Breville Bambino - Extremely Tight to Lock in Portafilter and Also Take out The Shot Cups

TwentyTwoCarats on 03/07/2023 - 16:36

Just starting using my new Breville Bambino coffee machine.

I noticed that it is extremely difficult to twist in the portafilter to lock it in? Does this get any better over time?
Secondly, inserting and removing the individual shot cups into/from the portafilter is also extremely tight. Had to use a spoon end to wedge it out.

Does it just loosen up over time? Because if it's like this, I can't even twist the portafilter in without grabbing the entire machine so tightly…

Any experience and wisdom is appreciated :)

Food & Grocery Breville Coffee Machine

Comments

  • DJR9000 on 03/07/2023 - 16:47

    i have the bambino plus. have had it for 18 months now probably.

    It's a tight fit for both still. Have to hold the unit while i put the portafilter on especially if it's a big dose in the cup. The tolerances are pretty tight.

    I guess you could pop the wire spring out of the portafilter body and bend it a bit to loosen, or use an aftermarket portafilter holder

    also if it wasn't part of the kit, and you want a better cup of coffee, I would definitely recommend grabbing the single wall baskets rather than the double wall ones supplied. You can get them from breville and they weren't too expensive. Pair that with a good fresh grind and it will make great coffee

  • Banj0 on 03/07/2023 - 17:03

    I don't have this machine, but if I over-dose the basket it will absolutely be significantly harder to torque the portafilter on (and I risk creating channels in the puck because I have a Rancilio with it's massive hex bolt sticking out of the shower screen…I really must get an aftermarket bolt).

    I find that different roasts can vary by up to a gram to produce the same volume in my double, and a gram too much is all it takes to go from smooth to 'hit the portafilter with a hammer' (ok…exaggerating a bit…but it's certainly harder).

    Dose aside, fresh seals can make it harder. Your seal will shrink over time, and the portafilter will go on easier if that's all it is (until eventually it won't seal very well, and you need to replace the seal, and the whole cycle goes on).

    Bambino is pumping out 15bar, which is like 200psi!!! (Really?! This seems amazing to me, but looks like that's a fact)…that portafilter needs to be on tight.

    Get a bottomless portafilter and single-walled basket as DJR9000 recommended…you'll get a better idea of what's going on with your shot, and you can then just push the basket out with your thumb.

  • KaTst3R on 03/07/2023 - 20:45

    Same problem on the Breville Barista Pro. I think due to the cold weather, the portfilter lock is very tight. So i usually pull a loose empty shot first then it expands the area. It makes it much easier to tighten the portfilter for the second shot. It is also a good idea to do this as it brings up the system/pipes closer to optimum temperature.

    I need to remove my single shot basket using a spoon but my double shot basket seems easy to remove using my painted nails.

    • jamesorion on 04/07/2023 - 13:14

      I live in Darwin and it's the same with my Bambino Plus. Not down to cold weather, just how they are made. I watched a few reviews before buying and they all mention this. The light weight of the machine doesn't help either.

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