A Missing Grinder Can Make an Espresso Machine Better
Former barista Inga Parkel says Breville's Bambino Plus leaves room to choose a superior grinder.
Former barista Inga Parkel tested coffee makers for flavor, simplicity, cost, and looks. Parkel said she wanted good taste, "a delicious, smooth coffee every time," but she also considered "ease of use, price, and design."
When she reached Breville's small Bambino Plus, she paused on what it left out. Unlike the Barista Express and other higher end Breville machines, it has no built-in bean grinder.
"I actually consider this an advantage, as it gives you the freedom to invest in a higher-quality bean grinder," Parkel said.
Parkel sees the gap as a chance to shop separately. Instead of accepting the grinder that comes attached to the machine, the buyer can put money toward a better grinder of their own choosing.
Parkel calls the Bambino Plus "arguably one of Breville's most underrated models." Despite its small footprint, she finds it powerful.
Her routine is hands on. After grinding, she presses the grounds into a firm cake, called a puck, in the machine's small metal basket, then locks that basket into the slot where hot water comes through before picking a shot style.
The steam wand has little range of motion and no dial on the side, so manual frothing takes some effort, though the automatic milk steaming does a decent job.
As a single-boiler machine, it cannot froth milk and brew at the same time, so one step must come before the other.
The missing grinder, in her view, lets the buyer pick a better one separately.
Questions people ask
Why does the grinder matter so much for espresso?
Espresso is brewed fast under pressure, so tiny differences in particle size change the taste a lot. A good grinder produces more even particles and lets you adjust finely, helping avoid sour, weak shots or bitter, choked ones.
What does prepping the puck mean?
It means distributing ground coffee evenly in the small metal basket, leveling it, and pressing it into a firm cake. An even cake helps water pass through uniformly for a balanced shot.
What is the downside of a single-boiler machine?
It has one heater for both brewing and steaming, so it can only do one job at a time. You pull the shot, then steam the milk, or vice versa. Dual-boiler machines can do both at once but tend to cost more and take up more space.