Sage SES500BTR Espresso Machine - Review 🏆

The Sage Bambino Plus is an entry-level automatic espresso machine designed for home use. Part of Sage's popular Bambino line, this compact machine aims to bring café-quality espresso drinks into your kitchen.

With its 3 second heat up time and automatic milk frothing, the Bambino Plus takes a lot of the guesswork out of making espresso-based drinks. It's simple and intuitive to use, even for beginners. The machine comes in a stylish design with a small footprint, making it perfect for kitchens with limited counter space.

While it lacks some of the advanced features and customization of higher-end models, the Bambino Plus punches above its weight given its relatively affordable price point. It's a great option for someone looking to dip their toes into the world of home espresso without breaking the bank.

Design and Build Quality

The Sage Bambino Plus espresso machine features a compact and sleek design with a brushed stainless steel exterior that looks great on any kitchen countertop. Despite its small footprint measuring just 12.60 x 24.20 x 31.50 cm, the build quality does not feel compromised.

The machine housing is made of thick gauge steel that feels sturdy and durable. All the buttons and switches have a solid tactile feel when pressed. The portafilter locks into the group head securely with a satisfying click. The 3.5 inch full color LCD display is bright and responsive, providing an intuitive user interface. The steam wand and hot water dispenser are made of stainless steel and feel sturdy. Overall, the Bambino Plus feels like a well-constructed appliance that should hold up well under daily use.

While not as heavy duty as commercial espresso machines, the materials and build quality of the Bambino Plus are impressive for a home espresso machine in this price range. It strikes a good balance between a compact footprint and a sturdy construction.

If you're looking for a more premium home espresso machine with excellent build quality, the Breville VCF107 is an excellent choice. This semi-automatic machine features an all stainless steel housing and high quality components. The portafilter is commercial grade with a 58mm basket. The 15 bar Italian pump provides excellent pressure for rich espresso extraction. Dual stainless steel boilers allow you to extract espresso and steam milk simultaneously.

With its solid construction and premium materials like brass components and a stainless steel drip tray, the Breville VCF107 has an extremely sturdy feel. All the controls have a weighted, quality motion. The machine weighs in at over 20 pounds, giving it a reassuringly heavy and stable footprint. If build quality is your top priority, the Breville VCF107 delivers with its commercial-grade durability.

In comparison to the Sage Bambino Plus, the Breville VCF107 has a larger footprint but also a more premium and heavy-duty build. While the Bambino Plus is impressively well-constructed for its size and price point, the VCF107 takes build quality to the next level with commercial-grade components and an all stainless steel housing designed for longevity.

So in summary, if you have limited counter space, the Bambino Plus packs sleek styling and good build quality into a compact footprint. But if you want true commercial-level durability in a home espresso machine, the premium materials and sturdy feel of the Breville VCF107 make it stand out as an incredibly well-built machine.

Ease of Use

The Sage Bambino Plus is designed to be incredibly easy to use, even for beginners. The interface is simple and intuitive, with just a few buttons to control all functions.

• The steam wand and hot water spout are conveniently located on the front of the machine for easy access.

• There are only two programmable buttons - one for single espresso and one for double espresso. Simply press the button of your desired shot size for automated brewing.

• The portafilter securely locks into place with a satisfying click, ensuring good alignment for optimal extraction.

• There are no complicated programming options or settings to worry about. The Bambino Plus automatically adjusts water temperature and pressure for brewing.

• The milk frothing wand makes it easy to texture milk with the built-in air injection system. No manual frothing required.

• Overall, the machine is designed to be low-maintenance. The automatic purge function helps keep the thermocoil clean after steaming. The removable drip tray, portafilter, and water tank are dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.

The Sage Bambino Plus prioritizes simplicity in all aspects of its design. With straightforward controls, automated brewing programs, and easy-clean features, this machine takes the guesswork out of making café-quality espresso drinks at home. Even first-time users will be able to produce consistent results with little effort.

In comparison, the De'Longhi ECP35.31 also offers simple operation but with fewer convenient features. It lacks the digital display and preset brewing functions of the Bambino Plus, relying on manual controls instead. The steam wand must be manually operated as well. While the De'Longhi model is still relatively easy to use, it requires some learning and practice to master the brewing process. The hands-on approach may appeal to more advanced users but could be frustrating for novices.

When weighing ease of use, the Bambino Plus has a clear advantage. The intuitive interface and helpful preset programs make it accessible for anyone, regardless of barista skills. Even busy households or workplaces can enjoy the convenience of automated espresso drinks at the push of a button. For those seeking maximum simplicity in a home espresso machine, the Bambino Plus is an excellent choice.

Coffee Customization

The Bambino Plus allows you to customize your coffee in several ways to get your perfect cup. One of the key features is the integrated conical burr grinder, which grinds the beans right before extraction for maximum freshness. You can adjust the grind size settings from fine to coarse to dial in the optimal grind for your beans.

The machine uses 19 bars of pressure during extraction, which is ideal for brewing rich, full-bodied espresso shots. Unlike some lower-end machines, the Bambino Plus has a thermocoil heating system that regulates water temperature during the entire brewing process. The optimal brew temperature is around 200°F.

For milk frothing, the Bambino Plus comes with a manual steam wand. It can produce silky smooth microfoam that integrates nicely into the espresso shots. The steam wand is easy to use, allowing you to froth milk to your desired texture, from light airy foam to rich velvety microfoam. You have full control over the milk frothing process.

The customization options allow you to play around with different grind sizes, milk textures, and shot volumes to create your ideal espresso-based drink. Whether you prefer a simple espresso, cappuccino, latte, or other specialty drink, the Bambino Plus gives you the tools to craft it just how you like it.

Brewing Performance

The Bambino Plus brews espresso incredibly fast while still achieving excellent temperature and crema quality. The thermojet heating system only needs 3 seconds to reach the optimal brewing temperature of 195°F-205°F. This rapid heat-up time means you can go from turning the machine on to enjoying your first espresso in under a minute.

The 54mm portafilter with 19 grams double shot basket produces café-quality espresso with thick, rich crema every time. The low pressure pre-infusion gradually increases water pressure at the start of the pull to evenly saturate and expand the coffee grounds before full pressure extraction. This results in balanced espresso extraction with pronounced aromas and flavors.

The 3 second heat up time, 9 bar pressure pump, and digital temperature control work together to pull consistent tasting shots. The espresso comes out with a beautiful tiger striped crema across the surface. The crema is known for being an indicator of proper extraction and freshness. Overall, the Bambino Plus delivers fast, hot espresso with excellent crema that rivals much more expensive machines.

Espresso Taste

The Sage Bambino Plus produces espresso with rich, intense flavor and a smooth, velvety mouthfeel. The espresso shots have a nice layer of crema on top that indicates good extraction and freshness.

The espresso has notes of dark chocolate, caramel, and hazelnut. It is well-balanced, neither too bitter nor too acidic. The flavor profile leans more towards dark roast with the chocolate and caramel notes being most prominent.

The aroma of the espresso is enticing - you get whiffs of the nutty and chocolate aromas as soon as you place the cup below the portafilter. This enhances the overall espresso drinking experience.

The mouthfeel is where the Bambino Plus espresso really shines. It has a thick, syrupy texture that coats the tongue nicely. The tiny bubbles within the crema provide a velvety smoothness. The espresso is not at all watery or thin.

Overall, the espresso from the Bambino Plus is very flavorful and has an alluring aroma, rich mouthfeel, and excellent balance. It's easy to extract espresso with consistent taste qualities on this machine. The automation and preset profiles built into the Bambino Plus help it deliver top-notch espresso taste.

Milk Frothing

The Sage Bambino Plus espresso machine comes with a built-in steam wand that makes frothing milk for lattes and cappuccinos easy. The steam wand is able to produce hot, creamy, microfoam with just the right texture for topping espresso drinks.

The steam wand is simple to use - just insert it into the milk pitcher and turn the dial to begin steaming. The steam power is strong enough to froth both dairy and non-dairy milks quickly. Within about 10-20 seconds you can get light, airy foam. The temperature reaches up to 165-170°F, hot enough to create latte art but not so hot that it scalds the milk.

One of the highlights of the Bambino Plus's steam wand is that it automatically stops steaming when the milk reaches the optimal temperature. This takes the guesswork out of frothing and ensures your milk doesn't overheat. The auto-off feature produces consistent results every time.

The microfoam produced by the steam wand is finely textured with small, even bubbles. This allows the milk to integrate smoothly into the espresso for a velvety consistency, and also makes it easy to pour latte art. The foam is stable enough to float nicely on the surface of the drink.

Overall, the steam wand on the Sage Bambino Plus makes frothing milk fast and foolproof. It heats milk quickly to the right temperature and texture for crafting cafe-quality milk drinks at home.

Cleaning and Maintenance

The Sage Bambino Plus has excellent self-cleaning features to keep maintenance simple. An auto-purge function automatically cleans the brewing system after each coffee, ensuring fresh flavors every time.

Descaling is also straightforward with a dedicated descale mode that guides you through the process step-by-step. Sage recommends descaling every 1-2 months depending on usage. The machine alerts you when a descale cycle is needed.

The removable 54mm portafilter and stainless steel milk jug are dishwasher safe for easy cleaning. Wiping down the exterior housing is quick with a soft damp cloth.

Replacing parts on the Bambino Plus is simple for the owner. The water filter, descaling tablets, steam wand, and seal kits are all user-serviceable without needing repairs. Sage offers video tutorials online demonstrating how to swap out parts.

Overall, the efficient self-cleaning design minimizes time and effort needed for maintenance. The descaling process is automated and parts are conveniently replaceable by the user. This hassle-free upkeep helps you focus on enjoying delicious coffees from the Bambino Plus.

Value for Money

The Sage Bambino Plus offers excellent value for money given its features, durability, and performance. At around £300-350, it sits in the lower end of the mid-range espresso machine market, yet punches above its weight.

The machine is compact and thoughtfully designed to maximize value. It utilizes thermojet heating that reaches the ideal brewing temperature in just 3 seconds, allowing you to make coffee quickly without compromising taste. The automatic steam wand can texture milk to perfection in a matter of seconds with no manual intervention needed.

Despite the affordable price point, the Bambino Plus doesn't feel cheap. The mostly metal construction gives it a premium feel, and Sage has a reputation for quality and durability even in their lower-priced models. Many owners report years of consistent performance with minimal maintenance required.

When it comes to actual coffee quality, the Bambino Plus consistently impresses. It can pull rich, balanced espresso shots and froth milk to silky microfoam quality. The results rival more expensive machines costing twice as much. For an entry-level semi-automatic espresso machine, it's hard to beat the Bambino Plus on value.

The compromise is that the Bambino Plus lacks some of the customization and advanced features of pricier machines. But for an affordable, compact machine that can deliver café-quality espresso drinks at home, the Sage Bambino Plus is extremely tough to beat on value. It represents an ideal entry point into quality espresso without breaking the bank.

Conclusion

The Sage Bambino Plus is an excellent option for anyone looking for an affordable automatic espresso machine that still produces cafe-quality coffee. It has a compact and sleek design that will look great in any kitchen, and is very easy to use even for beginners.

The 3 second heat up time and automatic milk frothing make brewing espresso drinks incredibly convenient. You can easily customize your coffee with the manual espresso and froth buttons to adjust shot volume and milk texture. The espresso shots pull with excellent pressure and taste smooth and flavorful. The milk frothing wand creates silky, creamy foam that rivals most coffee shops.

Overall, the performance and quality of the Bambino Plus are very impressive for the price. The main downsides are the small water reservoir capacity and lack of programming options compared to higher-end models. However, it excels at the basics - brewing delicious espresso and milk drinks at the touch of a button.

If you're looking for an intuitive, affordable machine that can craft cafe-quality espresso and cappuccinos, the Sage Bambino Plus is an excellent choice. It delivers tremendous value for money and outperforms most other espresso machines in its price range. For home baristas on a budget, it's easy to recommend the Bambino Plus.