Using the Breville Bambino Plus espresso machine, you will be able to prepare cafe-quality espresso drinks right in the comfort of your home.
What is the Breville Bambino Plus?
Breville’s Bambino Plus espresso machine is a compact machine that can be used by both novice baristas and professional baristas alike. As with any traditional espresso maker, this machine has the same core features: it can make rich, flavorful espresso and foam milk until it is light and frothy in order to achieve the perfect espresso. It is worth noting, however, that one of the great things about the Bambino Plus is that it has pre-set push-button controls that allow you to brew your favorite coffee fast and easily.
In addition to that, it has a super small footprint that does not take up much counter space at all. In the kitchen, I have set up a small island cart which serves as our de facto coffee bar, and the Bambino Plus fits perfectly on that cart with plenty of room for a grinder, knock box, and kettle, all of which are must-have accessories. You can consider this to be one of the best gifts for the high-tech chef on your list this holiday season.
My Testing of the Breville Bambino Plus
In my experience, I’ve been using this product since February 2021 and I’ve found it to be a very reliable product when it comes to brewing espresso and other coffee drinks. It brews quickly and consistently every time.
As a way to demonstrate just how quick each of the pre-set options works, I performed a time trial for my review of the Breville Bambino Plus to show just how quick it is:
It takes 20.98 seconds to pull one shot of espresso
It takes 24.89 seconds to pull a double shot of espresso
The time it takes to steam 9oz of milk using the auto sensor is 1 minute – but I prefer to steam my milk manually, which takes about 40 seconds to steam.
The process of making a hot latte takes just about two minutes from start to finish, and taking a shot of espresso takes less than 30 seconds from start to finish. You do not need to wait long for your morning pick-me-up to start because the Breville Bambino Plus heats up quickly.
I have also put this machine to the test of serving up to eight espressos with ease during a large family dinner, in order to see how it would perform for larger groups. I was also able to serve eight espressos without issue with this machine. In fact, I didn’t even need to fill up the machine’s tank, which conveniently holds up to 64 ounces of water. There was one final thing which made my Breville Bambino Plus review complete: I was able to easily serve espressos after dinner with ease, and that was the cherry on top.
Product Features
In terms of size and height, the Breville Bambino Plus is much smaller than most coffeemakers and espresso machines, measuring just over a foot tall and just under seven inches wide. As far as depth goes, the machine measures 12.6 inches deep. If you have shallow countertops, then you will need to measure your space to make sure you will be able to access the water tank.
An illuminated display is present on the front of the machine and there are buttons for selecting one-shot, two-shot and steam settings. The presets for steaming milk are available in three different temperatures (warm, ideal and hot) and in three different textures (low, medium and high foam). There is a small metal sensor located at the bottom of the machine which detects when your milk has reached the right temperature to be frothed without the need for you to manually check it by touching it.
As part of the Breville Bambino Plus, you’ll get all the accessories you need right from the get-go, including a portafilter measuring 54 millimeters, two single-wall filter baskets, two dual-wall filter baskets, a tamper, a stainless steel milk jug, cleaning tablets, descaling powder, and a leveler they call “The Razor” that allows you to sculpt your grounds into the perfect puck shape you desire. It’s true that I don’t use the razor very often as I find it to be a bit of a hassle.
Breville Bambino Pros and Cons
Pros
A simple push-button control system allows you to pull espresso of the highest quality
The steam wand included in the package is equipped with an automatic setting that adjusts to meet your needs
A lightning-fast heat-up time is one of the best features of this product
The size is small enough to not take up much counter space on your counter
Cons
It does not come with a grinder, so you will need to purchase one separately
It is in the high price range, with a downside that some people may not find it worth it if they are not regular espresso drinkers.
It can be confusing to know what to do when it comes to routine cleaning.
Here are some instructions on how to clean the Breville Bambino Plus
Every time you use the Breville Bambino Plus, you should give it a light cleaning.
Taking out the portafilter and running a shot of water through the espresso maker will help to clean the espresso maker. The surface should be cleaned up and the drip tray should be emptied as necessary. In order to keep my machine sparkling clean, I use a microfiber cloth to clean it.
You will need a sturdy knock box to be able to remove the used grounds from the filter basket when you’re ready to discard the grounds. You won’t have trouble removing the puck once you give it a couple of deliberate thwacks. The filter should be rinsed, and the grounds should be saved for gardening purposes.
In order to remove any residue left on the surface after using the steam wand, we recommend using a damp cloth to wipe it clean. As soon as you remove the wand from the machine, make sure you return it to its lowered position. It will automatically run a rinse cycle in order to prevent the wand from clogging in the future. There is a small pin-like cleaning tool hidden beneath the water tank that can be used in case the water wand becomes clogged.
How to Descale the Breville Bambino Plus
As a result of descale, the machine will flash alternately the one-shot and steam button and the two-shot button as a signal that it needs to be descaled. The frequency of this can range from once every 60 days to once every 90 days.
Ensure that the water tank is filled to the descale line and add the descaler to the tank. The mixture should be stirred until it dissolves completely.
The machine should be powered down by pressing and holding down the one-shot and steam button for a few seconds.
The steam wand should be placed inside a large bowl that has been placed on the drip tray.
It is necessary to hold the one-shot and steam buttons simultaneously for 5 seconds in order to enter the descale mode of the machine. There should be a solid illumination on both buttons.
It is necessary to press the one-shot or steam button in order to start the descaling process. There will be intermittent purging of water for about 5 minutes during the process. It is very important that you do not interrupt the process or else you will have to start all over again.
It is important to empty the water tank of the machine after it has finished running and to fill it with clean water. By pressing the one-shot or steam button again, you will be able to complete the rinse cycle. After a few more minutes, the machine will continue to purge water from the system.
After all the lights are illuminated, the machine will signal that it has finished its work. The water tank should be filled with water and the drip tray should be emptied of the water.
How to Backflush the Breville Bambino Plus
It is a good idea to backflush your Bambino when it starts “winking at you” (which is when the single shot and double shot buttons begin to alternately flash) so that you will know it is time to do so. In order to remove the buildup in the system, this step forces water back through it.
You will need to remove the water from the drip tray.
The 1-cup basket should be inserted into the portafilter along with the cleaning disc. A single cleaning tablet should then be added.
Put a large bowl on the drip tray and fill up the water tank to the maximum level in the water tank.
Once the one-shot button and the two-shot button have been pressed simultaneously for a few seconds, they will both become illuminated.
You can then either press the button for one shot or the button for two shots. There will be a flashing of the buttons and the system will begin to backflush for about five minutes after the flashing begins.
As soon as all the lights are illuminated, the machine is ready for use. Before using the filter, it is important to rinse it thoroughly.
How to Turn Off the Breville Bambino Plus
You can manually turn off the machine by pressing the one-shot button and the steam button at the same time. Additionally, if the Breville Bambino Plus is not in use for a period of time, it will automatically shut off after a period of time.
Does the Breville Bambino Plus have a grinder?
There is no coffee bean grinder that is included with this machine. It is my recommendation that if you are looking for a quality grinder, you should invest in a burr grinder. There are many experts who believe that burr grinders help to protect the flavor of the coffee bean as well as ensure a consistent grind. When looking for a coffee grinder, look for one that grinds directly into the basket of your portafilter for ease of use.
Recently, I bought the Breville Smart Grinder after spending months using a budget-friendly blade grinder and I have noticed an incredible difference in the quality of my coffee. The Breville Smart Grinder comes with a wealth of settings that you can play with to achieve the perfect taste for your coffee. Also, it is great for grinding the beans for use in French presses and other methods of brewing coffee as well.
What are the best espresso beans to order online?
In my opinion, the best part of making your own espresso is finding the flavor profile that you enjoy the most. If you are looking to order whole beans online, there are so many options out there that it really depends on your personal taste. In the event that I am not sourcing my beans directly from my local coffee shop, I often choose between the following two brands:
Kicking Horse 454 Horse Power Dark Roast. There is no bitter taste to be found in this whole bean coffee. It is smooth and chocolatey with no bitter aftertaste. You won’t find a better crowd-pleaser anywhere else.
Lavazza Super Crema. The Lavazza brand is an Italian coffee brand that is known for its rich, bold, and bright taste. It is a great drink on its own or it can be paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a decadent affogato.
Final Conclusion
Since I have been using this espresso machine every day for the past two years, I can 100% recommend it to anyone who is looking to make espresso drinks at home with this machine. It is an everyday luxury in my household to have the Breville Bambino Plus espresso machine. It is a luxury everyone in our household enjoys. Due to the fact that we prefer making our lattes at home rather than going to coffee shops, my partner and I have almost given up coffee shops altogether.
Our espresso maker is so much of a favorite that we even took it with us to the hotel on a recent trip-that’s how much we like it. Taking a few minutes each month to take a few minutes to descale and backflush the machine is what has helped the machine stand the test of time over the years. With Breville Bambino Plus review, I discovered that a cafe-worthy espresso drink can be made at home just as easily as at an espresso bar.