Looking for a premium espresso machine to upgrade your morning cup in style? Think professional standard coffee can only be achieved in the coffee shop? Well, think again, because both the Breville Bambino and the Bambino Plus by Sage espresso machine have lots of great features that produce amazing results from the comfort of your own home. Read this review on Breville Bambino vs Bambino Plus to learn more!
5 Key Similarities Between Breville Bambino vs Bambino Plus
Filter and heating system
When it comes to the filter (an essential component of the espresso machine) both the Bambino and the Bambino Plus have premium, commercial standard 54mm portafilters. The filter on both machines can hold between 19 and 22 grams of coffee, which is the perfect amount for 1 or 2 cups. And likewise, when it comes to the heating system, both the Bambino and the Bambino plus have innovative and top-of-the-range ThermoJet heating systems. This means the wait time is only 3 seconds until the machine is ready to go! The heating systems on both machines reach 200 degrees Fahrenheit which is essential for making premium coffee and allows for precise control of temperature and optimal water pressure.
Material and size
Like most commercial espresso machines, both machines have the classic brushed stainless steel look, which is a bonus for those trying to recreate the coffee shop feel, or those who just like a sleek, clean-looking appliance. Both machines are very similar in size, with the Breville Bambino model being ever so slightly larger at 7.7″ by 12.6″ by 12.2″ compared to the Sage Bambino Plus which stands at 7.68″ by 12.6″ by 12.2″.
Infusion and extraction
Just like in a professional coffee house, both the Bambino and Bambino Plus have low-pressure pre-infusion followed by 9 bar pressure extraction. This is done using a high-quality 15 bar Italian pump. The low pressure ensures the water passes evenly through the coffee when the high-pressure part of the process occurs. The end result is a sweet and rich coffee with perfect viscosity every time.
Interface
Most people want a simple interface when it comes to their espresso machine, after all, it shouldn’t be rocket science. And both the Breville Bambino and the Sage Bambino Plus have simplistic interfaces (one-touch button system). On the Breville Bambino, for instance, the main buttons are simply a 1 cup or 2 cup volume control button, a steam button, and a hot water button, and on the Bambino Plus, it is very similar.
Warranty
If you think a 1-year warranty sounds like a good idea, be rest assured both espresso machines have a 1-year warranty. However, when you consider the design and build quality of the products, the warranty is just assurance for most customers.
5 KEY Differences Between Breville Bambino vs Bambino Plus
Steam wand
Both the Bambino and the Bambino Plus have a steam wand, however, there are some key differences between the two wands. Both steam wands are powerful and easy to use, which is essential for creating beautiful latte art. However, on the Bambino Plus, the steam wand has automatic milk foam texturing and also allows adjustment of milk temperature, which further helps with latte art. The steam of both machines reaches 266 degrees Fahrenheit which is essential for creating great espresso coffee.
3-D interactive intelligent instructions
Unlike Sage’s Bambino Plus, the Breville Bambino Espresso Machine comes with step-by-step 3-D fully interactive intelligent instructions. Big instruction books just aren’t for everyone, so this really is a great feature to have on an espresso machine. The software is provided by BILT Intelligent Instructions and can be used by the customer very easily by downloading their app onto their phone from all the major app stores. However, both machines are easy to use, so don’t be put off by the Bambino Plus’s lack of a 3-D step-by-step interactive guide.
Wattage and voltage
If you are concerned with the wattage and voltage of your espresso machine, it is important to know that both the wattage and the voltage differ on these 2 espresso machines. The Breville Bambino runs at 1560 watts and 110-120 volts while Sage’s Bambino Plus runs at 1600 watts and 240 volts. This is a significant difference that is worth noting if these things factor into your buying decision.
Digital temperature control and auto-purge
Unlike Breville’s Bambino espresso machine, the Sage Bambino Plus has a digital temperature control feature also known as PID. This feature is essential for precise espresso extraction, which the Bambino Plus does to perfection. Sage’s Bambino Plus also has an interesting auto-purge feature, which as the name suggests, automatically ‘purges’ the heating system and restores it so it’s ready for another cup. These features unfortunately cannot be found on Breville’s Bambino espresso machine.
Accessories
The accessories you get with these 2 espresso machines differ somewhat. With the Breville Bambino, you get a milk jug, portafilter, tamper, steam wand cleaning tool, and descaling powder, as well as 1 cup and 2 cup dual wall filter baskets. With the Sage Bambino Plus, you get a milk texturing jug, tamper, razor tool, and cleaning kit.
Video of Breville Bambino in action
Video of Breville Bambino Plus in action
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REVIEW: Breville Bambino or Bambino Plus?
Both the Breville Bambino and the Sage Bambino Plus are great espresso machines that will produce great cups of espresso every time,. But my favorite is the Sage Bambino Plus. As when it comes down to purely making coffee, the Bambino Plus has more positive features that result in better coffee. These features being the auto-purge feature which is great for cleaning and maintenance, and the digital temperature control feature as it aids in the espresso extraction process.
Bambino Plus Espresso Maker
The Breville Bambino may have better accessories and in my opinion, looks better than the Bambino Plus, but looks and add ons aside, the Bambino Plus is the better coffee maker by the metric of the coffee itself, which is the most important thing when selecting a premium espresso machine. So when it comes to making a decision, consider the Sage Bambino Plus, but don’t look past the Breville Bambino, which is also a great espresso machine.
