Sage the Bambino Plus Espresso Machine, Coffee Machine with Milk Frother, SES500BTR - Black Truffle

Product Information

Breville Bambino Plus comes in nine different colors, while the plain Bambino comes in brushed stainless steel finish only. The first thing to note about the Bambino is that – like Sage’s other ThermoJet-equipped machines – it’s astonishingly fast to get to brewing temperature. Sage claims that it gets to temperature in 3 seconds and that’s entirely true – by the time you’ve powered the machine on, it’s ready to pour espresso. There’s no waiting around for steam, either: press the button, and after a few immediate spits of water, steam comes gushing through. Next on our testing agenda was to see how well the steam wand worked. We chose to opt for the medium texture setting on the Bambino Plus, and the medium heat setting. We used the automatic setting, and placed the milk jug on the sensor so that the machine would know when the milk had reached the desired temperature. The noise level when the steam wand was in action was even lower than when we were making espresso, reaching 51 decibels while the milk was frothing. When we added the milk to our coffee, it retained a velvety texture that lasted all the way down our drink as we sipped it. Although the steam wand purges automatically, you can remove the tip and wash this in the sink. Sage also provides a handy tool to unclog the spout should it become crusted with milk. Final thoughts The Breville Bambino Plus has more colors available, making it a better option for those looking for a specific palette. Moreover, if you’re a fan of Breville appliances, they have other products in matching colors. In this regard, we found that Breville’s online store tends to have more colors available than other retailers.

Contrary to many mid-range espresso machines with this level of customization and additional features, the Breville Bambino Plus uses its simple design to offer an impressively straightforward operation. There's almost no learning curve to get over here before you're pulling high quality shots and topping them up with perfectly frothed milk - simply push a button and you're off. Familiarise yourself with product RRPs: this will help you recognise the really valuable opportunities to save. The Bambino Plus is a handsome little machine. It stands 310mm tall and, since it’s only 195mm wide and 320mm deep, doesn’t take up much room on the kitchen worktop. Stainless steel curves attractively all around the sides and the ridged surface on top doesn’t just look natty, it gently heats up to keep your coffee cups warm.

A great machine for manual espresso beginners but keen amateurs will crave more control

Just recently, in 2013, Breville launched its first dual-boiler espresso machine for home use. Soon after that, in 2016, Breville partnered with Nespresso and started selling several Nespresso machines with great success. Then, Breville placed itself as one of the home espresso market leaders in America and other markets. Breville Bambino Plus has a hands-free automatic frothing wand. The plain Bambino requires manual handling. Coffee pod machines: These machines are generally simple to use, fast, and mess-free, and coffee pods also tend to stay fresher for longer than beans or grounds. You can only make one cup at a time, though, and some pods aren't always recyclable – ESE (easy serve espresso) pods are a good compostable alternative. READ NEXT: These are the best Nespresso machines to buy right now Sage Bambino review: Should you buy it? The ThermoJet heating system achieves the optimum extraction temperature, 93, in 3 seconds. PID temperature control with the Bambino Plus maintains the water temperature within +/- 1 , allowing the profile of coffee to be showcased.

Steam is delivered at a constant velocity with a slight delay between starting and stopping. Even so, I could get the jug at a good angle to swirl the milk, creating neat milk with fine micro-bubbles and a silky-smooth appearance. You may find the coffee a touch cooler and the taste a tad more bitter compared to some top-of-the-range professional machines Manual espresso machines can be notoriously complicated to use but this one does most of the number crunching for you. In essence, it has just two extraction buttons, one for a short and one for a double. The default for the single shot is short, barista short – as in a single mouthful. However, extraction length can easily be customised to suit your size of cups. The same applies to the double shot function.At the rear, an amply-sized 1.9l water tank clips easily and securely into place. Unlike some machines that require you insert the tank from above, the Sage’s design hinges from the bottom so you can remove and refill it without having to slide the machine out from underneath a kitchen cabinet. That’s a huge help in smaller kitchens. Flashing lights indicate when upkeep is needed (although a digital screen would have been preferable) Overall, most regular tasks with both machines are straightforward. Both have removable water tanks, which makes filling them easier. The steam wands are easy to use, as well. And the cleaning process is straightforward for both. The Breville Bambino Plus does, of course, come with its own frustrations. That smaller drip tray meant a little more maintenance and the lightweight form factor did require some extra attention when inserting the portafilter. However these design quirks are easy enough to live with. The steam wand design and power in the Breville Bambino Plus are superior to the Breville Bambino (and many other home espresso machines.) Thanks to these features, the Breville Bambino Plus steam wand works very fast, creating a uniform foam without overheating the milk.