The pandemic sparked a home brewing revolution, with coffee enthusiasts increasingly investing in compact espresso machines. Two models have captured significant attention: the established $300 Breville Bambino and the more budget-friendly Casabrews CM5418. 

When Casabrews released its 2025 model at roughly half the Bambino’s price, it raised an intriguing question for home baristas weighing quality against affordability. This comparison examines how these two machines stack up in performance, features, and overall value.

Breville is a household name in no small part because of its home espresso machines, including its entry-level, semi-automatic Breville Bambino. The Bambino launched in 2020, now retailing at about $300, as a more value-driven model to its slightly more robust Breville Bambino Plus. The same year, the Casabrews brand launched as a rival espresso machine producer aimed at affordability. The Casabrews CM5418 debuted in the spring of 2025 at a mere $140. Despite the model’s recent release (and robotic name), Casabrews says its CM5418 is already one of the three highest-selling semi-automatic coffee machines on Amazon.

Key features of the Breville Bambino 

  • Dimensions: ‎7.7 inches x 12.6 inches x 12.2 inches (width, depth, height)
  • Watts: 1,560 
  • Weight: 10.42 pounds
  • Water tank: 1.4 liters
  • Pressure: 9 bars
  • Price: $299

I’ll start by saying the Breville Bambino is a surprisingly robust little kit. The Breville espresso machine comes with 1- and 2-cup dual-wall filter baskets, plus, unlike its competitor, single-wall filter baskets and a metal milk jug. The size of the espresso machine is two inches wider than the Casabrews, but the difference wasn’t an issue in terms of saving space on the counter. Dosing for the 54-millimeter portafilter is a recommended 16 to 18 grams of coffee. 

Breville also found a sweet spot with the nine bars of extraction pressure, similar to most commercial machines. Additional benefits of the Breville Bambino include that the milk frother has a 180-degree rotation that allows for more comfortable use. I kept reaching for the Bambino to steam milk even for drip coffee. I recommend replacing the included plastic tamper as soon as possible but the included milk jug is much appreciated. 


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Casabrews CM5418 Breville Bambino
Dimensions (WxDxH) ‎5.47 x 12.28 x 11.97 inches ‎7.7 x 12.6 x 12.2 inches
Power 1,350 watts 1,560 watts
Weight 10.4 pounds 10.42 pounds
Water tank capacity 1.4 liters 1.4 liters
Pressure 20 bars 9 bars
Price $140 $299