Breville Cafe Roma vs Infuser machines for home espresso drinks, what would be the better choice? I have made several espresso shots with both machines and come to the conclusion that the Infuser is a better investment for your home espresso-making experience than the other.
I chose the Breville Infuser because it has a better heating system and PID temperature control for a consistent brewing temperature, a better brewing function with the pre-infusion feature, and a more controllable steam wand for frothing milk.
On the other hand, the Cafe Roma does not have the PID and a limited-movement steam wand, but a lower price. Thus, the Cafe Roma could be a good alternative if you want to get a budget-friendly machine with a more simple espresso-making process.
In addition, The Cafe Roma is an excellent choice for a beginner due to its simplicity.
The Best Breville Cafe Roma vs Infuser: Comparison Chart
Last update on 2024-04-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Best Breville Cafe Roma vs Infuser: Differences
I’ve tried these two machines and concluded that the Breville Infuser wins 4-0 against the Cafe Roma.
For the purpose of enhancing brewing performance, the Infuser offers you better heating and milk systems and more control over the brewing function. Moreover, the cleaning and maintenance of the Infuser are easier and more convenient than the Cafe Roma machine.
Heating system
Winner: Breville Infuser
One of the significant differences that make the Breville Infuser a better investment for your home coffee corner is its heating system. The Infuser uses a thermocoil heating system combined with the PID temperature control, which helps to heat up the water quickly and maintain good water temperature consistency.
On the other hand, the Cafe Roma utilizes the thermoblock system but is not equipped with PID. Thus, the Cafe Roma may undergo the inconsistency of water temperature during the heating and brewing process.
Heating system
Particularly, the thermocoil heating system is more durable and stable than the thermoblock, though both of them perform the same heating operation. It is because the thermocoil system is a single unit, which uses a single tube made of copper or other good materials for heating conduction.
As a result, the water will be circulated better, allowing the water temperature to be heated quickly and consistently. I measured the heat-up time of two machines, and the result showed that to get the water heated up to the desired temperature point, the Infuser takes less than a minute, while the Cafe Roma can take up to 5 minutes.
Furthermore, with a one-piece metal block design, the thermocoil offers higher durability as it prevents leakage or breakage that is often encountered in the multi-piece block design of the themoblock system.
Therefore, the thermocoil system is more expensive than the thermoblock one, making the higher price of the Infuser understandable.
PID temperature control
The equipped PID temperature control is another plus for the Infuser. As the name implies, the PID (Proportional Integral Derivative) temperature control has the ability to check the temperature deviations in temperature, and thus allow the system to adjust the temperature to the right value, offering greater water temperature consistency.
In addition, the Infuser machine allows you to modify the heating temperature by ±4 ⁰F with the programming button on the front. Though this increment seems negligible, it greatly affects the extracted espresso flavor. For example, a couple of adjusted temperature points could increase or decrease the bitter level of your espresso shot.
I’ve tried making my morning Americano many times with the Infuser and have been satisfied with the results, as I can get hot espresso shots as expected. I did check the temperature of my espressos, and it stayed consistently around 198⁰F, which is in the ideal brewing temperature range. However, I observed that when making a latte or cappuccino, my drink got cool easily. So, I think I need a higher water temperature for making these types.
Brewing function
Winner: Breville Infuser
The brewing function of the Infuser is superior to that of the Cafe Roma owing to the pre-infusion function and volumic control.
The Infuser has a pre-infusion feature which the Cafe Roma doesn’t have. This low-pressure pre-infusion on the Infuser allows the hot water to flow slowly into the puck before the brewing starts, contributing to a more consistent and rich espresso extraction. I really love making double-shot espresso with the Breville Infuser, as my shots have a golden-honey color with a rich and tasty crema on the top. And it tastes really really good for Americanos or long blacks.
Furthermore, the volumetric control on the Infuser can be easily accessed just by the two buttons for single and double shots. Thus, you can customize your espresso shots at your fingertips. Meanwhile, the Cafe Roma does not have this feature.
However, for the Cafe Roma, the volumic control is manual, which means it depends on you to decide how much espresso is in your cup. After attaching the portafilter to the group head, you can start brewing by rotating the button to the right (the coffee cup icon), and switching it back to stop when you get the desired volume.
It might be a little tricky at first, but after trying a couple of times, I see that I can get good espresso cups with a brewing time of 20 seconds.
Besides, the filter baskets of the Cafe Rome are included single shot (7g) and double shot (14g), helping you to get the right dose of ground coffee for the volume you want. Moreover, all the filter baskets of the Cafe Roma are dual-wall type, which can ensure to create the rich crema for your cup.
Milk system
Winner: Breville Infuser
Steam wand
The manual steam wand on the Infuser is more flexible than that on the Cafe Roma. Particularly, the Infuser’s steam wand can be rotated 360 degrees while the Cafe Roma’s cannot. This flexibility helps you to get more control over your frothing process to result in the desired milk foam quality.
The Infuser has a separate hot water dispenser located on the left of the steam wand. This dispenser allows me to instantly turn my shots to Americano, which is truly great for people who love Americano like me.
On the other hand, the steam wand of the Cafe Roma cannot rotate 360 degrees, and it points out to the right side of the machine. This limits the movement of the wand for frothing, so the milk foam will not be as silky as that made by the Infuser.
Auto purge
The auto-purge function on the Infuser’s steam wand is useful as it helps the machine get back to the suitable temperature for the next brewing coffee shot by purging the heat right after you finish the steaming. This automatic cleansing step is very useful for the single-boiler machine as the temperature drops significantly after the device finishes frothing milk.
Besides, the auto-purge helps to clean the milk residues inside the steam wands, making the cleaning much easier.
The Cafe Roma, however, does not have this auto-purge function. Thus, after steaming, you have to turn the switch to the left to get rid of the residue and left water from the milk steaming process. It means it requires more manual work, especially for cleaning and maintenance.
Cleaning
Winner: Breville Infuser
The winning point for the Breville Infuser in terms of cleaning and maintenance is the descaling indicators, and the water filter goes with the water tank. The cleaning indicator will help you know it’s time to clean or descale your machine, which is especially useful when your corner has a lot of machines needed to take care of. In addition, the equipped water filter is very useful for filtering the water for better espresso quality.
However, it is recommended to clean your machine regularly, especially the steam wand and the drip tray, and descale at least once every 2 months. Therefore, no matter what machine you buy, Breville Infuser or Cafe Roma, you need to pay attention to cleaning and maintenance for long-term use.
Quick Rundown Of Breville Infuser BES840XL
- Pre-infusion function applies low water pressure at the start of the extraction to gently expand grinds for an even extraction
- 1600w thermocoil heating system with integrated stainless steel water coil accurately controls water temperature
- Auto purge function automatically adjusts water temperature after steam for optimal espresso extraction temperature.15 bar Italian pump provides complete volumetric control - preset, manual over-ride or re-programmable volumes
- Accessories: single & dual wall filter baskets, coffee scoop, stainless steel jug, cleaning disc & tablets, cleaning tool, water filter with holder. Please note: There is a "Black Plastic" insert inside the stainless steel bowl of the portafilter, th
- Please review the trouble shooting steps under product details for remedies for common faced for hustle free of the product
Last update on 2024-04-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Quick Rundown Of Breville Cafe Roma
- Stainless-steel espresso machine with 15-bar thermoblock pump
- Dual-wall filter system for excellent crema; froth enhancer, cup-warming plate
- Accesories: Stainless steel frothing pitcher Tamping tool/measuring spoon/cleaning tool
- Removable drip tray and grid; Frothing jug included
- Measures 9 x 9 x 12 inches; 1-year limited warranty
Last update on 2024-04-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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References:
- The Infuser from Breville https://www.breville.com/us/en/products/espresso/bes840.html
- The Cafe Roma from Breville https://www.breville.com/ca/en/products/espresso/esp8.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.