Breville Bambino Plus vs De'Longhi Eletta Explore

Amazon links are affiliate links — as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. They never affect what is listed here or how it is described. Any prices shown come from Amazon at the time stated and can change; check the retailer for the current price.

Two espresso machines a price tier apart — Breville Bambino Plus (entry) and De'Longhi Eletta Explore (mid-range) for latte & cappuccino, compared on the specs that actually decide the buy — not review fluff.

The Breville Bambino Plus is entry-tier and the De'Longhi Eletta Explore mid-range-tier suited to latte & cappuccino. The Breville Bambino Plus adds PID temperature control. Match the boiler type and control style to how you brew; tiers are price bands — check the current price at the retailer.

Last verified 2026-06-11 · manufacturer specs · tier price-bands (confirm the live price at the retailer)

Spec	Breville Bambino Plus	De'Longhi Eletta Explore
Boiler	Thermoblock / thermocoil	Thermoblock / thermocoil
Price tier	Entry	Mid-range
Type	semi auto	super auto
PID	Yes	—
Pre-infusion	Yes	—
Portafilter	54mm	—
Built-in grinder	—	Yes
Best for	Beginner, Latte & cappuccino, Small kitchen	Bean-to-cup (super-automatic), Latte & cappuccino

Which to choose

Price tier — the headline difference. The De'Longhi Eletta Explore sits a tier up (mid-range) from the Breville Bambino Plus (entry) — you pay more for the spec advantages below. Tiers are price bands; confirm the live price at the retailer.
Control. The Bambino Plus is semi auto, the Eletta Explore is super auto — the super-automatic grinds, doses and brews at the push of a button; the semi-automatic trades that convenience for hands-on control of the shot.
Temperature. The Breville Bambino Plus has PID temperature control (steadier shot-to-shot consistency); the De'Longhi Eletta Explore does not.
Pre-infusion. Only the Breville Bambino Plus pre-infuses (gentler shot start, better extraction on lighter roasts).
Built-in grinder. The De'Longhi Eletta Explore grinds and brews in one machine; with the Breville Bambino Plus you add a separate grinder — more counter space and another purchase, but a free choice of grinder and easier to upgrade.
Who each suits. The Bambino Plus is also a good fit if this is your first espresso machine or your counter space is tight; the Eletta Explore is also a good fit if you want coffee at the push of a button.

Which one should you buy?

Pick the Breville Bambino Plus if you would rather choose your own grinder and upgrade it later; or if you want PID temperature control for shot-to-shot consistency; or if you want pre-infusion for a gentler shot start on lighter roasts.
Pick the De'Longhi Eletta Explore if you want one machine on the counter instead of a separate grinder; or if you want one-touch grind-brew-milk rather than hands-on control; or if you want coffee at the push of a button.

Check Breville Bambino Plus price on Amazon →
Check De'Longhi Eletta Explore price on Amazon →

Common questions

Is the De'Longhi Eletta Explore worth the step up from the Breville Bambino Plus?

Stepping up from entry to mid-range buys you a built-in grinder. Worth it if you brew milk drinks daily or chase consistency; not if you mostly pull straight espresso. Tiers are price bands — confirm the live price at the retailer before deciding.

Which is the better first espresso machine?

The Breville Bambino Plus. Of the two, it is the one that is easy to learn and forgiving while you find your feet. The De'Longhi Eletta Explore makes more sense if you want coffee at the push of a button or you mostly make lattes and cappuccinos.

Also cross-shopped

Citing this? Go ahead — manufacturer data, last verified 2026-06-11. Copy a ready-made reference:

More: all entry machines · Latte & cappuccino machines · all comparisons