Sage Bambino Plus - Compact Espresso Machine with Automatic Milk

Sage Bambino Plus – Compact Espresso Machine with Automatic Milk

The Sage Bambino Plus is a compact espresso machine designed around an unusual combination: a traditional portafilter brewing workflow paired with genuinely useful automation for milk texturing.

You still grind, dose and tamp the coffee yourself, but Sage's automatic steam wand can handle milk temperature and texture without requiring you to learn manual steaming immediately.

Add a 3-second ThermoJet heat-up, PID temperature control, low-pressure pre-infusion and 9-bar extraction, and the Bambino Plus becomes an interesting option for someone who wants to learn espresso without dedicating a large amount of kitchen space to the machine.

It doesn't include a grinder, so you'll need either appropriately ground coffee or – preferably if you want to explore espresso properly – a separate espresso-capable burr grinder.

Why Consider the Sage Bambino Plus?

The Bambino Plus makes most sense if you want some of the learning experience of a traditional espresso machine without taking on every manual skill at once.

Coffee preparation remains hands-on. You fill and tamp the portafilter, attach it to the machine and work with your coffee and grind.

Milk is where Sage provides much more assistance. The automatic steam system lets you select temperature and texture, position the supplied jug on the sensor and allow the machine to manage the steaming process.

You can therefore concentrate initially on improving your espresso before deciding how deeply you want to explore manual milk texturing.

Key Features

• 3-second ThermoJet heat-up – Designed to reach brewing temperature very quickly from startup.
• PID temperature control – Electronic temperature control forms part of the Bambino Plus brewing system.
• 54mm stainless-steel portafilter – Sage designs the system around approximately 18g of coffee.
• Low-pressure pre-infusion – Coffee is initially wetted at lower pressure before extraction.
• 9-bar extraction – Delivered through the machine's 15-bar Italian pump.
• Automatic milk texturing – Three milk-temperature settings and three texture levels.
• Manual milk option – The steam wand can also be used manually as your technique develops.
• Volumetric controls – Dedicated one-cup and two-cup buttons provide convenient programmed shot volumes.
• 1.9-litre water tank – A relatively generous capacity for such a narrow machine.
• 19.4cm width – Particularly useful where counter space is limited.

How Manual Is the Bambino Plus?

It's best described as a semi-automatic espresso machine with automatic milk assistance.

The machine doesn't grind coffee for you.

You'll still need to:

1. grind or measure your coffee;
2. dose it into the filter basket;
3. distribute the grounds;
4. tamp the coffee;
5. attach the portafilter;
6. start the extraction; and
7. empty and clean the basket afterwards.

The one- and two-cup buttons provide volumetric control, so the machine can stop those programmed extractions automatically.

That makes it easier to use than a completely manual machine while still leaving coffee preparation in your hands.

The 54mm Portafilter

The Bambino Plus uses a 54mm stainless-steel portafilter, with Sage designing the brewing system around an approximately 18g coffee dose.

It's worth correcting a common description here: 54mm shouldn't be called a “commercial-sized” portafilter simply because it's larger than those found on some inexpensive domestic machines.

Many commercial espresso machines use 58mm systems.

That doesn't make Sage's 54mm design inherently inferior. It's simply the format around which this machine has been engineered.

Single-Wall and Dual-Wall Baskets

Sage currently supplies both single-wall and dual-wall filter baskets for one- and two-cup brewing.

That gives the Bambino Plus useful flexibility for different levels of experience.

Dual-wall baskets are more forgiving when you're using pre-ground coffee or a grind that isn't precisely dialled in.

Single-wall baskets place considerably more responsibility on grind size and coffee preparation and are the more useful option when you want to start properly dialling in fresh coffee.

You'll Need a Grinder

There is no integrated grinder in the Bambino Plus.

That helps keep the machine compact, but it's an important part of the overall buying decision.

If you're planning to use freshly roasted whole beans with the single-wall baskets, a capable espresso grinder should be considered part of the setup.

Espresso responds to very small changes in grind size. Being able to make repeatable fine adjustments is far more useful than simply owning a grinder that technically grinds coffee finely.

The upside of a separate grinder is that you can choose and upgrade it independently rather than replacing the entire espresso machine.

3-Second ThermoJet Heating

One of the Bambino Plus's standout practical features is its ThermoJet heating system.

Sage specifies a heat-up time of approximately three seconds.

That makes the machine particularly convenient when you want one or two coffees without waiting several minutes for a traditional boiler system to warm up.

Fast startup doesn't eliminate the value of warming your cup and portafilter when you're looking for greater consistency, but it does make the machine unusually quick to get into operation.

PID Temperature Control

The Bambino Plus uses electronic PID temperature control as part of its brewing system.

That doesn't mean you're given a display on which you can select arbitrary brewing temperatures.

The PID operates internally to help the machine control its brewing temperature.

This is an important distinction from more advanced machines that allow the user to deliberately change brew temperature for different coffees.

Low-Pressure Pre-Infusion and 9-Bar Extraction

Sage uses low-pressure pre-infusion before moving into a 9-bar extraction, with that pressure delivered by the machine's 15-bar Italian pump.

Pre-infusion initially wets the coffee bed at lower pressure before full extraction.

As with the Gaggia we just reviewed, the important figure isn't simply the maximum pressure rating printed on the pump.

More pump pressure doesn't automatically mean better espresso.

Coffee preparation, grind, dose and yield remain fundamental to what ends up in the cup.

Automatic Milk Texturing

This is where the Bambino Plus differs most clearly from many compact manual espresso machines.

The automatic steam wand provides three milk-temperature settings and three texture settings.

Place the supplied stainless-steel jug on the temperature sensor, choose the settings you want and the machine can steam the milk hands-free.

This reduces one of the steeper learning curves associated with making milk-based espresso drinks.

It can be particularly useful if several people in a household want cappuccino or latte-style drinks but don't all want to learn manual steam-wand technique.

Can You Steam Milk Manually?

Yes.

The automatic system doesn't prevent you from developing manual milk-texturing skills.

Sage allows the steam wand to be used manually, so you can take greater control as your confidence grows.

That's an important advantage over machines where milk preparation is permanently confined to an automatic carafe.

You can start with the assistance and later experiment with introducing air and creating circulation yourself.

Automatic Purging

After automatic milk texturing, the steam wand performs an automatic purge when it returns to its lowered position.

This helps clear the internal steam path, but it doesn't remove the need for basic cleaning.

Milk should still be wiped from the outside of the wand promptly after use rather than being allowed to dry onto it.

Size and Water Capacity

Sage currently specifies dimensions of approximately:

• Width: 19.4cm
• Depth: 36.2cm
• Height: 30.4cm
• Water tank: 1.9 litres

The narrow width is one of the machine's biggest practical advantages.

Bear in mind that you'll probably also need counter space for a grinder, tamper and milk jug, so the complete espresso setup will occupy more room than the machine alone.

What's Included?

Sage currently lists the following accessories with the Bambino Plus:

• 54mm stainless-steel portafilter;
• 54mm tamper;
• Razor precision dosing tool;
• ClaroSwiss water filter;
• 480ml stainless-steel milk jug;
• one- and two-cup single-wall filter baskets;
• one- and two-cup dual-wall filter baskets;
• cleaning tool; and
• cleaning disc.

Sage Bambino Plus vs Sage Bambino

Sage also sells the standard Bambino, so it's worth understanding what the Plus adds.

Both machines use a 54mm portafilter, ThermoJet heating, PID temperature control and a 15-bar pump feeding a 9-bar extraction system.

The major difference is milk preparation.

The standard Bambino uses manual milk texturing, while the Bambino Plus adds the hands-free automatic system with selectable milk temperature and texture.

The Plus also has the larger 1.9-litre water tank, compared with 1.4 litres on the current standard Bambino.

If you already enjoy manual milk steaming, the less expensive Bambino deserves consideration.

If automatic milk is one of the reasons you're interested in this machine, the Plus is the version that provides it.

Bambino Plus vs Gaggia Classic E24

These are both compact espresso machines, but they suit quite different priorities.

The Gaggia Classic E24 is the more traditional machine, with a brass boiler and group, 58mm filter-holder, manual extraction controls and fully manual steam wand.

The Bambino Plus prioritises rapid heating, compact dimensions, volumetric shot controls and automatic milk assistance.

If you actively want a traditional hands-on espresso workflow and manual milk learning from the beginning, the Gaggia is the more natural direction.

If speed, compactness and easier milk preparation matter more, the Bambino Plus has a compelling set of conveniences.

Bambino Plus vs Hamilton Beach BaristaPro Touch

The Hamilton Beach BaristaPro Touch we recently reviewed occupies a lower-cost part of the compact espresso market.

Both machines provide a portafilter workflow in a narrow body, but the Sage has the more sophisticated automatic milk system and a well-defined espresso platform built around its 54mm portafilter, PID-controlled ThermoJet system and 9-bar extraction.

The Hamilton Beach instead uses a manual steam wand and adds touchscreen presets including Americano and its rapid cold-coffee programme.

The right choice depends on whether automatic milk and Sage's espresso system are worth the additional investment to you.

Who Is the Bambino Plus Best For?

The Bambino Plus is particularly worth considering if you:

• want to move beyond pod coffee into a portafilter espresso system;
• want automatic milk preparation without buying a fully automatic machine;
• have limited kitchen counter space;
• value extremely fast startup;
• want the flexibility of single- and dual-wall baskets;
• want to choose your grinder separately;
• make cappuccinos, lattes or other milk-based drinks regularly; or
• want a machine that provides assistance without completely removing the espresso-making process.

Who Should Look Elsewhere?

If you want a built-in grinder, the Bambino Plus isn't an all-in-one solution.

If you want extensive manual control over brew temperature, pressure and other advanced extraction parameters, this isn't designed as an enthusiast profiling machine.

If automatic milk doesn't interest you, compare it carefully with the less expensive standard Bambino.

And if you want whole beans turned into a finished milk drink with minimal preparation, a fully automatic bean-to-cup machine may suit you better.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Convenience doesn't remove the need to maintain the machine.

Empty and rinse the filter basket and portafilter after brewing and keep the group area clean.

Wipe milk from the steam wand immediately after use even though the machine performs an automatic purge.

Empty and clean the drip tray regularly, replace the water filter when required and follow Sage's cleaning and descaling instructions.

The machine will also indicate when a cleaning cycle is required.

Our Take

The Sage Bambino Plus occupies a genuinely useful middle ground.

It isn't a bean-to-cup machine and it doesn't remove the need to understand coffee preparation. You still have a portafilter, baskets, dose, grind and tamping to think about.

What it does remove is much of the initial difficulty around milk texturing, while its ThermoJet system makes waiting for the machine to heat unusually brief.

The lack of a grinder needs to be included in your budget, and advanced users may eventually want more direct control over brewing variables.

But for someone who wants to start learning espresso, values compact dimensions and makes plenty of milk drinks, the combination of manual coffee preparation and optional automatic milk texturing is particularly well judged.

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