Review on 🍾 Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine: The Finest in Royal Champagne by Dion Jeep

Update April 23, 2019: Bambino goes strong after 3 months, with a few minuses that don't really deserve a star Deduction: good: manual milk froth gives one absolutely gorgeous microfoam. The wand is great and easy to use, but the downsides are: - The portafilter isn't very good, the basket doesn't hold up well. The basket is sucked into the head of the group so tightly that the portafilter comes off without it - the machine sags with moderate tamping force, it's definitely not designed for standard tamping technique - the machine seems stretched in volume, which is what makes the ringing and timing of shots very difficult. I'm not sure if I'm right about that, but different pounder pressure results in different shot times, but they also have different weights, which is pretty weird. You might think it's one or the other. To make a sure shot, you need good technique and practice. I still haven't mastered it - the cleaning instructions are very confusing, you have to be patient and let the machine do its thing, the LED lights don't really follow the instructions. Original review: This machine is capable of producing excellent cappuccinos and lattes. , if you disregard its main attraction/feature - automatic frothing and milk frothing. The automatic process creates a slightly bubbly foam, but luckily you can skip it and do it manually. Pros: - slim profile, doesn't take up much desk space - enough room under the portafilter for a large cup, a big plus as other machines only fit a tiny espresso cup - heats up very quickly - huge water tank - very decent Need steam capable of producing a nice microfoam very quickly (if doing it by hand) - make a decent shot (more on that in the cons) - automatic cleaning of the steam wand - comes with a very decent milk jug delivered. Cons: - tiny drip tray. It overflows after 3 cappuccinos - cheaper portafilter design than the one that comes with the 840 and up but offers more room underneath - only comes with double wall pressure baskets and extra baskets are ridiculously expensive (currently $50) - automatic frothing from Milk, one of the main features and impact on the price of this machine is not very. It just isn't capable of producing the kind of microfoam you'd expect from a machine at this price point. Fortunately, you can do it manually. Tips: - Immediately after turning on the machine, direct the steam and let the water flow onto the fabric. Pour some water onto the fabric through the brew head to stabilize the temperature. You use a cloth to wipe the wand. This process ensures that the machine is actually brought up to the right temperature – not over-compacting. Double wall baskets are not as sensitive to compression pressure but can suffocate if compressed too much. - Before and after pulling the shot, clean the basket and the head of the group from debris.