Breville Bambino Plus BES500BSS vs Rancilio Silvia PID Espresso Machine
Two espresso machines side by side. They differ on boiler / heating, portafilter size, water tank, width. The Breville Bambino Plus BES500BSS heats on demand through a thermocoil, while the Rancilio Silvia PID Espresso Machine has to switch between brewing and steaming.
Breville Bambino Plus BES500BSS
Rancilio Silvia PID Espresso Machine
What actually differs
- The Breville Bambino Plus BES500BSS heats on demand through a thermocoil, while the Rancilio Silvia PID Espresso Machine has to switch between brewing and steaming.
- Portafilter size: the Breville Bambino Plus BES500BSS has 54 mm, the Rancilio Silvia PID Espresso Machine has 58 mm.
- The Rancilio Silvia PID Espresso Machine has a larger water tank (2 L against 1.9 L for the Breville Bambino Plus BES500BSS).
- Voltage: the Breville Bambino Plus BES500BSS has 110-120 V, the Rancilio Silvia PID Espresso Machine has 120 V.
- The Breville Bambino Plus BES500BSS has a longer warranty (2 years against 1 year for the Rancilio Silvia PID Espresso Machine).
- Size, Breville Bambino Plus BES500BSS against Rancilio Silvia PID Espresso Machine: width 30.2 cm against 24.1 cm, depth 18.8 cm against 27.9 cm, height 36.3 cm against 34.3 cm.
- The Breville Bambino Plus BES500BSS sits in a lower typical price band than the Rancilio Silvia PID Espresso Machine ($$ $300–700 against $$$ $700–1,500).
Which one should you buy?
It suits home users who need a compact semi-automatic machine for espresso and milk drinks.
Users who want a compact unit that includes automatic milk texturing and fast warm-up may consider this model. It carries a two-year warranty and runs on standard household voltage.
Skip it if: You make several milk drinks back to back
Full specs and review →Home baristas moving up to a real portafilter machine for straight shots and the occasional milk drink
Suits home baristas moving up to a portafilter machine for straight shots and occasional milk drinks, with factory PID control. The main trade-off is the wait between brewing and steaming, which makes back-to-back milk drinks slow.
Skip it if: You make several milk drinks back to back
Full specs and review →Where each one wins
- A longer warranty
- A lower typical price band
- A larger water tank
Specs compared
Rows where they differ are highlighted. Specs are from manufacturer sources; blanks are left blank, never estimated.
| Spec | Breville Bambino Plus BES500BSS | Rancilio Silvia PID Espresso Machine |
|---|---|---|
| Typical price | $$ $300–700 | $$$ $700–1,500 |
| Machine type | Semi-automatic | Semi-automatic |
| Boiler / heating | Thermocoil | Single |
| PID temperature control | Yes | Yes |
| Portafilter size | 54 mm | 58 mm |
| Can be plumbed in | No | No |
| Needs mains power | Yes | Yes |
| Water tank | 1.9 L | 2 L |
| Width | 30.2 cm | 24.1 cm |
| Depth | 18.8 cm | 27.9 cm |
| Height | 36.3 cm | 34.3 cm |
| Voltage | 110-120 V | 120 V |
| Warranty | 2 years | 1 year |
What they have in common
Both record the same value for: machine type (Semi-automatic); pid temperature control (Yes); can be plumbed in (No); needs mains power (Yes).
Breville Bambino Plus BES500BSS vs Rancilio Silvia PID Espresso Machine: common questions
What is the main difference between the Breville Bambino Plus BES500BSS and the Rancilio Silvia PID Espresso Machine?
The Breville Bambino Plus BES500BSS heats on demand through a thermocoil, while the Rancilio Silvia PID Espresso Machine has to switch between brewing and steaming. Portafilter size: the Breville Bambino Plus BES500BSS has 54 mm, the Rancilio Silvia PID Espresso Machine has 58 mm.
Do the Breville Bambino Plus BES500BSS and the Rancilio Silvia PID Espresso Machine use the same portafilter?
No. The Breville Bambino Plus BES500BSS has 54 mm and the Rancilio Silvia PID Espresso Machine has 58 mm.
Is the Breville Bambino Plus BES500BSS or the Rancilio Silvia PID Espresso Machine more expensive?
The Breville Bambino Plus BES500BSS is $$ $300–700 and the Rancilio Silvia PID Espresso Machine is $$$ $700–1,500. Check the retailer for today's price.