Breville Bambino Plus Coffee Machine Review

I constantly drink coffee. Most of the time, I can’t start my day without it. Lots of different coffee makers over the years. Actually, I have this $20 Mr. Coffee maker. When I tried to find a good coffee maker, I found it more difficult than I thought.

I was looking for a coffee maker that wasn’t a Keurig that could make one serving. Hard to locate. Despite buying a few, I didn’t like any of them. They were either too hard to use and messy, or they didn’t make coffee that was really hot. This last one was a problem with a lot of machines. That coffee should be HOT for me.

For a few different reasons, I chose the Breville Bambino Plus in the end. Second, I changed my coffee to an Americano and thought it was time to go. Breville makes really great, high-quality kitchen appliances. It lets me make a latte or a very hot cup of coffee with just one machine and no stupid pods. Let’s know Breville Bambino Plus Coffee Machine Review.

Breville Bambino Plus Coffee Machine Review Overview

What is the Breville Bambino Plus?

There is a small espresso machine called the Breville Bambino Plus that works well for both new and experienced baristas. The main things this machine can do are the same as any other espresso maker: it can make rich, tasty espresso and foam milk until it’s light and fluffy. The Bambino Plus, on the other hand, has pre-set push-button settings that make brewing quick and easy. Besides that, our Test Kitchen loves this espresso machine.

Also, it doesn’t take up much counter room and has a very small footprint, like the Hamilton Beach Scoop or Minipresso machine. The Bambino Plus fits perfectly on a small kitchen island cart that I’ve turned into our coffee bar. There’s plenty of room for essentials like a grinder, knock box and kettle. It’s one of the best gifts for people who like coffee.

Breville Bambino Plus Features

This review of the Breville Bambino Plus is meant to show that this little machine is more than just a curiosity. And with that in mind, let’s take a better look at all the features.

Size and Design

Breville hasn’t even tried to make the Mini-Me look like a normal espresso machine. I say good for them. The Bambino Plus looks more like a super-automatic espresso machine and (boo!) a coffee pod machine that got together.

There aren’t any pressure gauges or settings that are too hard to understand. Breville has kept things easy with just a few scale indicators and buttons that light up.

I think this is a big part of why the Bambino is so nice. You want to dive right in and try it out.

In short, newcomers and people who aren’t familiar with it won’t feel that misplaced sense of awe when they see a big chrome monster with a lot of confusing controls.

However, this doesn’t mean that the Bambino doesn’t have any shiny metal. Stainless steel is used for everything except the handle on the portafilter and the top part of the tamper. As a result? That package looks like it’s really good.

There is a metal combination that I would have picked if I had the choice. Because I don’t like how weak the Bambino Plus is. This is a big pain when you need to get the portafilter from the group head and the whole machine goes flying.

The Bambino Plus’s small size is, of course, a big part of its attraction. You should be able to easily find room in your kitchen for this. Still, keep in mind that you’ll need to regularly access the water tank that can be taken off, so keep in mind that high cabinets could get in the way.

User Interface

As I already said, Breville made the Bambino Plus’s user interface very simple and easy to understand. A button turns on the steam gun and another button lets you choose between a single or double shot.

There are also a few buttons with scales that let you change the warmth and texture of the milk foam.

That’s all, folks!

As you might guess, this easy-to-use control panel means that you won’t have to spend hours reading the Breville Bambino Plus’s instructions to get started. Still, it has clear instructions that will help you figure out different ways to set up the machine.

Performance

The Breville Bambino Plus Coffee Maker comes in a small package but works very well. Its efficient ThermoJet heating system gets to the right temperature for extraction in just 3 seconds, so you can always count on rich, flavorful espresso. The automatic microfoam milk texture feature makes microfoam that is silky smooth for lattes and cappuccinos, which makes your coffee experience better. Individual tastes can be accommodated by its precise espresso extraction and settings that can be changed. The sleek and easy-to-use design makes it simple to use, and the automatic purge function keeps the temperature just right between brewing sessions. No matter how experienced you are as a barista, the Breville Bambino Plus offers drinks that taste like they came from a cafe in the comfort of your own home.

Volumetric Control

A double shot takes 2 ounces (60 millilitres) and a single shot takes 1 ounce (30 millilitres). This is how the Breville Bambino Plus is set when you buy it. The machine will turn off immediately once it has made the amount of espresso that was set.

As it turns out, that should work just fine for first-time users. Not to worry, you can still set the shot volume you want for each button. You could also stop the process by hand at any time. What do I say? Being able to choose is great!

PID Temperature Control

The ThermoJet heating device is very fast and can be found on many Breville espresso machines, including this one. A thermoblock or regular stove takes a lot more energy to run than the ThermoJet. It’s ready to use in about three seconds.

To put it simply, you won’t be keeping an eye on the time while you wait for the Bambino Plus to heat up in the morning.

The Bambino Plus will also keep a stable temperature because it has a PID system. This comes in handy when you want to switch between making coffee and foaming milk.

One thing I don’t like about this fast-heating method is that the portafilter is cold when you start, which isn’t good for making espresso. That means you’ll need to run hot water through it a few times before you can shoot it.

Pre-Infusion

Even though pre-infusion is a key part of a good espresso extraction, not all entry-level machines come with it.

The Breville Bambino Plus has a feature that automatically dampens the coffee grounds under low pressure, which is helpful. This is very important for the growth of flavour and also helps stop tamping problems that can cause channelling.

Holding down the boiling button lets you change how long the pre-infusion lasts, which is even better. In fact, that makes the Bambino Plus a lot smarter than other machines in the same price band.

Automatic Steam Wand

You don’t have to do much when making espresso drinks like a cappuccino or espresso macchiato with the Breville Bambino Plus because it has a great automatic milk frother.

It’s really easy to change the temperature of the milk. Just click on one of the three steps shown by the coloured line next to the button. That’s it. Simple, right?

All you have to do to make microfoam is put the pitcher of milk under the wand and press the button. That is the easiest way to do it.

If “perfect” is the goal, then the milk froth is pretty close. The temperature is about 144 degrees Fahrenheit (62 degrees Celsius), and the texture is very smooth. It’s very much in the Goldilocks zone. I was even able to make latte art that looked pretty good!

I find it interesting that many entry-level or combination machines with an automatic steam wand are much better at foaming milk than making espresso.

Along those lines, the Breville Bambino has a fully manual tool if you’d rather get your hands dirty and help steam the milk. I’ll talk about that in more depth later.

Portafilter

There is a 54mm portafilter that comes with the Breville Bambino Plus, even though it is small. But this 54mm portafilter is much less professional than the ones I’ve used on other Breville machines. Yes, you can get filter boxes with one or two walls. There is an annoying plastic insert in the portafilter, though, and there are no metal spouts for pouring. Since taking out the plastic part would leave big holes in the bottom of the portafilter, you can’t do that.

If you’re not using already ground coffee, I think you should skip the double-wall baskets. You may need a little more time to get used to single-wall filter baskets and newly ground coffee beans, but the espresso you make will taste much better and have more flavour.

Also, if you want to get the most out of the Bambino Plus, you’ll need a good coffee maker. In my guide to the best burr coffee grinders, I talk about a lot of great choices, such as the inexpensive but very good Breville Smart Grinder Pro.

How to Use the Breville Bambino Plus

The Breville Bambino Plus is easy to use, so you can make espresso drinks at home that taste like they were made in a bar. First, fill up the water tank and make sure it’s in place firmly. Next, put the portafilter into the machine and make sure it stays in place. You can choose the size of the grind you want, then put the coffee grounds into the portafilter and use the tamper that comes with it to make them flat. Put a cup under the dual-wall filter box, and then press a button to begin the extraction process. The advanced ThermoJet heating technology in the Bambino Plus heats up quickly and sets the right temperature for extraction in seconds. To make milk-based drinks, just put your choice of milk in the stainless steel milk jug and connect it to the steam wand. The automatic steam wand will make velvety microfoam for lattes and cappuccinos by adjusting the thickness of the milk to your liking. The Breville Bambino Plus makes making your favourite espresso drinks incredibly easy, thanks to its easy-to-use interface and perfect extraction features.

Breville Bambino Plus Cleaning

We don think the Breville Bambino Plus should ever get dirty as long as you flush it as often as possible and clean and descale it according to the directions in the manual.

This is because one of the best things about home espresso machines is that the coffee grounds never touch the machine’s insides. That means the only problems you might have to deal with are limescale growth and other water issues.

Make sure to rinse the portafilter and flush the group head after each use. I think you should take out the filter basket, drip tray, and shower screen every couple of days and scrub them well under running water.

For the automatic frother, keep a wet cloth handy and clean the wand every time you use it. That will keep the steam tip from getting sticky with milk leftovers.

As I already said, the user manual has detailed directions on how to do more thorough cleaning. If you need to descale the machine, the Bambino Plus will flash lights on the control screen to let you know that a cycle is needed. The process isn’t hard, but it does take some time.

Should I buy the Breville Bambino Plus?

Buy it if…

1. You need a machine to make milk foamy.

The Bambino Plus does a great job of foaming milk, and it lets you choose from three different milk textures and temperatures.

2. You want really great coffee

This espresso machine comes with a metal tamper and a levelling tool to help you get the perfect shot. The espresso is smooth and has a thick foam.

3. You need an easy-to-clean machine.

When the Breville Bambino Plus is done heating milk, the steam wand cleans itself automatically, and the drip tray is simple to take out and clean.

Don’t buy it if…

1. You’d like to use coffee pods.

Because this is not a pod machine, you will need to purchase ground coffee or grind the beans yourself.

2. You want a cheap coffee machine.

The Bambino Plus isn’t cheap, so if you just want a cheaper coffee machine for the morning, you might want to look at the Nespresso Vertuo Plus.

3. It is important to have an easy-to-use machine.

The Bambino Plus isn’t hard to use once you get the hang of it, but it will take longer to get good at than a one-button pod-based machine.

Read More article: Mr. Coffee Cafe Barista Review: Still A Good Choice?

Final Thought

The Breville Bambino Plus Coffee Maker is a big deal for coffee lovers who want to make drinks at home that taste like they came from a barista. It’s small, but it works very well. It heats up quickly, extracts milk precisely, and makes texturing milk easy. Whether you’re a coffee expert or a beginner, the Bambino Plus makes it easier to make the perfect espresso drinks. You can say goodbye to waiting in line at coffee shops and hello to great mornings with your custom-brewed coffee of professional quality.