Today, I’m diving into a showdown between the Breville Cafe Roma vs Bambino – two budget-friendly semi-automatic coffee machines that are perfect for beginners. Without further ado, the Bambino is far more equipped to create better espresso and milk froth.
The small but mighty Breville Bambino is a great stepping stone before you decide to upgrade to a higher-quality model down the line. I not only love its design (and compact footprint) but also the fact that it has a pre-infusion feature and allows you to manually adjust its duration.
I’ve heard the Breville Cafe Roma being praised as a solid entry-level choice, but I’m not entirely on board with that. Sure, it’s compact and won’t put a huge dent in your wallet, but that’s all I love about it. It doesn’t have the important pre-infusion feature and has a below-average steam wand. I also want to say that it comes with a blasphemous plastic tamper.
Breville Cafe Roma Vs Bambino: Specs & Features Comparison Chart
Last update on 2024-04-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Breville Cafe Roma Vs Bambino: Differences
The Bambino defeated the Cafe Roma with an overwhelming 4-0 score. Let’s dig deeper into the details!
Coffee Flavor & Brewing System
Winner: Breville Bambino
Built-in Grinder
Alright, both of these budget-friendly beauties don’t come with their own built-in grinder. This means you get to embark on a little adventure to find the perfect grinder to pair with your machine.
Now, Breville has some pretty awesome electronic grinders that are kind to your wallet. Take the Smart Grinder Pro, for example – it’s a winner in both quality and affordability. The Bambino is also available bundled with the grinder, saving you a nice chunk of change compared to picking them up separately.
Dosing & Tamping
It’s pretty standard stuff for Breville to include a portafilter and tamper with their machines, and these models are no different. The Cafe Roma comes with a 50 mm portafilter, while the Bambino sports a slightly larger 54 mm one. The Cafe Roma’s tamper conveniently doubles as a scoop for dosing grounds, but it’s made of plastic and disappointingly flimsy – It’s much worse than the Bambino’s sturdier plastic tamper.
They came out of the box with a pair of dual-wall filter baskets for both single and double shots. The Cafe Roma even has one that works with ESE pods for a quick brew.
I always sing praise for fresh ground coffee, but let’s talk about the convenience of ESE pods. Not everyone has the luxury of time to grind fresh beans during those busy mornings, and ESE pods step in as that quick, no-fuss solution. And you know what I always say – it’s great to have options.
Heating System
These machines are single-boiler espresso machines. So, are you shocked to hear that? I’m not since, after all, they’re on the more affordable side of the spectrum.
That means they won’t be able to steam milk and prepare espresso at the same time. Still, they don’t make you wait ages for that first heavenly shot or when switching from brewing to steam mode.
The Cafe Roma uses a thermoblock heating system that will heat your water pretty quickly in about 30 seconds. Pretty quick, right? But hold on, because the Bambino goes even further with its ThermoJet technology, getting the job done in a mere 3 seconds! If you’ve ever wrestled with a machine that uses a boiler and takes what feels like an eternity (half an hour or so) to heat up, you will be over the moon.
Brewing System
The Breville Bambino is equipped with a pre-infusion function that gently soaks the coffee grounds under low pressure before the real brewing begins. This short step is huge for developing those deep, delicious aromas. Plus, it helps prevent channeling, making sure your coffee extraction is as even as it can be.
Even better, the Bambino allows you to tweak the duration of this pre-infusion, which, let me tell you, is not something you usually find in machines at this price point. All you have to do is press and hold the one-shot or double-shot button for however long you want that pre-infusion to last, and let it go to start the extraction.
Design & Convenience
Winner: Breville Bambino
Dimensions & User Interface
| Breville Cafe Roma | Breville Bambino | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 11.8 x 8.6 x 8.7 inches | 12.6 x 12.2 x 7.7 inches |
| Weight | 13 lbs | 10.7 lbs |
Both are corrosion-resistant, built to last, and have this sleek, stylish vibe thanks to their stainless steel finish. They are also quite compact, so even if you’re working in a small kitchen, you’ll easily find the perfect spot on your countertop to flaunt one of these beauties.
The Bambino looks nicer and is lighter, but you might need to hold it steady with one hand while you’re locking the portafilter into the brew group. It’s not a big deal, but definitely something to keep in mind.
Speaking of control, the Cafe Roma features a button to turn the machine on/off, a large center-located dial to switch from brew to steam, and two indicator lights (one to let you know it’s preheating and another to show that the machine is on). The Bambino’s control panel is also very minimalist, with just four buttons for single shot, double shot, hot water, and steam.
Spout Type & Cup Clearance
| Breville Cafe Roma | Breville Bambino | |
|---|---|---|
| Spout Type | Dual | Dual |
| Cup Clearance | 4 inches | 4 inches |
They don’t have height-adjustable espresso dispensers, but I doubt you’ll be stuck putting your espresso cups under their portafilters. If you want to brew espresso in a large travel mug, just remove the drip tray to get extra space.
Water Reservoir & Bean Hopper
| Breville Cafe Roma | Breville Bambino | |
|---|---|---|
| Water Reservoir | 1.2 liters | 1.4 liters |
| Bean Hopper | None | None |
The Bambino’s rear-mounted water tank is slightly larger, meaning fewer trips to refill it. The Cafe Roma’s tank is located on the right side of the machine and there is a handy front-facing slot that runs along the tank for easy monitoring of how much water you’ve got left. Neither of these machines includes a water filter, and honestly, they’re not designed to work with one, so it is best to stick to using bottled or softened water.
Milk Frothing System
Winner: Breville Bambino
Whether your final choice is the Bambino or Cafe Roma, one thing’s for sure – you’re going to be steaming milk manually, which can be a bit tricky at first.
First, I want to give Breville credit for including a stainless steel milk pitcher with the purchase. I’m not one to complain, but let’s be real, a lot of brands make you shell out extra cash for this kind of accessory.
Unlike the Bambino, Cafe Roma’s steam wand doesn’t offer 360-degree rotation. This means you’re going to face some limitations in movement, which can make it a bit awkward when you’re trying to position your milk pitcher just right – one of those things that might steer you away from the Cafe Roma if you’re serious about your milk-steaming game.
On the other hand, the Bambino’s steam wand features a ball joint for free rotation. It only has one hole, and if you’re used to those powerful, commercial-grade wands, you might find it a tad less forceful and a bit slower. But with a bit of patience and practice, you can still whip up some pretty impressive micro-foam for quite convincing latte art.
Drink Options & Programmability
Winner: Breville Bambino
Drink Options
| Breville Cafe Roma | Breville Bambino |
|---|---|
| Espresso | Espresso Hot Water |
With these budget-friendly semi-automatic machines, don’t set your hopes on getting a bunch of pre-programmed specialty coffee drinks with just a single touch. That’s the kind of luxury you’ll find in high-end super-automatic machines.
One thing that the Bambino has over the Cafe Roma is the hot water feature, which is super handy for pre-heating cups, whipping up an Americano, or brewing a cup of tea. Just press the hot water button and the hot water will be dispensed through the wand.
And speaking of pre-heating cups, both have a cup warmer on top. This is a cool feature as it helps ensure that your coffee stays hot and delicious once it hits your cup.
Programmability
| Adjustable Settings | Breville Cafe Roma | Breville Bambino |
|---|---|---|
| Coffee Strength | No | No |
| Coffee Temperature | No | No |
| Milk Foam Temperature | No | No |
| Milk Foam Texture | No | No |
The Cafe Roma only allows you to time your shot manually, nothing more and nothing less. The Bambino enables you to program your preferred shot volumes for each button as well, and as mentioned above, you can fine-tune the pre-infusion time.
Quick Rundown Of Breville Bambino
- Please refer to user guide or user manual or user guide (provided below in PDF) before first use
- Low pressure pre infusion: Low pressure pre infusion gradually increases pressure at the start and helps ensure all the flavors are drawn out evenly during the extraction for a balanced tasting cup
- Automatic Microfoam Milk Texturing: The automatic steam wand allows you to adjust the milk temperature and texture to suit your taste; Delivering Barista quality microfoam that enhances flavor and enables creation of latte art
- Espresso Machine with precise extraction: Digital temperature control (PID) delivers water at precisely the right temperature ensuring optimal Espresso extraction
Last update on 2024-04-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Quick Rundown Of Breville Cafe Roma
- Stainless-steel espresso machine with 15-bar thermoblock pump
- Dual-wall filter system for excellent crema; froth enhancer, cup-warming plate
- Accesories: Stainless steel frothing pitcher Tamping tool/measuring spoon/cleaning tool
- Removable drip tray and grid; Frothing jug included
- Measures 9 x 9 x 12 inches; 1-year limited warranty
Last update on 2024-04-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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References
- Breville Bambino: https://www.breville.com/us/en/products/espresso/bes450.html
- Breville Cafe Roma: https://www.breville.com/ca/en/products/espresso/esp8.html
Felix Hendricks is a skilled barista with over 12 years of experience. He excels in crafting coffee and has a strong foundation in coffee machine mechanics. Felix holds a Coffee Machine Maintenance Certification from the Coffee Equipment Technical Institute, showcasing his ability to diagnose and repair coffee machines. He’s also worked as a quality control specialist, selecting premium coffee beans for optimal flavor. Felix has a diverse work history, including stints at renowned coffee spots like Café Euphoria & Starbucks. His expertise in both brewing and machine maintenance makes him a respected figure in the coffee industry.