plus, like a heavy tamper and a mostly metal portafilter.

These are super-premium features at a budget price, and for these reasons, I always recommend the Bambino Plus.

Unlike other budget machines I've tested (Casabrews CM5418, Casabrews 3700 Essential, De'Longhi Stilosa), the Bambino Plus is good enough to impress casual coffee drinkers and serious coffee snobs right out of the box. While these other machines need a few accessories — or a lot of finesse — for snob-approved drinks, the Bambino Plus can do it from the off.

With the provided single-walled portafilter basket and the powerful steam wand, I can make consistently perfect coffee again and again. For that reason, it's my go-to home espresso machine.

If I could go back in time and get a different espresso machine, I would stick with my Bambino Plus. And at just $399, you should, too!

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Erin Bashford is a senior writer at Tom's Guide, focusing on reviews. She has a Masters in Broadcast and Digital Journalism from the University of East Anglia. As an ex-barista, she knows her way around a coffee machine, and as a music lover, she's constantly chipping away at her dream of having a multi-room home sound system. In her spare time you can find her reading, practising yoga, writing, or stressing over today’s NYT Games.