I got my wife a Breville Barista Touch espresso machine for Christmas. She never uses it. I do. For an "easy" machine, it is somewhat complicated. Along with the espresso machine, I included a barista -- me!
I made a very common mistake when buying the home espresso machine. I bought a machine that did not match my wife and my lifestyle. I bought a beautiful. café-style machine, enjoyed it for a few weeks and then the novelty began to wear off. The ritual started to feel like work.
I have come to believe the Touch is more machine than I need. First, there is the price. It was a lot of money, even on sale ($1280), just to enjoy a latte now and then. A simpler, less expensive machine might have done the job just fine. I turned to ChatGPT.
I learned of the Airmsen 7.9'' Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine With Grinder on sale at Walmart for $249.99. The reviews were mixed and, although most buyers seemed happy, those who were not happy had some excellent reasons for giving the Airmsen only one star. I found all the low priced units had very mixed reviews. I moved on and up. I asked ChatGPT to suggest something a little more costly.
In the end I decided buying a separate coffee grinder might be the best option. I found myself staying with the Breville brand. I teamed a Breville Smart Grinder Pro at $240 with a Breville Bambino Plus at $500.
All these Breville products are available at Best Buy. There is a non-plus Bambino at $360 but I decided I would spend the extra $140 for the automatic milk frothing and a better steam wand offered by the Plus. It has a four-hole tip rather than a single-hole and it auto-purges and self-cleans.
Also, the Plus has a three-way solenoid that releases the pressure after drawing a shot, making for a drier puck and less dripping after extraction.
When comparing the two Bambino models, the actual espresso brewing systems are the same. Therefore, the shot quality is essentially the same.
Still, latte and other milk drinks from the Plus might be a notch up in quality compared to its less expensive soulmate. The Plus offers multiple milk temperature options and different foam levels.
Rather than spending $1280 for the all-in-one Breville Barista Touch, I decided it would have been wiser to buy a grinder separate from the brewing machine. Buying both units from Breville made for a nicer aesthetic. They match.
If matching looks are not important to you, there are other options. Here are two: MiiCoffee DF54 and Baratza Encore ESP. Use ChatGPT to compare the three grinders. Each has its own pluses and minuses. For casual home use, the Breville Bambino Plus holds its own.
