Head-to-head · 2026

Bambino Plus vs De'Longhi Dedica — Compact Electric Showdown

188 mm vs 150 mm. $400 vs $280. Which slim electric espresso is right for the smallest apartments?

By Alex · Updated May 3, 2026 · Same data sources as our individual reviews

Breville the Bambino Plus

$400

Apt-Fit 9/10 · 188 mm wide

Full review →

De'Longhi Dedica DeLuxe

$280

Apt-Fit 10/10 · 150 mm wide

Full review →

Two compact electric espresso machines. Both fit on any apartment counter. Bambino Plus is 188 mm wide and $400. Dedica is 150 mm and $280. The $120 difference buys you PID, pre-infusion, auto-milk frother, and a better portafilter standard. The question is whether you need those.

Spec-by-spec

	Breville the Bambino Plus	De'Longhi Dedica DeLuxe
Width (mm)	188	150
Depth (mm)	320	330
Apt-Fit Score	9	10
Price (USD)	399.95	279.95
Power (W)	1560	1300
Water tank (L)	1.9	1.1
Portafilter (mm)	54	51
PID temp control	✓	—
Pre-infusion	✓	—
Auto milk frother	✓	—
Warranty (years)	2	3

Green = better value on that axis. Same value = both shown neutral.

Footprint side-by-side

Both diagrams at the same scale on a standard 60 cm apartment counter.

Breville the Bambino Plus — 188×320 mm

De'Longhi Dedica DeLuxe — 150×330 mm

Our verdict

Get De'Longhi Dedica if: you have absolute counter constraints (under 200 mm available), you're testing whether home espresso is for you (lowest financial risk), or you primarily drink ESE pods.

Get Bambino Plus if: you have 200+ mm of width and you want PID temperature stability + auto-milk + 54mm wider accessory ecosystem. Dedica's 51mm portafilter is unusual — 54mm Breville has 10× more accessory options.

Honest take: Dedica is "real espresso under $300" but it's a stripped-down package. If you can stretch $120 more, Bambino Plus is the better long-term machine.

FAQ

Is the Dedica's 51mm portafilter a problem?

Limits accessory upgrades. 51mm tampers, baskets, and dosing tools are scarce. 54mm (Breville) and 58mm (commercial) ecosystems are 10-100× larger. If you'll never upgrade — fine. If you'll tinker — restrictive.

What's the absolute cheapest "real espresso" setup?

Dedica EC685 ($280) + cheap hand grinder ($60) + non-pressurized 51mm basket ($25) = $365 total. The Bambino base equivalent: $300 + $60 + included = $360. Identical price but Bambino has wider ecosystem.

Which one is louder?

Both ~65 dB vibratory pump. No meaningful difference.

Reddit reliability on each?

Dedica: known issue with clogging (descale every 4 weeks recommended). Bambino Plus: known issue with auto-steam wand degradation (3-year typical). Both have specific weaknesses to manage.