My 1-year Review Of Breville Bambino Vs Bambino Plus
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 18 มิ.ย. 2024
- Breville Bambino: amzn.to/3YyZsmk
Breville Bambino Plus (Damson Blue!): amzn.to/3X76DBa
54mm bottomless portafilter (suggested upgrade): amzn.to/3RIiog8
Luxhaus tamper (easy upgrade pick): amzn.to/3Xcz1BS
DF 64 grinder: amzn.to/40DRf21
Full article (more detail): craftcoffeespot.com/espresso/...
I am a big fan of the Breville Bambino espresso machines. Both the Bambino and Bambino Plus have the latest Thermojet heating system, volumetric control, and come at a reasonable price. Great espresso machines for beginners.
The main difference comes down to the steam wand, where the Bambino has a typical one-hole steam wand, while the Bambino Plus has an automatic steam wand with some preset controls for temperature and texture. I'll test both of these and give some more details thoughts. Is the Bambino Plus worth the higher price??
SECTIONS:
0:00 Intro
0:17 Design & Interface
0:56 Internals & Espresso
2:51 Milk Frothing
4:48 Other Features
5:53 Recommendation
AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE:
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This video is just what I needed. Thanks so much!
Thanks man. Legit helpful. Plus all the info a person could need to make a decision
Great videos. Exactly the info I was after 🎉
Nicely done, informative and fun to watch,
Thanks for the feedback. It motivates me to keep producing content.
Thank you for such an informative video. It's so refreshing to watch a video that focuses on the machine and not the person doing the video.
Thank you! We’re really focused on being as informative and to-the-point as possible.
Excellent review of the two machines. I love the ability to set exactly how many ounces of pour with the 1 and 2 buttons on the machine. I have the 1 Button set for 1 ounce and the 2 button set for 3 ounces (for making a double shot of espresso). With the medium roast coffee that I use the larger portafilter with 17-18 grams of coffee and 3 ounces of water makes the perfect double espresso.
The lid of the water tank rattles quite loudly and so I put a piece of electrical tape along the edge to fix this problem.
The steam wand setup requires having at least 6 ounces of milk and that is OK is using it for 2-3 cups of coffee. For a single cup I put the milk in a microwave and then use a battery powered frother. This reduced by 50% the milk waste.
Thanks for the great comparison~
Just the perfect video for my needs! Very informative, concise, sincerity in your voice and mannerism and no annoying music and no showboating. Very refreshing. Keep up the good work!!!
I have the plus and absolutely love it.
What grinder?
@@msdixie1972 have the smart grinder pro and the Bambino Plus machine, but recently upgraded to the Niche Zero Grinder and the Gaggia Classic
Evo Pro
Thanks for the tips. I ended up getting the Bambino, since I never use the milk frother. It's just annoying having to run a couple blank shots in order to get hot espresso. Other than that, tastes great.
One tip: reprogram your one-cup button to run for 20 seconds, and use that as your "preheat" button. That's enough time to preheat and it makes it simpler. Also, I almost exclusively use the 2-cup button anyway (or manual mode) so reprogramming the 1-cup won't matter.
Can you do a Bambino Plus versus the Gaggia Classic Evo Plus? I am just super torn on which to go for because on the Gaggia I hear it's better at keeping the temperature I think they call it the brew group? It's better at the temperature than the Bambino but I don't know the difference. I do plan on trying to learn to do latte art as I use an Aeropress but need a Keurig for the milk and I will just use a little bit of silk almond creamer for sweetness and then regular milk so I can get rid of that bitter sourness from the aero press. I don't mind learning but I like the bambino heats up quicker so I am really unsure which is the best fit for me. I usually spend 10-15 minutes making my morning coffee anyway but it wouldn't hurt to be able to make it a little quicker. I am just too new to really know the differences and make the best pick.
That video is in editing! You can read our article here: craftcoffeespot.com/espresso/breville-bambino-vs-gaggia-classic-pro/
It’s another close call. I’d go with the Bambino.
@@craftcoffeespot 👀 Hmm 🤔 it's that close huh. I'm definitely on the fence. Since I'm gonna get that DF64 grinder with the diamond burrs for the extra like 50 bucks the Bambino is definitely more appealing. Thank you!
How does the Babino (coffee only) compare to the Brevelle Pro? Did not want a Grinder with my machine and have bambino but now looking at the Rocket
Go with Rocket if you want to upgrade. The Breville Barista Pro is a little better because you can program water temperature and pre-infusion, but it's mostly the same as the Bambino.
As of 24, what grinder would you recommend with the bambino? I’ve decided against the plus. I like the sound of Niche but I heard you have to have something to adapt the cup for the 54 port. Thoughts?
You are over-thinking this trade off (I am replying to all your comments here). The Barista Pro is a great espresso machine to get started and you will be very happy with the espresso it produces. Yes, the grinder on the Pro is worse than a standalone grinder, but an all-in-one setup is easier to use. What really matters is how well you LEARN to make espresso, more than getting the "best" setup.
Also, you can see my thoughts on standalone grinders vs integrated grinder in this video: th-cam.com/video/8PdlSD9zMXM/w-d-xo.html
Bambino vs the Pro system. Other than the grinder, do you feel the quality of the espresso is any better. I have a great grinder and just wondering your thoughts as I don't want a machine with a grinder.
Espresso is almost the same, because Bambino and Pro use the same heating system. You can change the water temperature and program pre-infusion on the Pro, which helps espresso...but a better grinder will help a lot more with bambino. What grinder are you using?
@@craftcoffeespotI’m considering a Niche with one of the bambinos. I bought a Pro and am hearing people prefer a better grinder. I’m a novice so is this what I need to do? And which bambino? I think the niche looks like a good choice.
I suggest you pull the wand out of the milk just before the steam pump turns off. this way you do not have milk trapped inside the wand and the purge will not be messy. Wrap a wet towel around the wand when you pull out to the milk in one smooth motion and clean of the milk, this prevents the milk from hardening and makes it much easier to clean of.
Helpful feedback. The messy purge was an issue for me. Thank you.
You are so smart and handsome
Does standard bambino have opv or 3way solenoid valve? I searched and realized they say the standard bambino doesnt have any unlike bambino plus. But i saw a place in drip tray in standard bambino looks like it has something like opv? Can you clarify this please? It's really a key to me. Because i hate when there is no release pressure in Group head after pulling a shot it makes it wet and soupy puck and worst part is when you remove portafilter it makes a mess. I had this problem with de'longhi dedica.
No, the Bambino does not have a solenoid valve. You can tell because the Bambino takes several seconds to stop pressure and the puck is wet (yuck, I know). Meanwhile, the Bambino Plus has the classic "sneeze" after brewing to release pressure. Both drip trays have red floaters to tell you when to empty the tray - that may be what you're seeing.
Good question and agree the wet puck is annoying and messy, BUT the Bambino is more affordable...in the end, it depends on what matters more to you.
@@craftcoffeespot
Thanks for the answer!
Yeah... That's kind of a big deal, I think.
and not everybody talks about it. especially in comparison videos between the Plus and Standard models. In my opinion, this really affects the puck quality and pump's longevity and even the quality of the extraction, as well as the feeling of using the machine.
By the way, your review has the best in-depth comparison so far compared to other videos.
Good job on that!
I can see that standard models have not been designed for backflush actions, therefore they don't have a 3-way solenoid valve.
But what confuses me most is the similarity of the drip tray. You mentioned the red floaters indicators, but I didn't mean that; I meant there is something at the end of the drip tray that has the same look and shape as the Plus model, which is designed for a 3-way solenoid valve (for the grouphead pressure release).
but it is also there in the standard model!
Check this out, and look at the end of the drip tray!
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Can you please check what that is for? Opv maybe?
If it's opv, does it have an effect on the puck and the grouphead?
@@mz67 thanks, and I took another look at the back of the drip tray. The Bambino *does* have a small hole at the back of the drip tray, similar to the Plus. It could be an OPV, but I don’t remember the Bambino releasing before and I’ve ground too fine. So it could also be a screw. I haven’t had issues with the pumps in 12+ months, fwiw.
Maybe I’ll take this apart when I have more time. That would make this an extensive Bambino comparison.
I can confirm the Bambino DOES have an OPV. I opened the machine and the Bambino has the same T-style OPV similar to the Barista models. Also, I ran a manometer in the Bambino and it ran at 10 bars, similar to other recent ThermoJet models.
It seems to me that if you only make americanos then the plus is over kill? (that's all I ever make, i never use my wand.)
Yes, only need the Bambino for Americanos. No difference in espresso, in my experience.
Do you mind confirming the sizes of both machines? They look to be the same height in the video but the full article notes that Bambino is 12.2" in height and the plus is 16.9". I only have 33cm clearance on my counter so height is important for me! I checked the Breville website and of course it lists the exact same dimensions for both machines which is obviously not the case. Thanks!
They are both the same height, which should be that 12.2”. The Plus is slightly wider only.
Thanks for pointing out the inconsistency and I will correct and confirm it shortly.
Thanks for getting back to me, Bambino Plus here I come!
i got the bambino plus for 280 and a manual chestnut c3 handgrinder for 40usd, at that price even let flair 58 to pass
Bambino + manual grinder = amazing value. That’s a deal!
Where did you find that deal for the bambino plus?
@@kikiitv3982 I pulled the trigger with a used bambino. The last owner said it was one month and then it was left in the dust… I have no plans for getting another machine until it broken, but the dimmer mod is a must in the near future
I don’t see airy foam ! You must pull the steam wand out and in for a frothy light foam and not creamy foam!👌🏼
You got me on this one. I've always said I'm bad at steaming milk😜
If I use only oat milk and soy, is the regular Bambino better since your going to need to manual steam anyways
I think the Plus can work with oat and soy. It’s a little more fickle, you’ll need to use the high setting only.
someone teach me how to preheat the bes450 please🙏🏻
1) Lock in the portafilter, 2) press two cup brew button 3) that’s it…you’ve now run run a shot to pre heat. Unlock and dry the portafilter, and prepare your shot as normal.
Hi, Question: should I be using the double non pressurized insert basket because i have a very good grinder for espresso grind or pressurized double basket for double shots??
We have a whole video on baskets! th-cam.com/video/FxeQf3W-abg/w-d-xo.htmlsi=5OnfR3wW-Bth4iol
In short, try to use the non-pressurized.
@@craftcoffeespot Heading there now. Thank you kind sir.
Ok the Bambino have 15 bar for extraction but it used only 9? Why they built 15 when it ain't gonna used. I read the other machine it have 20 bars, what is that true about it
They're built with high bar because the cheaper vibration pumps only run at 15 or 20 bar. Therefore you need an over-pressure valve to down-regulate this to 9-bar. It's hard to "tune" these valves to 9-bar, but it makes a huge difference.
The other option is to use a mechanical pump. But these are big with moving parts and very expensive. There's a reason why big commercial machines are $10k+! Also, why you need to choose the right espresso machine.
Cant I just buy the coffee? Without the need of a grinder?
You could, but it'll taste WAY better when grinding fresh. You can check out the Baratza Encore ESP, works perfect with Bambino and you can use it for other coffee too: amzn.to/47V35s5 (affiliate link)
I got Bumbino and I have a Virtuoso plus grinder, but I have been making HORRIBLE shots 😩 why?!?! please help.
I got fresh coffee and tried applying all the tips I got from TH-cam.
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Yeah I got a chefman machine thinking "how hard can it be to make espresso"... I'm about ready to say F it and go back to just buying it from shops...
🟥
“Durable components all round?” My Bambino plus self destructed within two years. I wasn’t too bothered since I didn’t like it anyway. Both machines look and feel a bit like toys with dreadful portafilters. And if you want hot water from the Bambino plus just remove the portafilter and operate as usual.
I’ve been using my machines for two years and no issues. I run them hard too.
Hot water from the brew head will taste like coffee.
Well it’s coffee you’re making. No problem.
I always question comments like this they almost always are user error.
I 've had my for three years without issue, used multiple times a week. My coffee price is getting around pennies a cup. 😂
@@craftcoffeespot you pull the steam wand outward to manual mode. Then hold down the single cup button and the milk texture button for a few seconds for hot water.