the Bambino Espresso Machine

The last Breville I bought was about 14 years ago, it was a larger model that always worked flawlessly every morning for years. Recently there were a couple events where it wouldn't turn on unless you gently bounced it on the counter! This told me it was time to replace it. I couldn't take a chance on not getting my morning espresso !! 😳I bought this affordable Bambino std model.It is easier to fire up and operate than my older model. I needed to time the shots manually with the older machine. On the Bambino it's only two buttons, one or two cups, nice! Relying on the timing of the shot eliminates the number of steps to adjust the strength of the shot which can be done by the grind and packing instead. I really like that when I NEED MY FIRST COFFEE!! 🥱It tastes better than my older machine as well.The beans I always buy never tasted so good !!It's more quiet, it saves space and easier to use.The negatives are few which are the choice of materials used. The aluminum basket is light and cheap feeling. (my old heavy basket from the older machine fits perfectly so I use that)The part of the machine where the the basket twists into is too plastic like and sounds cheap when you twist the basket in. Maybe needs to be broken in.This Bambino Std has exceeded my expectations. I am very pleased with my purchase!! 👍

The media could not be loaded. Well, allow me to say, this is the first machine I have had since the 1980s was it and that one Hoovered. Finally tried a unit, one of the many seemingly all variants of the same 51mm units. I had to send it back because, while very nice at the price point I feel it (and they) are probably best - and aimed at - milk coffee drinks and not actually espresso.Some, seems all similar did, have something the Bambino lacks - more metal. In feel (if there is such a thing) they, or at least mine - felt substantially more robust. It felt actually like better quality. But I couldn't adjust the water and couldn't get enough coffee in the portafilter. Maybe, some other options would fit the 51mm unit. I couldn't confirm it.This unit has a lot of plastic in it including the group head. BUT! It can adjust/learn pump-run time (adjust the water volume indirectly). The temperature is non adjustable. But I don't think water temp (as long as it is very near boiling) is really a variable most home espresso drinkers would benefit from - especially the beginners and novices.With the thermocoil design I understand it has, it heats in like 3 literal seconds. Steam is good (but I drink simple espresso so I am honestly not much help in evaluating that part). The wand has good articulation.I do like that Breville is big enough that plenty of 54mm baskets, portafilters, screens and papers are available - including bottomless.While I do like the unit's function and it has everything I wanted, it does feel cheap for the value proposition. I don't think it will hold up well for the length of time I keep appliances. It might. But, I do worry that the fact it knows how long it has been powered up/plugged in - makes me wonder if Breville embedded a count-down timer to planned obsolescence. I hope not, but the manual is clear in disclosure that it's recording usage data.I added a picture of three pucks/cakes (whatever term you like) within the first 24hours of receipt. The two dark ones were with pre-ground 6 month old (or longer) coffee and the third was with Folgers Classic drip grind.Yes, I do wish the entire Breville line was built on a standard 58mm group head (I do prefer a thinner cake per dose). And I do worry if it has an internal count-down to death timer and if the plastic will hold up.Edit: (added a bottomless portafilter and IMS basket)They -- finally -- came today. While these are aftermarket non-Breville parts, I added a video of a shot. (Replaced that because it was a little dark - new video has a little spurt - welcome to aftermarket bottomless portafilters. It happens sometimes)I don't claim to be an expert since it's been 35, idk 40ish years since I have had an espresso machine. I'm just now re-learning how to do it (or learning this machine); but, since I detest coffee snobs who discourage much more than they impress, I wanted to share.No, I'm sure it's not "perfect" but with this machine you really have potential without having to sell a kidney to pay for it (oops, I hope that doesn't violate 'community standards'.I might add some other still pictures later if anyone cares. Not a knock on the OEM portafilter & basket but I do prefer the aftermarket rimless basket because it is possible to make a larger diameter and thinner puck (ceteris paribus).The coffee in the shot was Lavazza Crema e Aroma which I guess from the "use by" was 3 months old. And, yes I prefer some blend of robusto (anywhere between 1/3rd and 2/3rds). If you would like to try your hand at espresso without variable overload and/or no room to experiment, then this machine is a pretty good starter.Edit 2:I added a picture of the IMS basket (2 pucks). Why? Well, so you could compare to the first picture where the stock Breville rimmed basket was used. Really there are only about 2 point. The stock basket has a rim (grips inside the portafilter great) and because the walls have draft - the pucks pop out easy. The downside is, that same taper that turns loose of the post brew coffee is less forgiving on volume of coffee powder. A light dose is hard to tamp and a large one won't fit or gets up into the shower head they call it.The aftermarket I chose is rimless so it tamps better. Not having a taper/draft-walled, your puck can be thinner for the same dose and there are more holes. So, you get more variables to dial in. The downside is, the pucks will eject in their entirety, you just might need an extra whack.The combo of bottomless & basket seems to be a trade-off. I seem to get more Crema and a rare spurt (see the video). So far, spurts have been rare. It's no defect, just a tamp made by a human.THE REASON I added the aftermarket parts to the review isn't to hurt Breville or over criticise them, no quite the opposite. While a little cheaply built like the plastic group head and more expensive than a 51mm manual espresso machine, being slightly larger portafilter size (I wish it was 58mm) - it heats quickly, is semi automatic and you can always add accessories later if you want. Don't have to, but you can.

wasn’t sure at first as one has to, or should, purge the machine prior to pulling your first shot of the day. It’s a great idea-probably should have purged every machine I have ever used. The more I learn …if I listen to one whom knows…love it now as it is: easy to use, versatile, quick but no so quick that the espresso flavor suffers. Coffee temperature is good. Taste is according to whomsoever is doing the tasting. I prefer Starbucks beans which we grind fresh every morning. Have tried many other beans over the years but always return to my corporate overlords…

Check the temperature coming out of your Bambino and make sure you are getting water hot enough to make espresso. The water should be at least 190F for espresso extractions - at least!Since I got my Bambino I did everything - EVERYTHING - in trying to make a shot of espresso that was worth drinking. I changed my coffee and bought a really good fresh roasted bean from a roaster in town. I bought a grinder that could grind in the espresso grit range. I upgraded my portafilter to a bottomless one, bought an OCD tool, got a WDT tool, upgraded the shower screen on the Bambino, bought an upgraded filter cup with precision drilled holes, I only used reverse osmosis water and I got a tamper that made sure that I did not go over the recommended pressure when tamping. I even used a dry wire screen on top of my puck for the shots because Lance Kedrick found during his research it helped with optimal extraction.None of it helped. The coffee was literally flat on arrival because the machine never got hotter than 145 degrees F. How in the world can it steam milk like it does, but not brew espresso?I feel embarrassed for Breville. Then again, people are complaining that they are getting used machines when they order brand new ones so…CAUTION!