Wouldn’t it be great if you could make a variety of delicious coffee drinks in the comfort and convenience of your own kitchen? Imagine waking up to lattes and cappuccinos every morning, without having to break the bank with the seemingly outrageous prices you pay at the artisan cafe downtown.
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If you’re willing to take matters into your own hands then you’re in luck, because with a home espresso machine like the Breville BES500BSS Bambino Plus you can be on your way to making delicious coffee drinks on your own in no time. Let’s dive into the nitty-gritty and see if this is the right machine for you.
Features
Fast Heat Up Time – 3 Seconds
One of the great features of the Breville Bambino Plus is that it is designed to warm up from a cold start to full extraction temperature on a time scale of just three seconds. When you decide to brew up a fresh cup of espresso on a whim, there will be essentially no wait before it’s ready to be served.
54 mm Portafilter
The Bambino Plus comes equipped with a high-quality and ergonomically-pleasant 54 mm portafilter for you to pack and tamp your ground coffee beans into as you prepare for the extraction. Better yet, the portafilter is appropriately sized to hold a 19-gram dose of coffee grounds – we’ll discuss the significance of this in a little bit.
Low Pressure Pre-Infusion
When you fire up an espresso machine to prepare a fresh brew, you want to avoid slamming the ground beans with the full extraction pressure right off the bat. The Breville Bambino Plus is designed to utilize a low-pressure pre-infusion to ensure that the grinds saturate and swell evenly, so you can enjoy a full-flavored and well-balanced cup of espresso.
19 Gram Dose For Full Flavor
Did you know that many home espresso machines are only designed for an 11-13 gram dose of coffee beans? That’s why those machines simply don’t deliver comparable flavor to what you’ve grown to expect from a professional cafe. The 54 mm portafilter can accommodate 19-21 grams of tamped coffee beans, enough to make sure that you’re getting a rich and delicious cup of espresso.
Automatic Micro-Foam Milk Texturing
One of the more nuanced techniques in the world of coffee drinks is making the perfect milk froth. Without a bit of experience, it’s just a hard thing to get right. Luckily, the Bambino Plus features automatic micro-foam milk texturing, so you can get barista-quality froth without years of on-the-job training. It even offers control over the milk temperature and texture, so you can fine-tune it to your exact tastes.
Precision Temperature Control
The temperature of the water during the extraction is arguably one of the most important factors in concocting a high-quality cup of espresso. The Bambino Plus uses PID control to ensure that the temperature is precisely where it needs to be throughout the course of the extraction. No more weak espresso, and no more burnt flavors.
Auto-Purge After Steaming
One situation where errors can arise with many home espresso machines is when you transition from steaming milk to subsequently preparing a brew. The Breville Bambino Plus was designed with an auto-purge cycle after steaming to ensure that the heating elements return to optimal extraction temperature before you go to prepare your next brew.
9 Bar Extraction Pressure
Alongside the extraction temperature, the extraction pressure is another key component to get right when you’re trying to craft a remarkable cup of espresso. The Bambino Plus is capable of delivering 9 bar pressure during the extraction, making sure that you get the most flavor out of your beans with every single brew.
Pros
- Packed with features when you consider the price range. This espresso machine won’t do everything for you, but it certainly makes the bulk of the work easy and accessible to the average user.
- Ready to use within seconds of turning it on. There’s no need to wait around while the unit heats up before you can extract your first or next espresso brew.
- Included 54 mm portafilter is high quality and designed to accommodate a full 19+ gram dose of coffee beans allowing for rich and delectable extracts, just like the pros make.
- Equipped with programming for a low-pressure pre-infusion, ensuring that your ground coffee beans are properly saturated and seated prior to the final extraction for full and balanced flavor.
- Automatic milk foaming texture makes it easy to prepare the perfect milk froth for lattes, cappuccinos, and beyond. Done manually, this technique takes years of experience to hone in.
Cons
- Users report that liquids seem to find their way beneath the drip tray, making cleaning a little bit more involved than simply removing the tray, rinsing, and reinstalling.
- Lacks a hot water dispenser, which would be very helpful for making tea, Americanos, and other drinks requiring a hot water supply.
Final Verdict: Should You Buy This Model
With all of these features laid out on the table, there’s still one question that remains: is the Breville Bambino Plus the right home espresso machine for you?
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If you’ve already set your heart on the idea of a home espresso machine, then you’re headed in the right direction with the Bambino Plus. It has a lot to offer in terms of functionality, especially when you consider the price. If the price seems too high for you, you have to consider the fact that with less expensive models you won’t necessarily get a machine with rapid heat up time and automatic micro-foam milk texturing. That’s not to say that these features are absolutely required to make a nice cappuccino, but they are certainly helpful.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for an absolute top-of-the-line espresso machine for your home then there is definitely some room for upgraded features. You won’t find automatic grinding and dosing in the Bambino Plus, those types of features are reserved for the flagship models.
All in all, the Breville Bambino Plus is a well-made espresso machine from a trusted brand in the world of coffee. If the price is right and you don’t mind doing a little bit of the work manually, you’ll probably be very happy with this machine.