Bambino Espresso Machine BES450BSS, Brushed Stainless Steel

What started as convenience has turned into a bit of a daily ritual. With just the press of a button, I can have a perfectly brewed cup in seconds, and it honestly feels a so good. The consistency is what gets me ,the temperature is always just right, and the flavor never disappoints. I also love how practical it is for a busy home. The water tank is generously sized, so I’m not constantly refilling it, which makes it even easier to keep using throughout the day. And once I started using the milk steamer, it was over for me I found myself making cappuccinos just because I could. It gives the milk such a smooth, creamy texture that feels almost café-quality at home. It’s one of those appliances that slowly becomes part of your routine until you realize you’re using it more and more Aesthetically, it adds a refined, elegant touch to the kitchen something that doesn’t just sit on the counter but actually elevates the overall look of the space. The material quality feels appropriate for its price point, giving it a solid, well-made impression without feeling overly delicate or cheap. The only drawback I have noticed lies in the portafilter adjustment mechanism. It takes a bit more effort than expected to adjust, and this can occasionally cause the entire machine to move slightly. It is a minor inconvenience, yet one that becomes noticeable in daily use—especially when you are aiming for a quick and effortless operation. Still, overall, it balances design and function well, with just that one ergonomic flaw standing out against an otherwise satisfying experience.

Great little espresso machine! I'm a novice when it comes to pulling shots. I think the main limitation with this machine is the ability to make adjustments. It's very much plug-and-play. There is quite a bit of water that comes out of the steam wand before the steam, so I use a rag to clear that out before steaming my milk. I am able to texture the milk and pour beautiful, tasty lattes. Overall, I'm happy with the machine and have enjoyed having lattes almost everyday.

I like the brand, and have their higher end machine which includes touch screen and a grinder. That is a disclaimer since I got spoiled by the quality item I had before. I expected the SAME QUALITY though i knew the grinder would be missing and there were no bells and whistles. However, at first open it had a cheap plastic feel, which one would expect from an item for a hundred dollars or less. Then, the water did not get hot, and the frother heats the milk to quite hot but does not froth. I read the instructions again over and over. There are several parts, such as the portafilter and distributer, all very cheap. Why on earth sell any item this cheap if you want buyers to upgrade, based on the initial first experience? It's a puzzle how QA or a Designer of any worth let this thing through. I'm very disappointed and now since I am unable to find my original espresso machine, I will buy a new one, and yes, spend 3x as much since this one is such a mess that it is not really workable to even use and will need returning. Grind quality: doesn't. Noise: Horrendous noise when trying to froth. Coffee quality: poor and not hot. Filter: no filter. Parts: Plastic cheap. Aesthetic: likes nice and is compact. That initial feeling fades fast.

TLDR: Two years, still going strong after almost every day use by two people. It still performs like day one. It is fast, reliable, beginner friendly, and consistently delicious. I’m someone who loves all kinds of coffee, but coffee I buy outside has become both expensive and often disappointing, so I wanted to start making espresso at home. Since I had zero experience in preparing espresso, I was looking for an entry-level machine that was easy to use, reasonably priced without breaking the bank, and not intimidating for a beginner. I was going in between this and another very popular brand. What made me choose this one was the almost instant heat-up time (literally 2-3 seconds), the steam wand without a built-in frother (which gives much more control), and the fact that the machine would not limit me if I wanted to try more advanced techniques as my skills improved. It has been 2 years since we have been using this machine. We make all kinds of espresso-based drinks with it and also use the steam wand for things like hot chocolate. Since buying it, we basically stopped buying coffee outside. If you’re like me (never made espresso before and slightly intimidated) but want to enter this world, this is an excellent, confidence-building choice. And time for some tips for the beginners: First things first, the most important factor for good espresso is using freshly ground coffee. Machines with built-in grinders were very expensive, so I skipped those. I buy freshly ground coffee separately from a subscription based delivery and store it in an airtight bag in the fridge. It works really well for me. Now about operating the machine; it comes with single and double shot baskets, including a pressurized basket for each. These pressurized baskets are extremely beginner-friendly. They have a single hole at the bottom, allowing for higher pressure build up and resulting in a rich crema and flavor, even if your technique isn’t perfect. I highly recommend starting with this basket. Though sometimes that single hole can clog over time. Don’t buy a replacement when it happens!! Just boil it in water with a bit of vinegar for about 40 minutes, and it works like new. Last tip: If you hear a scream while using the milk steamer, you have to pull it out of the milk. It needs to be staying just beneath the surface. This way it will start building froth and you won't be hearing unnecessary noise. In short: compact, fast, reliable, beginner-friendly, and still flexible enough to grow with you as your experience increases. We’re very happy with it.

Well, allow me to say, this is the first machine I have had since the 1980s was it and that one Hoovered. Finally tried a unit, one of the many seemingly all variants of the same 51mm units. I had to send it back because, while very nice at the price point I feel it (and they) are probably best - and aimed at - milk coffee drinks and not actually espresso. Some, seems all similar did, have something the Bambino lacks - more metal. In feel (if there is such a thing) they, or at least mine - felt substantially more robust. It felt actually like better quality. But I couldn't adjust the water and couldn't get enough coffee in the portafilter. Maybe, some other options would fit the 51mm unit. I couldn't confirm it. This unit has a lot of plastic in it including the group head. BUT! It can adjust/learn pump-run time (adjust the water volume indirectly). The temperature is non adjustable. But I don't think water temp (as long as it is very near boiling) is really a variable most home espresso drinkers would benefit from - especially the beginners and novices. With the thermocoil design I understand it has, it heats in like 3 literal seconds. Steam is good (but I drink simple espresso so I am honestly not much help in evaluating that part). The wand has good articulation. I do like that Breville is big enough that plenty of 54mm baskets, portafilters, screens and papers are available - including bottomless. While I do like the unit's function and it has everything I wanted, it does feel cheap for the value proposition. I don't think it will hold up well for the length of time I keep appliances. It might. But, I do worry that the fact it knows how long it has been powered up/plugged in - makes me wonder if Breville embedded a count-down timer to planned obsolescence. I hope not, but the manual is clear in disclosure that it's recording usage data. I added a picture of three pucks/cakes (whatever term you like) within the first 24hours of receipt. The two dark ones were with pre-ground 6 month old (or longer) coffee and the third was with Folgers Classic drip grind. Yes, I do wish the entire Breville line was built on a standard 58mm group head (I do prefer a thinner cake per dose). And I do worry if it has an internal count-down to death timer and if the plastic will hold up. Edit: (added a bottomless portafilter and IMS basket) They -- finally -- came today. While these are aftermarket non-Breville parts, I added a video of a shot. (Replaced that because it was a little dark - new video has a little spurt - welcome to aftermarket bottomless portafilters. It happens sometimes) I don't claim to be an expert since it's been 35, idk 40ish years since I have had an espresso machine. I'm just now re-learning how to do it (or learning this machine); but, since I detest coffee snobs who discourage much more than they impress, I wanted to share. No, I'm sure it's not "perfect" but with this machine you really have potential without having to sell a kidney to pay for it (oops, I hope that doesn't violate 'community standards'. I might add some other still pictures later if anyone cares. Not a knock on the OEM portafilter & basket but I do prefer the aftermarket rimless basket because it is possible to make a larger diameter and thinner puck (ceteris paribus). The coffee in the shot was Lavazza Crema e Aroma which I guess from the "use by" was 3 months old. And, yes I prefer some blend of robusto (anywhere between 1/3rd and 2/3rds). If you would like to try your hand at espresso without variable overload and/or no room to experiment, then this machine is a pretty good starter. Edit 2: I added a picture of the IMS basket (2 pucks). Why? Well, so you could compare to the first picture where the stock Breville rimmed basket was used. Really there are only about 2 point. The stock basket has a rim (grips inside the portafilter great) and because the walls have draft - the pucks pop out easy. The downside is, that same taper that turns loose of the post brew coffee is less forgiving on volume of coffee powder. A light dose is hard to tamp and a large one won't fit or gets up into the shower head they call it. The aftermarket I chose is rimless so it tamps better. Not having a taper/draft-walled, your puck can be thinner for the same dose and there are more holes. So, you get more variables to dial in. The downside is, the pucks will eject in their entirety, you just might need an extra whack. The combo of bottomless & basket seems to be a trade-off. I seem to get more Crema and a rare spurt (see the video). So far, spurts have been rare. It's no defect, just a tamp made by a human. THE REASON I added the aftermarket parts to the review isn't to hurt Breville or over criticise them, no quite the opposite. While a little cheaply built like the plastic group head and more expensive than a 51mm manual espresso machine, being slightly larger portafilter size (I wish it was 58mm) - it heats quickly, is semi automatic and you can always add accessories later if you want. Don't have to, but you can.

I have some experience using the Breville Barista express, but this is the first espresso machine I've ever purchased for my own use at home. Ease of Use: There is a quick start guide that was helpful. Since I had already learned on the Barista Express, it was pretty easy to get going just by scanning the manual and quick start guide for the specifics of how to use this machine. Once you get going, you can even customize the length of the 1-or-2 shot buttons if you'd like. I have not done that yet. I like that it heats up fairly quickly, but it is vital to pour that initial blank shot to help your real shot be more than just lukewarm. I also like that I can pull shot, steam milk, then immediately pull more shots. I passed on a cheaper machine because it explicitly said it would overheat after steaming milk if you tried to pull another shot, which obviously isn't going to cut it for people who want to make more than one hot drink at a time. There are reviews which mention that because of the light weight of this machine, you have to grip the machine to tighten/remove the portafilter. That is true, but once you have worked out a proper grip position that keeps the machine in place, it's really no trouble. Grinder: I've been using a Baratza Encore to grind freshly roasted beans and I find that for my personal taste, this grinder works great with this machine without even having to grind them at the lowest setting possible. I think if you have a decent burr grinder that is not "pro" level, you will be able to make good espresso on this machine. Quality of pulls: I have been drinking espresso drinks for a very long time. I would not call myself a coffee snob nor a coffee conniseur, but I can distinguish between bad, mediocre, and great. You have to do a little experiementing to get the right grind and dose with each new bag of coffee (especially if they are different roasters, different roast dates, etc.) to dial it in, but you would have to do that regardless of the machine. As far as I can tell, the shots I've been pulling rival the drinks I get on a pretty regular basis (but not the extra top-notch places of course), and once you add steamed milk, even if your shot wasn't perfect, most people will not be able to tell the difference at all. Milk steaming: It steams quickly enough for me, and gets hot enough, to enjoy a nice hot espresso drink after I've pulled my shot. I'm not super experienced at this, so I am still working on refining to get the perfect texture for latte art, but as far as I can tell, you absolutely can get the desired microfoam needed for latte art, or if you don't care about that and just want some hot steamed milk with your preferred amount of foam, it will do a fine job at this in an adequate amount of time (I haven't timed it, but I would say it takes ~20 seconds to get up to a good temp). Extra accessories: I don't think it is absolutely necessary to upgrade the accessories, but having a magnetic dosing funnel, WDT distribution tool, and a stainless steel tamper does make the work flow less messy, and more consistent, especially if you want to do a full 18g dose. If nothing else, getting a dosing funnel keeps your workspace from getting messy since the portafilter is a little small at 54mm (instead of 58mm) to do an 18g dose. But it will fit about 16g without a dosing funnel, without getting messy. Overall: I'm pretty happy with this little but mighty machine so far. It's been such a luxury to make such tasty drinks at home. I would actually give this 4.5 stars instead of 4 but there's no option to do that.

Best Entry level Machine, It takes about 3 minutes before actually using it, it does full cleaning so put a bowl on the bottom tray. For best Latte Art ,the steamer takes about 40-55 seconds, so try out few times until you get it right. 16-18 grams for double espresso , The taste ,the simplicity from this machine...absolutely love it ! Have all the accessories needed, and GOOD QUALITY whole beans ,believe me it worth it . Enjoy :)

This is a great little espresso machine for this price point. I paired it with a Turin SK40 single dose grinder and the pair gives me perfect espresso multiple times a day. This is my 2nd Bambino. My first one lasted a year and started to get weak so I had to get another one. At this price, it was not a big deal. I still gave it 5 stars. My new machine came quickly and I am back to great espresso again.

Investigué todo lo que pude y me decidí sobre esta máquina de espresso porque considero que es el que funciona mejor con el mínimo de modificaciones, y salida de la caja ya te puede dar muy buenos resultados. Pros: • La caldera está lista y caliente en literalmente 3 segundos. • Es pequeña, ligera, fácil de usar si quieres algo automático. Flexible y manipulable si quieres intentar hacer tus propias recetas. • El tanque tiene buena capacidad. • Tiene portafiltros de 54 mm, por lo que es fácil encontrar accesorios, filtros y portafiltros adicionales Contras: • Por lo ligera, tienes que detenerla con la otra mano para insertar o retirar el portafiltros. • Breville sacrifica materiales para ofrecerte buenas funciones y calidad con un costo más bajo, no es de metal más allá de las piezas que lo requieren y la cubierta de acero inox, es solo eso, la cubierta. • No tiene manómetro. • La presión de la espumadora no es sorprendente, aunque hace bien su trabajo. Modificaciones que te recomiendo si quieres ñoñear con tu maquina de espresso: • Compra un portafiltros sin fondo. Al no tener manómetro, vas a poder farte una idea de cómo va tu extracción • Evita los filtros presurizados y compra un filtro de precisión. Yo me fui por un IMS, búscalo por el vendedor Verybarista, son los que lo distribuyen en América. Te ayuda a mejorar tu extracción. • Con lo que te vas a ahorrar comprando este modelo vs otros más caros, invierte en un molino más decente. Compré el DF54 de MiiCoffee y lo amo.

I love this machine. It heats up almost instantly and makes incredible espresso. I compared it to the Bambino Plus, but honestly, this model makes way more sense. You get the same high-quality shots and a great auto-frother for a much better price. It’s compact, simple to use, and perfect for a daily home setup. Definitely the smarter buy

La compra me llegó a tiempo, es un excelente producto hasta ahora. Lo único es que la publicación dice que te envían dos bolsas de café de regalo y eso no lo recibí.

I'm very happy with this machine. It isn't the best espresso maker but it is quite small and a very reasonable price. It will make you a decent cup of coffee, heats up fast and is easy to use. My only complaints are true nitpicks: 1. You can't use the steam wand and make espresso at the same time. This is quite an annoying limitation on many Breville products but it is fairly justified on this small device with a tiny boiler. It would be nice but it isn't a deal breaker by any means. 2. The steam pressure is a little low. Again, it would be nice to have a bit more juice available here but it is understandable, and by no means insufficient to make great steamed milk. 3. The water tank is at the back. This is again something that is likely the best compromise for such a small machine. This tank-at-the back arrangement ensures that it uses up very little counter space, however it does have downsides. The biggest downside is that it is difficult to see the current water level. I generally need to pull it out a bit to check or lean in and push whatever is beside it on the counter out of the way. This is probably not much of an issue if you will have nothing next to it on one side as you can see the tank from both sides, but if you have it next to a wall and a grinder like I do it is a little annoying. The tank at the back makes filling it a little less convenient, you will typically have to pull it quite far out to fill the tank if you have a cupboard above it. However this also isn't a major issue as you don't need to fill it very often. Overall I am super impressed. At this budget and size it is a great set of tradeoffs. I doubt any of these minor downsides would be a significant problem for most users.

Me encanto, en cuestion de estetica el producto se ve como un accesorio mas de una cosina por lo que me estaba decidiendo entre esta y la De'Longhi, tuve mis dudas pero ya al tener la 'Breville Bambino' no me arrepiento de elegirla, se preparan unos expresos y campuchinos super delicionsos en tan solo 3 segundos ya esta lista para empezar a preparar el cafe, el espumador funciona de maravilla como tal aun sigo aprendiendo pero el resuldado con la leche es muy bueno.