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Varia VS3 vs Turin DF54 for a Bambino Plus setup [$500 AUD]
- Brew Control & Consistency+1 pts
Capable of high-quality, smooth, consistent, and rich shots
- Grinding & Dosing0 pts
Requires a separate grinder
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The Breville Bambino Plus is a compact espresso machine with a 54mm portafilter, 15 bars of pressure, and an automatic milk frother that delivers café-style espresso and silky microfoam.
Reviewers are split on the Breville Bambino Plus: it's praised for fast heat-up and easy milk frothing, but criticized for build quality and temperature consistency. The automatic milk frother is a standout, delivering microfoam quickly, and the compact size suits small kitchens. Yet, some users find the machine feels light and cheap, the drip tray vibrates, and the steam wand can't run during extraction, while sour shots are possible without careful preheating.
Varia VS3 vs Turin DF54 for a Bambino Plus setup [$500 AUD]
Capable of high-quality, smooth, consistent, and rich shots
Requires a separate grinder
Breville Barista Express > Bambino Plus > Dual Boiler & Niche Zero
Espresso shots are inconsistent with varying acidity, bitterness, and yield weights
Portafilter is difficult to lock in place
Drip tray vibrates excessively during brewing
[Breville bambino plus/Baratza Encore ESP] Figured out how to troubleshoot sour shots
Temperature consistency is influenced by preheating group head and portafilter
Breville Bambino Plus Remanufactured: Avoid!
Steam wand fails to produce proper steam pressure
Refurbished unit is poor quality and unreliable
Poor value due to repeated failures and poor service
Why do I need to grind courser for my light roast? [Niche Zero grinder and Breville Bambino Plus]
Bambino Plus is adequate for dialing in espresso
Second Attempt Guidance [Breville Bambino Plus]
Produces sour-tasting espresso
Produces a 7/10 espresso shot in quality and taste
Espresso Machine Recommendations in UK to upgrade from a Bambino plus [£1500]
Has instant thermoblock technology
Steam wand is less powerful than some competitors
Build quality is not robust
Incredibly capable for its price
Why are all my shots bitter? I’m not a newbie, frustrated. [bambino plus, df64v2]
Shots are extremely inconsistent regardless of adjustments
Ready instantly without requiring 15-20 minutes to heat up
Steam wand is more forgiving for manual steaming
Build quality feels cheap and cumbersome
Automatic milk frothing is a pro
Portafilter is sometimes fiddly
Automatic cleaning system is helpful
Lightweight design is a con
Excellent value for money
