You’ve been using your Breville Bambino Espresso machine for a few months now and have become accustomed to your stock pressurized portafilter. However, you find that it’s difficult to improve your espresso shots. It may be time to upgrade to either a pressurized portafilter or even a bottomless portafilter.
These equipment changes can boost the flavor of your espresso shot, increase the amount of crema produced, and even improve the overall consistency of your espresso shot. In this blog, we’ll discuss the best portafilter for Breville Bambino and explore the different types, sizing requirements, and upgrade options that fit your personal preferences and needs.
Why Upgrade the Breville Bambino Portafilter?
In the next section, we’ll outline the limitations of stock portafilters, the benefits of the bottomless portafilter, and the increased durability of portafilter upgrade options.
Stock Portafilter Limitations
The stock portafilter on the Breville Bambino isn’t inherently bad or lower quality, but there are limitations to consider with this standard portafilter. These limitations include:
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Lack of visibility with channeling, tamping, or dosing issues because of the spout obscuring the process
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Less quality crema. The stock portafilter can…
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Break the crema
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Cool the shot too much
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Affects both the appearance and the flavor clarity of crema
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Lead to flow disruption
The Breville Bambino alternately comes with a 54 mm non-pressurized portafilter, which won’t experience these common issues and allows greater transparency into the extraction process. But when you upgrade to a bottomless option, you’ll improve the feedback of your espresso shot.
Benefits of a Bottomless Portafilter
If you decide to upgrade to a bottomless portafilter for your Breville Bambino, it can offer several major benefits. These include:
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The ability to see the extraction directly, which allows you to spot channeling, dosing, and tamping issues that you may otherwise miss
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Immediate visual feedback that can speed up learning and machine hygiene
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Produces even better crema and cleaner flavors than non-pressurized baskets
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Easier to clean - No spouts to unclog or unscrew, removable basket that pops out
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Visually appealing - See the full process as the espresso streams into a single, golden cone
Build Quality and Ergonomics
The standard Breville Bambino machine has a durable portafilter made of aluminum, but non-Breville brand or aftermarket portafilters can have a few benefits:
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Other portafilters can be made of stainless steel or premium woods
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More durable than stock handles
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Ergonomic grips and aesthetic upgrades can improve both function and look
For the highest-quality non-Breville portafilter options, Pesado offers interchangeable hybrid spout/non-spout portafilters and bottomless options that enable the greatest versatility in making espresso and coffee drinks.
Choosing the Best Portafilter for Breville Bambino
In the next section, we’ll discuss some of the considerations that will emerge when you’re looking to upgrade your stock portafilter on the Breville Bambino.
Portafilter Size and Compatibility
It’s not enough to only look for an upgraded portafilter with strong reviews; your choice also needs to integrate size requirements and compatibility restrictions into your decision. Here are some things to keep in mind:
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The Breville Bambino and Bambino Plus both use 54 mm portafilters; your upgrade choice must be between 53 mm and 55 mm.
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Choosing the correct size is critical to avoid leaks and an unstable seal
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If you’re looking for an aftermarket option, ensure that your basket choice is compatible with your chosen portafilter
Types of Portafilters Available
There are three primary options of portafilters that you can choose from: pressurized, non-pressurized, and bottomless. Let’s break down each of these preferences:
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Pressurized (dual-wall) - the most beginner-friendly and forgiving with pre-ground coffee.
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Two layers - an inner perforated wall and an outer wall with a single exit hole
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Creates artificial pressure during extraction
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Non-pressurized (also known as single-wall) – requires precise grinding, but will produce better flavor than a pressurized portafilter.
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One perforated layer at the bottom
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Relies on the user in adjusting grind size, tamping pressure, and puck prep to create appropriate extraction pressure
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Bottomless - The highest-quality portafilter allows ultimate visibility that can assist with more efficient learning and the premium crema quality.
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Chopped bottom requires user precision
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No spout
Best Upgrade Recommendations
Depending on where you are with your coffee journey and your satisfaction with your current equipment, you’ll want different levels of upgrades for your Breville Bambino or Breville Bambino Plus Machines.
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Beginners Upgrade - If you have a pressurized portafilter, a compatible, 54 mm non-pressurized portafilter is a smart upgrade that will lead to better extraction results.
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Intermediate/Advanced Upgrade - If you’re ready for a more expensive upgrade, the bottomless portafilter with precision baskets
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Accessories like tampers and distributors can also take your coffee to the next level.
When you’re ready to improve your Breville Bambino and your skills as a barista, take a look at the many Pesado products that include portafilters, distributors, tampers, dosing equipment, and other accessories that can help you make the most consistent brews.
The Best Portafilter Upgrade for Your Bambino
You may be just starting to make your own coffee or on your way to opening your own coffee shop. Still, there is immense value in upgrading your Breville Bambino’s pressurized portafilter to a bottomless or non-pressurized portafilter. You’ll have more control, be able to produce better flavors, and even have the capability to improve your skills. And with the right accessories and tools, your Breville Bambino can be an effective option for entry-level baristas or coffee connoisseurs. For the most high-quality accessory and equipment pairings, check out Pesado’s line of precision coffee tools to elevate your espresso to what you always imagined.
