The Breville Bambino Plus is one of the most popular first espresso machines, and it’s easy to spend more on Bambino Plus accessories than on the machine itself. This guide puts the upgrades in the order that tends to make the biggest difference to what’s in your cup, and tells you which ones you can skip.
Everything here uses the Bambino Plus’s 54mm portafilter. Accessories for this size are usually listed as fitting Breville 54mm or 53.3mm. We compared products on manufacturer specifications and owner feedback. We haven’t tested them ourselves.
Quick answer: the Bambino Plus upgrades worth buying first
- 1. A capable grinder. The biggest upgrade of all. See our hand grinder guide.
- 2. A scale with a timer. See how to use an espresso scale.
- 3. A WDT tool: Normcore WDT Tool V2.1 (about $24)
- 4. A better tamper: Normcore V4 53.3mm (about $42)
- 5. A puck screen: Normcore 53.3mm (about $14)
- Nice to have: a bottomless portafilter, a dosing funnel, a knock box and a smaller milk pitcher.
Prices were checked on Amazon in October 2026.
Table of contents
What comes in the box
Breville lists these accessories with the Bambino Plus: a 54mm stainless steel portafilter, a 54mm tamper, the Razor dosing tool, single and dual wall filter baskets in 1-cup and 2-cup sizes, a 480ml (16oz) stainless steel milk jug, and cleaning tools. So you already have a tamper and a milk jug. The upgrades below are about consistency and convenience.
1. A capable grinder (the biggest upgrade)
If you’re using pre-ground coffee or a grinder that isn’t designed for espresso, no accessory will help as much as a proper grinder. Espresso needs fine, adjustable grinding, and the single wall baskets in particular depend on it. Our guide to the best hand grinders for espresso under $200 covers affordable options.
2. A scale with a built-in timer
Weighing your dose and your shot is how you make espresso repeatable. A scale with a timer lets you track all three numbers that matter: dose, yield and time. Reviewers report that the Bambino Plus has room under the portafilter for a regular espresso scale. If you use taller cups, a slimmer scale gives you more room. Our low-profile scale guide covers compact options, and how to use an espresso scale explains the routine.
3. The best Bambino Plus accessories to buy next
Best first accessory
Normcore WDT Tool V2.1
A WDT tool breaks up clumps in the grounds with thin needles before you tamp. That helps the water flow evenly instead of finding a weak spot, which is one of the main causes of channeling and uneven shots.
Key specs (manufacturer figures)
- 8 needles, 0.23mm
- Magnetic stand included
What’s good
- Cheap and effective for clumpy grounds
- Works with any grinder and basket size
- Stand keeps it tidy on the counter
Watch out for
- Adds a step to your routine
- Use a dosing funnel to avoid flicking grounds out of the basket
- Thin needles can bend if dropped
Best tamper upgrade
Normcore V4 Spring-Loaded Tamper (53.3mm)
The included tamper works, but a spring-loaded tamper with a leveling plate makes it easier to tamp flat and with the same pressure every time. It’s sized at 53.3mm, which fits Breville’s 54mm baskets. See our tamper guide for alternatives.
Key specs (manufacturer figures)
- 53.3mm flat base
- Three springs: 15lb, 25lb and 30lb
What’s good
- Consistent tamping pressure
- Leveling plate helps prevent tilted tamps
- Stand included
Watch out for
- Doesn’t distribute the grounds
- Hand wash only
- An upgrade, not a necessity
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Best small upgrade
Normcore 53.3mm Puck Screen
A puck screen is a thin metal disc you place on top of the tamped coffee. Owners use it to keep the group head cleaner and to help spread water more evenly over the puck. Coffee Chronicler’s Bambino Plus review recommends a 53mm puck screen as one of its upgrades.
Key specs (manufacturer figures)
- Sized for 54mm Breville baskets (53.3mm)
What’s good
- Keeps the shower screen cleaner
- Inexpensive
- Easy to add to your routine
Watch out for
- One more thing to clean after each shot
- Can reduce headspace in a full basket
- Results vary by coffee and dose
4. Nice-to-have upgrades
Best for diagnosing shots
Normcore 54mm Bottomless Portafilter
A bottomless portafilter lets you see the shot from underneath, so you can spot channeling and spraying right away. It’s a learning tool more than a taste upgrade. Check the listing confirms it fits the Bambino Plus before buying. Breville’s 54mm portafilters are shared across the range, but listings vary.
Key specs (manufacturer figures)
- 54mm, includes an 18g filter basket (per listing)
What’s good
- Shows channeling and uneven extraction clearly
- More room under the basket for cups and scales
- Includes a basket
Watch out for
- Exposes every mistake, which can mean spraying until you dial in
- No spouts, so pulling two shots at once is harder
- Check compatibility for your exact model
Best knock box
Ninja Luxe Café Knock Box
A knock box gives you somewhere to bang out used pucks without hitting the trash can. This one holds about 10 double-shot pucks, according to the listing.
What’s good
- Saves trips to the trash
- Large capacity for a home knock box
- Highly rated on Amazon
Watch out for
- Takes up counter space
- Needs emptying and rinsing regularly
- Any sturdy knock box does the same job
Best for single milk drinks
De’Longhi 12oz Milk Frothing Jug
The Bambino Plus includes a 480ml jug. De’Longhi’s 12 oz stainless jug is our pick for a smaller one. A smaller 350ml pitcher can make it easier to steam milk for a single flat white or cortado, and to practice latte art with less waste.
What’s good
- Less milk waste for small drinks
- Rated 4.8 out of 5 from about 13,800 ratings
- Easier to control for latte art practice
Watch out for
- Too small for two large lattes
- Costs more than no-name pitchers
- Not essential if you mostly make big drinks
$19.95 on Amazon, checked 15 October 2026. We previously listed a no-name $8 pitcher, but its listing had no available offer on that date.
What you can skip
- Pressurized (dual wall) basket upgrades. If you have a good grinder, use the single wall baskets instead.
- Fancy tampers before a grinder. Tamping won’t fix grounds that are too coarse or uneven.
- Lots of gadgets at once. Change one thing at a time so you know what actually helped.
Shopping for a Bambino owner? See our espresso gifts for Breville owners under $50.
Related guides
- Best grinder for the Breville Bambino
- Best WDT tool for espresso
- Best hand grinder for espresso under $200
- Best tamper for Breville 54mm portafilters
- Best dosing funnel for Breville 54mm
- Breville portafilter size by model
Frequently asked questions
What size accessories fit the Breville Bambino Plus?
The Bambino Plus uses a 54mm portafilter. Look for tampers, puck screens and dosing cups sold as 53.3mm or “for Breville 54mm”, and funnels sold as 54mm.
What is the best first upgrade for the Bambino Plus?
A grinder designed for espresso, if you don’t already have one. After that, a scale with a timer and a WDT tool tend to improve consistency the most for the money.
Does the Bambino Plus come with a tamper?
Yes. Breville lists a 54mm tamper, the Razor dosing tool and a 480ml milk jug among the included accessories.
Do I need a bottomless portafilter for the Bambino Plus?
No. It’s useful for spotting channeling and learning to dial in, but it won’t improve taste on its own.
Sources
Specifications and prices were checked against these sources in October 2026. Manufacturer pages are the best place to confirm current details.
