Breville Cafe Roma Vs Bambino: Comparing Two Low-Price Coffee Machines

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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

Image
THE WINNER (#1)
Breville the Bambino Espresso Machine with Auto Milk Frother, Espresso Maker with Seconds Heat Up, Cappuccino & Latte Machine for Home, BES450BSS, Brushed Stainless Steel
THE RUNNER-UP (#2)
Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma Stainless Espresso Maker, 9x9x12, Silver
Model
Breville Bambino
Breville Cafe Roma
Dimensions/Weight
7.7 x 12.6 x 12.2 inches/10.7 lbs
11.8 x 8.6 x 8.7 inches/13 lbs
Interface
Button-Operated Interface
Knob-Operated Interface
One Touch Drink Options
2
1
Built-in Grinder
Grinding Settings
Heating System
Single ThermoJet
Single Thermoblock
Pump Pressure
15 Bars
15 Bars
Pre-Infusion
Milk Frothing System
Manual Steam Wand
Manual Steam Wand
Spigot Type/Cup Clearance
Dual/4 inches
Dual/4 inches
Water Reservoir/Bean Hopper
1.4 L/None
1.2 L/None
Filter
Compatible With Pre-ground Coffee
App Connectivity
User Profile
What I Like
Price
$299.95
$189.49
THE WINNER (#1)
Image
Breville the Bambino Espresso Machine with Auto Milk Frother, Espresso Maker with Seconds Heat Up, Cappuccino & Latte Machine for Home, BES450BSS, Brushed Stainless Steel
Model
Breville Bambino
Dimensions/Weight
7.7 x 12.6 x 12.2 inches/10.7 lbs
Interface
Button-Operated Interface
One Touch Drink Options
2
Built-in Grinder
Grinding Settings
Heating System
Single ThermoJet
Pump Pressure
15 Bars
Pre-Infusion
Milk Frothing System
Manual Steam Wand
Spigot Type/Cup Clearance
Dual/4 inches
Water Reservoir/Bean Hopper
1.4 L/None
Filter
Compatible With Pre-ground Coffee
App Connectivity
User Profile
What I Like
Price
$299.95
More Info
THE RUNNER-UP (#2)
Image
Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma Stainless Espresso Maker, 9x9x12, Silver
Model
Breville Cafe Roma
Dimensions/Weight
11.8 x 8.6 x 8.7 inches/13 lbs
Interface
Knob-Operated Interface
One Touch Drink Options
1
Built-in Grinder
Grinding Settings
Heating System
Single Thermoblock
Pump Pressure
15 Bars
Pre-Infusion
Milk Frothing System
Manual Steam Wand
Spigot Type/Cup Clearance
Dual/4 inches
Water Reservoir/Bean Hopper
1.2 L/None
Filter
Compatible With Pre-ground Coffee
App Connectivity
User Profile
What I Like
Price
$189.49
More Info

Last update on 2024-12-04 / 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.

the bambino ships with a 54mm portafilter
The Bambino ships with a 54mm portafilter

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 RomaBreville Bambino
Dimensions11.8 x 8.6 x 8.7 inches12.6 x 12.2 x 7.7 inches
Weight13 lbs10.7 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.

the breville bambino's button-operated interface
The Breville Bambino’s button-operated interface

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.

the cafe roma's control panel
The Cafe Roma’s control panel

Spout Type & Cup Clearance

Breville Cafe RomaBreville Bambino
Spout TypeDualDual
Cup Clearance4 inches4 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 RomaBreville Bambino
Water Reservoir1.2 liters1.4 liters
Bean HopperNoneNone

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. 

these machines require manual steam milk
These machines require manual steam milk

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.

the breville bambino's wand has a 4-hole tip
The Breville Bambino’s wand has a 4-hole tip

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 RomaBreville Bambino
EspressoEspresso
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.

the bambino's wand can double as a hot water outlet
The Bambino’s wand can double as a hot water outlet

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.

the cup warmer
The cup warmer

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 SettingsBreville Cafe RomaBreville Bambino
Coffee StrengthNoNo
Coffee TemperatureNoNo
Milk Foam TemperatureNoNo
Milk Foam TextureNoNo

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

Breville the Bambino Espresso Machine with Auto Milk Frother, Espresso Maker with Seconds Heat Up, Cappuccino & Latte Machine for Home, BES450BSS, Brushed Stainless Steel
  • The Breville Bambino doesn't compromise on third wave specialty coffee by delivering barista quality performance using a 54mm portafilter for full flavor and an automatic steam wand for milk texturing that delivers true handsfree microfoam
  • 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 and cappuccino art
  • Faster Heat Up Time: Innovative thermojet heating system achieves the optimum extraction temperature in 3 seconds; Ready to make your best coffee without the wait
  • 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
  • Espresso Machine with precise extraction: Digital temperature control (PID) delivers water at precisely the right temperature ensuring optimal Espresso extraction

Last update on 2024-12-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Pros
  • Space-saving design.
  • ThermoJet fast-heating system.
  • Affordable price.
  • Easy to use.
  • Amazing milk wand.
Cons
  • No built-in grinder.
  • Lacks brewing temperature control.

Quick Rundown Of Breville Cafe Roma

Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma Stainless Espresso Maker, 9x9x12, Silver
  • Note: 1)Too coarse a grind, too little coffee, or insufficiently tamping the grounds before brewing can all lead to inadequate pressure for a proper brew. 2)It is important to note that the amount of espresso extracted will vary depending on the grind size and amount and reprogramming may be needed when the size and amount are adjusted
  • Stainless-steel Espresso machine with 15-bar thermo block pump
  • Dual-wall filter system for excellent crema; froth Enhancer, cup-warming plate
  • Accessories: stainless steel frothing pitcher tamping tool/measuring Spoon/cleaning tool
  • Removable drip tray and grid; frothing jug included

Last update on 2024-12-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Pros
  • Easy to use.
  • Cheap.
  • Compatible with ESE pods.
  • Thermoblock fast-heating system.
  • Compact footprint.
Cons
  • The wand can’t rotate.
  • No pre-infusion.
  • Plastic tamper.

Product Videos

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References

5/5 - (4 votes)