While both espresso machines are elegant and compact to use. You can expect great espresso results, barista-grade in fact, from a machine like Breville Bambino. Its impressive ThermoJet heating technology offers excellent programmability for full-flavored espressos – be it a single or double shot. While the frother delivers creamy steamed milk!
I recommend the Breville Café Roma for its easy functionality and hands-on experience. But for more nuance in flavor, go for the Breville Bambino.
Breville Café Roma vs Bambino : Comparison Chart
Last update on 2023-09-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Breville Café Roma vs Bambino – Differences
With only 1 or 2 buttons, you will be able to make delicious espresso using the Breville Bambino. It wins 3-2 against the Café Roma for its affordable, speedy, and portable performance. It makes espresso that coffee lovers vouch is just as good as espresso made by baristas.
Design – BAmbino Win
Breville’s Café Roma features an edgy stainless steel finish construction. It features a selector dial that controls how much espresso gets extracted. And you can also adjust the steam wand pressure by pushing it to the left side.
This dual-action of Café Roma is simple and quick. You can brew a single shot, double shot, and an espresso pod. The stainless steel, dual-wall filters of the portafilter ensure smooth and consistent extraction.
The Café Roma is wider than Bambino which means it takes up more space. But ironically its water reservoir capacity is smaller than the Bambino which holds 47 ounces of water. That’s 5-7 espresso shots more than the Café Roma.
Overall, you can do a lot more with the design elements of the Bambino than Café Roma. The stainless steel finish on the Bambino looks more expensive and longer-lasting than Café Roma.
Selector Dial – BAmbino Win
The selector dial in the Café Roma lets you control espresso and steam. It features 3 modes: Steam, Stand By, and Espresso. You simply have to add the ground coffee into one of the 3 filters available to you and turn the dial to the correct setting. Once the espresso brews, turn the dial to the extreme left for steaming milk.
The Bambino features buttons instead of a selector dial which gives more control. The 4-keys formula of Bambino scales coffee to perfection. This means selecting the right dose, precise temperature, water pressure for espresso, and steam for milk.
And all this you can do with the touch of a button. The control panel features a single shot, double shot, hot water, and steam option. It’s quicker, more streamlined, and more beginner-friendly.
Warming Tray – Café Roma Win
A warming tray is present in the Breville Café Roma. It heats up fast and stays warm for a long time. The tray is made up of aluminum so it does provide comfortable thermal insulation to keep the espresso cups warm.
In fact, the warming tray is wide enough to accommodate 6 espresso cups and keep them warm and ready to serve!
You can also easily remove the tray to rinse it and place it right back in. It takes only a few seconds and the tray feels solid and sturdy to carry from one place to another.
Breville Bambino has a standard drip tray without a keep-warm function. It’s well-maintained with a durable coating to prevent chipping. But the top surface does not have a thermal coating to warm up espresso cups.
You need to empty out the tray regularly or else it will leak inevitably.
Cleaning – Bambino Win
The Café Roma comes with fewer additional accessories. It has single, double, and pod espresso filters, a frothing pitcher, a tamping tool, a measuring tool, and a cleaning tool. These are helpful and easy to use, even for a beginner.
The cleaning tool for the steam wand comes in handy when you want to avoid dealing with stubborn milk stains inside the wand. The cleaning tool makes maintenance quick and easy and prevents deposit build-up for longer shelf life.
Bambino offers the same additional accessories plus a descaling powder. Anyone who has used an espresso maker before will know the benefits of descaling an espresso machine. It prevents mineral deposits from permanently ruining the inner parts of the machine, the tubes, and the filters.
If you make coffee all the time, you’ll need the descaling powder to boost the maintenance of the machine. This makes the Bambino last longer and it’s simpler to clean.
Milk Pitcher – Cafe Roma Win
Café Roma features a small but very useful milk pitcher for steaming milk in. This also means that you can latte art easily and quickly – making less of a mess around the tray during frothing.
Unfortunately, you cannot say the same about Breville Bambino. You will need a proper pitcher to steam your milk in. And that means buying a stainless steel pitcher online or at the supermarket.
Breville Café Roma vs Bambino – Similarities
Low-Pressure Bar Pump System
Breville Café Roma and Bambino are excellent espresso machines. Designed from sturdy materials, they’re easy to use and look attractive on any kitchen counter. But what really seals the deal is the 9 and 15 bar pump system of the Bambino and Café Roma.
It’s an affordable coffee brewing technology for home users. Producing super-rich and creamy espresso just like a barista! The bar pump system not only promises delicious espressos but also makes cappuccinos and lattes possible.
You can make deliciously hot and comforting espresso drinks at home cup after cup without worrying about losing temperature. That’s exactly why Café Roma and Bambino are such incredible choices.
Steam Wand
Everyone loves an espresso maker with a steam wand. It’s more nuanced than a plain espresso machine. These machines do not struggle to produce creamy and light foam. It’s best for those who enjoy silky-frothed milk at high temperatures.
The steam wand heats up really quickly and you can add any type of milk you like. The steam wands are easy to clean with the cleaning tool. And the steam wand handle features a small finger hook to hold and control the steam wand while frothing!
Quick Rundown of Breville Cafe Roma ESP8XL
- 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 2023-09-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Quick Rundown of Breville Bambino
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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.