Espresso Machines · Head-to-head
Breville BES450 vs Ninja ES351
The short answer
Breville BES450 comes out ahead overall with 7.9/10 against 7.5/10 for the Ninja ES351. Breville BES450 is stronger on espresso quality, build & reliability, health & materials and value. Ninja ES351 is stronger on milk steaming. At current verified prices, the Breville BES450 costs about $150.04 less.
- Choose the Breville BES450 if: Budget beginners who mostly drink espresso or americanos, or who are willing to learn manual steaming; about $500 including a good grinder.
- Choose the Ninja ES351 if: Total beginners who don't want to buy a separate grinder or learn to dial in, and who also want drip coffee, all for $500.
Scores by criterion
| Criterion | Breville BES450 | Ninja ES351 |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner-Friendliness | 8.33 s heat-up and the same simple controls as the Plus; the manual wand adds a learning curve. | 8.6Guided grinding and weight-based dosing remove most of the dialing in (Tom's Coffee Corner, Tom's Guide headline); small tank means frequent refills. |
| Espresso Quality | 8.0Same brew path as the Bambino Plus. | 7.0Tom's Coffee Corner found it balanced and full-bodied; Tom's Guide snippet says 'just OK'. |
| Milk Steaming | 6.3Manual wand that Reviewed calls weaker; good foam takes practice. | 7.3Strong manual wand; AutoFroth is hands-free but inconsistent (Tom's Coffee Corner) and slow (Tom's Guide snippet). |
| Build & Reliability | 6.5Plastic tamp and parts criticized (TechGearLab, Forbes, CNN); 1-year warranty. | 6.0Plastic sides and portafilter insert, new model with no long-term data, 1-year warranty. |
| Health & Materials | 6.5Retailer lists the tank as BPA-free; low idle energy; no recall found. | 5.5No PFAS, BPA or materials disclosure found; no recall found. |
| Value | 9.3About $300, or about $500 with an Encore ESP, for PID and ThermoJet performance; the best value in the pool. | 8.2$499.99 includes the grinder and drip mode; nothing else to buy. |
Specifications
| Spec | Breville BES450 | Ninja ES351 |
|---|---|---|
| Workflow type | Semi-assisted portafilter | — |
| Machine type | Semi-automatic | Semi-automatic with grinder (assisted) |
| Built-in grinder | No | Yes |
| Automatic milk frothing | No | Yes |
| Portafilter size | 54 mm | — |
| Water tank capacity | 47 oz | 44 oz |
| Heating system / boiler material | ThermoJet thermocoil | Thermoblock |
| PID / active temperature control | Yes | — |
| Pressurized (dual-wall) baskets included | Yes | — |
| Manufacturer PFAS-free claim | No | No |
| Warranty | 1 years | 1 years |
Breville BES450
Pros
- Compact separate-grinder workflow
- Manual milk texturing
- Exact-model corroborated testing
Cons
- Requires a separate grinder
- Manual milk workflow
Recommended for a separate-grinder workflow centered on manual espresso preparation and milk texturing.
Full Breville BES450 review →Ninja ES351
Pros
- Built-in burr grinder with 60 settings
- Barista Assist and built-in scale for dosing
- Manual wand plus hands-free AutoFroth
- Also brews drip coffee
- No separate grinder needed
Cons
- Plastic sides and portafilter insert
- Small 1.3 L water tank
- Auto-frothing can be inconsistent
- New model with limited long-term data
- 1-year warranty
A convenient all-in-one for total beginners, with the caveat that its track record is short.
Full Ninja ES351 review →Both products are part of our guide The Best Espresso Machines Under $500 for Beginners of 2026, where you can see every pick, how we score and current prices from each retailer.