Quick verdict: In this Bambino Plus vs Dedica Arte comparison, the Breville Bambino Plus (from $487) is the better machine for milk-drink lovers thanks to its automatic steam wand and 3-second heat-up — but the De’Longhi Dedica Arte (from $199) is remarkable value if you’re happy to learn manual milk texturing. The price gap is real; so is the convenience gap.
The Bambino Plus vs Dedica Arte decision is one of the most common dilemmas for Australian home baristas. Both are compact, both promise café-quality espresso, and both sit in the sweet spot between pod machines and full prosumer setups.
One important note before we start: the classic De’Longhi Dedica EC680/EC685 that older comparisons mention is now discontinued in Australia — none of the major retailers (The Good Guys, Myer, Kogan, Appliances Online) still stock it. Its replacement is the Dedica Arte (EC885M), which is what we’ve compared here. If you were searching for the old model, this is the comparison you actually need.
Price comparison: Australia, October 2026
Prices checked live on 11 October 2026 across Australian retailers:
| Machine | Cheapest found | Price range | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breville Bambino Plus (BES500) | $487 | $487 – $599 | The Good Guys ($487, Price Attack ends 21/10/26); Appliances Online & Kogan $542; Myer $599. RRP ~$749. |
| De’Longhi Dedica Arte (EC885M) | $199 | $199 – $383 | Myer ($529, was $199); De’Longhi Australia official store $199; Kogan $383.09. |
Depending on where you shop, the Bambino Plus costs roughly $100 to $300 more than the Dedica Arte. That gap is the whole story of this Bambino Plus vs Dedica Arte comparison — so let’s see what it actually buys you.
Head-to-head specs
| Breville Bambino Plus | De’Longhi Dedica Arte | |
|---|---|---|
| Pump pressure | 15-bar Italian pump | 15-bar pump |
| Heating system | ThermoJet with PID digital temperature control | Thermoblock |
| Heat-up time | 3 seconds | ~40 seconds |
| Steam wand | Automatic, hands-free — 3 milk temperatures × 3 texture levels | Manual My LatteArt wand |
| Portafilter | 54mm stainless steel | 51mm with pressurised baskets |
| Water tank | 1.9L | 1.1L |
| Width | ~19.5cm | 15cm — one of the slimmest available |
| Power | 1600W | 1300W |
| Built-in grinder | No | No |
| Owner ratings (Myer AU) | Strong across retailers | 4.5 stars (498 reviews) |
Espresso in the cup
Here’s the honest truth most comparisons bury: for straight espresso shots, these two are closer than the price gap suggests. Both run 15-bar pumps, both use pressurised filter baskets out of the box (forgiving of pre-ground coffee and inconsistent grinds), and both can pull a sweet, crema-topped shot once dialled in.
The Bambino Plus edges ahead on temperature stability thanks to its PID-controlled ThermoJet system, which holds water temperature more precisely than the Dedica Arte’s simpler thermoblock. In practice, that means slightly more consistent shots back-to-back — noticeable if you make several coffees in a row, marginal if you make one morning flat white.
Both machines need a separate grinder (or quality pre-ground coffee) — neither has one built in. If you’re stepping up from pods, budget for that. Pairing either with a decent grinder lifts the result more than the price difference between the machines themselves.
Milk steaming: where they differ most
This is the real battleground — and the main reason the Bambino Plus costs more.
The Bambino Plus has an automatic steam wand. You put the jug under, press a button, and it textures the milk hands-free to your chosen temperature and texture level, then stops itself. For cappuccinos, lattes and flat whites, it’s genuinely foolproof — and the microfoam is good enough for basic latte art.
The Dedica Arte’s My LatteArt wand is fully manual. It can produce lovely silky microfoam — owners rate it well — but you are the automation. Expect a learning curve of a week or two of practice before your milk looks café-worthy. If you mostly drink long blacks or espressos, this difference barely matters. If you live on lattes, it matters enormously.
Speed, ease and everyday use
The Bambino Plus is ready in 3 seconds from cold — you can go from off to espresso in under a minute. The Dedica Arte takes around 40 seconds to heat, which is still quick by espresso-machine standards but not instant.
Day to day, the Bambino Plus feels more “appliance-like”: bigger 1.9L tank (fewer refills), automatic milk, dry-puck feature for easy cleanup. The Dedica Arte is more hands-on and traditional — smaller 1.1L tank, manual everything, but dead simple with only three illuminated buttons. There’s less to go wrong, and at $199 there’s less to lose.
Size, build and bench space
The Dedica Arte is famously slim at just 15cm wide — it squeezes into kitchens, caravans and small apartments where the Bambino Plus (around 19.5cm wide) won’t fit. Both have metal bodies that feel solid; neither feels like a toy. If bench space is your constraint, the De’Longhi wins outright.
Bambino Plus vs Dedica Arte: who should buy which?
Buy the Breville Bambino Plus if: you drink mostly milk-based coffees, you want great results with minimal skill, you value speed (3-second heat-up), or you’re buying your “first real machine” and don’t want to fight a learning curve.
Buy the De’Longhi Dedica Arte if: you’re on a tighter budget, you enjoy the hands-on ritual (or want to learn latte art properly), bench space is tight, or you mostly drink espresso and long blacks where the steam wand barely matters.
Also worth knowing: if the Bambino Plus stretches your budget too far, the De’Longhi Stilosa at around $149 is an even cheaper entry point, while the Breville Barista Express Impress ($798–$899) is the natural step up from the Bambino Plus with a built-in grinder. For a mid-range alternative, the Sunbeam Origins Sense (now $649–$699) is worth a look.
Bambino Plus vs Dedica Arte: final verdict
Is the Breville Bambino Plus worth $100–$300 more than the De’Longhi Dedica Arte? If you drink milk coffees daily: yes. The automatic steam wand alone justifies it — it turns latte-making from a skill you must learn into a button you press, and the 3-second heat-up removes every excuse for a café run.
But the Dedica Arte is the value pick of this comparison, especially at $199. At less than half the price of the Bambino Plus, it makes genuinely good espresso, takes up almost no bench space, and teaches you real barista skills. For espresso and long-black drinkers, it’s arguably the smarter buy.
Either way, you’re getting one of the two best-regarded entry-level espresso machines in Australia — just choose based on how you actually drink your coffee.
Prices checked 11 October 2026 at The Good Guys, Myer, Kogan, Appliances Online and the De’Longhi Australia store. Prices move — check current pricing before buying.
Frequently asked questions
Is the De’Longhi Dedica EC685 discontinued in Australia?
Effectively, yes. As of October 2026, none of the major Australian retailers — The Good Guys, Myer, Kogan or Appliances Online — stock the classic Dedica EC680/EC685. The current model in the Dedica line is the Dedica Arte (EC885M).
Bambino Plus vs Dedica Arte: is the Bambino Plus worth it?
For daily milk-coffee drinkers, yes — the automatic steam wand, faster heat-up and better temperature stability justify the premium. For espresso and long-black drinkers on a budget, the Dedica Arte offers better value.
Bambino Plus vs Dedica Arte: which is better for lattes?
The Bambino Plus. Its automatic hands-free steam wand produces consistent microfoam at the press of a button, while the Dedica Arte’s manual wand requires practice to get the same result.
Do I need a grinder with the Bambino Plus or Dedica Arte?
Neither machine has a built-in grinder. Both work with pre-ground coffee (their pressurised baskets are forgiving), but a decent burr grinder noticeably improves both. If you want a grinder included, look at the Breville Barista Express Impress instead.
Which is better for beginners?
The Bambino Plus is more beginner-friendly thanks to its automatic milk steaming and near-instant heat-up. The Dedica Arte is simpler mechanically but demands more technique — rewarding if you enjoy learning, frustrating if you don’t.
