The world of espresso machines is vast and can intimidate beginners. Maybe you want to pull your shots, but how can you avoid spending four figures and devoting hours to learning why bars of pressure matter? We suggest semi-automatic machines that do most of the work for you and still give you some control over the brewing process.
We've tested several of Breville's Barista line of the semi-automatic espresso machines, and we're big fans. The machines are easy to use for beginners and still brew flavorful shots that satisfy experts. The Breville Bambino is a pared back model that is the most entry-level and budget-friendly option for home baristas. It uses Breville's ThermoJet system to heat up within seconds, has a manual steam wand for perfectly frothed milk, and, most importantly, makes a tasty shot of espresso.
Check out our guide to the best espresso machines for more recommendations.
The Breville Bambino is a great budget machine for beginners to start crafting espresso-based drinks at home. It heats up within seconds, consistently pulls a tasty, full-bodied shot of espresso, and can effectively steam milk to your desired texture.
What we like
What we don't like
Getting started
Breville espresso machines come with almost all the tools you need: a portafilter, tamper, filter baskets, and milk steaming jug. Unlike other Breville all-in-one machines, the Bambino doesn't come equipped with a grinder. You can get our favorite coffee grinder for espresso, or if you buy beans from a café, they should be able to pre-grind them fine enough for you.
The Bambino is sleek and compact, and the interface is simple and straightforward to use. There are four buttons on the machine: one to pull a single shot, one to pull a double, one to toggle the steam wand on and off, and one to run hot water through the steam wand.
Once you've set up the machine, the manual prompts you to fill the water tank and press the single shot button to trigger an initial cleaning cycle. Aside from that, the manual is hardly necessary unless you want to look into changing the shot volume settings.
Espresso
Pulling a shot with the Bambino is simple and quick — the ThermoJet heating system heats up the machine within seconds. You prep your espresso puck and lock the portafilter into place. Because the machine is so lightweight, I really needed two hands here — one to hold the machine in place and the other to tighten the portafilter into the group head. Then, press the single or double shot button, and brew your shot.
The Bambino is a semi-automatic espresso machine: it controls the pressure and water temperature, while you're responsible for dosing and tamping the espresso puck. You can adjust the water-to-coffee ratio on the Bambino, following guidance in the manual, but we found the preset single and double shots completely satisfactory.
I had trouble fitting more than 16 grams of pre-tamped coffee in the filter basket even though it should hold up to 18 grams. Before tamping, I recommend carefully tapping the portafilter against a hard surface to make room for the last gram or two of ground coffee. I didn't love the lightweight feel and quality of the accessories that came out of the box. You can always upgrade to a heftier 54mm portafilter and filter basket separately. A nice tamper can also really add to your espresso experience and can help achieve a level, even puck. You can check out our guide to the best tampers.
I tested this machine with a Sette 270Wi grinder, which has fine-grained settings for dialing in espresso. I tested both medium-roasted and dark-roasted coffees, and I was really pleased with the results. The machine consistently brewed balanced, full-bodied shots of espresso.
Steaming milk
The Breville Bambino has a manual steam wand (the Bambino Plus has an automatic one). With manual steaming, you want to aerate the milk for the first few seconds, then incorporate that air for the remainder of the time steaming. The amount of time in each step varies based on steam wand pressure and how much milk is being steamed. The Bambino's steam wand packs less horsepower than heavier-duty machines I've worked with in cafés, but I was still able to achieve both an airy traditional cappuccino foam as well as a silky microform.
There's a 5-second delay between pressing the off button and the steam actually coming to a full stop. I found that a little difficult to get used to, but you just need to switch it off a few seconds before you actually want to finish steaming.
To clean the steam wand, use a damp towel to wipe milk residue off the wand. Then, point the wand towards the drip tray and briefly turn it on and off to purge any remaining milk. It's important to clean and purge the steam wand after each use to avoid milk build-up and blockages.
Cons to consider
The Breville Bambino is a simple build; it doesn't have a pressure gauge, built-in grinder, or the ability to adjust water pressure and temperature. For advanced hobbyists, tweaking those settings is essential to crafting the perfect shot. Also, the lightweight look and feel of this machine may not fit in more industrial-style kitchens.
As we mentioned above, the portafilter, baskets, and tamper aren't the highest quality. The included accessories are serviceable, but we would consider investing in our own materials.
What are your alternatives?
If you want an all-in-one machine, the Breville Barista Express Impress has a built-in grinder and assisted tamping. It's one of our favorite machines for beginners that holds your hand through the brewing process but doesn't sacrifice flavor. Read our full review of the machine here.
The Gaggia Classic Evo Pro is a great starting point for exploring fine-tuning espresso. It's a semi-automatic machine, but the user controls the extraction time, giving you more room to experiment with your shots. Plus, keeping the espresso machine and coffee grinder separate gives you even more control. Learn more in our Gaggia Classic Evo Pro review.
The bottom line
If you're interested in making your own espresso at home, the Breville Bambino is a great budget- and beginner-friendly option. There's certainly a learning curve to pulling a shot of espresso and steaming milk, but the Bambino makes it easy and each sip of your home-brewed drink is worth the extra effort. Don't worry about outgrowing this machine — with your own grinder, different coffee roasts, and a new tamper, you'll be able to dive into the nuances of espresso and trust the Bambino to always pull a solid shot.
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