Espresso machines should always have a steam wand. It opens a world full of coffee possibilities for milk-based coffees. There are times you need a shot of espresso, then times when you need lattes and other milk-based coffees. Thankfully, the espresso machines we are going to take a look at today feature a steam wand.
In this article, we are going to compare the Calphalon Temp iQ and Breville Bambino Plus. Both espresso machines share a lot of features but there are critical differences you should know before buying either. Our editors meticulously examined both espresso machines to make your choice easier. Let’s get into their similarities and differences.
Calphalon Temp iQ vs Breville Bambino Plus – Similarities
Let’s review allthe specifics of the Calphalon Temp iQ and the Breville Bambino Plus espresso machines in a side by side chart.
| Name | Calphalon Temp iQ | Breville Bambino Plus |
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| Available Colors | Stainless Steel | Black Truffle, Brushed Stainless Steel, Smoked Hickory, Sea Salt, Royal Champagne, Damson Blue, Oyster Shell |
| Build and Materials | Plastic and Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel |
| Interface | One-Touch Espresso | One-Touch Buttons |
| Pump Pressure | 15-bar Italian Pump | 15-bar Italian-made Pump |
| Bean Hopper Capacity | Around 250 grams | Not applicable |
| Water Reservoir Capacity | 2.6 Liters | 1.9 Liters |
| Heating System | Thermoblock Heating Technology | 600W ThermoJet |
| PID Temperature Control | Yes | Yes |
| Pre-infusion Function | Yes | Yes |
| Heat Up Time | Less than a minute | 3 seconds |
| Steam Wand | Yes | Yes |
| Cup Warming Tray | Yes | No |
| Portafilter Size | 58 mm | 54 mm |
| Programmable | No | Yes |
| Automatic Shutoff | Yes | No |
| Purge Function | No | Yes |
| Power | 1350 Watts | 1560 Watts |
| Product Dimensions (W x D x H) | 12.2 x 9.84 x 12.8 inches | 7.7 x 12.6 x 12.2 inches |
| Product Weight | 26.3 pounds | 3.1 pounds |
| Included Accessories | Stainless Steel Milk Jug, Tamper, Cleaning Disc, Cleaning Pin, Cleaning Brush, 1 and 2 cup Single Wall Filters, 1 and 2 cup Dual Wall Filters | 54mm Tamper, the Razor™ Precision Dosing Tool, 16 fl. oz / 480ml Stainless Steel Milk Jug, 1 & 2 Cup Dual Wall Filter Baskets, Cleaning Tool, Cleaning Disc |
| Warranty | 3 Year Limited Warranty | 2 Year Limited Warranty |
| Price | Check Price on Amazon | Check Price on Amazon |
15-Bar Italian-made Pressure Pump
The Calphalon Temp iQ and Breville Bambino Plus squeeze flavor from coffee grounds with their 15-Bar Italian-made pressure pumps. 15 bars are the right amount of pressure for optimum flavor extraction. Both espresso machines also have pre-infusion functions to ensure every flavor and aroma are extracted. To start brewing coffee, both the Calphalon Temp iQ and Breville Bambino Plus use their physical interface buttons and knobs.
Short Heat Up Time
Heat up time is another important specification you should take note of, especially when you use espresso machines early in the morning. Luckily for morning persons, the Calphalon Temp iQ and Breville Bambino Plus has a quick and short heat up time. While the Breville Bambino Plus has an insanely fast heat-up time of only 3 seconds, the Calphalon counterpart takes a little bit longer to heat up. Although this is the case, the users of the Calphalon Temp iQ report that it only takes around 10 to 15 seconds. That is still pretty fast in my books. Perhaps this is attributed to their heating system. The Calphalon Temp iQ uses Thermoblock Heating Technology, while the Breville Bambino Plus uses 600W ThermoJet. Lastly, both espresso machines can produce the perfect temperature with their PID temperature control.
Included Accessories
Included accessories are not sparse with both espresso machines. The Calphalon Temp iQ and Breville Bambino Plus come with a portafilter, tamper, a stainless-steel milk jug, a set of wall filters, and a set of cleaning tools for maintenance. Take note that their portafilters are of different diameters. The portafilter of Calphalon Temp iQ and Breville Bambino Plus are sized 58 mm and 54 mm, respectively.
Differences between the Calphalon Temp iQ and Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machines
Design and Footprint
Design and footprint should be taken into consideration. Both of these are important since one of these espresso machines will take space on your kitchen countertop. Color, build, and materials are factors to be considered.
Calphalon Temp iQ
Personally, the Calphalon Temp iQ looks more professional. The combination of the stainless-steel material and the conical burr mill grinder on the top makes you feel like a real barista. If you were to choose which looks better in a café, the Calphalon Temp iQ will certainly be the answer of most people due to its design alone. However, its wider design can be a problem for some. For people who have small kitchen countertop space, the wide footprint of the Calphalon may pose problems. The Calphalon Temp iQ is available only in the stainless-steel variant.
Breville Bambino Plus
The Breville Bambino Plus is not a looker. It prioritizes simplicity and functionality over grandiose design. It has a smaller and compact footprint compared to the Calphalon Temp iQ. Although Breville focused on simplistic design, the Bambino Plus is still available in different colors. You can get the Breville Bambino Plus in black truffle, brushed stainless steel, smoked hickory, sea salt, royal champagne, damson blue, and oyster shell.
The Winner Is- Calphalon Temp iQ
Coffee Grinder and Bean Hopper
Only one of these two machines comes with a built-in coffee grinder. Bean hopper houses your precious coffee beans.
Calphalon Temp iQ
The Calphalon Temp iQ is the only espresso machine in this comparison that has a bean hopper. The bean hopper can store around 250 grams of coffee beans. Moreover, the Calphalon Temp iQ has a conical burr mill grinder. This conical burr grinder has 30 adjustable grind settings to fine tune to your preferred flavor profile. You can make coffee from freshly ground coffee beans without using a standalone grinder, unlike the Breville Bambino Plus.
Breville Bambino Plus
On the other hand, the Breville Bambino Plus does not have a coffee grinder. Therefore, you have to use a standalone grinder if you want to use whole coffee beans. If you do not have a standalone grinder yet, you need to get one. Otherwise, you need to use pre-ground coffee.
The Winner Is- Calphalon Temp iQ
Water Reservoir
The Calphalon Temp iQ and Breville Bambino Plus both have a rear-loading water reservoir.
Calphalon Temp iQ
The Calphalon Temp iQ has a larger water reservoir. Perhaps, having a wider footprint has an advantage after all. It can store up to 2.6 liters of water. Since both are rear loading, having a larger water reservoir will make trips to refill it less frequent.
Breville Bambino Plus
The Breville Bambino Plus has a smaller water capacity of 1.9 liters. Although it has a smaller capacity, the 1.9-liter reservoir can make you more than 50 shots of espresso. But still, the smaller water reservoir of the Breville Bambino Plus is a disadvantage.
The Winner Is- Calphalon Temp iQ
Other Small Features
Here are other small features worth mentioning.
Calphalon Temp iQ
Only the Calphalon Temp iQ has an automatic shutoff feature. The Calphalon Temp iQ is backed with a long 3-year limited warranty.
Breville Bambino Plus
The Breville Bambino Plus does not have an automatic shutoff function, but it has more small features than the Calphalon espresso machine. The Breville Bambino Plus has programmable functionalities and a purge function. This purge function automatically adjusts the water temperatures after steam for optimal espresso temperature. The Breville Bambino Plus only has a 2-year limited warranty, but you can buy an extended warranty.
The Winner Is- Breville Bambino Plus
Pros and Cons
Finally, some pros and cons of the Calphalon Temp iQ and the Breville Bambino Plus will help us determine which espresso machine is the best option.
Calphalon Temp iQ
Pros:
- The Calphalon Temp iQ has a more professional design, despite its wider footprint.
- It has a built-in bean hopper and grinder with a capacity of 250 grams.
- You can make more espresso shots with its larger 2.6-liter water reservoir.
- The Calphalon Temp iQ features a cup warming tray.
- It has an automatic shutoff function.
- The Calphalon Temp iQ is way cheaper than the Breville Bambino Plus.
Cons:
- Although heat-up is fast, it is relatively slower than the Breville Bambino Plus.
Breville Bambino Plus
Pros:
- The Breville Bambino Plus boasts a 15-bar Italian-made pressure pump for optimal flavor extraction.
- Its 600-watt ThermoJet can heat up insanely fast in just 3 seconds.
- While it is smaller, its rear-loading 1.9-liter water reservoir will suffice for most people.
Cons:
- In addition to its fewer features, the Breville Bambino Plus is more expensive than the Calphalon Temp iQ.
The Final Verdict: Calphalon Temp iQ vs Breville Bambino
The Calphalon Temp iQ dominated our comparison. It has way more features and is cheaper than the Breville Bambino Plus. If you want to get the best value for your money, our editors recommend you get the Calphalon Temp iQ. While Breville has been known to make great espresso machines, the Calphalon Temp iQ performed better in our tests.
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