Sage (Breville) Bambino Plus Review After Nearly 4 Years

[@Coffee_Kev]

Fancy becoming an official coffee botherer?:bit.ly/coffeebotherers Join the brew time mailing list (trust me, you'll be glad you did 🙂): coffeeblog.co.uk/joinbrewtime

[@virginiacamper]

“That’s much smaller than something much bigger, and slightly smaller than something slightly bigger.” I have no words. 😂

[@RyanNolet]

that line felt very much out of The Mitchel and Webb look. really gave me a laugh.

[@mimihopkins4301]

Came here to make this comment lol

[@simply_psi]

I bought a Bamibo plus just over 4 years ago and so many reviewers and friends with more prosumer machines like the gaggia and ranchillios said it would be scrap just after the 12 month guarantee runs out well I look after it only use filter water, regularly clean and descale it and it is still going strong, I have thought about upgrading but even quick starting machines like the Lelit Elizabeth takes 15 minutes to warm up, where as first thing on a freezing winter morning the Bambino plus is ready in 3 seconds to make a delicious warming latte. I have my latte and toast breakfast ready and eating it whist the fancy pants coffee snobs with their Linear Minis, Apartimentos, Biancas etc are still waiting in their dressing gowns for their machine to warm up.

[@lor7780]

Exactly how i feel, i don’t have 15 minutes of time to wait for the machine to warm up

[@StefanDumitru1]

agree, i too love the 3 second startup that delivers consistent sour shots on anything that's not dark.

Lots of people in the beginner's level of espresso game, like myself, pair this machine with a Sage Smart Grinder Pro (or Dose Control Pro). I would love to see an up-to-date video from you pairing SGP & Bambino Plus and guide us through a complete workflow that starts from dialing in the beans until the very end of the process. Looking forward for the upcoming episodes of this new series!

[@TheSwissy4me]

I paired it as well. It’s going strong and I am so happy with it. 3.5 years and doing well

[@ov3rcl0cked]

I started with this setup, upgraded to a better grinder, and can't see myself upgrading past the bambino anytime soon. I think to properly dial in your grind you need a scale and a timer, many coffee scales come with a built in timer for this reason and for things like timing manual pour overs. Basically you just need to know that a finer grind will cause a slower flow rate, and a coarser grind will cause a faster flow rate. You can weigh your beans going in or the grounds coming out, weighing them coming out is likely a better option for the smart grinder since it can retain grounds and therefore you're not getting a consistent output from the grinder if you weigh your beans before your grind them. Usually you'll want an 18 gram dose of espresso in the basket. Level, tamp, or whatever your ritual is. Pull a shot using the manual mode (hold down 1 or 2 shot button till it starts to flow), make sure your pulling the shot into a cup on the scale, you want to produce 36-40g of espresso in the cup in 28-31 seconds is usually what I aim for. If you exceed 40g in that time then you should grind finer, if you don't get to 36g in that time you grind coarser. There is a sweet spot in that, and generally having a shot that runs too fast (under-extracted) will be less detrimental than a shot that runs too slow (over-extracted). I tend to find the sweet spot on the coffees that I like to be 38-40g in just under 30 seconds. The main downside to the smart grinder pro is that it doesn't have very fine step sizes, so the perfect grind might be in between 2 settings. It's burr set is also not amazing, though it's great to start out with, and I find that the smart grinder pro is actually better for espresso than it is for coarser grinds for things like pour over. A nicer grinder will get you a more consistent grind, more consistent results, and have more granular adjustments. That said for the smart grinder pro I tend to prefer the option that runs a little too fast so long as it's not channeling and brewing inconsistently. I find that under-extracted coffee is maybe a little more sour and less sweet, but if it's just a little under-extracted it's not very noticeable, whereas over-extraction makes a much more noticeable difference on the taste where it becomes bitter and harsh pretty quickly. It's a good pairing, but I find that upgrading the grinder has been a huge improvement for me.

[@prinzatago]

Smart Grinder Pro is an outdated machine. Not enough grind steps for fine adjustment and a high retention. Also it uses the old pentagonal conical burr. For the same 200 freedom dollars you can get a Baratza Encore ESP which is newer, has finer adjustment for espresso AND coarser grind size for pour over, and a better burr. My cousin is a Breville fanboy and we used to pit the two grinders against each other. Then Breville bought Baratza. Such irony.

[@jss_510]

As a breville fan, the SGP is just not good enough for the price. That was my first grinder and it just didn’t grind fine enough but I couldn’t compare it so I didn’t know any better. After switching to the Baratza ESP I would never entertain the SGP and anyone with a bambino should consider a better grinder for espresso. The grinder is honestly the more important component, the bambino is capable of making great espresso. The SGP holds it back

@@jss_510 as a SGP user for more than a year, i can agree that it has its downsides although i dont plan to upgrade it any time soon, but saying that it cannot grind fine enough is just not true. Perhaps you didnt adjust the inner burrs according to your needs i dont know, but it sure allows you to grind as fine as you want, provided that you make the necessary burr adjustments. But it doesnt matter now anyway as you have apparently upgraded to another grinder, so happy for you :) My biggest dissatisfaction with SGP, on the other hand, is the fact that it chokes frequently when grinding medium roast beans which are a bit more on the lighter side.

[@deanb61]

I have the Bambino, which i upgraded with a bottomless portafilter. Combined with a 1zpresso hand grinder. I only make 2 or 3 a day max, so I feel this combination works well for me.

[@dpr4820]

I'm so interested in the Bambino Plus but terrified! There's so much to learn! Your video has been very helpful and, Dude, you are hilarious.

[@Coffee_Kev]

Glad you get my humour, The Bambino Plus is a great machine , make sure you pair it with a good grander and there will be no stopping you. Ta Kev

[@jtixtlan]

Please do a video of all the compatible third-party accessories.

[@sionjones1675]

The best way to preheat these is the same as the barista pro - hols the pre-infuse button to heat it using low-water flow. I find that the unrestricted flow rate is a tad too fast for the heating coil to keep up with, whereas by forcing it to use pre-infuse instead keeps the water flow slow enough to properly heat everything up. Two or three manual 10-second pre-infuses seems to do the trick perfectly, even in the recent freezing mornings.

[@turnerjames]

This was an absolutely fantastic video. I've had this machine for four years. I didn't know the longer you hold button down the longer the pre-infusion goes for. I also didn't know you could get hot water out the steam wand. I now know why I could never dial in lighter roasts and it always tasted so poor. Learnt so much with this. Cheers!

[@awolmartinez]

This was great for 2 reasons, first of all because the original Bambino plus videos were the very first I saw on your channel, and B, because I too, still have a Bambino plus as my home espresso machine, of course with a few upgrades, IMS baskets both double and triple, bottomless portafilter, Barista Hustle Milk Pitcher, I even tried the IMS shower screen, but only had lots of channeling with it, so reinstalled the factory screen. Thanks for this update!

[@ConnieWen-i5s]

You're both professional coffee lovers.

[@despostizzz]

Great video Kev, thank you. I love my Bambino plus that is now nearly 1 year old and all is good. The only negative if when it stops working when needs to start the cleaning process without any warning. It happened when I am in a rush and cannot have my coffee and there is no way to ignore the warning for at least 5 or 10 shots! It just won't work

[@steveflanagan46]

I got my sage bambino plus on the back of your original video! Love it - it’s enough of a machine to make you feel half a barista without the full hassle! I think a maintenance or service video outside the standard clean and descale you get might be good? Things to make it last longer maybe?

[@MrMartyn1212]

Bambino +,ims shower screen and basket with a bottomless portafilter (+a puck screen) and a niche zero ,killer cheap combo 🙏🏼 a few bits of blue tack on the contact points seem to keep my machine from slipping/moving around 👍🏻

[@fraub1]

I feel like the Sage Bambino Plus and the Niche Zero would be the ultimate lazy home setup. No fuss grinding, no fuss pulling shots, no fuss steaming milk. Would it impress any serious coffee aficionados? No. But it would be awesome for anyone like me who just wants good coffee at home without the headache.

[@deadlypalms]

Nice one, Kev. Your videos are always appreciated. Deep diving into making good coffee with this (and the Bambino) are always great to see - particularly updates too, like this one (and with more recent trends e.g. WDT tool etc).

[@simonhopkins4878]

Can’t believe it, this is the first time in my life experience of flat White (from Cameron in Berwick Street about 2007). I have ever heard the term flat shite, I can’t believe I have lived this long without knowing that fantastic term - bring it on Kev.

[@Coffee_Kev]

Haha, it's a good phrase! 😆

[@renodavid]

Great advice. I’ve been using my Bambino Plus for around three years and I’m quite happy with it. And yes, I remember your early Bambino videos! It’s a shame they didn’t include the ability to change the temp. If they had done that, they would truly have an AMAZING little machine fully capable of punching way above its weight. Oh well.🤷‍♂️ I’m actually kind of proud of myself that I eventually figured out on my own that it didn’t work well with lighter roasts.

[@TheSwissy4me]

Same here! I watched those early videos and found them quite helpful. I’m quite happy with the Bambino plus. I’ve been using it for 3.5 years

[@basieniaa]

I got it back then and now I'm getting rid of it and getting the barista touch impress :) both with the help of your videos!

[@AnskarKong]

Thank you for the video. I've owned the plus version for almost 3 years, but due to the limitation of medium-dark to dark beans, I want to upgrade. After a lot of research, there seems to be only one choice in the market - Decent Espresso, but it costs 10 times more. This is not a joke. If you're looking for something with quick startup from a thermoblock and a tiny size, the boiler machine can't provide that, even if budget isn't a concern. Yes, Ascaso may come close, but it still lacks a long pre-infusion and is limited to 20 seconds of temperature stability (dipping down) instead of the 30 seconds (rising up) of the Bambino Plus. You can get a Lelit Bianca at the same price, which has PID, dual boiler, flow control, E61, unlimited pre-infusion, and is programmable, albeit just a bit larger. The most useful hack of the Bambino Plus is the purge and STEAM before brewing(sure with manual 7 sec blooming). You must steam for a few seconds to let the thermoblock reach a higher temperature to compensate for very low temperature water during the first 2-3 seconds. Since the Bambino has a lower temperature during steaming, you may notice a difference in brewing temperature during the first few seconds from the above hack. I recommend going directly for the plus even if you're not planning on making any milk drinks.

[@scarface416]

Thank you. Have this unit and all my shots are sour or bitter and I think it's a bean and temp issue. Will try this

[@daivernon7346]

absolutely fantastic video

[@AndyRSV]

Would love to see your presets and workflow when paired with a Baratza Encore Esp!

[@ZombieDawg]

Ordered one few days ago for $340. Looking forward to trying it out.

[@narcoserrasalom6464]

Cheers kev for convincing me to join to your mailing list. -£86 combined from the original price! -15% for Bambino coffee machine plus -15% for the grinder. Just beautiful ❤️

[@3CYD]

Just bought a (standard) bambino with the Smart Grinder Pro to get properly into the espresso game... absolutely loving it so far.

[@buug76]

You have my setup. Can I ask which level do you use on the dose pro?

[@3CYD]

What do you mean by level mate?@@buug76

[@barbaradawson410]

@@buug76 I would like to know this also please.

[@mattboyd7432]

Flat **** is the best phrase I've heard today! Excellent review much appreciated :)

[@Coffee_Kev]

Haha, thanks 😆

[@liamhsheffield849]

Great video yet again Kev and Team. Been a subscriber since first seeing your Bambino + video and helped me to purchase this over 3 years ago. Just a heads up on my experiences after a number of years using it...great machine making great espresso and milkies at least once a day for 3 years. Love the small size and feature set. Recently the machine has stopped heating water so after extending the warranty with Currys here in the UK over and above the standard warranty I contacted them for a repair/replacement. I purchased 3 years ago for £299.99 but now the current price is £399.99 at Currys although cheaper elsewhere if you shop around. Just a note to anyone else with issues that if going through Currys Repair service I would annoyingly need to put another £100 towards a new appliance with Currys as they will only honour the original price (fair enough but didnt expect it to cost £100 more than 3 years ago- joys ofninflated prices i guess). I expected this to break at some point being more of an appliance than the likes of a repairable Gaggia Classic but thought it would be more like 5 years than 3.

[@virginiacamper]

Great video! I’m convinced.

[@saturncd]

Thank you for this updated series, Kev! It would be great if you could show us every trick/hack available for the Bambino Plus, as well as how to pair it with the Dose Control Pro. I recently got both and although my brew time and ratio are right , the coffee is too sour. My grinder is set to 16 at the moment and I haven’t tampered with the burrs internally at all.

[@Raysunghwa]

Have you fixed your problem? if the ratio and time is right, do you think its fixed 93 degree could cause this? Maybe lower the dosage and grind size a little bit?

[@S2kDude36]

I've had my Bambino Plus for over two years, so far it's the best machine I've ever owned, really like the auto milk frother, it's a feature I would want if I were to upgrade to a more expensive machine. My only wish is to have some control over the brew temperature as I think my brew temp is a bit on the low side, other than that the Bambino Plus and the Breville Smart Grinder are perfect for my needs. Nice video Kev!

[@DavidBennell]

I have had 3 of these, 1 needed to go back under warranty and two lasted 2 years and a few months to just go over the warranty, just bought a 4th one with a 5 year warranty as I am generally really pleased with it, I do make a good 6 coffees a day for me and my partner though.

[@DanGroveTube]

Kev, one thing I have always wanted to know about Sage is, can they see a gap in the market (I know it’s there because I fill it 😂) for a more premium featured machine say with shot temp control or heated group but still with a smaller footprint like the bambino or bambino plus? Some of us have very limited counter space available…..

[@TraxGSD]

I had the machine for 2 years now and am super happy with it. I recently got the df64 with it and it works so well. Would go for the Bambino again or for a new version if it comes out eventually. Love how quickly its ready. I didnt know about the hot water two button press and it will change alot for my tea drinking partner. Thanks!

[@Coffee_Kev]

Its a great machine Nick :-)

[@kitcraft9516]

I like mine a fair bit, but I don't love it. I can't delay the cleaning cycle and it always hits at the most inopportune moment. Plus, the drip tray is overflows during the cleaning cycle. About 1-2 backflushes before the end. Well, I don't actually think it is overflowing but splashing out as it fills up. Maybe. It is quite a bit of water. As an aside, I used a friends Barista Pro and I must say I much prefer the workflow.

[@SuperCutealien]

I just got my Bambino Plus on Wednesday. I love it. Do plan on upgrading my portfilter to a bottomless one.

[@kidoscopic]

best move. the sooner, the better!

[@rubenrox]

Thanks for the video Kev. Would you consider doing a video on the Delonghi ECP 35.31? I mean, testing it at least with a standard basket not the pressurized ones it comes with. Thanks!

[@Coffee_Kev]

It's on the list :-). Ta, Kev.

[@marcelocampoamor4761]

Hey! thanks for your video. I have two Bambino Plus machines, one black and one silver. Despite doing all the maintenance and only making coffee on the weekends, the silver one started to leak water from the top. I tried to take it apart to see where the water was coming from, but unfortunately it wasn't a loose hose but the pump, which is made of plastic. The black one continues to work without problems. The pre-infusion, which in theory can be programmed, I couldn't make any differences in either of the two machines. The volume would also in theory be constant once programmed or using the preset, but it isn't, it varies depending on how much or how fine the coffee is ground, so my conclusion is that it is based on time and not on the amount of liquid. If the extraction takes more or less time, the total volume varies and therefore the ratio. And finally, the manual gives poor instructions regarding the back-flush and how to use the disc and the cleaning tablet. It indicates that a 2-liter container must be used when that is only for decaling. Returning to the back-flush, if one follows the procedure indicated in the manual, once is not enough; it must be repeated at least twice because otherwise the unit will not be properly cleaned and the detergent tablet will only begin to dissolve. Regarding decaling, there are no clear instructions on what product to use and in what quantities.

[@Coffee_Kev]

Hi Marcel, Please have a look at the BP series I have done- some of these videos are very old, just to warn you: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z53SgKxqirJmmcU&pp=gAQBiAQB If you also look on the sage website, they have helpful video guides to each of their sage machines. Ta Kev

[@GIB_H]

would love to see the comparison between the bambino vs the bambino plus updated. I think the bambino is better for the price but would like to hear your take. Also curious, does the 4 hole tip on the bambino (non plus) decrease steaming power since it originally comes with a single hole tip?

[@kevinpearl2689]

I have a Breville Bambino plus and really like it. Makes better espresso than most of what i ever paid for at a coffee shop. Lately, the shot volume has been low. A double shot pours about half the amount. I just descaled and cleaned machine, and I use pre ground espresso. Any ideas why? The shot volume seems to be correct when no coffee is in basket.

[@russellhutchinson9639]

Love to know you view on the bambino plus verses the new gaggia espresso you seemed to be very taken with. Thanks and keep up the great work.

[@Coffee_Kev]

Thanks 😀 Gaggia espresso is brilliant for the money but it's loads cheaper than the Bambino plus, and it's not really in the same leagure.

[@u2be187]

En Latinoamérica (no se si en otras partes del mundo) la marca Oster tiene dos modelos interesantes "perfect brew" y "Slim brew"... Estaría genial ver tu punto de vista con la experiencia que tienes de tantos equipos. Gracias por tu contenido

[@DonegalOverlanding]

Hey Kev! I realised we had not subscribed as this video came up randomly in my feed. I found your channel when you first started out with the Bambino, frequently chatting about the hot water feature. Its great to see how your channel has grown. Well done mate.

[@Coffee_Kev]

Thanks so much for your kind words, I hope you have seen a big improvement in the quality of my videos now :-) Ta Kev

[@amo4689]

Did I hear that right about the Bambino Plus can't adjust the temperature and stuck at 93 degrees? What are the 3 led heat settings for?

[@surfarijeff7884]

For dialing in your auto-milk steam heat settings, 50, 60 or 70 Celsius

[@davidcraven8275]

Got the Bambino plus for GBP 265 from Very about a month or so ago, 320 minus 20pct credit order offer. Then got a Eureka Manuale from Clumsy Goat for 199 black Friday. Loving the set up, seems good value.

[@davidcraven8275]

Still can't draw shit with oat milk tho! 😂 Tastes good so who cares!

[@Coffee_Kev]

Fantastic :-) Latte art take time and lots of practice!

[@Ivan-zx1wj]

Is there a good steam setting for latte art if I don’t want manual?

[@steelcross839]

Kev, Thx for the hacks. I didn't know about some of these features. I bought the Pro in 2022 and the manual really is woeful. Even so, I love my Bambino Plus and I'm blissfully happy as a novice. However, I am hopeless plateaued at steaming milk. I can either make a terrific micro-foam for Cappas, but have never been able to get the right consistency for latte art. What setting of foam and temp should I use? I have watched HOURS of youtube and drunk gallons of steamed whole milk and simply cant get it. It's either a cappuccino or cafe con leche (correction flat shite - wonderful). Suggestions, if you plz?

[@martind5348]

Can you do a dialing in video using the bambino plus?

[@alirobe]

I would love to see you bring a complete noob in, with no coffee making experience, and watch them unbox and make a coffee on the bambino plus without any guidance; then do the same thing on the touch impress, and examine and explain why the output is different. They can use their phones, but compare the best coffee after 1 hour of learning; and also interview about the experience.

[@LukaszWiklendt]

"That is much smaller than something much bigger, and slightly smaller than something slightly bigger" 😂

[@Coffee_Kev]

hehe, sorry, I'm idiot, can't help myself 😆

[@MissusO]

I laughed way too hard at that and had to pause the video 😂

[@GoldenKnightsFan_84]

Hey Kev, Love the channel and wonder if you could do a deep dive on the De'longhi Eletta Explore as I have just bought one (& love it) but would like some extra help in the same vein as this Breville (Sage) series.

[@EsotericArctos]

I thought the Bambino and Bambino Plus can have the temperature changed for the brew temperature, with a certain buttone press when turning it on. Edit: Nope, I was mistaken. Can adjust flow time, not temp.

[@ItIsYourMom]

Velcro on the bottom of the machine and the top of the workspace could likely solve the problem of the machine moving with one arm use,

[@Coffee_Kev]

Genius!! Will have to try that

[@tomscott4438]

Right now in the US the updated Gaggia Classic EVO Pro (9 bar pressure) is on sale for $399, while the Bambino Plus is at $500. I'm also looking at the ECM Casa V and Profitec GO, but at this price the Gaggia seems like a no-brainer. Built like a tank and serviceable vs an appliance that when it breaks you just toss it away and buy another one.

[@Coffee_Kev]

Hi Tom, The Gaggia classic should last for years if looked after correctly, it is a great machine.

[@FreshDrive]

Thanks for the update! My shot coming out too fast now. I think is the pre ground getting old??

[@123Ryanist]

Great video.... I am considering between a Sage Bambino plus, The new Gaggia Espresso Deluxe, Ascaso Dream Up and the HiBrew H10A. Problem is that I can't find any English reviews on the HiBrew H10A and it looks really interesting. What would you recommend?

[@domesdomes2231]

I have the bambino plus with a Baratza Encore Grinder, scale and all the bells and whistles, equipment. I also have a crema 54 mm bottomless porta filter/basket. My issue is I keep getting coffee spitting out of the bottom of porta filter all over the back of the machine and countertop when brewing single and/or double shot expresso. I tried the original porta filter that came with the machine as well, different grind size, same results. Any recommendations?

[@andrewmears7464]

Hi kev. Just catching up on some of your vids. Very informative 👍 Im looking at buying an expresso/ coffee machine that doesn't break the bank. I want a bit of involvement into the coffee making and theatre side of coffee making, bur also when not much time in the morning, i can put some grinds in and make a normal Americano. Would you recommend the sage bambino plus for this?

[@astroidother3609]

I am just getting into coffee seriously and in a quandary. Do i go Bambino Plus and a Dedicated grinder or the Touch Impress? Looking for the most help initially, especially on the milk steaming. Very interested in that kind of comparison. Thanks and also thanks for all you do.

[@leswatkin6823]

Hi Coffee Kev, hopefully you can help with an issue I am having with my Bambino Plus. When switching on, I have the 3 main buttons flash 3 times but then I get alternating button flashes 1 cup, steam together and then the 2 cup. So ready time takes a lot longer? Thanks

[@swingingsimian]

I'd love to see this pitched against the Miicoffee Apex V2.

[@malygosmozart]

Is the automated streaming any good for non-diary beverage? Sometime i really dig oat or almond milk in my moka cappuccino

[@PeterBriggs-zp7sr]

Hi Kev I’ve been using my Bambino Plus now for 5 years to make Americanos with the pressurised filter 😮…paired with the Niche Zero 😊 and I buy freshly roasted beans from Union Roasted 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 I know I’m not qualified to say this…but the Amercianos that come from the pressurised filter and fresh ground high quality medium roasted coffee are simply brilliant. So much so, I only drink tea in my local cafes now to avoid being disappointed 😅 Any thoughts on the pressurised filter for Americano? I found an article from someone who also found the same results. So perhaps this setup actually makes a better ‘espresso style’ base which is more suited for an Americano. Great to hear your views 👍🏼

[@surajshah82]

Will pairing this with a Df64 make better espresso than the ones mentioned or save money and and pair eith an ESP or similar lower budger grinder?

[@gkaruk]

Interesting review, but to confirm I have a 6yr old Delonghi Dedica and looks to replace. I think I heard right in this review, but it just an Expresso machine and cant dispense hot what, like the Dedica thus cant make for example an Americano ?

[@darrylbuckett5380]

I've got the Bambino plus and love it, but how do you get a full cup of coffee through the portafilter, i've only managed half a cup, also when the 200 cup comes up it doesn't let you froth the milk to complete your cup of coffee until youve put it through the cleaning cycle, or have i missed something. But yes it makes a better cup of coffee than coffee shops do. Cheers

[@natus49]

Weirdly enough, if you like really light roasts and arent afraid to try something a little different, you can do a turbo shot on this if you get the grind setting right for balanced flavour at the expensive of texture

[@12Gavv]

love it however, the temp im struggling with :/ i preheat the portafilter, cup too. milk gets hot to touch, pour the milk into the coffee, and its like lukewarm :/ any tips? i have bambino not the plus.

[@Jerryman_PL]

I just recently pulled teh trigger on Bambino as my 1st espresso machine. After few days I'd say i reached sufficient milk steaming and still dial in for espresso. Naked partafilter, funnel ring and pre-set tamper are on my shopping list - so portafilter and tamper delta in Plus version would be just waste for me. In Polad Bambino is half price of gaggia and ~40% of Evo so...

[@TheFarazz]

Great video but you missed one of the most frustrating cons, in the newer versions of Bambino plus once it triggers the back flush auto cleaning there is no way you can use the machine with out actually running a cleaning cycle.

[@katjagorter953]

you showed the small machine that it moves, not the plus?

[@timhanley4396]

Do you like the bambino without the automatic milk, frothier?

[@jeansandmyshirt]

is it worth it over the breville cafe roma?

[@Ollyh85]

Hi, I’m having problems with double shot, the water goes through so fast and then end up with clear water than coffee. I have properly ground coffee which is tamped correctly and firm enough but it’s like the water still runs through too fast and I’m not sure what the issue could be, they are fresh ground beans I am using into a fine powder. Thanks

[@mommyenlightenme3323]

Check ratios and output volume vids… and use dark roast bins

[@ItsDickyV]

Got myself a Plus for £280 using your discount code in October - it didn’t drop lower during Black Friday, so that’s a win! One huge frustration though is the auto purge on the steam wand ALWAYS leaks around the drip tray (why they didn’t build the drip tray to go over the temp sensor is beyond me). Any tips on that front mate? EDIT - I’ll keep a cup knocking round!

[@Lemxns]

Seems that the only way to ‘upgrade’ this machine is to spend significantly more and get significantly less in terms of features and convenience. I’ve had one over 6 years and still working the same as the day I bought it. However, I can’t get hot water out of my steam wand. They must have quietly added this feature to newer machines.

[@bobcoffee11]

I read your review about the duo. I dont mind the manual aspects of it. But the duo sounded like it was more stable and simpler. Allowing for another espresso to be made after. I dont care much about the foam, but a simple and nice espresso is what im after. Do you recommend the duo?

[@Coffee_Kev]

Hi Bob, The duo is fantastic, it is easy to use and if looked after should last you a long time. Cheers Kev

[@AndreaMiano]

What do you think about the delonghi stilosa ec260? Is it worth upgrading the pressurized basket to a ims one?

[@steventanner7249]

How do you dial in espresso if you want to use the bambino/plus to make milkies but can't stand the taste of the pure unadulterated espresso on its own.

[@nofilter2091]

I was torn between both of those machines, got the Gaggia which you also had a great review on. In other news, (this applies to folks that watched the end of the video) I wonder if fart density has anything to do with said velocity. I mean if it's a really dense one it's going to want to go faster and farther. A not so smelly, less dense fart will just kinda waft away. Just sayin'.

[@Fleas_Knees]

I'm between getting this or Duo Temp Pro. I know you always say to spend more on a good grinder but I just don't have the worktop space for both so will probably end up getting a good hand grinder. If you had to pick, would you go for Bambino+ or the Duo Temp Pro?

[@Coffee_Kev]

Hi, Please have a look at this post: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gIKwcqx5eNKNhKc&pp=gAQBiAQB Ta Kev

[@luciferdern]

Strange to not mention that it vibrates everything all over the place, when you showed it doing so in the video.

[@MichaelxKimmy414]

So the bambino plus is worth it?? I have a $50 dollar chefman espresso machine but i just saw the bambino plus for $399 Its definitely worth to upgrade right???

[@glitter._.goblin]

Tysm for this video- so educational and enlightening. Learned more here than many other videos combined. I'm a total noob. My first ever attempt was SO. GOOD. And it's been downhill ever since then. It seems the more I learn, the worse things get 😂😂😂😐😭😭😭 This helped me understand the machine better and gave me some fresh ideas about what to tweak to get consistency and keep trying for that perfect pull. Thanks for not just throwing out the same ole tired advice about grind and tamp.

[@Coffee_Kev]

Sp glad you have found my videos helpful :-)

[@SniperPFL]

Howdy from Canada!

[@Coffee_Kev]

Hi, Glad you have found my channel :-) Ta Kev

[@RRozmaryn]

What do you think about DeLonghi Dedica and Dedica Maestro? Thank you

[@Coffee_Kev]

Video coming soon ;-)

[@hash5191]

@Coffee_Kev With the codes you've currently provided (thanks), the BP is just under £300, and the DB duo is at £1104 - In this case the BP is less than a third of the price, amazing deal. I I want to get the BP because of the deal but ofc the DB is a better machine in every way. Question - the deciding factor is light roasts, can the BP make anywhere near the level of light roast extraction as the DB (if the DB is any good at it)? If not, then I have to weigh in the fact that I'm really paying an extra £700-800 for the DB for light roast capability!

[@Coffee_Kev]

If you are planning on using light roasts, I wouldn't recommend the Bambino Plus, also, for light roasts I would focus more on the grinder, ideally you would want to be able to raise the brew temperature slightly. The fixed 93c on the Bambino Plus will probably limit you. Ta Kev

[@hash5191]

@@Coffee_Kev Thanks for the reply. I'm looking to get the Eureka Mignon Zero so not sure whether thats more than capable with the 55mm burrs?

[@arsenal6106]

Is there a difference between plus and non plus if I’m only concerned with espresso shots and not the steamer?

[@Coffee_Kev]

The non plus doesn't have a solenoid valve, which would usually be a negative thing, as non-solenoid valve machines have spring valves instead, which means all or nothing where water pressure is concerned, which means water hitting the coffee with full force. But, thanks to the clever control over pump power that all Sage/Breville machines have, the lack of solenoid doesn't actually matter with the bambino. There's another slight negative with no solenoid which is a slightly wetter puck, also if you choke the machine with too fine a grind, you have to remember to wait 30 seconds or so before removing the portafilter, to give time for the additional pressure in the basket to release, otherwise you may encounter portafilter sneeze, which can be slightly messy ;-). On the positive side, though, the lack of solenoid means the drip tray doesn't fill up as quickly, so the small drip tray doesn't fill up as quick as the plus does. Ta, Kev

[@themarineman]

Hello, I love my bambino plus , the only problem I have with it is the drip try. That tiny drip tray keeps leaking and making a mess, even when it’s almost empty. If feels like the solenoid valve, keeps ejecting water anywhere bit into the drip tray. My unit was serviced by Breville but the problem persist. Any suggestions?

[@bagi6642]

@themarineman I have exactly the same problem. First got replacement, then it was sent for repair, as same issue and nothing was solved. Just got the 3rd unit doing exactly the same thing. Only happens with solenoid valve in use, so double wall baskets, back flush, cleaning cycle - totally flooded worktop. Always part of that water goes underneath the tray. I've moved on to using single wall baskets but problem persists whenever solenoid is in use. @Coffee_Kev, can you confirm if yours does the same thing? Came across few comments and questions in different reviews but no replies. Cheers!

[@mommyenlightenme3323]

Could you pair this machine with the Baratza Forte AP? Will this machine pull out great espresso pair with a higher end grinder ~1000$

[@Coffee_Kev]

I'm actually filming a video in a few weeks time discussing this subject, It the moment, I am using the Bambino Plus and Niche Zero at home and it is ace, I believe that the grinder is more important than the actual coffee machine itself. I will let you know my results once I have filmed the video. Ta Kev

[@henrymilleruk100]

Other than auto milk - which I’m not bothered about - is there any significant quality differences between the bambino and bambino plus ?

[@Coffee_Kev]

The main difference other than auto frothing, physically, is the plus has a 3 way solenoid, the Bambino doesn't. The negative is that the bambino is a bit more drippy from the portafilter after pulling the shot, the pucks are slightly wetter on the Bambino, and if you choke the machine with too fine a grind with the Bambino you'd need to give it a minute for the pressure to back off before unlocking the portafilter, so you don't get portafilter sneeze. On the positive side though, the little drip tray on the bambino is way more practical on the Bambino than with the plus, as there's no solenoid continually delivering water into it after each shot via the solenoid, and there's no auto purging filling the drip tray either. Also the bambino steam wand is on a ball joint, slightly more choice over steaming position. Cheers Kev

[@henrymilleruk100]

@ thank you for the detailed reply! Gone down such a rabbit hole recently. Leaning towards bambino and DF54 when available. But that suits me vs the ninja all in one probably suits my partner 😂 she will probably win

[@matthewharty6531]

Fhart is German for go/travel which also has nothing to do with clicking the like button, but did have something to do with commenting alimc. So you're saying Bambino Plus for me then Kev.

[@Ciara-v1w]

Can someone help me I want to buy a 3 shot coffee basket for freshly ground coffee( I have a grinder) .. I don't know the name of what I am searching for 😅

[@oregondork]

Great vid kev! What kind of apron is that?

[@Coffee_Kev]

Ta! 😀 This one: amzn.to/3Rew4zE

[@rossd6809]

I love my B+ but sadly so do cockroaches that seem to easily create havoc by biting holes in tubing.

[@angelmartin2963]

Hola, yo vivo en España y te sigo hace unos días.. me gustan tus vídeos. Aquí la cafetera cuesta 500€. Estoy buscando una cafetera que haga buena espuma con la leche para hacer arte Latte ! Esta cafetera según comentas vaporiza muy bien, ¿es así? ¿Tienes algún cupón de descuento?

[@Coffee_Kev]

Hola :-), gracias por tus amables palabras. Mándame un correo electrónico a [e-mail]. Sí, la varita de vapor es excelente de manera manual, y debería ser buena también en automático, pero realmente depende de la leche o alternativa vegetal que estés usando. A menudo me he preguntado por qué obtengo tan buenos resultados con el vaporizador automático en las máquinas Sage/Breville, y algunas otras no, y recientemente he llegado a la conclusión de que mucho de esto se debe al tipo de leche, por ejemplo, si la leche es UHT o si tiene un bajo contenido graso, los vaporizadores automáticos (con bombas de vapor) no siempre tienden a funcionar igual de bien.

[@timshaw5750]

Just bought myself one. Is the auto shot based on a set time? (I know there’s a manual version). So with the auto, if I made the grind too fine, then I’d get less than the 1:2 ratio output?

[@Coffee_Kev]

It's volumetric, comes set to the factory preset, which is officially 60ml double shot button, 30ml single shot button. I'd recommend pulling shots manually while dialling in, just press and hold the shot button for the standard 8 second preinfusion, release to allow it to ramp up to full pressure, then press the button to stop the shot at your desired yield, for example aiming for 36g for a 1:2 extraction with an 18g dose. Ta, Kev

[@thedrover2693]

Love my bambino plus HATE the tiny drip tray

[@ol7926]

Can you make a good cortado or picalo?

[@Coffee_Kev]

Yeah you can make literally any milk drink with it, great milk texture.

[@taylorwhite3636]

Video request: bambino turbo shots, bambino sprover

[@jtambor1]

I like your vids Kev but can you discuss brands other than Breville and Gaggia please...!

[@EILEENDRAGQUEEN101]

Will this work for a small cafeteria ? I’m new at this.

[@Coffee_Kev]

Hi Eileen, No, this is an entry level home espresso machine, you would need a more superior machine to cope with the number of coffees needed to be made in a cafeteria. Ta Kev