Breville Bambino Plus Review
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ก.ค. 2024
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The Breville Bambino Plus has a shockingly small form factor for an espresso machine, but there's more than meets the eye packed into the small size. In this review of the Breville Bambino Plus we'll take a look at the automatic steaming features, the espresso quality, as well as the overall build quality and user experience. Is the Bambino Plus a clear winner over the other entry level Brevilles such as the Infuser and Duo Temp? Let's find out!
#coffee #espresso #espressomachine
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0:00 - Intro
0:16 - Size / Build
2:00 - Steaming Performance
4:38 - Espresso Quality
6:06 - Pulling a shot
6:34 - Latte / Conclusion
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Absolutely correct, the Bambino is the perfect machine for the budding barista to practice on.Providing you change the portafilter and basket, you will be pleased with the result.
Does it have a 3 way solenoid valve like the other brevilles?
Yes, it still has a 3-way solenoid Frederic
@@LifestyleLab_ I've been researching this information for about two days :)
Here in Canada, mine came with both pressurized and non pressurized filters, single and double. I just purchased the unit today, very satisfied.
The Bambino Plus can also dispense Hot Water...
Raise the steam wand, press one cup and the froth control button simultaneously until water starts to flow. The machine will dispense hot water, and you can get it to stop by pressing 1 cup again.
Found it on page 13 of the online manual, my print manual didn't mention anything.
oh that is great info! I used to press the 2 cups button to get hot water then steam the water again to get more water and add to the expresso. Will try your way tomorrow morning!
Cheers 😀 it was the only thing I didn’t like about this machine😅 Love a good cuppa tea👏
In manual USCM-Q21 Page 14 "Hot Water Operation" - Hot water through the steam wand. When Machine is on "ready mode" (raise the steam wand) , press 1 CUP and MILK FOAM (texture) buttons, and hot water flow will start through the steam wand. Press any button to stop hot water flow.
It can actually produce hot water, you just need to press the single and steam buttons at the same time.
@@mvadu press the stream level not the Steam button
Okay thats new for Breville/Sage
Wow, how am I just now figuring this out? I’ve had mine for a year and a half and still didn’t know this until today. Thank you.
Single + steamd turns off the device for me. Single + froth level gives me hot water.
Thank you for reviewing the machine so minutely, it was very satisfying..
I got both types of baskets with mine. I thought I had to get them extra, but was pleasantly surprised when I opened the package. I also didn't hear you mention that they include the milk pitcher. It's a really nicely made.
I also like that you can do one Espresso after the other really fast. You don't have to wait that long for the machine to be ready again.
Me too, they are including both types of baskets now! There is a Sage coffee leveler too!
I just used my Bambino Plus for the first time today and made a great cappuccino. The automatic milk froth is an excellent option and gives you a perfect crema. I would definitely leave the wand up until the milk has been emptied and then lower the milk jug to empty the water spout. If you don't do this you will find the tray almost full of milky water. Not a pleasant site if your trying to minimize your clean up. If I had to make the next generation Bambino Plus I would definitely consider making a deeper tray so you don't have to clean up every time. But overall, I would give it an 8 out of 10.
Just got mine as a gift and enjoy it using it. Thank you for the video.
Had 2 Bambino Plus (one went back on warranty) great machine, I love it. But, the auto purging of the steam wand into the tray ends up with milky water over the bench. Both machines did this, as the poor design of the collection tray forces the water up over the sides onto the temperature sensor, even if the tray is empty. Solution is to leave the wand up until the milk has been emptied and then lower the wand into the milk jug actuating the self purge. Result no mess and a empty collection tray.
great review. ive been using the Bambino for about 6 months now, and i agree that the included portafilter and basket is an issue. I upgraded the portafilter to a bottomless portafilter from Crema coffee and a non pressurized basket and its been super awesome. yes it was an extra expense but it was worth it.
which portafilter did you buy? Thanks!!
@@paolaortiz13 you can buy any 54mm sage/breville portafilter
@@paolaortiz13 I don't think you need an extra one though, you can just use a 54mm unpressurised basket in the stock portafilter
Very well made review video! Thank you so much!
The Bambino is a great machine. Some notes from 2-4 cups/day since Jan.
1) I paid £200 from Curry's for mine. Which is incredibly cheap for such a machine, the current price of £400 might push me to the next machine up. £300/350 would be a much better price I'd say.
2) You can manually steam milk with the wand to control temperature/texture yourself
3) Mine came with non-pressurised baskets included.
4) The portafilter doesn't feel cheap, it just isn't polished, it does have a nice weight to it.
5) Also, if you purge a "single" shot of water before putting in the portafilter it seems to warm up the seals and you don't need the extra hand to hold the machine down.
6) The drip tray is quite small and don't pull it out to empty right after you have pulled a shot. The excess pressurised water is also fed into there.
7) Only upgrades/accessories I've picked up are: bottomless portafilter, Motta 53mm Tamper and upgraded my grinder from the Delonghi KG79 to the Eureka Mignon Specialita (almost overkill).
8) This machine can make some very nice hot chocolate too with the steam wand.
Agree with all your points. I've had mine since Jan and love it. Got a great price along with the smart grinder and think it is better overall quality with the 2 over express. I wouldn't even call it an entry machine (apart from the price) as it puts out consistent quality coffee (with a non-pressurised basket).
I didn't hear it mentioned in the video, but start up is actually per the advertised 3 seconds which makes it much more efficient than most other machines even with double boilers.
My main downsides are the drip tray size (use a couple of times and it's full), baskets (I only got pressurised included), and I thought the frother pin was missing for a few months until I saw it under the water jug.
EDIT - As the auto-shot is preset, it doesn't work perfectly for all beans and grinds. I found setting the shot pull time based on my beans made a better coffee
I agree on all points. have had the machine since December. My grinder is the Baratza Sette 30.
Thank you very much, finally I've found the milk pin after over a year of ownership!
@@Benry1984 It's crazy how fast it gets up to temp! I hear about the fancier (home) machines which take 15min+ to warm up. For the drip tray, I'm thinking of modifying mine so it can drain into a larger container.
Can't wait to own this.
Thank you, for the in depth review it was very helpful.
Thanks for watching!
Very knowledgeable review👍 I have one (here named Sage, instead of Breville), and the non-pressurised filters were included. I'm not always getting that good milk-texture when using automatic steaming.
Btw, is a hot water outlet that important? A hot water kettle is standard equipment in most kitchens, and using a kettle take some workload+wear and tear off the more expensive espresso machine.
I have this machine and it’s great. Very good review indeed.
Very fair and clear review! thank you
Definitely the cutest in the breville line!
Cute as a button ☺️
Great review thank you. Does the tray have rubber feet?
I have had this machine for 1 year now. Love it. I do have my own bottomless pot.
Fabulous Review, You nailed it. Still a dream of a machine for what it is.
Good review. Mine arrived with single wall baskets (UK market). I enjoy using it, and would enjoy it even more with a nice sturdy portafilter The three second start-up time is another fancy feature.
Great review wow thank u, I learned lots!
I believe that in Europe this comes with pressurised and non pressurised baskets. It's odd they don't do that everywhere. Thanks for another great video!
Yes they do.
Yes, so as mine, came with both types.
It's so cute!!
Good video, and agree with the portafilter statement. The good news is that the machines are now supplied with both dual wall and non pressurised baskets.
Can confirm(ish) - got my (non-plus) yesterday, and it came with both sets.
Aww. Just got mine and it only came with dual wall baskets. :(
It completely depends on what country you purchase in. Just take note of the "what's included in the box" on the product page. Good news is that you can easily buy an aftermarket single wall basket, or even a precision filter basket! :)
Mine also came with 2 sets
I have one
Probably the best bang for the buck when you are limited for space as I am
I use a Lume USB grinder
Results are good
You can stretch the milk manually if the three pre-sets do not suit your taste.
An all round good machine.
I got two single wall filter baskets from Breville Australia. $7 a pop. No big deal
This machine performs well
If you are expecting everything in such a small machine ?
Spend thousands on something else 🤗
This is the experiments that i had conducted to assess the brewing temperature :-
1. Run 1st blank shot, brewing temperature in the basket is at around 185F.
2. Run 2nd blank shot, brewing temperature inside the basket is at around 195F.
3. Run the 3rd blank shot, it will further raise the temperature in the basket to 200F.
As we can see, it takes a few blank shots in order to warm up the entire water path from the heating coil to the portafilter.
Hi, Question: should I be using the non pressurized insert basket because i have a very good grinder for espresso grind or pressurized basket for double shots??
Just got a Bambino Plus, nice work on the video, although it's strange not being able to match a face to the voice but that's okay, you provided more info on this machine than most other reviewers.
Check out my recent videos :)
Been full-bodied for months now!
Absolutely amazing espresso/cappuccino machine!
It’s a great machine, had it since April and it’s faultless so far.
Mine arrived with the non pressurised baskets too (uk) so using sage smart grinder pro with the machine.
Great for making hot chocolates, mochas, and chai lattes too!
I manually steam the milk and also manually run shots of coffee with help of coffee scales to measure volume and time to get a perfect expresso.
I put approx 19grams coffee in the basket to yield 38grams of coffee in 28-32 secs
But every bean is a different recipe ;)
how do you make hot chocolate and mochas / chai lattes with this?
Thanks for the tip👍
Thank you so much for sharing your ratios! This is a big help!
@@AreteZoe for hot chocolates make a concentrated chocolate mixture separately and steam milk and add, for mochas just add some cocoa powder to the espresso, and for chai lattes add a tea bag to the pressurised portafilter and add steamed milk
May I ask why the included portafilter is not as great as the other one in the Express when it comes to coffee quality? I have this one, and purchased non-pressurized baskets. Wondering if I should get the Express portafilter (it's quite expensive).
I think not being able to adjust the temperature of the espresso is a bigger concern than some of the other issues. Water temp can make a big difference in shot quality.
True, however, I found default 93C the Bambino is set to be very accurate.. coffees that benefit from this temperature taste great on the Bambino and for milk base is mostly ok
so apparently the bambino plus does come with both pressurised and non-pressurised filter baskets AND it can dispense hot water through the steamwand like the bambino. incredible value. thanks for the great review
Yes, seems they listened to the feedback! The base model also now comes with a steaming pitcher which it did not used to
I like the Barista mini more, less tech but more sturdy, always coupled with a 58mm non pressurized or naked filter.
Very nice video, very informative, thank you
Manual steaming is excellent, you don't have to use the auto function.
A single walled basket is a cheap upgrade, plus you can also remove the plastic interior from the stock portafilter to improve thermal mass and reduce your contact time with plastic.
Interestingly, in the markets v where this comes under the Sage brand instead of breville, you do get single walled baskets too plus a built in water filter in the reservoir.
Thank you for posting this. I was about to ask if it was only an automatic steam wand. If you can steam manually, that's a big plus.
@@KingBeef726 it's certainly less powerful and slower than a prosumer machine like an ecm, vbn, etc. but I found that made it easier to learn on. It was more forgiving if you had poor positioning of the steam wand as it gave you time to make adjustments.
@@joe8172 same experience here.. but definitely faster than many single boilers if you count the transition bt shot and steaming.. beats the Silvia and Gaggia hands down.. by the time the silvia is ready to steam, The bambino would finish
@@alarcilam I really enjoyed using and learning on it, and would've replaced it with the same but there were none available for months.
Great review! I have watched many of your videos and they are all enjoyable. I have a few questions if you can please help me out. What preground coffee do you recommend? Would I get better coffee using this and a seperate grinder than the Barista Express or higher in the line up? What grinder would you recommend in the $150-300 range? Thanks!
Grinding coffee fresh is essential for good espresso, so I don't really have a pre-ground suggestion
A good grinder between $150-300 is the Breville Smart Grinder Pro. A slight step up would be the Sette 270.
The Smart Grinder Pro combined with the Bambino will make similar quality espresso to the Barista Express, but not better.
@@LifestyleLab_ Would you get the Express over the Bambino plus and the smart grinder pro?
For me personally, yes, because I don't do a lot of milk steaming. I mostly drink Americanos and espresso
Great review but seems it is always better to buy aftermarket non-pressure baskets such from IMS or VST which will then make the Bambino+ good for latte, cappuccino and espresso.
So many brevilles to choose from 🙈 I mostly drink cappuccinos so thinking to get this along with the breville grinder as opposed to the barista express and barista pro. I would like to have a separate grinder to have the option to grind for pour over coffee and I also like that the bambino has the updated technology, without the price of the barista pro. Also my novice girlfriend could get decent milk without stressing. But idk still trying to decide! Thanks for your videos though they are helpful
I think your though process is spot on!
Like I said in this video, for those looking for an entry-level latte / cappuccino system, this is definitely the best option below the Barista Pro, and some would argue it even beats that out thanks to the automatic steaming.
@@LifestyleLab_ appreciate your feedback! Thanks again
Very good review. Thank you
Thanks for watching!
Seems like Breville has listened, my Bambino Plus we just purchased came with single wall filter baskets for 1 and 2 shots. I think I still want a bottomless Portafilter though to catch mistakes I may make. (USA purchase).
Bought mine in the UK, 3 months ago and it comes with both single and dual walled baskets.
I appears to only be North American that gets short changed!
@@LifestyleLab_ And Malaysia.
What cup is that? looking to get on for the wife for Christmas and have seen it in two different videos but having trouble locating it in the internet.
I'm a little confused over the mentions of the cup warming rack in several of the TH-cam reviews. The top of my Bambino Plus is barely warm. What am I missing?
The single walled baskets also come with the machines sold in Canada. I read that it’s only in the US that they only include double walled.
Any idea I don’t feel the top tray is heated for coffee cup , call breville they say this model is not come with this feature ! Please help me to clarify this , thanks
Very well made video. Super helpful. Is this a plastic-free product?
The container that holds the water is plastic, pretty sure now a adays it's next to impossible to be plastic free unfortunately.
Thank u for sharing the video. Question 🙋♀️ where did u get ur mug from.
This one is just an unbranded mug from Home Sense. However, I recommend checking out this video for some other cup suggestions! th-cam.com/video/lp6Ap_NpmnM/w-d-xo.html
The thing to remember about an Americano, is that Breville is an Australian company, and nobody here even knows what an Americano is, much less drinks them. Australians ARE purely latte and cappuccino drinkers.
Love the channel. What do you guys recommend as a great starter setup? I'm thinking breville bambino plus 1zpresso jmax to get my feet wet. Then I can upgrade the bambino down the line, and the grinder further down the line. Would that be a decent starting point?
That sounds like a pretty solid plan!
My only recommendation would maybe be to go the Gaggia Classic Pro route, UNLESS you're going to be steaming a lot of milk, then the Bambino is a good pick
@@LifestyleLab_ I did a good bit of research on the Gaggia and I'd need to mod it to make it semi consistent right? Also more expensive and complicated for a starting point, no?
You don't NEED to mod it, no.
No more complicated than the Bambino, just no programmable shot sizes. Need to manually watch
would you recommend the bambino plus and a grinder (which one under 250?) or the barista express? this is my first machine and I drink iced lattes and occasionally cappuccinos
Because you’re doing mostly milk drinks I definitely recommend the Bambino Plus over the Express.
Good grinders to consider, Fellow OPUS or Baratza Encore ESP
I own one of these, mine came with all the baskets (single, double). I don't think the tray is sitting properly in the video, as on mine, it is flush with the milk temperature sensor "base", so there is no chance you can "miss" it when doing the milk.
I'm pretty sure the handle of my portafilter is also better than the one in the video, arguably it's not the "wood" one but it feels pretty good to my hand at least!
Lastly we've been deligthed with the machine, we had a Nespresso Vertuo for a month or so, which was a piece of BEEP really, returned it as it broke down, and the Sage/Breville is absolutely amazing in comparison.
For "hot water" to make your shots longer, just press the single/double buttons again ! If I want a "longe" coffe, I press the double cup, then the single cup and end up with almost perfect "longe" ratio. You can mix and match the "volume" you get. I know it's not "barista grade" way of doing things, but it works pretty well for us.
One REALLY NICE feature of that machine, and sure perhaps all of them have it but I like it anyway: when the water tank is near empty, the machibe won't try. it stops, buttons are "off" and you know exactly what's going on. Add water, try again and all is well. The water tank (with it's finger "loop") is also super easy to manage, especiallu given it's volume/size.
Are you in Canada or in the USA? Maybe the machines in the USA come with all the baskets?
@@ladybakiza8278 It's the EU/UK versions under the brand name "Sage" that come with all the baskets I believe, while the ones marketed under the name "Breville" still only come with dual wall baskets.
Super good info in your reply😊. I think this machine has the best bang for your buck of all espresso machines. The super basics but done well. The more expensive single boiler machines are very cumbersome and complex in use, Those you have to cool down manually etc.
Great review and I do have question what is the temperature in the group head plz
The temperature will very slightly with the heating cycles, but the set temperature is a standard 200 degrees F
Considering this for a gift. You covered the up/downs of its features well. Thanks! - - Where can I buy that beautiful cup? - -
Glad it was helpful Clare!
I bought the cup at a consignment store, so unfortunately I can't be of much help on that front...
@@LifestyleLab_ any clue stamped on the bottom of the cup?
I almost returned my machine to Amazon because it didn't come with the filters I needed. Two days later, I opened the milk pitcher and found the extra filters and a few other parts. I hadn't opened the pitcher because I already had one. Check those milk pitchers people. I don't know why the filters weren't on top of the package with the others.
Thank you - I hadn't opened the pitcher either and there they were.
I know it's an old machine, but can you review the cafe Roma?
Thank you kind sir ☕
Quick question, how far should I lock the portofilter? Should the handle stop at exactly 90 degrees ( straight) or tk keep twisting until it reaches the end ?
There's no hard stopping point, you're just twisting until it's locked in tightly
The position will change as you work in the gasket, if your machine is brand new it probably feels tight tight tight right now.
is the portafilter stainless steel or aluminum?
Video Idea!
This is gonna sound weird by you should cut open nespresso pods and put it into an espresso porta filter and try to make a shot.
It will be interesting how it turns out.
I like it!
I think that not being able to adjust the grind coarseness would be a limiting factor though. Might need to pull a James Hoffmann and re-grind the cofee
I think it wouldn't be very good as the nespresso grinds are purposefully toasted much darker than your average espresso beans, but if you like em' super dark this might be a fun (albeit) expensive experiment.
Wow, great demo, hit my bull's eye. My question is, do you think the Bambino plus is worth buying in comparison to the plain Bambino?
Only if you plan on steaming a lot of milk, otherwise, the base bambino is a much better value for you
I really don't mind the stock portafilter on my Bambino Plus. I did remove the plastic insert though.
Thank you for the review, may I ask if the voltage has 220v option. Thanks Subd and like
Breville's European division Sage sells 220V versions of these machines
I had free gift card money and ordered a Bambino. I ditched the portafilter and bought a $60 wood handled one with a bottomless 54mm basket on Amazon. I didn't have an espresso grinder with finite adjustment and I bought a Eureka Mignon Silenzio. I am able to pull shots through a naked portafilter without any channeling on the Bambino, but that's because I have a $500 grinder. I like flat whites and the auto milk frothing is good enough for me (middle setting on heat, lowest on froth). What is frustrating is how sensitive the Bambino is to grind size. Anything too fine and it will jam the group head. An 8th of a turn on the Silenzio is the entire grind setting range for the Bambino. There is practically ZERO adjustment. I am just shy of choking the machine to get a double shot (18.8g in / 38g out in 28sec) and it still tastes thin to me. Any shot programming changes with different beans or blending two beans in varying ratios. The grinder is still breaking in and I've found the shot programming to be useless to me so far. I'm ready to ditch the Bambino after 2 months. It also demands a cleaning cycle every 50 shots (manual states 200), but I've had the blinky lights twice in two months, "clean me or I blink cleaning cycle every time I turn on". I'm only doing 2 shots a day! I could see it having a place in a motor home.
which portafilter did you use for this video? (the one with the stainless steel at the end)
That is the stock 54mm Breville Spouted Portafilter
can you show the internal, i have a suspicion their will be lots of plastic. such fittings, where as other brands would be brass, stainless,
Just wondering if you run into the problem with the water not flowing into the tray properly from the pressure relief after each shot, and even worse when running cleaning cycles?
Not something I've encountered, no
@Lifestyle Lab What do you think about the Espresso shot quality compared to your other Breville machines (Barista Express, Dual Boiler, the Oracle) ?
Other than not being able to adjust the temperature, when paired with a capable grinder the quality is on par with the Barista Express, Barista Pro, or the other entry-level machines. I talk about quality at 4:38 :)
Thanks, yes I realised you comment on it briefly in the video; so you’re saying the Oracle and Dual Boiler shots will taste better just because they can adjust the water temperature? or the more premium machine will taste better regardless? I guess I just want to gauge how perceptible the taste difference between entry vs. premium machine..
It's not a groundbreaking jump from the entry level Breville's to the Dual Boiler and Oracle.
The major advantage the Dual Boiler and Oracle have are a full sized 58mm portafilter, and dual boiler configuration (see our comparison of the Barista Express and those machines). Even the Infuser, Barista Express, and Barista Pro have the ability to change the brew temperature. But not with the same temperature stability, larger portafiler, and other adjustments like preinfusion duration and pressure.
Where can I purchase the cup you used in this video? I love it! ❤️
Me too! If he tells you where he bought it- please share!
Yea, same! The mug is so cute and I wantssss
They were purchased from Home Sense! No particular brand markings on them unfortunately
Good that you’re adjusting for an internal audience. Using cm for dimensions instead of inches
All Celcius and Centimeters up here in Canada! 🇨🇦 🍁
@@LifestyleLab_ 👍
Do you have a link for the basket you're using with the wooden portafilter?
I'm using the standard basket that came with the original portafilter. However, you can buy replacements on the Breville website
What do you mean by other types of coffee
What grinder would you best pair it with?
The least expensive electric i would go with is Breville's Smart Grinder Pro. Also a good option is the Sette 270, or many in the Eureka lineup.
A manual grinder such as the Comandante is also an option!
What is the difference between bambino and bambino plus machines? I ve seen some reviews of bambino, people say some parts are made of cheap aluminium rather than heavy duty stainless steel. Is this the case with bambino plus ? Thank you
We're comparing those two machines head to head in tomorrow's video!
I've had this machine for about 2 months, and while my current grinder is suboptimal for espresso leading me to use the pressurised baskets, I've had superior milk drinks to any cafe near me, and everybody that's been around my apartment for coffee would agree. Definitely a great little machine as an entry to the world of Espresso. Next upgrade will be the grinder, but saving up for something like a Linea Mini is tempting after realising how much I enjoy the process of making coffee on this machine.
Is there a way to control the drip time for the espresso?
Shot size is programmable, yes
Really appreciate the temperature measurements for each level!
I came across some videos, temp is about 92-94C
Great video 👍🏽
In uk/Europe bambino plus now comes with both single and double walled baskets
As it should! Hopefully they make that change in North America as well
@@LifestyleLab_ Middle East Sage bambino plus also comes with all 4 baskets
I am predominantly an Americano / espresso drinker but also enjoy a flat white / latte. Would you recommend getting the Bambino plus with a high quality grinder instead of the Breville Express? From what I gather, the limited options on the grinder on the Express could potentially limit espresso quality? The price would be the same either way.
Depends what grinder you are thinking to pair with the Bambino Plus. The Bambino is limited for espresso due to not having the ability to change the brew temperature
@@LifestyleLab_ okay thanks - think I’m leaning towards the Express now!
I think that's a good decision, also because you drink Americanos and the Express has a dedicated hot water outlet. The Bambino Plus does not, so you'd need to boil water separately, or steam the water to heat it up
I’m thinking about getting the Bambino Plus with a Niche Zero grinder! Do you think that would be a good combination? Thanks 😊
Yes absolutely :)
In Europe the Bambino plus comes with 4 filters, two single and two double, pressurized and non-pressurized
Yes, mine came with both types.
I just bought this machine, it came with the single wall filters too (i.e. we got 4 filters). Seems like they've changed things
Also depends what market you live it :)
Hi, comparing the Breville Bambino Plus Review Vs Nespresso Machine ?..... would it be a step up or same ?...cheers
Check out this video where I compare a Nespresso to a Breville system! Breville machines are actual espresso systems, and will take more effort, but are able to produce far better results. th-cam.com/video/tsDjAr50pDA/w-d-xo.html
Absolutely up. I too own a capsule machine. No match at all.
Just the review I was hoping for. I currently have a non working barista express and looking to the bambino as a replacement. How do I know there's enough pressure with the bambino plus? There's no pressure gauge. Thanks in advance.
Focus on flow, not pressure!
Pressure is really a very rough gauge of shot quality. Flow rate and brew ratio are the only true determiners of shot to shot consistency
@@LifestyleLab_ with flow do you mean shot time or just how smooth the coffee liquid comes out of the portafilter?
Both! They should be very closely related if you don't have channeling.
Time to reach a certain volume of espresso
We have had ours for several days now and were disappointed in the espresso. We did a video call with Breville Customer Service and she walked us through making an espresso. We were told to use 4 tablespoons (60 mL) of grind to get 60 mL, a double shot. That is twice what we used in our previous machine and twice what is recommended online, a 1:2 ratio of coffee to espresso. I admit, the resulting quality was quite good but it left us wondering why so much coffee is needed. Looks like we’ll be going through coffee at a very fast rate I’d be interested in hearing from others about this.
Completely depends on what coffee you’re using. Yes using pre-ground in a pressurized basket will need a longer ratio for proper extraction.
If you want to use less, you can use the single shot basket?
If i have already a Creatista Plus, will this be a good upgrade? Thanks!
Yes, this is a significant upgrade over Nespresso
Thank you!
I bought my first and only espresso machine from Seattle Coffee Gear in late 2010s. Im ready for another. Was delighted to see Gail who does such a good job. Go Gail!!
wrong channel!
You're on the wrong channel. Girl Power - woohoo!
Page 13 of the manual shows how to get hot water dispensed from the wand. "When machine is on 'ready mode', press 1 CUP and MILK FOAM buttons, and hot water flow will start through the steam wand. Press any button to stop hot water flow." Thanks for the great video review!
hmm, I don't see that in the manual, also that sequence didn't work. Is there somewhere you can point to for this? thanks
I'm looking at the bambino, and the barista pro. the price difference makes me want to go for the bambino for sure. and i am a beginner. the machine i have currently is the kuerig latte. - which machine should i get? should i spent the extra 600$ and the the pro. or will the bambino be good to start out with?
I think if you're a total beginner the Bambino will serve you well. Use the pressurized baskets and enjoy making yummy lattes. Then, if you want to upgrade, you can buy a high quality burr grinder and switch to unpressurized baskets on the same machine.
@@LifestyleLab_ would the breville burr grinder be high quality enough to get the right grind for espresso?
It is, but definitely on the entry-level side. Beauty of having separates is that you can upgrade one piece at a time :)
@@LifestyleLab_ I'm trying to decide on the pro vs the Bambino plus and breville grinder. Just making coffee for myself and my wife. Which option would you pick?
Any experience with the Solis Barista Perfetta Plus? Not sure which one to choose between the two...
I would go with the Barista Plus over the Solis. The Thermo Jet heating system gives unbeatable steaming performance in this form factor.
@@LifestyleLab_ Thanks. I appreciate your advice!
Once I've brewed my double espresso, is it not possible to make an americano by pressing on the brew button again until I get the desired amount of hot water?
No, because that will severely over extract the grinds and lead to a very unpleasant tasting coffee
I think you could quite easily get extra water by dispensing a double shot or two into the cup before pulling the shot. I do this to pre-warm my cups, then pour the water away. However, some old grounds do make it into the cup like this, so not perfect.
Thanks for this! Would be great to see you using this machine to make some espressos/lattes :)
I pull a shot and make a latte in the second half of the video :)
@@LifestyleLab_ Oh yes! Sorry that was great, I was thinking maybe more of a 'dialling in' in detail use! But otherwise really enjoyed the video, thanks :)
Can someone please explain about the pressurised, non-pressurised filter issue? I wasn't able to understand from his explanation.
A pressurized portafilter uses a pressurized filter basket, also known as a dual-wall or double-wall basket. In these portafilters, the coffee actually passes through two screens.
First, water extracts the coffee and flows out the conventional first screen into a holding area between the first and second screen. As pressure increases, the coffee is pushed out through a single hole in the second screen.
Because the second screen reduces the outlets available to the coffee, pressure builds up. This leads to the formation of a somewhat artificial crema (foam) as the espresso aerates while making its way through the second screen and into the spout.
Espresso drips from the spout into the cup after passing through the portafilter
Espresso drips from the spout into the cup after passing through the portafilter.
A pressurized portafilter is commonly used in home espresso machines, rather than professional barista machines. It’s helpful to people who have lower-end burr grinders or blade grinders that produce uneven coffee grounds.
Espresso extracted this way tends to have a thinner body and not as much rich flavour as that extracted through a non-pressurized
And with non-pressurized baskets the Machine makes the pressure, however, you need much finer grinds, to tamp and be aware of other issues
But pressurized is easy to learn, no hassle, and you can use less accurately ground coffee and still receive decent tasting coffee.
And the reason for really fine grinds on espresso is because it develops flavour better, within the extraction (usually most optimal is 20-30 second)
So ultimately, pressurized are easier less hassle, but they don't taste nearly as good.
Darn, Bought the Breville Barista express a month ago. Loving it to death, but wish I would have known about this. I would have grabbed this and a nice grinder. I am slightly disappointed with the limitations of the barista expresses grinder. But its great for a newbie like myself, looking forward to getting a nicer espresso machine a few years down the road.
I nearly bought a BES if not for the recommendation of an FB mate who highlight the 2 killer features: auto frothing and separate grinder. And so I learnt that grinder makes a lot of difference and I felt that I wanted to have the independence of choice.
So because I too prepare coffee on other methods, the Super Grinder Plus was paired with my purchase.
This machine is comparable to the DeLonghi EC685M Dedica Deluxe Espresso Machine. Our delonghi has been a faithful entry level espresso machine providing over 6years of daily (2-5 lattes/day) use in our home. I'd highly recommend it but I'm tempted by the bambino's better features. Do you have any clue if the bambino can go over 6years of daily use?
Love the machine, hate that portafilter. It won’t eventually dispense the coffee!
How do you program how much espresso you wanna have?
Press and hold the single and double shot buttons before pulling your shot. The shot will run indefinitely until you press the button again to stop, and that shot will now be programmed in
There is a difference between the Bambino Plus and the Bambino. The Bambino has an option for hot water from the steam spout, an option that the Plus hasn't. It solves the mentioned Americano issue.
The Bambino doesn't have the option for temperature settings for milk steaming that the Plus has. I don't mis it, because I hardly ever drink a milky coffee.
Bambino plus can now also dispense water through the hot water spout
Hi. I was reading some amazon reviews on the replacement naked portafilters and they mentioned (1) lighter weight than what comes for example with the barrista express and (2) the basket is a bit loose in it. How did you find the model you purchased that you gave a link to? Thanks!
It is certainly lighter than the stock portafilter that came with the Barista Express, because there is a lot less metal, and the handle is light wood.
I've never had an issue with the basket being loose, however.