There is no learning curve involved with the Breville Bambino or Bambino Plus. Unless you switch to the manual espresso mode. Even then, both espresso machines are easy to use and automatic! Brewing espresso and steaming milk at the perfect temperature in the quickest time possible!
Looking at how both espresso makers perform, the Breville Bambino Plus is a favorite choice. It has superior features, like the integrated sensor, that automatically understands the key basics of brewing espresso at home. Perfect for a beginner home barista who wants less control and better coffee taste.
The Breville Bambino is an entry-level espresso machine. It can make delicious lattes or black coffee but you can also switch to manual for better control.
Breville Bambino vs Bambino Plus: Comparison Chart
Last update on 2023-09-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Breville Bambino vs Bambino Plus – Differences
The Bambino Plus features intricate temperature-control features with the sensor which the Bambino doesn’t offer to its users. This gives the Bambino Plus an edge because it takes the guesswork away.
Having said that, the battle for the best Bambino contender is the Bambino Plus with 4 – 2 against its predecessor, the Breville Bambino.
9 vs 15 Bar Pump System
According to my research, the ideal range of extraction in an at-home espresso maker is between an 8 to 10 bar pump system. But this heavily relies on the coffee beans and grind size as well.
However, it’s more effective when you use a 9 bar pump system because it gives you fewer variables to tweak before every shot. For a beginner, it takes away the complicated thing about using espresso machines at home.
A 9 bar pump system is faster to control with better, more consistent results.
Compared to 9, a 15 bar pump system is faster because it sheds a few more seconds from the shot. You might get your espresso shot faster but it might not always be consistent.
The optimal time for pulling an espresso shot is 25 to 30 seconds.
So the brewing pressure of the Bambino which adopts a 9 bar pump system is better. This makes rich and strong espresso consistently.
But the Bambino Plus’s intelligent temperature sensor brews espresso well despite the 15 bar pump system. The temperature sensor controls the taste of espresso. It even features an auto-purge feature that cleans and resets the system quickly so you can brew another cup instantly. You won’t find this type or speed of restoration in the Bambino.
Interface
The Breville Bambino features simple yet effective buttons to control the brewing and make certain adjustments to each shot. Here you have the one-touch buttons with flashing light indicators. So you’ll know exactly what you’re doing without getting confused.
The buttons include the single and double espresso shot size, the steam button, and the hot water button. It’s quick and straightforward to use. If you’re looking for a classic design, the Breville Bambino meets all expectations.
The Bambino Plus has a slightly upgraded design with 5 buttons instead of 4 buttons. The extra button is the temperature control setting. You also have a little scale to display the coffee temperature and another scale to measure the foam density of the milk for the perfect creamy latte or cappuccino.
The volumetric controls on the Breville Bambino and Bambino Plus are the same. What’s improved is the temperature and foam light – making the Bambino Plus an accurate and intuitive pick.
Drip Tray
Both the Bambino and Bambino Plus come with a sturdy and high-quality drip tray. The Bambino’s has a plastic red indicator that sits inside the drip tray to let you know exactly when the drip tray is about to overflow.
This tiny thing is very useful if you use the machine daily. All the extra espresso and hot water gets collected inside the drip tray without leaking out.
The Bambino Plus’s drip tray’s build quality is solid and well put together. There is no discernible difference in quality or utility between the two. The only difference, however, is in the position of the red indicator. In the Bambino Plus, it’s placed on the left-hand side of the tray, rather than the middle which is where the Bambino has it.
I recommend emptying out the Bambino Plus drip tray after every 3 cups of coffee.
Design
The design elements of the Breville Bambino are durable and high-quality. The coffee filter, drip tray, and steam wand work so well together. The compact size isn’t wobbly or awkward to use. It’s quite sturdy and easier to clean with a faster heat-up time.
The Bambino and Bambino Plus are lightweight and portable machines. However, the Bambino is smaller with a 1.4L water tank. It has a slimmer top design with a stainless steel finish.
The Bambino Plus has a 1.9L water tank with a sizeable top design which keeps it sturdier. You can pick from a variety of finishes, not just stainless steel. And the Bambino Plus features a more reliable tamper made of metal and not plastic which is what the Bambino offers.
Plastic tampers are useful but they don’t last as long as metal tampers.
Moving on, the larger water reservoir does mean that the Bambino Plus takes up more space on your countertop. But overall, it’s a petite espresso maker that is also easy to clean.
Steam Wand
The steam wand of the Breville Bambino is fast but with a basic setup. It boasts of a one-hole steam wand that gets the milk to the perfect frothing temperature at 266-degrees Fahrenheit. This makes the coffee hot and silky for blending with espresso.
Bambino Plus features a 3-hole steam wand that has a better feel and response, plus it gets the milk to the perfect hot and steamy temperature. The Breville Plus steam wand feels superior to the Bambino. It can consistent steam milk for lattes and cappuccinos with a faster heat-up time.
Even though both steam wands clean up automatically, the auto-purge setting of the Bambino Plus makes the steam more pro-active, useful, and longer-lasting!
And the fact that you can quickly adjust the temperature of the steam gives you more control over how light or dense you want the foam to be.
Warranty
Bambino offers a 1-year warranty and the Bambino Plus offers a 2-year warranty. Both warranties, however, are purposive and dependable. Assuring long-term and productive use for home brewing!
Breville Bambino vs Bambino Plus – Similarities
Espresso Quality
The brewing technology of the Bambino and Bambino Plus are advantageous with zero flaws. They might take slightly contrasting routes but the end result is the same – delicious, crema-infused, and aromatic espresso.
Thanks to Breville’s pre-infusion and PID technology. The Breville also adopts a ThermoJet Heating system that maintains stable temperature while brewing.
Both espresso machines also offer a 54mm portafilter with 19 to 22g of dose. You can brew single and double espresso quickly with the touch of a button. But if you want more control, press down on the Bambino’s single or double espresso button to manually control the shot pulling time!
Quick Rundown of Breville Bambino Plus BES500
- Please refer to user guide or user manual or user guide (provided below in PDF) before first use
Last update on 2023-09-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Quick Rundown of Breville Bambino BES450
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I am a passionate coffee drinker. Since I left my job as a barista a few years back in 2012, I’ve been sharing my expertise on coffee and buying the best coffee equipment online. That’s how Wild Boar Coffee came to life.
I write about everything coffee-related under the sun. Where to buy the freshest coffee beans from? How to test coffee beans based on texture, aroma, and acidity?
I know all this from scratch – all thanks to my years and years of experience as a barista. So I’ve gotten real up-close-and-personal with coffee beans and different brewing techniques.