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Prices checked October 2026Not tested in handNo paid rankingsHow we pick
You give up: Milk steaming is manual, and it takes about 25 seconds to heat up.
Short answer: The closest cheaper alternative to the Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine (BES500) is the De'Longhi Dedica Duo Espresso and Cold Brew Machine (EC890), about $250 instead of $500 (save 50%). What you give up: Milk steaming is manual, and it takes about 25 seconds to heat up. The cheapest is the CASABREWS CM5418 Espresso Machine at about $140. Prices checked October 2026.
Why it's a good swap Slim 5.9-inch-wide espresso maker with a steam wand and a cold brew preset.
You give up: Milk steaming is manual, and it takes about 25 seconds to heat up.
Why it's a good swap Compact 20-bar espresso maker with a steam wand for lattes at home.
You give up: No automatic milk frothing, so you steam milk by hand.
Why it's a good swap 15-bar pump espresso maker with a manual steam wand for lattes and cappuccinos.
You give up: Plastic-heavy build and all-manual milk frothing.
Why it's a good swap Same compact Breville espresso design with a steam wand, for about $200 less.
You give up: Milk steaming is manual, with no automatic milk temperature or texture settings.
Typical US prices, checked October 2026. Not live prices; check the listing before you buy.
Looking for a cheaper alternative to the Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine (BES500)? It usually sells for about $500. Here are 4 cheaper swaps from $140: the De'Longhi Dedica Duo Espresso and Cold Brew Machine (EC890) is the closest match from another brand, the Breville Bambino is a cheaper option from Breville and the CASABREWS CM5418 Espresso Machine is the cheapest at about $140. Each one says what you give up for the lower price.
The Breville Bambino Plus costs about $500. The closest cheaper pick is the Breville Bambino at $300, which keeps the compact design but makes you steam milk by hand, and the cheapest is the CASABREWS CM5418, a basic espresso maker (check its price on Amazon).
The Bambino Plus is worth it for latte and flat-white drinkers who want consistent milk without learning to steam by hand: the auto wand offers 3 temperatures and 3 texture levels, and the steam wand reaches 266°F. Its ThermoJet heater reaches extraction temperature in 3 seconds, so a drink is ready almost straight away.
If you're happy to learn manual steaming, the Breville Bambino ($300) is the same 54 mm, 3-second-heat-up design. The De'Longhi Dedica Duo ($250) suits very narrow counters. The Stilosa ($150) or CASABREWS ($140) fit people who mostly drink straight espresso or are trying espresso before committing.
| Option | Type | Typical price | You save | What you give up | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine (BES500) | The original | $500 | – | – | View ↗ |
| CASABREWS CM5418 Espresso Machine | Budget pick | $140 | $360 (72%) | No automatic milk frothing, so you steam milk by hand. | View ↗ |
| De'Longhi Stilosa | Close match | $150 | $350 (70%) | Plastic-heavy build and all-manual milk frothing. | View ↗ |
| De'Longhi Dedica Duo Espresso and Cold Brew Machine (EC890) | Close match | $250 | $250 (50%) | Milk steaming is manual, and it takes about 25 seconds to heat up. | View ↗ |
| Breville Bambino | Same brand, cheaper | $300 | $200 (40%) | Milk steaming is manual, with no automatic milk temperature or texture settings. | View ↗ |
Typical US prices from retailer listings and price trackers, checked October 2026. They are not live Amazon prices and may have changed, so check the listing before you buy.
The CASABREWS CM5418 Espresso Machine, at about $140 (72% less). Compact 20-bar espresso maker with a steam wand for lattes at home. The catch: No automatic milk frothing, so you steam milk by hand.
The De'Longhi Dedica Duo Espresso and Cold Brew Machine (EC890), at about $250 (50% less). Slim 5.9-inch-wide espresso maker with a steam wand and a cold brew preset. The catch: Milk steaming is manual, and it takes about 25 seconds to heat up.
Yes. The Breville Bambino, at about $300 (40% less). Same compact Breville espresso design with a steam wand, for about $200 less. The catch: Milk steaming is manual, with no automatic milk temperature or texture settings.
The Breville Bambino ($300) keeps the same 54 mm portafilter and 3-second heat-up but makes you steam milk by hand. The De'Longhi Dedica Duo ($250) is a slimmer option.
The Barista Express has a built-in grinder; the Bambino Plus ($500) doesn't, but it adds automatic milk texturing. Pair it with a separate burr grinder for fresh-ground shots.
Each swap links to amazon.com. Prices are typical US prices checked October 2026 and change often, so check the listing before you buy.
Compared on their own pages: Breville Barista Express alternatives
Every swap is a product sold in the US that does the main job of the original. Close match is another brand with similar features, Same brand, cheaper is an older, smaller or renewed model from the same maker, and Budget pick is the cheapest thing that still does the job. On each page, Closest match is the close match nearest the original in price, and Lowest price is the cheapest swap. We compare published specs, retailer listings and reviews; we don't test products ourselves.
A cheaper product is cheaper for a reason. Each swap says what you give up, like weaker noise cancelling, a smaller screen or a shorter warranty, so you can decide if the savings are worth it.
Prices are typical US prices from retailer listings and price trackers, last checked October 2026. They are not live Amazon prices, which change often. When a price couldn't be confirmed, the page says “Check price on Amazon” instead of showing a number.
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