Bambino Plus vs Gaggia Classic E24: Which Suits Beginners?

Bambino Plus vs Gaggia Classic E24, from manuals and independent reviews: heat-up, PID, 54 vs 58mm, milk steaming, accessories and the Evo boiler flaw.

By Maksud · Published Oct 4, 2026

For most beginners in the Bambino Plus vs Gaggia Classic choice, the Bambino Plus is the safer first machine. Breville’s BES500 manual lists PID temperature control, automatic milk texturing, a 3-second heat-up and a full accessory kit. Pick the Gaggia Classic E24 if you want a 58mm commercial portafilter, a lead-free brass boiler (per Gaggia), a steam wand Tom’s Guide calls powerful and a machine you can repair. In return you accept a learning curve and buy a tamp and jug.

This is a research comparison: nothing here was used hands-on. Every number traces to a manual or a named reviewer (how we research).

Quick verdict: Bambino Plus or Gaggia Classic E24

Tom’s Guide’s E24 review splits it by buyer. If you want the most out of the box, get the Bambino Plus; if you want a boiler machine and don’t mind spending more time and money, get the Gaggia. Tom’s Guide titles its review “Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro”. The machine it describes has the new brass boiler and brass group, so it is the E24, not the 2023 Evo Pro with the coated aluminum boiler.

Pick the Bambino Plus if you:

• want lattes and cappuccinos at the press of a button
• have little counter space or patience for a learning curve
• want everything you need in the box except beans and a grinder

Pick the Gaggia Classic E24 if you:

• drink mostly espresso or small milk drinks
• want the 58mm commercial standard and plan to upgrade or mod
• will buy a proper tamp, milk jug and cleaning kit

Bambino Plus vs Gaggia Classic E24 specs side by side

The Gaggia Classic E24 vs Bambino Plus specs below come from the two manuals, the makers’ spec pages and named reviewers. Where sources disagree, both figures are shown.

Heat-up and temperature control: PID vs temperature surfing

A PID is a controller that holds water temperature steady; temperature surfing means flushing or waiting by hand to land a boiler in the right range. Breville’s BES500 manual says the ThermoJet reaches extraction temperature in 3 seconds and uses electronic PID control.

Gaggia’s E24 US manual says to wait “a few minutes” for the coffee temperature light. After steaming, it says to run water through the group to cool the boiler, or the coffee may taste burnt. Tom’s Guide found the E24 ready within about 2 minutes, then needed 1 to 2 minutes of surfing; shots pulled right after steaming came out thin and under-extracted.

Coffee Chronicler says the Classic’s lack of thermal predictability, with no built-in PID, makes it a difficult machine to learn on. More on boiler types in single vs double boiler espresso machines.

Pressure, OPV and the 9-bar question

The “15 bar” on a box is the pump’s rating; the over-pressure valve (OPV) caps what reaches the coffee. Gaggia North America lists a 15 bar Ulka pump with the OPV calibrated to 9 bar, and Tom’s Guide says the E24 pulls at 9 bar. Tom’s Guide’s spec table lists OPV control as “No”.

Coffee Chronicler says many owners open the Classic and fit a special spring to get the OPV to 9 bar. Its write-up covers the Classic Pro without saying which version, and Gaggia North America now lists the E24’s OPV at 9 bar. Breville’s manual gives no bar figure, only low-pressure pre-infusion. Coffee Chronicler and CNET both say the Bambino Plus brews at 9 bar. See espresso machine bar pressure explained.

Portafilter and baskets: 54mm vs 58mm

Breville’s manual lists a 54mm portafilter with single-wall baskets for fresh-ground coffee and dual-wall (pressurized) baskets for pre-ground. The manual says the dual-wall baskets regulate pressure to help the extraction regardless of grind, dose, tamp or freshness. Coffee Chronicler says the Bambino Plus ships with only a pressurized basket; the current manual contradicts that, so I’ve gone with the manual.

Gaggia lists a 58mm portafilter, the commercial size, with one pressurized and two traditional filters and a plastic tamper (gaggia.com notes the US 120 V version’s small traditional filter is for one cup only). Tom’s Guide calls that tamp painful to use. Neither machine has a grinder. Basket choice is covered in pressurized vs non-pressurized baskets.

Bambino Plus or Gaggia for beginners on pre-ground coffee

Both work with pre-ground coffee through their pressurized baskets. Tom’s Guide advises against using the Gaggia’s pressurized basket and recommends budgeting for a grinder instead.

Milk steaming: automatic wand vs boiler wand

Breville’s manual lists three milk temperatures (Warm, Ideal, Hot), three foam levels, a jug temperature sensor and an automatic purge. TechRadar recorded 51 dB while frothing and 53 dB while brewing.

The Gaggia’s wand is manual and strong. Tom’s Guide textured milk for an 8 oz flat white in under 10 seconds with the valve half open, but the boiler ran out of steam on large jugs and needed about 30 seconds to switch from espresso to steam. Gaggia’s manual says not to steam longer than 60 seconds or the boiler can empty. Tom’s Guide says the Bambino Plus steams more slowly, without giving a time.

Build, repairs and the Evo boiler problem

CoffeeBlog reports that only the 2023 Classic Evo Pro shed coating flakes, which Gaggia blamed on a “failure in polymerization”. Gaggia moved to brass for the E24. To check a used machine, CoffeeBlog suggests removing the steam tip, flushing hot water from the wand into a white cup and watching whether dark flakes keep coming. CoffeeBlog also says only machines sold as the E24 and listed with a brass boiler have the new boiler, so check that the listing says both.

Tom’s Guide cites reports of Classics lasting up to 15 years and says the Gaggia is easy to open and modify, while Breville internals use more plastic and are harder to open. Tom’s Guide’s Bambino Plus reviewer often had to steady the light machine when locking in the portafilter. CNET calls it “light and a little tippy”, with a vibration pump louder than those in pricier models and more plastic parts than higher-end machines.

Cleaning and descaling routines

Gaggia’s manual recommends descaling every 2 to 3 months even with purified or bottled water (its descaling section says every 2 months) and allows only Gaggia’s descaler. Breville’s manual runs a separate cleaning cycle, signaled by 1 CUP and 2 CUP flashing alternately after 200 extractions. Tom’s Guide found the Bambino Plus drip tray too small for the extra water from the auto purge. See how to descale an espresso machine and Bambino Plus flashing lights.

Total cost to get started

TechRadar and Tom’s Guide give the Bambino Plus a $499.95 list price; Tom’s Guide’s price widget showed $399.95 at Amazon on Oct 4, 2026. The same day, the E24 was $549 in stainless at Gaggia North America and $450.83 at Amazon (Tom’s Guide’s widget). Tom’s Guide’s Aug 2025 review gave $499. On top of that, Tom’s Guide says the Gaggia needs a tamp, a milk jug and a cleaning kit. Neither includes a grinder; see the best espresso machines hub.

Who should buy the Bambino Plus and who should buy the Gaggia

• Buy the Bambino Plus if you’re a beginner, mostly drink lattes or cappuccinos, or have a small counter.
• Buy the Gaggia Classic E24 if you want 58mm and modding, mostly drink espresso or small milk drinks, and will buy accessories.
• Spending less? The Breville Bambino drops automatic milk; see Bambino vs Bambino Plus.
• Want a grinder built in? Look at the Breville Barista Express.

More on the Bambino Plus vs Gaggia Classic

• Breville Bambino Plus review
• Gaggia Classic E24 review
• Best espresso machines
• How we research