The best espresso grinder for a Breville Bambino or Bambino Plus is the Baratza Encore ESP , because Baratza includes a dosing cup made for 54 mm portafilters (the Bambino’s size) and puts the espresso range in settings 1-20. If you want finer adjustment and timed doses, step up to the Encore ESP Pro . If you would rather grind by hand, the 1Zpresso J-Ultra is built for espresso.

Everything here comes from the makers’ pages and Amazon listing checks on November 7, 2026. We have not used these grinders with a Bambino. For espresso grinders in general, our espresso grinder guide compares a different shortlist.

What the Bambino asks of a grinder

Breville’s Bambino page describes “the ideal dose of 18g of freshly ground beans delivered by a professional style 54mm portafilter,” with “Low pressure pre-infusion followed by 9 bar extraction.” The Bambino and Bambino Plus both ship with single-wall and dual-wall filter baskets.

That leaves three things to match:

  1. Fine, repeatable adjustment. The single-wall baskets are the ones that respond to grind changes, so the grinder needs small steps in the espresso range, not just a fine setting.
  2. A way to get 18 g into a 54 mm basket. A dosing cup or portafilter holder that fits 54 mm keeps grounds off the counter.
  3. Counter space. The Bambino is small; a tall hopper grinder can take up more room than the machine.

Quick comparison

Grinder Espresso adjustment 54 mm fit Type Usual Amazon price band
Baratza Encore ESP Settings 1-20 of 40 are the espresso range Dosing cup for 54 mm; 58 mm adapter included Electric, hopper $150-200
Baratza Encore ESP Pro Stepless; espresso to cold brew Not stated on Baratza’s page Electric, single-dose or timer $250-300
Baratza Sette 30 (search) Adjustment ring; shims to set the range Arms hold “most popular portafilter sizes” Electric, grinds into the portafilter Varies by seller
1Zpresso J-Ultra 8 microns per click, external dial Grinds into a magnetic catch cup Hand grinder $150-200

1. Baratza Encore ESP: best for most Bambino owners

Baratza’s Encore ESP page says “#1-20 will get you high-resolution espresso grinds and #21-40 is ready to grind for filter, french press, or cold brew!” Its included dosing cup lets you “Get the grounds straight into your portafilter with less mess with the 54mm portafilter,” and Baratza notes a 58 mm adapter is included.

That 54 mm cup is the reason it leads this page: it matches the Bambino’s portafilter out of the box. It also covers drip coffee on settings 21-40, which helps if the household brews both. There is no timer or weight-based dosing, so weigh your 18 g on a scale. Our Encore ESP review has more detail.

2. Baratza Encore ESP Pro: finer control and timed doses

Baratza’s Encore ESP Pro page describes “Our first grinder with a smooth, stepless adjustment,” a flow control disk, ion generation to reduce retention and static, a digital display, and two modes: “Single Dose Mode with auto-stop grinding and Timer Mode with 0.1 second dosing accuracy.”

Stepless adjustment means you are not limited to the Encore ESP’s fixed numbers when dialing in a shot in the single-wall basket. Baratza’s page does not say which dosing cup comes with it, so check the box contents in the listing if you want a 54 mm cup.

3. Baratza Sette 30: grinds straight into the portafilter

Baratza’s Sette 30 page says you can “Change the position of the Sette™’s arms to accept the included grounds bin, most popular portafilter sizes, or the new dosing cup,” with a timer “accurate to the tenth of a second” and a “direct-through design” that “reduces waste.” Baratza also says to “Slide the Sette™ 30 next to any espresso machine without taking up the entire counter.”

Grinding directly into the portafilter is the fastest routine with a Bambino. Baratza does not list 54 mm by name, so confirm the arms hold your portafilter before relying on it. The Amazon listings we found were sold by a third party, so the link is a search.

4. 1Zpresso J-Ultra: the hand-grinder option

1Zpresso’s J-Ultra page describes “an incredibly precise 8-micron adjustment per click” using an external adjustment dial, 48 mm burrs “expertly crafted for espresso,” and a magnetic catch cup.

A hand grinder takes no counter space when it is put away and suits one or two drinks a day. Grinding 18 g by hand for every shot takes effort, so it is a poor fit for a household making several lattes each morning. The linked listing is sold by 1Zpresso.

Which to choose

  • Most Bambino owners: Encore ESP, for the 54 mm dosing cup and simple numbered settings.
  • You will chase shot quality in the single-wall basket: Encore ESP Pro, for stepless adjustment.
  • You want the fastest morning routine: Sette 30, if its arms hold your portafilter.
  • Small kitchen or one drink a day: 1Zpresso J-Ultra.

Still choosing the machine? Our espresso machines for small kitchens compares the Bambino and Bambino Plus with other compact machines.

How we chose

We looked for current espresso-capable grinders whose makers describe fine espresso adjustment and a practical way to dose into a 54 mm portafilter, and kept one hand-grinder option. Exact Amazon links are used only where we confirmed the model and that Amazon or the brand sells it new. Price bands are what listings showed on November 7, 2026, and they change.

Sources