Breville BES450BSS1BUS1 Espresso coffee machine: Full Review

The Breville Bambino is an entry-level espresso machine designed for beginners looking to craft cafe-quality espresso drinks at home without breaking the bank. Launched in 2019, the Bambino is the smallest and most affordable model in Breville's line-up of espresso makers.

Despite its compact size and budget-friendly price point, the Bambino packs an impressive array of features not typically found in other entry-level espresso machines. This includes automated milk texturing, precise espresso extraction, and a 3 second heat up time. The Bambino aims to make it easy for anyone to go from espresso shot to latte art with minimal effort.

With its intuitive controls, smart technology, and simple interface, the Bambille Bambino removes much of the guesswork when pulling espresso shots and steaming milk. It's an ideal choice for those seeking an affordable at-home espresso maker that doesn't compromise on fast heat-up times, consistent results, or ease of use.

Design and Build Quality

The Breville Bambino Plus espresso machine features an attractive brushed stainless steel exterior housing that looks great on any kitchen countertop. It has a modern and sleek profile, with clean lines and minimal buttons on the front panel.

At only 7.7 inches wide, the Bambino Plus won't take up too much space on your counter. It has a height of 12.5 inches, with front clearance of 4 inches for espresso cups. The weight is about 10.8 pounds, making it relatively lightweight and portable compared to other espresso machines.

The machine's housing is made of high-quality stainless steel that gives it a durable yet elegant look. The drip tray and portafilter are also constructed from stainless steel. Available in two color options - Black Stainless Steel and Stainless Steel - it can fit into any kitchen decor seamlessly.

The Breville BES880BSS is another high-end espresso machine from the same brand, known for its automated features and user-friendly interface. It boasts a built-in conical burr grinder, precise temperature control, and customizable options for brewing the perfect cup of espresso every time. The stylish and robust stainless steel design complements any kitchen, adding both functionality and aesthetic value. It’s ideal for those who want an all-in-one machine with premium features.

With its compact footprint, sleek aesthetics, durable housing and color options, the Breville Bambino Plus is an attractively designed espresso machine made to last.

Brewing Features

The Breville Bambino Plus features an automatic milk frother and 58mm portafilter to extract rich, café-quality espresso. It utilizes 19 bars of pressure and PID temperature control to ensure optimal extraction and microfoam.

The automatic steam wand allows you to froth milk to the ideal texture for creating cappuccinos and lattes. It has settings for hot milk and foam. The steam wand automatically stops when the milk reaches the preset texture. This delivers consistent results without having to manually froth the milk.

The 58mm stainless steel portafilter with commercial style spouts allows you to pull 1 or 2 espresso shots simultaneously. It accepts standard sized filter baskets to accommodate different amounts of ground coffee. The pressurized filters produce good crema even if you don't get the grind quite right.

The 15 bar Italian pump delivers the right amount of pressure for premium extraction. When combined with PID temperature control, it provides consistent and accurate brewing temperatures throughout the entire extraction. This maximizes the flavor and allows you to pull flavor-rich espresso shots.

The fast heating systems only takes 3 seconds to go from sleep mode to ready brewing. This enables you to make coffee faster when you need it.

If you’re looking for a compact and affordable espresso machine, check out the SOWTECH CM5409-UL. This machine is designed for simplicity and ease of use, featuring a powerful steam wand for frothing milk and a 3.5 bar pressure system to create rich and flavorful espresso. Its compact size makes it perfect for small kitchens or offices, and the user-friendly interface ensures anyone can pull a perfect shot of espresso.

Ease of Use

The Breville Bambino Plus is designed for easy, intuitive use right out of the box. The interface is simple, with just a few buttons to operate the major functions.

There are only three main buttons - one for single and double shot extraction, one for steam wand operation, and one power button. The single and double shot buttons will automatically pull the programmed volume of espresso for consistent results.

The learning curve on the Bambino Plus is very minimal. All of the main functions are clearly labeled and simple to understand. Within just a few uses, most owners feel comfortable prepping shots, texturing milk, and crafting basic espresso drinks.

Maintenance is also straightforward on this model. The drip tray, water tank, portafilter, and steam wand are all removable and dishwasher safe. The machine will also automatically prompt you for descaling and cleaning cycles to keep performance optimal. Overall, ease of use is a major highlight on the Breville Bambino Plus. It's an excellent choice for beginners but also suitable for experienced baristas looking for fast, fuss-free espresso.

Beverage Quality

The Breville Bambino Plus is capable of pulling rich, flavorful espresso shots with a nice, thick crema on top. The pre-infusion function helps coax the best flavor out of the coffee grounds. Many reviewers praise the machine for pulling balanced shots that are not too bitter or acidic.

The automatic milk frothing wand can produce silky microfoam that integrates smoothly into the espresso for cappuccinos and lattes. The milk is steamed to just the right temperature without scalding. With some practice, you can create latte art with the frothed milk. The wand is easy to clean after use as well.

You'll want to use a quality, freshly ground coffee with this machine. Pre-ground coffee will still work, but may not produce the full, complex flavors that the Bambino is capable of delivering. The pressurized portafilters allow some flexibility in the grind size. Overall, the Breville Bambino Plus delivers exceptional espresso and frothed milk for milk-based coffee drinks.

Additional Features

The Breville Bambino Plus comes with some nice extra features that improve the experience of using this compact espresso machine on a daily basis.

Cup Warming Tray

There is a stainless steel cup warming tray on top of the machine that heats up to help pre-warm your cups before pulling shots. While not large enough to hold multiple cups, it's a handy spot to place your cup and let it pre-heat while you're prepping your portafilter.

Storage

Underneath the drip tray is a storage compartment for accessories like the tamper, measuring scoop, and cleaning tools. This helps keep everything together in one place and out of the way.

Accessories

The machine ships with a few handy accessories including a plastic tamper, stainless steel milk frothing pitcher, cleaning disc, descaling powder, and water filter. The tamper is light but gets the job done for a beginner. And the frothing pitcher is helpful for steaming and frothing milk for lattes and cappuccinos. Overall, the accessories provide what you need to get started.

Noise Level

The Breville Bambino Plus is quieter than many other espresso machines in its price range. The noise during operation comes primarily from the pump and steamer.

The pump operates at around 55 dB according to Breville, which is equivalent to the noise level of a normal conversation. While you can hear the pump running, it is relatively quiet and unobtrusive. Certainly not loud enough to be disruptive if making coffee while others are sleeping or working nearby.

The steam wand gets louder when heating and steaming milk, producing noise up to about 75 dB according to some tests. This louder noise only lasts for the 30 seconds or so it takes to steam and froth milk. The noise level returns to quiet operation after steaming is complete.

Overall, the noise levels are impressively low for an espresso machine in this class. The Breville Bambino Plus will not distract or annoy you with loud pumps or other disruptive noises. It offers quiet operation perfect for an apartment, shared kitchen, or office environment.

Cost Considerations

The Breville Bambino Plus costs around $500, which puts it at the higher end for home espresso machines. However, it comes with many premium features that justify the price, such as automatic microfoam milk texturing and a thermojet heating system for precise temperature control.

Ongoing costs with the Bambino Plus are very reasonable. It uses standard 54mm portafilters and filter baskets, so you can use your choice of affordable coffee beans. The automatic frothing means you don't need a separate milk frothing pitcher and thermometer.

The machine is also very energy efficient, quickly heating up in just 3 seconds and automatically turning off after 9 minutes of inactivity. Descaling is recommended every few months which involves a simple 40 minute process using Breville's descaling solution that costs under $10.

The stainless steel construction is made to last so you won't be replacing it anytime soon. Overall the Bambino Plus has a very reasonable total cost of ownership for the quality of espresso and milk frothing it delivers.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Compact, lightweight design makes it easy to move and store. Good for small kitchens or limited counter space.

• Quick heat up time of only 3 seconds. Great for when you want espresso fast.

• User-friendly controls and simple interface. Easy to operate even for beginners.

• Automatically textures milk with handy wand. No need to manually froth milk.

• Dual thermostats help optimize water temperature for brewing and steaming.

• Produces good quality espresso with decent crema. Satisfying taste and aroma.

Cons

• Small 35oz water tank requires more frequent refilling. Inconvenient for making many drinks in a row.

• Single boiler system can't brew and steam simultaneously. Must wait between functions.

• Pressurized portafilters limit you to using pods instead of ground coffee. Less customizable brewing.

• Lacks advanced programming and customization options. Not suitable for espresso aficionados.

• Durability concerns due to mostly plastic construction. Questionable long-term reliability.

• Noisy operation, especially while steaming. Can be distracting.

Conclusion

Overall, the Breville Bambino Plus is an excellent entry-level espresso machine that produces high quality espresso and milk froth while being easy to use. It's compact size and automatic features like auto-steaming and auto-microfoam make it beginner friendly. The 3 second heat up time delivers consistent results cup after cup.

The machine is thoughtfully designed with useful features like a 54mm portafilter, accommodating regular sized tampers and filters. The premium stainless steel construction gives it a solid feel and attractive look on the counter. The attached milk jug and inclusion of single and double shot filter baskets add convenience.

For those looking to get started with espresso and milk-based drinks at home without breaking the bank, the Breville Bambino Plus is highly recommended. It delivers café quality results without requiring much skill or effort. Comparable alternatives to consider are the De'Longhi EC155 and Mr. Coffee Café Barista. However, the Breville edges out both in terms of build quality, consistency, and ease of use. For entry-level espresso on a budget, the Bambino Plus hits all the marks.