Known for its all-inclusive, beginner-friendly systems (such as the barista express and the oracle touch), Breville is among the most popular brands of coffee makers. But perhaps its most underrated system is the bambino plus, a compact machine that still packs a punch. While it doesn’t include a built-in grinder, like many of the other models, this allows you to invest in a higher-quality grinder (my choice being Baratza’s encore grinder).
That’s not to say Breville’s built-in grinders aren’t decent — they are. But according to the brand, its grinders work best with non-oily beans, which are typically light and medium roasts. However, as someone who prefers dark Brazilian espresso beans (my favorite being Porto Rico Importing Co.’s Brazil espresso), which are infamously oily, my machine eventually got clogged. To avoid this, I decided to pair my bambino plus with the Baratza grinder. And I’m glad I did.
