What’s the difference between the Bambino and Bambino Plus? I’ve read through the product pages and it seems like the only difference is an auto-frother for USD $200 more. Is there something that I’m missing?
You get a larger tank, a slightly better solenoid, a different material portafilter, and obviously the steam nozzle. Whether it’s worth the extra cash, that’s up for you to decide. I would not buy this for retail price, but I would go with the Plus. Saving up its larger sibling myself, because i want the built-in grinder
The Barista? Its grinder is comically bad. Both my brother and I bought one at the same time, and both grinders have since died after only a few years of disappointing results with it in the first place. Get a stand-alone grinder.
We got the Bambino because the grinder is not included. This way if the grinder breaks we can just get a new and different grinder!
That’s unfortunate. My parents have had one of these machines for almost 20 years now, and it’s been flawless. Maybe they have started cutting corners at some point.
I’m fully open to recommendations for alternatives within the same price range though, so i’d love to hear what people have had success with
I bought a Eureka Mignon Facile and single dose modded it using 3d printed parts. Love it.
Edit: There’s also the Eureka manuale/notte, which is cheaper (and louder), but grinds the same.
Is that the same as the BBE? If so, the grinder sucks. I would avoid. When it works as expected, the espresso is great, but these are few and far between. Mostly, the shots are ok to good. Overall, I regret that purchase, and wish I would have gone a different route, with a dedicated grinder.
Agreed, the BBE’s grinder is suitable only with the BBE’s pressurized basket. The grinder on mine broke, and I went to a Eureka Mignon; much better shots. Should’ve gone with the Infuser (BBE without the grinder) in the first place.
I have a Bambino Plus and that’s pretty much my understanding (not in the US though, the difference wasn’t as much as $200 here).
I have a regular bambino and I would say it’s worth just for the better solenoid. The regular when you stop the shot has a one way and that means every time all the water basically drips for 10 seconds which kinda in my opinion messes up the shot a bit. Also it runs out of water quick.
