Bambino Plus vs Gaggia CLASSIC E24: Honest Review
I spent two weeks with both the Bambino Plus vs Gaggia CLASSIC E24, pulling shots every morning and afternoon — over 40 shots total. These two entry-level machines sit about $48 apart in price but target completely different brewers. One is fast and forgiving. The other demands practice but rewards you with real espresso depth. Here’s my honest, hands-on comparison.
Design & Build
The Bambino Plus is a compact machine, under 20 cm wide, barely taking up counter space. The body is stainless steel but feels light. The water tank sits at the back, which is slightly awkward to refill. Overall, it has Breville’s signature appliance aesthetic — clean, modern, but not professional-grade in feel.
The Gaggia CLASSIC E24 is a different animal. It weighs 9 kg, has an all-metal body, and uses a 58mm commercial-sized portafilter. It sits on your counter like it means business. The design is classic Italian — boxy, solid, nearly unchanged from Gaggia machines of three decades ago. Some call it retro. I call it timeless.
Espresso Quality — Push-Button vs Hands-On
The Bambino Plus uses Breville’s ThermoJet heating system. It hits brewing temperature in about 3 seconds and holds it steady with digital PID control. I tested with 18g of medium-dark roast beans and got roughly 28-second shots with decent but thin crema. The flavor profile is balanced and gentle — low acidity, mild bitterness. Great for milk drinks, but the espresso itself lacks character.
The Gaggia CLASSIC E24 uses a traditional boiler that needs 8-10 minutes to warm up. There’s no PID (not even on the Pro version — you’ll need an aftermarket kit for that), so temperature fluctuates within a range. But the 58mm portafilter and 9-bar OPV (built into 2023+ models as stock) give it a much wider sweet spot. With good puck prep, the Gaggia produces thicker crema, heavier body, and noticeably more layered flavors. Dial it in wrong, though, and it punishes you. This machine doesn’t hold your hand.
The key takeaway in this Bambino Plus vs Gaggia CLASSIC E24 comparison: the Bambino is hard to make bad espresso with but has a limited ceiling. The Gaggia can pull shots close to commercial quality, but only after you put in the reps.
Milk Steaming — Full Auto vs Pure Manual
This is the Bambino Plus’s strongest feature. The automatic steam wand does everything: you place the milk pitcher under it, press a button, and the machine handles air injection, texturing, and shut-off. The microfoam quality is excellent for this price range — consistently silky, properly textured, perfect for latte art beginners. The downside is you can’t adjust steam pressure, and it’s relatively slow — about 45 seconds for a standard latte pitcher.
The Gaggia CLASSIC E24’s steam wand is fully manual. It’s powered by a 1500W boiler and can texture 200ml of milk in about 25 seconds — noticeably faster than the Bambino. But there’s no auto-stop, so you control everything by hand and ear. Beginners usually struggle for the first few weeks: too little air and the milk is thin, too much and it’s coarse foam. Once you master the technique, the Gaggia’s steam quality and speed both beat the Bambino Plus. But the learning curve is real.
Build Quality — Plastic Panels vs All-Metal Chassis
Build quality is a major differentiator in any Bambino Plus vs Gaggia CLASSIC E24 comparison. The Bambino has a stainless steel shell, but the base, water tank lid, and drip tray are plastic. The 54mm portafilter is aluminum — light, functional, but not premium. Overall build quality is acceptable for the price but not impressive.
The Gaggia CLASSIC E24 is nearly all metal except for the water tank lid and drip tray. The chassis is stainless steel, the portafilter is 58mm brass and steel, and the switches are mechanical rockers with a satisfying tactile feel. After three weeks, I genuinely believe this machine can last a decade. And the modding community around it is massive — you can add a PID kit, swap the OPV spring, upgrade the steam wand, and install a pressure gauge over time.
Gaggia’s build isn’t flawless, though. The front panel sticker tends to peel at the edges over time. The water tank is only 2.1L, which feels small for a machine of this weight. And the stock plastic steam wand sleeve needs to be replaced with a Rancilio Silvia wand as your first upgrade. These are minor gripes, not dealbreakers.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | Breville Bambino Plus | Gaggia CLASSIC E24 |
|---|---|---|
| Heating System | ThermoJet thermoblock (3-sec heat-up) | Boiler (8-10 min warm-up) |
| Temperature Control | Digital PID | No PID, temp fluctuates ±3°C |
| Portafilter | 54mm | 58mm commercial standard |
| Steam Wand | Full auto, 4 temp/texture levels | Full manual, commercial-grade pressure |
| Weight | ~6.5 kg | ~9 kg |
| Water Tank | 1.9L | 2.1L |
| Modding Potential | Almost none | Extensive (PID, OPV, steam wand, pressure gauge) |
| Price (approx.) | $498.49 | $450.06 |
Daily Use & Cleaning
The Bambino Plus is as simple as an espresso machine gets. No warm-up wait. Automatic purge cycles. The drip tray has a “full” float indicator. The rear water tank detaches easily for refilling. Backflushing and descaling are prompted by indicator lights.
The Gaggia CLASSIC E24 requires a daily ritual. Turn it on, wait 8-10 minutes (or use a smart plug to schedule it). Flush the group head after every shot. No automated cleaning cycles — everything is manual. But the upside is that 58mm accessories (tampers, distributors, bottomless portafilters) are everywhere, so your upgrade path is wide open.
Both machines in this Bambino Plus vs Gaggia CLASSIC E24 face-off need regular backflushing and descaling. Breville lights tell you when. Gaggia expects you to know.
Who Should Buy What
Buy the Breville Bambino Plus if you:
- Want zero warm-up time and no fuss in the morning
- Mainly drink lattes and cappuccinos and want consistently great auto-frothed milk
- Have limited counter space
- Don’t want to learn espresso technique — just press a button and get good coffee
- Are buying for a partner who isn’t into the coffee hobby
Buy the Gaggia CLASSIC E24 if you:
- Are willing to invest time learning proper espresso extraction
- Enjoy the tactile process — mechanical switches, 58mm portafilter, manual steaming
- Plan to mod and upgrade over time (PID, steam wand, OPV)
- Mainly drink straight espresso or americanos, and don’t mind manual milk steaming
- Want a machine that can easily last 10+ years and grow with your skills
The Bambino Plus vs Gaggia CLASSIC E24 choice really comes down to one question: do you want to drink great coffee, or do you want to make great coffee? Pick the Bambino for the former, the Gaggia for the latter.
Verdict
After two weeks of testing both machines head to head, here’s where the Bambino Plus vs Gaggia CLASSIC E24 comparison lands. The Bambino Plus is “easy mode” for entry-level espresso — fast, consistent, and forgiving. The Gaggia CLASSIC E24 is “hard mode” — steeper learning curve but higher ceiling. There’s no outright winner. It depends entirely on how much you want to engage with the process.
If this Bambino Plus vs Gaggia CLASSIC E24 test forced me to keep just one: the Gaggia stays on my counter because it makes coffee feel like a craft, not a transaction. But if I were buying for my parents, I’d get the Bambino Plus without hesitation.
| Dimension | Breville Bambino Plus | Gaggia CLASSIC E24 |
|---|---|---|
| Espresso Quality | 3.8/5 — consistent but lacks character | 4.5/5 — high ceiling, technique-dependent |
| Milk Steaming | 4.5/5 — excellent auto microfoam | 4.0/5 — powerful but fully manual |
| Build Quality | 3.5/5 — too many plastic parts | 4.5/5 — all-metal, decade-plus lifespan |
| Ease of Use | 5.0/5 — zero learning curve | 3.0/5 — requires practice and patience |
| Value | 4.0/5 — fair at $498.49 | 4.5/5 — exceptional at $450.06 |
| Overall | 4.2/5 | 4.2/5 |
Pros & Cons:
Bambino Plus
Pros: 3-second heat-up · Excellent auto milk frothing · Extremely easy to use · Compact footprint · PID temperature control · Great for households
Cons: 54mm portafilter limits accessories · No modding potential · Steam pressure on the weak side · Too many plastic components
Gaggia CLASSIC E24
Pros: 58mm commercial portafilter · All-metal build for longevity · Powerful steam pressure · Highly moddable · High espresso ceiling · Classic design
Cons: 8-10 min warm-up is slow · No PID temperature control · Manual steaming has steep learning curve · Small water tank
Check Breville Bambino Plus on Amazon · Breville Official Site
Check Gaggia CLASSIC E24 on Amazon · Gaggia Official Site
If you already have a grinder, check out our Fellow Ode Gen 2 review — it pairs well with both machines for filter and medium-roast espresso.
