An automatic milk frother can describe several different systems. This comparison covers automatic steam-wand settings used with a jug. It does not treat a carafe, a hose system or a separate countertop frother as the same workflow.
The two options below had new US machine offers below $500 before tax and shipping when checked on 31 October 2026. Compare the help each one provides with the milk stage and keep the rest of the drink in view.
#1. Breville Bambino Plus BES500
Breville Bambino Plus BES500 Breville Bambino Plus BES500
Our verdict:
For automatic milk settings
Choose the BES500 when its milk heat and texture settings address the work you want help with. Coffee preparation and cleaning remain part of the routine.
Keep in mind: It does not grind or prepare the coffee. Automatic milk settings still need a prepared jug and wand cleanup.
New US offer below $500 before tax and shipping; checked 31 October 2026.
View at BrevilleChoose the Bambino Plus when automatic milk heat and texture settings address the part of the routine you want help with. Breville also provides a manual option. That lets you choose a different user role for steaming without treating the whole machine as a bean-to-cup system.
Coffee preparation remains yours. Pick the supported basket for the coffee you intend to buy, prepare it as directed and handle the used grounds afterward. A whole-bean route needs a suitable separate grinder. The stock Plus does not carry out that stage.
Prepare the jug and follow the exact automatic-steaming instructions. Automatic settings do not make wand care disappear. Read the milk-contact cleaning steps before buying, especially if you expect several people to use the station.
#2. DeLonghi Dedica Maestro Plus EC950M
DeLonghi Dedica Maestro Plus EC950M DeLonghi Dedica Maestro Plus EC950M
Our verdict:
Buyers who want to handle coffee and milk preparation with the documented controls.
Keep in mind: Automatic milk settings do not apply in manual mode; coffee preparation remains with the user.
New US offer below $500 before tax and shipping; checked 31 October 2026.
View at De’LonghiThe Maestro Plus offers automatic milk temperature and texture choices in its automatic wand position. It also has a manual steaming position. Use the relevant mode instructions rather than assuming that the automatic settings work in manual mode.
The user still loads the coffee and prepares the milk vessel. The US book lists single-wall and double-wall basket choices, along with a tamper and milk jug. Check the exact retail kit before adding another tool that duplicates a supplied part.
The wand’s OFF-position rinse and wiping milk residue are separate care actions in the instructions. Plan time and access for both. Rinsing alone does not establish that the outside surface has been cleaned.
What automatic steaming changes
| Task | Bambino Plus | Maestro Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic milk heat and texture settings | Available | Available in automatic mode |
| Manual steaming option | Available | Available in manual mode |
| Integrated grinder | Not included | Not included |
| Coffee loading and preparation | User handles it | User handles it |
| Milk-contact care | Follow BES500 instructions | Follow EC950M instructions |
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The table describes the documented controls, not a head-to-head temperature or milk-quality test. Each product button links to the US maker information used for the dated stock and price check.
Budget for the complete coffee route
These are machine-only choices. Whole beans require a suitable grinder, so a machine just below the ceiling does not prove that an entirely new station fits it. Check the supported pre-ground route if that is how you intend to start, and include every missing required item.
Keep optional upgrades separate. A replacement portafilter or tamper needs an actual fit or handling reason. Our Bambino fit reference explains why nominal basket size is not enough to confirm another handle.
Choose for your usual drink order
Think through the coffee stage, milk stage and cleanup in the order you will perform them. Automatic steaming can help with a jug task while leaving plenty of manual preparation. If cold milk is your usual choice, the iced-latte guide may be a better starting point.
If you want the user to control the milk texture directly, compare the manual milk options instead. The useful distinction is the work you want help with, rather than the broad word automatic.
Verdict
Both machines assist with automatic jug steaming and retain manual options. Choose the exact controls and care sequence you want to use, then confirm the complete equipment cost. Neither should be bought on the assumption that automatic milk means automatic coffee preparation.