Expert Comparison: De'Longhi Stilosa 15 Bar Pump Manual Espresso Machine vs Breville Bambino Espresso Machine
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Side by side comparison | Out of stock | Out of stock |
|---|---|---|
Price | See Price and Details | See Price and Details |
User rating | 4(1) | 4.14(485) |
The Curated Take | Best for coffee enthusiasts who want rich, flavorful espresso at home. | Best for beginners looking for professional-grade espresso at home. |
Housing material | Stainless steel | Stainless steel |
Features | Auto shut off, Cup warmer, Removable water reservoir, Removable driptray, Water Level Indicator | -- |
Volts | 120v | 120 V |
In the world of espresso machines, two products stand out for their unique features and performance: the De'Longhi Stilosa 15 Bar Pump Manual Espresso Machine and the Breville Bambino Espresso Machine. The De'Longhi Stilosa is a budget-friendly, beginner-friendly machine that offers consistent, tasty shots and a decent milk frother. However, it sacrifices heating speed and heat retention for the steam wand and runs somewhat loud. On the other hand, the Breville Bambino is a compact powerhouse that offers a professional-grade espresso experience at home. It comes with 5 different portafilter baskets, volumetric controls, and a PID, making it versatile for different brewing methods. Both machines are excellent choices for coffee enthusiasts, but the Breville Bambino edges out the De'Longhi Stilosa in terms of features and performance.
De'Longhi Stilosa 15 Bar Pump Manual Espresso Machine summary
The De'Longhi Stilosa 15 Bar Pump Manual Espresso Machine is a fantastic entry point for those new to the world of espresso. It's affordable, easy to use, and offers a consistent, tasty shot of espresso. The machine's intuitive design limits difficulties for new users, making it an excellent learning tool for understanding the basics of pulling espresso, such as shot time, grind consistency, and tamping.
The Stilosa comes with a 15 bar pump pressure that ensures a rich and flavorful espresso shot. Its manual control allows for customization and experimentation with brewing techniques. The compact and sleek design makes it a stylish addition to any kitchen countertop. It's also easy to clean, with a removable water tank and drip tray. Plus, it comes with a milk frother for creating delicious cappuccinos and lattes.
However, the Stilosa does have a few drawbacks. It runs somewhat loud, which might be a concern for those who work from home and hope to sneak away mid-meeting for a quick espresso shot. The milk frothing and steam wand functions struggle with heat retention, leading to well-frothed, but not hot milk. The tamp/scoop combo is also a bit cheap, with no weight making tamping more difficult than it should be.
The Stilosa is an excellent example of a generally well-made espresso machine that sacrifices some quality to fit into an affordable budget package. For its price point, it offers consistent, tasty shots and a decent milk frother; in exchange, the De'Longhi Stilosa sacrifices heating speed and heat retention for the steam wand.
The Stilosa is an excellent example of a generally well-made espresso machine that sacrifices some quality to fit into an affordable budget package. For its price point, it offers consistent, tasty shots and a decent milk frother; in exchange, the De'Longhi Stilosa sacrifices heating speed and heat retention for the steam wand.
- We price match
- Returnable
Breville Bambino Espresso Machine summary
The Breville Bambino Espresso Machine is a compact yet powerful machine that offers a professional-grade espresso experience at home. It's perfect for newcomers who want a machine that's easy to use but still offers some control over their espresso shots. The Bambino heats up quickly, so no forethought is needed, and you can make coffee as soon as you want it.
The Bambino comes with 5 different portafilter baskets, including pressurized and precision options, making it versatile for different brewing methods. It delivers barista-quality performance with its 54mm portafilter and powerful steam wand for creating microfoam. It also includes a complete kit with all the necessary accessories to get started.
However, the Bambino does have a few drawbacks. Since there is no 3-way solenoid valve, you need to learn when to end the shot early since quite a bit of water will still come out. Steaming can also take a bit longer since the wand only has 1 hole.
The Breville Bambino was my entry into home espresso. It is great for newcomers who want a machine that's easy to use but still have some control over their espresso shots. It has a great price point for the quality of shots it can pull, and steams milk well although the one-hole steam wand does steam a bit slowly.
The Breville Bambino was my entry into home espresso. It is great for newcomers who want a machine that's easy to use but still have some control over their espresso shots. It has a great price point for the quality of shots it can pull, and steams milk well although the one-hole steam wand does steam a bit slowly.
- We price match
- Returnable
Similarities
Both the De'Longhi Stilosa and the Breville Bambino are designed with the home barista in mind. They are compact, stylish, and easy to use, making them perfect for any kitchen countertop. Both machines offer a 15 bar pump pressure that ensures a rich and flavorful espresso shot. They also come with a milk frother for creating delicious cappuccinos and lattes.
Both machines allow for customization and experimentation with brewing techniques, thanks to their manual controls. They are also easy to clean, with removable water tanks and drip trays. Both machines are excellent choices for coffee enthusiasts, offering great value for their performance and features.
Differences and Who They're Good For
While both machines are excellent choices for coffee enthusiasts, they cater to slightly different personas. The De'Longhi Stilosa is perfect for beginners who are just dipping their toes into the world of espresso. It's affordable, easy to use, and offers a consistent, tasty shot of espresso. However, it's not ideal for those who work from home and need a quiet machine, or for those who want hot milk from their frother.
On the other hand, the Breville Bambino is great for newcomers who want a machine that's easy to use but still offers some control over their espresso shots. It's perfect for those who value a quick start-up time and want to make coffee as soon as they want it. However, it's not ideal for those who want to end their shots at a specific time or for those who want a faster steaming process.
Analysis on Who’s the Winner
When comparing the De'Longhi Stilosa and the Breville Bambino, the Bambino comes out on top in several key areas.
Performance: The Bambino offers a professional-grade espresso experience at home, with its 54mm portafilter and powerful steam wand for creating microfoam.
Features: The Bambino comes with 5 different portafilter baskets, including pressurized and precision options, making it versatile for different brewing methods.
Ease of Use: Both machines are easy to use, but the Bambino's quick start-up time gives it an edge over the Stilosa.
Value: While the Stilosa is more affordable, the Bambino offers more features and better performance, making it a better value for the money.
Conclusions
In conclusion, both the De'Longhi Stilosa and the Breville Bambino are excellent espresso machines that offer great value for their performance and features. The Stilosa is a budget-friendly, beginner-friendly machine that offers consistent, tasty shots and a decent milk frother. However, it sacrifices heating speed and heat retention for the steam wand and runs somewhat loud.
On the other hand, the Bambino is a compact powerhouse that offers a professional-grade espresso experience at home. It comes with 5 different portafilter baskets, volumetric controls, and a PID, making it versatile for different brewing methods.
While both machines are excellent choices for coffee enthusiasts, the Breville Bambino edges out the De'Longhi Stilosa in terms of features and performance. So, if you're a coffee enthusiast looking for a machine that offers a professional-grade espresso experience at home, the Breville Bambino is the machine for you.
