Breville Bambino Espresso Machine BES450BSS, Brushed Stainless Steel

I've made and drunk a lot of fine espresso via professional machines from California to Italy over decades, yet I've never owned any type of countertop espresso maker. I can't accept inferior espresso an assumed they were all mediocre at best. I read many reviews and articles on tiny machines and the Bambino consistently rates high so I took a chance.SATISFIEDAfter a month of use I'm satisfied with the results. According to reviews, the power and materials are sufficient to make decent espresso without the warmup time of big machines. It seems to work quite well so far. I like how it's computer controlled to ramp up steam and sustain for specific periods and temperature for optimal extraction from grounds (the amount of time steam is applied can be custom set too in its memory).CLOSE COMPARISONI suspect it's not quite as steamy and high enough pressure to match a massive, multi-thousand dollar coffee bar machine, but it's awfully close. I've used those machines and the difference in taste is negligible here. I can definitely make a satisfactory espresso or americano with the Bambino. Probably if you're a super aficionado or professional manufacturer, you might be spoiled enough to care. Regular folks will likely not notice.STEAMED MILKThe steamed milk wand works well. It's about as powerful and simple to steam milk as any large machine. I’ve made fluffier steamed milk on pro machines but the Bambino does a good enough job.HOT WATERI thought I'd use the hot water feature more because I prefer americanos. I never use it though because it's too slow. The water gets hot enough but the stream is so thin that I have to stand there waiting too long. I just use an electric kettle instead. This was one reason I went with the first gen Bambino (the newer version doesn’t have a separate hot water spout). Now I kind of wish I went with the second gen since that seems to be more powerful.SMALL FOOTPRINTI also love how small the Bambino is. It sticks out pretty far but other wise length/width is surprisingly tiny. I can hardly believe how small it is and fits in even the tiniest kitchens.AUTOMATED CLEANINGThere's a convenient cleaning feature too where you put de-caking powder or vinegar/water in the reservoir and then run the cycle. It takes care of the process and flushing.CUTENESSYou gotta love the name Bambino! It's cute and familiar just like the name suggests. It looks great too. It has a satisfying steel coffee machine style that’s both modern and traditional.EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONSIn short, Breville exceeds expectations with a solid machine utilizing thoughtful and useful design resulting in great coffee in a quick and convenient package. I can make a perfect cup of coffee in about 3 minutes, including a quick grind of beans. It's hard to put a price on that level of convenience and quality.FUTURE DIY I notice some people on forums upgrading parts for better performance. Maybe after the warranty expires, I’ll try enhancement since it can use at least a bit more heat and pressure.

I swore by drip filter coffee for years, but I finally caved and ordered this for a personal gift. Let's just say, I didn't know what I was missing out on. The bambino is well reviewed online, and for good reason. Right out of the box, I was impressed by how easy it was to set up. The Breville Bambino comes with a fantastic 3D interactive setup guide through the Tilt app. This app made everything so straightforward—no confusing manuals or trial and error! Just a few taps on my phone, and I was ready to start brewing like a pro.Here's a pithy list of pros and cons.Pros:Quick Heat-Up: The machine is ready to brew in just 3 seconds. Now I can enjoy my espresso almost instantly, which is a lifesaver on busy morningsCompact Design: The Bambino’s small footprint fits perfectly on our small apartment counter without taking up too much space—ideal for cramped living situationsBarista-Quality Microfoam: The steam wand is powerful enough to create that velvety microfoam we all love for lattes and cappuccinos. I'm not great at the art stuff, but its fun to test it out.User-Friendly: Even if you’re new to espresso-making, this machine is super intuitive and easy to use.Cons:No Built-in Grinder: You’ll need to invest in a separate grinder if you want fresh coffee beans, which can be an extra expense.Lightweight Materials: Some parts feel a bit less sturdy than I expected, but they still perform well. The tamper is plastic, so feels kinda cheap, but it has held up.Small Drip Tray: It fills up quickly, so be prepared to empty it more often than you might like.TLDR: Great machine, lives up the hype, some plastic / cheaper components, but they appear to work well.

Ah, the Breville Bambino: small in size, but big in espresso-tude! I bought this machine in the hopes that it would transform my chaotic mornings into something resembling an Italian café experience. Spoiler alert: It’s almost there, minus the scenic piazza views and Paolo the barista flirting with me.First Impressions: This thing is adorable. It’s tiny but looks like it means business. Kind of like the espresso machine version of a toddler in a suit. I feel like it’s silently judging my barista skills every time I go to use it, which is fair because I mostly wing it.Getting Started: If this machine had a personality, it would definitely be “fastidious.” This Bambino is picky. It demands finely ground coffee, perfectly tamped, with just the right water temperature. Don’t even think about trying to eyeball it. My first shot? Absolute trash. The machine seemed offended.Once You Get the Hang of It: After a few YouTube tutorials and mild meltdowns, I finally coaxed an espresso shot that didn’t taste like burnt rubber! And wow, it was glorious. This little baby delivers a shot that’s strong, smooth, and just fancy enough to make me feel superior to everyone drinking drip coffee.The Steam Wand: Here’s where things get fun. The Bambino’s steam wand is small but mighty. I felt like an actual barista as I frothed milk for a latte that was this close to a professional cappuccino. Did I burn my hand? Yes, but I think that’s part of the authentic café experience. The steam wand is fast and surprisingly powerful for such a tiny machine—like, small-dog syndrome levels of intensity.Cleanup: Minimal mess, minimal stress. The drip tray is small, so you’ll need to empty it fairly often. But hey, if you wanted zero maintenance, you’d be ordering Starbucks, right?The Pros: This machine heats up in literal seconds. I’m pretty sure it would beat the sun in a race. It’s also compact enough to fit in a small kitchen, but powerful enough that you don’t feel like you bought a toy espresso maker.The Cons: If you like to "wing it" with coffee, Bambino will make you pay. This little machine is a precision diva, and you’re either meeting it halfway or drinking bad espresso. It does not tolerate shortcuts. Also, I wish it came with a tiny Italian man named Luigi to give me encouraging nods as I brew. So, at least watch a few YouTube videos...Final Verdict: 5 stars for bringing café-level espresso to my kitchen and for keeping me humble along the way. The Bambino may be small, but it’s fierce, and honestly, I’m just here for the drama.