Breville Barista Touch vs Bambino Plus is the next debate that we need to settle. These espresso makers belong to two different ranges: Barista Touch is a mid-range machine, while Bambino Plus is an affordable entry-level one. So which one is the winner? Of course, it’s Barista Touch!
The winner Barista Touch satisfies both beginner and intermediate users who have had experience with espresso machines. The espresso flavor is robust and balanced. It’s hard to miss a good coffee day with this one. But, what impresses me the most is the touchscreen display system that allows users to choose from 6 one-touch beverages. I highly recommend this model for households.
Bambino Plus also is a good starter. It’s programmed to brew simple yet delicious espresso with creamy crema. I’m also impressed by its adjustable milk wand with which it’s possible to froth 3 different kinds of texture. However, I still recommend handling the milk pitcher manually instead of leaving it to the device. A great model for a cut-price espresso experience!
Breville Barista Touch vs Bambino Plus: Comparison Chart
Last update on 2024-07-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Breville Barista Touch vs Bambino Plus: Differences
Breville Barista Touch wins 3-1 against Bambino Plus, thanks to its more convenient design and amazing espresso extraction. Barista Touch is indeed more expensive, but with the integrated grinder and one-touch system full of standard coffee recipes, I highly recommend you consider spending more.
Intuitive brewing system
Winner: Breville Barista Touch
Breville Barista Touch is designed with high convenience in mind. It boasts a total of 6 one-touch beverages that users can choose freely and enjoy after about ~5 minutes of real-time brewing. The beverages are espresso, Americano, latte, flat white, cappuccino, and hot water. And I have been able to make quick cups with this model.
Now, a thing that users should consider is that Breville’s machines always require some form of manual intervention. And the same goes for both Breville Barista Touch and Bambino Plus. Despite its intuitive design, Breville barista Touch still needs users’ help: handling the portafilter from the grind well to the dispenser and tapping the touchscreen in between the steps.
So it’s not a 100% hands-free experience. But do I consider it a major turnoff? Not really. Despite the manual intervention, it doesn’t make more than 5 minutes for a cup of cappuccino or latte. So it’s pretty much the same as other super-automatic machines. If you want a fully-automatic machine with some hands-on operations, the Barista Touch is a good pick.
Exterior Design
Tie!
Both Breville Barista Touch and Bambino Plus are made of stainless steel with a silver color. In terms of shapes, Barista Touch is much bulkier than Bambio Plus. So what is my take on their designs? I prefer Barista Touch more because its wider tray allows a more comfortable brewing experience. And it’s less hectic when I opt for twin brewing cycles.
As for Bambino Plus, its strength is that it takes up less space compared to Barista Touch. The negative thing is that it’s a bit clumsy when I want to pull double espressos. So, it boils down to each user’s needs to determine whether Barista Touch or Bambino Plus has a better exterior design.
Espresso flavor
Tie!
After many brewing sessions, I haven’t found any major difference in the espresso flavor between Breville Barista Touch and Bambino Plus. I really like the drinks’ quality, which can be described as robust and balanced. In addition, they have all the flavor notes that a good cup of Joe should have: sweet, nutty, and bitter.
Have I ever experienced watered-down or too bitter coffee? Surprisingly, never. I have always been able to pull very soothing and consistent cups with these machines. So if consistency also is what you are looking for, it’s time to give these babies a try.
Milk frother and the resulting texture
Winner: Breville Barista Touch
While Breville Barista Touch and Bambino Plus share the same Panarello classic milk frothing method, their performance isn’t always the same. They generally tend to froth creamy and hot milk foam for drinks like latte or latte macchiato. As for cappuccino, the milk foam comes across as not dense enough, but it still tastes amazing anyway.
The reason why Breville Barista Touch is because of its hands-free milk frothing experience. I can pull creamy milk foam without having to maneuver the jug. In case I decide to froth manually, the texture of the foam will be notably much denser and airer.
On the other hand, Bambino Plus has its plus point. The machine offers 3 milk texture options directly affected by the pressure from the 9-bar electric pump. So you can slightly adjust it for your favorite coffee recipe, especially if it’s flat white or mocha.
Breville Barista Touch vs Bambino Plus: Similarities
There are 2 similarities that I want to highlight: the heat-up time and the twin brewing feature regarding the two machines’ designs. You can check my verdict below!
Heat up time
According to the advertisements, these machines only need 3 seconds to heat up, and they will be ready to brew. And are their real performance reflects their original description? More or less, yes. It only takes them 3s to warm up, but when I brew right away, the drinks don’t come out as hot as I want them to. So instead, I let the machines sit for a good minute. And as expected, they come out much hotter with better espresso flavor with balanced notes.
Twin brewing
Even though Bambino Plus has a slim and compact design, it can still brew in twin cycles, the same as Barista Touch. So if you are expecting to make double espresso or 2 cups of latte simultaneously for you and your guess, it’s possible with the pair.
Quick Rundown Of Breville Barista Touch
- Item Package Dimension: 17.39L x 16.19W x 16.19H inches
- Item Package Weight - 28.25 Pounds
- Item Package Quantity - 1
- Product Type - COFFEE MAKER
Last update on 2024-07-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Quick Rundown Of Breville Bambino Plus
- Item Package Dimension: 17.64L x 16.99W x 10.24H inches
- Item Package Weight - 15.74 Pounds
- Item Package Quantity - 1
- Product Type - COFFEE MAKER
Last update on 2024-07-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Product Video
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References:
- https://www.breville.com/us/en/products/espresso/bes880.html
- https://www.breville.com/us/en/products/espresso/bes500.html
I’m Floyd J. Alcock, an experienced barista with a deep love for coffee. I curate personalized coffee experiences, guiding customers through diverse flavor profiles and suggesting ideal brewing methods. My extensive knowledge of espresso machines enables me to recommend the best equipment to match specific needs and budgets. Sharing my expertise and passion with coffee enthusiasts brings immense satisfaction. I look forward to continuing my journey of coffee discovery with every customer I serve, fostering connections over a shared love for this magical beverage.