Unlocking the Secrets of the Breville Bambino Espresso Machine

Unlocking the Secrets of the Breville Bambino Espresso Machine

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction
2. Design and Dimensions
3. Water Tank Capacity
4. Front Panel Features
5. Portafilter and Dosing
6. Cleaning and Maintenance
7. Brewing with Default Settings
8. Customizing Brewing Settings
9. Steaming Milk and Latte Art
10. Hot Water Feature
11. Pros and Cons
12. Conclusion

Introduction

In this article, we will be reviewing Breville's latest home espresso machine, the Bambino. This compact machine offers a range of features at an affordable price. We will discuss its design, dimensions, water tank capacity, front panel features, portafilter and dosing, cleaning and maintenance, brewing with default settings, customizing brewing settings, steaming milk and creating latte art, the hot water feature, and finally, we will weigh the pros and cons before drawing a conclusion.

Design and Dimensions

The Breville Bambino is one of the smallest espresso machines offered by the brand. With dimensions of 12 inches in length, 7 inches across, and 12 inches in Height, it takes up very little counter space. Despite its small size, it boasts a surprisingly large water tank capacity of 1.4 fluid liters, which is impressive for a machine of this size.

Water Tank Capacity

The Bambino features a full water tank attached to the back of the machine. This tank can hold 1.4 fluid liters of water, providing a generous amount for several days' worth of coffee-making. Whether You only make coffee once or twice a day, this water tank capacity should suffice.

Front Panel Features

On the front of the machine, you will find the steam Wand and the group head. The top of the machine houses the control buttons, which include settings for the group head, hot water, and steam. Despite its small size, the front panel provides all the necessary features for brewing espresso.

Portafilter and Dosing

The Bambino comes with both single and double shot baskets. However, it is recommended to use the double shot basket as the single shot yields a very small amount of coffee, making it difficult to dial in the perfect espresso. The portafilter is mostly made of hard plastic, which can make it a bit challenging to break the seal once it is in the group head. It is advisable to leave some space for the portafilter to move around to avoid any potential mess.

Cleaning and Maintenance

The machine's drip tray is easy to take apart and clean. It also features a convenient indicator that alerts you when it needs to be emptied, preventing overflowing. The steam wand, although it provides a wide range of motion and has a guard on top to protect against burns, it tends to accumulate milk residue, which requires regular cleaning. The water tank can be easily filled from the back of the machine.