Expert Comparison: Breville Barista Express Impress Espresso Machine vs Breville Bambino Espresso Machine
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Side by side comparison | Best seller | Out of stock |
|---|---|---|
Price | $799.95 | See Price and Details |
Color options |    | -- |
User rating | 4.49(312) | 4.12(496) |
The Curated Take | Best for beginners due to its ease of use and automatic dosing, grinding and tamping features. | Best for beginners looking for professional-grade espresso at home. |
Housing material | Stainless steel | Stainless steel |
Features | Adjustable brewing pressure, Water temperature control | -- |
In the world of home espresso machines, the Breville Barista Express Impress and the Breville Bambino are two standout options. Both machines offer a fantastic espresso experience, but they cater to different user needs. The Barista Express Impress is a semi-automatic machine with a built-in grinder and tamping feature, making it ideal for beginners or those with limited counter space. On the other hand, the Bambino is a compact, fast-heating machine that offers a professional-grade espresso experience at home. It's perfect for those who want a bit more control over their espresso shots. While both machines have their strengths, the Barista Express Impress is the winner for its ease of use and all-in-one design. However, the Bambino is a strong contender for its quick heat-up time and professional-grade features.
The Breville Barista Express Impress Espresso Machine is a semi-automatic machine that offers a seamless espresso-making experience. Its standout feature is the built-in grind and tamping feature, which eliminates the need for a separate espresso grinder, tamping mat, and tamper. This feature not only saves counter space but also simplifies the espresso-making process. With automatic dosing, an intuitive grounds sensor, and a tamping lever, making espresso is as easy as pushing a button and pulling a lever.
However, the machine's grinder burrs are sensitive to temperature fluctuations, which means you'll need to adjust the grinder for environmental changes. The steam wand works well, but it needs to be primed first by running hot water for a few seconds. Despite these minor drawbacks, the Barista Express Impress delivers amazing tasting shots and is great for practicing latte art. It's also easy to clean, making it a fantastic choice for anyone with little to no experience grinding and tamping espresso.
The automatic dosing, intuitive grounds sensor, and tamping lever saves us so much time and hassle I feel spoiled! Easy as a push of a button, pulling a lever, relocating the portafilter to the group head, and pushing another button.
The automatic dosing, intuitive grounds sensor, and tamping lever saves us so much time and hassle I feel spoiled! Easy as a push of a button, pulling a lever, relocating the portafilter to the group head, and pushing another button.
- We price match
- Returnable
Breville Bambino Espresso Machine summary
The Breville Bambino Espresso Machine is a compact, fast-heating machine that delivers professional-grade espresso at home. It features a 15-bar Italian espresso pump that creates nine bars of pressure, the sweet spot for espresso. It also has an overpressure valve, which prevents the pump from straining when grinding fine espresso.
The Bambino heats up in just three seconds, making it perfect for those who want their coffee as soon as they want it. It also comes with a powerful steam wand that can create creamy milk textures. The machine's temperature is regulated by a PID regulator, ensuring stable temperatures for great espresso.
The Bambino comes with five different portafilter baskets, including pressurized and precision options, making it versatile for different brewing methods. However, it does not have a 3-way solenoid valve, so shots need to be ended early, and steaming can take a bit longer.
So the Breville Bambino really packs a punch underneath here. We've got a 15 bar Italian espresso pump that creates nine bars of pressure, which is pretty much a sweet zone for espresso.
So the Breville Bambino really packs a punch underneath here. We've got a 15 bar Italian espresso pump that creates nine bars of pressure, which is pretty much a sweet zone for espresso.
- We price match
- Returnable
Similarities
Both the Breville Barista Express Impress and the Breville Bambino are designed to deliver high-quality espresso at home. They both offer professional-grade features, such as a powerful steam wand for creating creamy milk textures and a PID regulator for stable temperatures. Both machines also come with multiple portafilter baskets, allowing users to experiment with different brewing methods. They are both designed to be user-friendly, making them great options for beginners and coffee enthusiasts alike.
Differences and Who They're Good For
While both machines offer a fantastic espresso experience, they cater to different user needs. The Barista Express Impress is ideal for those who want an all-in-one machine. Its built-in grinder and tamping feature make it perfect for beginners or those with limited counter space. However, its grinder burrs are sensitive to temperature fluctuations, which may be a drawback for some users.
On the other hand, the Bambino is perfect for those who want a bit more control over their espresso shots. Its quick heat-up time and professional-grade features make it a great choice for serious espresso lovers. However, it does not have a 3-way solenoid valve, so shots need to be ended early, and steaming can take a bit longer.
Analysis on Who’s the Winner
When it comes to ease of use, the Barista Express Impress takes the lead with its built-in grinder and tamping feature. For speed, the Bambino wins with its 3-second heat-up time. In terms of versatility, both machines are on par with their multiple portafilter baskets. However, the Barista Express Impress has a slight edge with its automatic dosing and intuitive grounds sensor. Finally, for value for money, both machines offer great value, but the Barista Express Impress offers more features for a similar price point.
Conclusions
In conclusion, both the Breville Barista Express Impress and the Breville Bambino are excellent choices for home espresso machines. They both offer professional-grade features and are user-friendly, making them great for beginners and coffee enthusiasts alike. However, the Barista Express Impress stands out for its all-in-one design and ease of use, making it the winner in this comparison. But if speed and control over your espresso shots are your top priorities, the Bambino is a strong contender. Ultimately, the best machine for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences.
