Rancilio Silvia vs Breville Bambino Plus
Based on tests by America's Test Kitchen (Jul 2025). How we score
Skip it. Our pick is the Barista Express.
Neither is our first choice. See Rancilio Silvia vs Barista Express
From 1 tester: America's Test Kitchen
From 1 tester: America's Test Kitchen
Amazon prices as of Sep 30, 2:51 AM EDT (details)
What the testers found
America's Test Kitchen's Best Compact Model: "it’s basically the Barista Express without the grinder," so, like the Silvia, it needs a separate grinder. Its heater is ready in 3 seconds, and it can froth milk for you: "You can choose temperature and texture settings for automatic steamed milk, which came out perfectly frothed." It matched the Silvia's full marks for coffee quality and rated higher for ease of use and cleanup. ATK didn't test long-term durability.
| Criterion | Rancilio Silvia | Breville Bambino Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Coffee quality | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| Ease of use | 2/3 | 3/3 |
| Cleanup | 2/3 | 3/3 |
From America's Test Kitchen: The Best Espresso Machines (updated July 2, 2025)
Specs side by side
| Spec | Rancilio Silvia | Breville Bambino Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $995 | $399.95 |
| Cost per year | — | — |
| Warranty | — | 2-year limited |
| Style | Semiautomatic, single boiler | Semiautomatic |
| Grinder | None (buy separately) | None (buy separately) |
| Ready time | 3 min 19 sec (America's Test Kitchen) | — |
| Milk frothing | Manual steam wand | Automatic or manual; 3 temperatures, 3 textures |
| Tamping | — | By hand, metal tamper |
| Portafilter | — | 54 mm |
Sources: America's Test Kitchen: The Best Espresso Machines (updated July 2, 2025), Manufacturer specs via Amazon listing
