Sage - The Bambino - Compact Coffee Machine with Automatic Milk Frother, Brushed Stainless Steel

The media could not be loaded. After over a year of daily use, the Sage Bambino Espresso Machine has truly earned its place in my home. I’ve set up a little coffee station in the living room, and this compact machine has been a fantastic centrepiece. Here’s my long-term review.Perfect for a Home Coffee StationThe Bambino’s sleek brushed stainless steel design still looks as good as new. Its compact size makes it perfect for my living room coffee station—stylish, unobtrusive, and functional. Having it right there for a morning pick-me-up or an afternoon latte feels like a luxury.Consistent Coffee ExcellenceOver a year on, it continues to produce espresso with rich crema and a robust flavour. The milk frother is just as impressive, helping me whip up café-quality cappuccinos and lattes with ease. I’ve even mastered a bit of latte art—thanks to the precise steam wand!Built to LastThe build quality is impressive. After daily use, the machine has held up perfectly, with no drop in performance. The quick 3-second heat-up time still amazes me, especially when I’m in a rush. Cleaning and maintenance remain hassle-free, with removable parts that are easy to access.Some Quirks to NoteWhile I love this machine, there are a few quirks:Drip Tray Vibration: Lightweight cups still move slightly during brewing, so I use heavier mugs to avoid spills.Finding the Perfect Balance: It took me a bit of trial and error with coffee grounds to nail my ideal brew, but now it’s second nature.Final VerdictAfter a year, I’m still in love with my Sage Bambino. It’s the perfect machine for anyone who wants café-quality coffee at home, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned coffee enthusiast. The fact that it fits beautifully into a coffee station makes it all the more special.🌟 Rating: 5/5Highly recommended for anyone who appreciates great coffee without the hassle!

I'm writing this review after 6 months of daily use using this Bambino.As a barista I've used machines worth thousands of pounds and used to drinking quality Lavazza coffee from them so my coffee standard is pretty high!This Sage Bambino is pretty close to achieving the same standard as the big boy machines and I'm impressed for the price! It is really compact, super easy to clean, looks and feels like it's built well. Dispenses a beautiful espresso with brilliant crema and the milk frother is just the same as the big machines - excellent.Absolutely foolproof to use too!The coffee temperature could be a little hotter, that's my only gripe. Don't let it put you off, I'm splitting hairs. And because it doesn't weigh an absolute tonne like the big machines, you have to hold the machine steady to twist the portafilter in - but it's certainly not a deal breaker.One user tip would be to make sure when you first use the machine to WEIGH YOUR COFFEE GROUNDS... Just so you know how much to put in the portafilter (about 19g for 2 shot). Too much and the machine will struggle to push the water through. Too little and you will end up with sloppy grounds in the portafilter and not getting the most out of your beans. This applies to any coffee machine though. Unless you have an automatic grounds dispenser, getting it just perfect can take a while by eye once tampered down.Overall, I think a bargain for barista quality coffee (made correctly, not by the coffee chains who employ kids and have no passion or idea what the difference is between a cappuccino and a latte and how to make it properly!)

This review is quite long but detailed, so buckle up, get a nice coffee, some biscuits/cookies and enjoy....I have had several coffee machines (filter, Esspresso, cappuccino, Tassimo, Senseo Quadrante, and a few more). This machine is easy to use and has yet to make a poor cup of coffee.I also bought the sage coffee bean grinder (search for: Sage The Dose Control Pro Coffee Grinder Electric, BCG600SIL, Silver), and through trial and error I have got the ideal coffee grind and quantity dialled in so that every coffee tastes identical (to me). From starting a grind to finishing the pour on a large cappuccino takes about 5 minutes. My late art leaves a lot to be desired still.Back to the coffee machine. There are 2 volumes of coffee (1 and 2, or mild and strong). A very good milk steamer (see youtube videos for how to get the perfect frothy milk every time) and a steam nozzle purge button. it's easy to clean and I have a 2 litre jug for water which I used to fill the reservoir.I bought a coffee station (search for: espresso knock box and espresso tamping station espresso tamper station includes an espresso tamper holder, distributor holder, portafilter holder, espresso distribution tool, 5 in 1 coffee knock box.) This is excellent.I bought 2 levelling tools (Search for: XUNADA 53.3mm Coffee Distributor & Tamper, Works with Breville and Sage 54mm Portafilters, Espresso Hand Tampers, 2-in-1 Adjustable Espresso Distribution Leveler & Tamping Tool). Rather than turning it over every time, I bought 2 so that I could just set them to the right depth and leave them in the station in their correct orientation.It is a joy to make coffee with these things. The only downside is that I tend to drink a lot of coffee when I'm not in work.I did have a problem with the first one that I ordered. It wouldn't heat the water up. I rang the support number and had that one swapped out within 2 days. I have worked the new on hard since then and not had a single issue with the machine or the end coffee (Once I dialled in my bean grinder)All together it was not cheap, but the Sage machines are bulletproof and I will not part with it. If I were to get another machine it would be the next series up (the all-in-one) but that would cost 3-4 times as much and I am not a coffee shop, so I don't need that level of machine. Even though it's very pretty. ha ha.