Breville Cafe Roma Vs Bambino Plus
The Breville Cafe Roma and Breville Bambino Plus are both entry-level espresso machines, yet their performance far exceeds expectations. With their simple designs, both machines are highly capable of delivering excellent espresso shots, making them strong contenders in the budget-friendly category and tough competitors against other brands.
However, the Breville Bambino Plus clearly emerges as the better choice. Its faster heat-up time ensures you’re ready to brew in seconds, while the pre-infusion feature enhances flavor and aroma by evenly saturating coffee grounds before extraction. Additionally, the Bambino Plus boasts an automatic milk steaming function with adjustable settings, allowing for effortless microfoam and greater drink customization. These features collectively make the Bambino Plus a more modern, convenient, and versatile option for aspiring home baristas.
Breville Café Roma vs. Bambino Plus: Specs & Features Comparison
The Breville Bambino Plus and Breville Café Roma are two entry-level espresso machines catering to different needs. The Bambino Plus outshines the Café Roma with its advanced ThermoJet heating system, delivering a lightning-fast 3-second heat-up time. It also features pre-infusion, an automatic steam wand with a temperature sensor, and a larger 1.9L water reservoir, making it ideal for those who want a more refined and convenient espresso experience.On the other hand, the Breville Café Roma is a more budget-friendly option with a Thermoblock heating system, a manual steam wand, and ESE pod compatibility. While it lacks advanced features like pre-infusion and automatic milk frothing, it remains a solid choice for beginners who want a straightforward machine at an affordable price.In short, if you’re looking for a machine that delivers better temperature stability, faster heating, and easier milk frothing, the Bambino Plus is the winner. But if you’re on a budget and prefer a simpler espresso experience, the Café Roma is a decent alternative.
Breville Cafe Roma vs. Bambino Plus: Key Differences
The Breville Bambino Plus clearly outshines the Cafe Roma, scoring a solid victory with its modern features and superior performance. Let’s explore how these two entry-level espresso machines differ:
Coffee Flavor & Brewing System
Winner: Breville Bambino Plus
Neither machine includes a built-in grinder, so you’ll need a quality standalone grinder like the Porlex Mini, Comandante, or Breville Smart Grinder Pro for fresh coffee grounds. The Bambino Plus features a 54mm portafilter, offering a more professional edge compared to the Cafe Roma’s 50mm portafilter. Both machines include double-wall filter baskets, with the Cafe Roma adding an extra basket for ESE pods.The Bambino Plus also boasts a pre-infusion feature, gently soaking the coffee grounds before extraction to enhance flavor and minimize channeling. Even better, it allows users to adjust pre-infusion duration, a feature rarely found at this price point.
Heating System
Winner: Breville Bambino Plus
Both machines operate with single boilers, meaning brewing and steaming cannot occur simultaneously. The Cafe Roma uses a thermoblock heating system, taking around 30 seconds to warm up. The Bambino Plus, however, stands out with its ThermoJet heating system, ready in just 3 seconds and far more energy-efficient.
Design & Convenience
Winner: Breville Bambino Plus
Dimensions & Interface:
- Cafe Roma: Compact design, 11.8 x 8.6 x 8.7 inches, 13 lbs.
- Bambino Plus: Sleek and lightweight, 7.7 x 12.7 x 12.3 inches, 12.3 lbs.
While both machines fit well in small kitchens, the Bambino Plus offers a more modern look and user-friendly controls, with dedicated buttons for single/double shots and steam functions. The Cafe Roma features a simpler interface with a dial for steam or espresso modes.
The Bambino Plus holds 1.9 liters, while the Cafe Roma has a smaller 1.2-liter reservoir, requiring more frequent refills.
Milk Frothing System
Winner: Breville Bambino Plus
The Cafe Roma includes a manual steam wand but lacks swivel functionality, making milk frothing slightly cumbersome. In contrast, the Bambino Plus features an automatic steam wand with a temperature sensor, allowing effortless microfoam creation. It also rotates 360 degrees for added flexibility and doubles as a manual wand for hands-on users.
Drink Options & Programmability
Winner: Breville Bambino PlusDrink Options
Quick Overview: Breville Bambino Plus
The Breville Bambino Plus BES500BSS is an exceptional compact espresso machine designed to deliver professional-grade results with ease and efficiency. Here’s a quick summary of its highlights:
Key Features
- 54mm Portafilter: Holds 19 grams of coffee, ensuring rich and balanced espresso extraction with café-quality flavor.
- Low-Pressure Pre-Infusion: Gradually increases pressure during extraction to enhance flavor and aroma while ensuring even saturation of coffee grounds.
- ThermoJet Heating System: Achieves optimal extraction temperature in just 3 seconds, delivering serious convenience and energy efficiency.
- Automatic Microfoam Milk Texturing: Features a steam wand with a temperature sensor that adjusts milk texture and temperature for barista-quality microfoam, perfect for latte art.
- Digital PID Control: Ensures precise water temperature for consistent and optimal espresso extractions.
Pros
- Compact and lightweight design, ideal for small kitchens.
- Innovative heating system for fast setup.
- Adjustable pre-infusion for greater brewing control.
- Automatic steam wand simplifies milk frothing.
- Very beginner-friendly and user-friendly interface.
Cons
- Substandard Accessories: The included tamper and portafilter could be sturdier.
- Limited Temperature Control: Lacks customizable brewing temperature adjustments.
The Breville Bambino Plus is perfect for anyone seeking fast, effortless, and quality coffee in a space-saving design. Let me know if you’d like further comparisons or additional details!
Quick Overview: Breville Cafe Roma
The Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma is a budget-friendly espresso machine offering simplicity and reliability in a compact design, making it suitable for beginners or casual coffee enthusiasts. Here’s an overview of its features:
Key Features
- 15-Bar Thermoblock Pump: Ensures optimal pressure for rich espresso extraction with consistent flavor and crema.
- Dual-Wall Filter System: Delivers excellent crema and balanced espresso, making it beginner-friendly.
- Froth Enhancer: Helps create foam for cappuccinos and lattes, though manual skill is required for microfoam.
- Cup-Warming Plate: Pre-heats cups for a better coffee-drinking experience.
- Accessories Included: Comes with a stainless steel frothing pitcher, tamping tool/measuring spoon combo, and cleaning tools.
- Removable Drip Tray and Grid: Simplifies cleaning and maintenance.
Pros
- Easy to use, perfect for newcomers to espresso-making.
- Affordable price point, great for budget-conscious buyers.
- Compatible with ESE pods, offering added convenience.
- Thermoblock heating system ensures quick warm-up.
- Compact footprint, suitable for small kitchens.
Cons
- Steam Wand Limitations: The wand cannot rotate, which restricts maneuverability during frothing.
- No Pre-Infusion: Lacks a feature that enhances flavor extraction.
- Plastic Tamper: Could benefit from sturdier accessories for better espresso preparation.
The Breville Cafe Roma is a fantastic option for budget-friendly espresso brewing and casual use. While it lacks some advanced features, its straightforward design and affordability make it a great choice for beginners. Let me know if you’d like to dive deeper or compare it with other models!
Conclusion:
Both the Breville Cafe Roma and Bambino Plus prove that great espresso is achievable without breaking the bank, yet they cater to different needs and coffee-making styles.The Breville Bambino Plus stands out with its modern features and user-friendly design, making it the superior choice for most home baristas. Its ThermoJet heating system ensures lightning-fast warm-up times, while the pre-infusion feature enhances flavor extraction, delivering consistently rich and aromatic espresso. The automatic steam wand with adjustable milk temperature and texture options simplifies frothing, making it a perfect fit for those who value convenience, speed, and versatility.On the other hand, the Cafe Roma offers a more traditional espresso-making experience at an affordable price. With its durable stainless steel construction, dual-wall filter system, and simple operation, it’s ideal for beginners who prefer a straightforward machine. However, it lacks modern features like pre-infusion, faster heating, and steam wand flexibility, which places it behind the Bambino Plus in terms of overall functionality.In conclusion, if you’re seeking efficiency, customization, and innovation, the Breville Bambino Plus is the clear winner. For those on a tighter budget or who appreciate a minimalist approach, the Cafe Roma remains a solid, dependable option. Both machines have their strengths, but the Bambino Plus offers more value and convenience for the modern coffee enthusiast.