Sage The Bambino Plus - Reviews

(4.5)

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10.5.2019

I have become somewhat of a coffee hobbyist having made the move to a proper espresso machine, ditching both my Nespresso and Melitta bean-to-cup machines. I currently have two machines including the Sage Barista Express and now this Sage Bambino Plus. This particular machine was provided for me to review, and it's been interesting to see how these two machines differ.-OVERVIEW & COFFEE EXTRACTION - BAMBINO VS BARISTA EXPRESS-I've been using my Barista Express for the last eight months, making coffee every day. I enjoy the process of brewing espresso and manual milk steaming/texturing - that machine has allowed me to develop my Barista skills.The Bambino has generally been geared for thoselooking for a compact and fuss-free coffee machine where you don't have to worry too much about the complexities of espresso brewing or worry about manually texturing the milk. For this reason, the Bambino does not have an integrated grinder, pressure gauge, visual shot timer or any single-wall (non-pressurised) baskets for the 54mm Portafilter. You only get two (single and double) dual-walled (pressurised) baskets which allows you to extract a decent espresso without worrying too much about the grind. Just ensure you have 18 grams of coffee (for a double shot) with a level tamp, using between 25 and 20kg of pressure (all guidance is laid out clearly in the manual). You can use pre-ground coffee beans or buy a sperate grinder if you wish to use freshly roasted whole coffee beans (best to avoid supermarket beans as they are not fresh enough).Having no built-in grinder is technically not a bad thing as you can choose a better quality grinder. Perhaps the most natural pairing in this instance would be the Sage Smart Grinder Pro, which is a reasonably good grinder for the price; however, grinding consistency will be inferior to something like a "Eureka Mignon Specialita 16CR Coffee Grinder", which is the grinder I will soon be getting for myself. It is advisable to choose the best grinder you can afford.If you do want to try single-wall baskets with the Bambino, then you can buy them from Sage. The Bambino uses the same 54mm basket that the Barista Express uses. I've used my Barista Express baskets, and they work fine. Fine-tuning coffee extraction will take a bit of practice as you will need to monitor shot time and output weight. The typical "recipe" for a double espresso shot is 18 grams of coffee IN, then extracting 36 grams OUT in 30 seconds. Coffee that is extracting/flowing too quickly means the beans are too coarse and need to be ground fine. Coffee extracting/flowing too slowly means the beans are too fine and need be ground coarser. With a perfectly timed/weighted shot, you will see a lovely creamy flow of coffee along with a perfect crema on top of the espresso. The resulting espresso should taste perfect without any sourness or bitterness.One surprising omission on the Bambino is the lack of a hot water spout which might be off-putting for Americano fans.-STEAM / MILK TEXTURING-Milk texturing on this machine is much easier than the Barista Express. The Bambino uses an automatic steam wand with a 4-hole tip that froths and heats the milk automatically - This feature is usually only found on the higher-end Touch and Oracle models. There are three different temperature and foam settings to choose from allowing you to either make microfoam for a Latte - and do some decorative latte art - or extra foam for a Cappuccino. The wand automatically purges when put back into the down position, removing any leftover milk residue that can build up inside. If you want to try manual milk texturing, then this wand also supports manual operation which is a nice touch.The Barista Express uses a traditional manual steam wand with a single-hole tip that relies on proper technique to get perfectly textured milk, suitable for latte art. It has taken me a few months and a few Youtube tutorials to understand the correct method. You also have to purge the wand manually to remove milk residue. Both the Bambino and Express take around 60 seconds to steam milk to the recommended temperature of 65 Degrees Celcius.-HEATING SYSTEM-It's important to understand that the Bambino and the Barista Express use a similar Thermocoil heating system, that, while being reasonably quick at heating up, also means you can NOT brew coffee AND steam milk simultaneously. Moreover, Thermocoil machines need to have a few empty shots put through the portafilter to ensure everything is hot before brewing; otherwise, you'll likely get a sour-tasting espresso. You don't have to worry about doing this with Dual Boiler machines, like the Sage Dual Boiler - you can also steam and brew simultaneously with the Sage DB.-APPEARANCE-In terms of looks, the Bambino is a very stylish coffee machine that looks great sitting on my countertop. I think it's a touch nicer looking than the Barista Express. It is smaller and lighter than the Barista Express but still manages to feature a sizeable 1.9-litre water reservoir, only 100ml less than the Barista Express. The Bambino has an improved 5-inch cup clearance between the drainage platform and portafilter spout - 1-inch more than the Barista Express. Warm-up time is quicker on this machine at just 3 seconds whereas the Express needs a minute to warm up; but again, both machines require flushing to reach optimum brew temp. Both machines have pre-infusion (for improved shot consistency), along with programmable 1 and 2 cup buttons.-MAINTENANCE-Cleaning and maintenance of both machines is straightforward with automated cleaning programs built-in. The water reservoir features a high-quality ClaroSwiss water filter which eliminates limescale. These need to be replaced depending on use.WHICH ONE SHOULD YOU BUY?So which machine would I choose having used both? The Bambino is a great little machine, and this would have been my first choice if it didn't lack some of the features outlined above. In its current form, this will best serve those looking for a straightforward, hands-off approach to coffee brewing but still be able to provide excellent results; much better than Nespresso or bean-to-cup machines.The Barista Express is the complete espresso package, but I wouldn't necessarily say it's the better package. Yes, the built-in grinder is convenient, but as I've become more experienced, I've also become aware of its limitations, which is the reason why I'm upgrading to a Eureka Mignon Specialita grinder. However, the Express is the better machine in general and is easier to learn single-wall espresso brewing. Be warned, once you get the hang of it, you might start suffering from upgrade-itis, like me. At first, I considered the Sage Dual Boiler, but now I am considering selling my soul for the high-end Lelit Bianca. :/UPDATE: June 2019 - OK, so I did it, I sold my soul and have a massive dent in my bank balance. The Bianca is obviously on a different level to the Sage machines (or most other machines for that matter).