Bambino, bambino, I’d sing Dalida if I dared. But why on earth talk about a baby when you’ve got Bambino Sage in your hands? It will only take you a few minutes to realize that she’s already as evolved, on a human scale, as a teenager: not yet an adult, but already full of hope.
The Bambino is full of surprises, let’s take a tour together?
Breville Bambino, a good first impression
A few words of context
Let’s assume you’ve ordered the Bambino, or are about to.
Already, you have the good taste to start with Sage, the European branch of Breville, a brand renowned worldwide for its top-of-the-range appliances.
What’s more, and in the interest of better understanding this machine, let’s note that it sells for around 350 euros, with often even more interesting offers around 250 euros. So this is a very affordable machine in the upgrade range.
(I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post)
Functional design
Visually, the Sage Bambino is quite a success. And if you’ve already had a chance to look at the brand’s other products (click here to discover the Sage Barista Impress Express, for example), you’ll quickly notice a family resemblance with its brushed stainless steel and rounded shape.
As for the interface, this is one of the machine’s strong points, but it’s reduced to the bare essentials: there’s not even an on/off button. Ignition is done by choosing whether you want 1 or 2 cups. I won’t reveal the surprise, but keep that in mind. Intention is automatic.
When unpacking, you will have noticed the cup holder. No surprises here: it’s passive, very passive indeed, since it doesn’t heat up at all. The reason lies in its heating system, which I’ll explain in a few lines.
The steam nozzle is present, and you’ll love its power, which means that even with a machine of this price, you’ll be able to enjoy a quality that’s worthy of a beginner’s latte art, or simply make magnificent macchiatos.
There’s one detail I really like about this machine: the tank. It’s equipped with a small handle that makes it easy to remove from its slot, even if the lid is removable, and much more secure in the grip than many other models.
It sounds silly, but it’s typically the kind of detail you never get on brands that pay less attention to their products. But Sage always aims for excellent value for money.
Bambino’s cute, but she does have one flaw. It is very light, even with a full 1.4 L tank. But it’s quite high. As a result, it tends to unbalance quite easily when you put your filter holder in its holder. And lightweight glasses can also tend to vibrate too much due to the water pump (a vibration pump, in fact).
For the imbalance, it’s a helping hand. Weight is a matter of chance, depending on the lenses used.
Let’s talk about accessories
Speaking of context, I mentioned the price of this Sage Bambino. Indeed, at this price, it can’t be as well-equipped as a machine worth twice its price. And rather than cut back on the technical side of things, Sage has made do with basic accessories. 1 and 2-cup filter holders and pressurized filters, in 54 mm, are not bad quality, but you’ll find better.
Likewise, the plastic handle of the filter holder, like the tamper, is nothing to write home about. But it’s also the kind of concession you need to know how to make for this price range.
There’s always time later to upgrade, and improve your results with a grind distributor and a WDT, for example. We can also think of the bottomless filter and the precision balance.
Thermojet extraction, the heart of the Bambino
Thermojet, a boiler that sends
You’re familiar with the thermoblock system for heating the water used to make your coffee. Thermojet is the same principle, but specific to Sage machines. And to say the least, the system has been greatly improved. 3 seconds is the time it takes to heat water to the right temperature.
Marketing argument? Yes, of course. Technical prowess? Yes, especially when compared to the competition, and even more so in this price range. But is it really that relevant?
3 seconds with the thermojet, or 30 seconds with the thermoblock, does it change my day at all? I’m not sure. The only certainty is that my daily coffee consumption will skyrocket.
A PID is added to this thermojet to automatically regulate the temperature at the thermojet outlet. Even if it can’t be adjusted, its presence is a very positive element. For an adjustable PID, you need to be able to go up in range. That’s the game!
However, only the temperature at the thermojet outlet is well controlled. Since the rest of the machine isn’t hot enough (with 3 seconds of preheating, it’s not surprising), the espresso that comes out isn’t the hottest. This doesn’t spoil the extraction, but remains a limitation of this machine. This explains why the cup warmer is completely passive.
Read: How to choose between Bambino plus and Bambino
The steam nozzle, a nice surprise for Sage Bambino
The steam nozzle is clearly of a higher standard than you’d expect from a machine of this type and price. In fact, the thermojet heats up very quickly, giving you full steam power straight away.
As a result, you’ll only make one cup at a time, but what a lather! Very fine and creamy, it deliciously coats your milk drink, insulating it from the outside temperature and giving you a real texture in the mouth. It will even be suitable for your first attempts at latte art.
Nevertheless, you should get into the habit of purging it well before each use, as it retains a lot of water between uses and will spoil the milk if not purged properly. We’d have liked a slightly longer stem, but the silicone ring makes it easy to handle.
Extraction quality
Remember, you’re looking at a machine, the Sage Bambino, priced between 250 and 350 euros when you take that first sip. You’ll be amazed at the quality of the result. The coffee expresses itself well, thanks in part to the pre-infusion, and its aromas are well developed. For the quality and the target audience, who are new to manual coffee, this is a real surprise.
An even sharper result could be achieved with a slightly longer pre-infusion. It’s almost an astonishing error on the part of this brand, unless it’s deliberate.
And on the other hand, it’s a Sage machine, so it’s not very surprising.
A few additional comments
This Sage Bambino isn’t perfect, don’t get me wrong, even if none of its faults are prohibitive.
- There is a slight delay between pressing the button to stop coffee extraction and the end of the liquid flow. Picky eaters will notice.
- Cup length cannot be adjusted.
- The steam nozzle stores a lot of water.
- PID not adjustable
Should you fall for Sage Bambino?
Are you looking for a manual, scalable machine to get you started in a world far removed from aluminium capsules and machine-ground beans? So, welcome.
Price is only a valid argument if quality is behind it. And it has to be said that extraction is very well mastered. And while we make no secret of this model’s youthful shortcomings, they are also there to justify more elaborate models, like the Sage Bambino Plus, for example, or others in the Sage catalog.
So yes, falling for this machine to get into this type of extraction is entirely appropriate. Now all you have to do is find the right coffee grinder.
I recommend this machine:
- You are looking for a machine with a very good price-to-quality ratio
- You want to be able to remove the water tank more easily using a handle
- High-quality and powerful steam nozzle
In summary:
The Breville Bambino espresso machine offers third-wave specialty coffee with dose control and optimal water pressure.
The design of the Breville Bambino is successful, featuring a brushed stainless steel finish and a clean interface without an on/off button. The included accessories are basic but practical, and the machine is compact and lightweight, despite a slight imbalance.
The Thermojet system heats the water in 3 seconds, ensuring an optimal temperature, although the rest of the machine may not be hot enough.
The high-quality steam nozzle produces fine and creamy froth, suitable for latte art, but requires regular purging.
The Breville Bambino is recommended for those looking for an evolving manual machine with good extraction control.
- Very compact
- High-quality steam nozzle
- Easy to handle
- Very good quality espresso
- Very good price-to-quality ratio
- A design crafted for functionality
- Very light and tall, which causes it to be unbalanced
- Coffee not that hot
