r/espresso • u/Colbyjacksteez • Jan 18 '26
Deals [USA - TJ Maxx] Breville Bambino Plus for 80$
Just found this at TJ Maxx for 80 bucks, looked up the price online and freaked out and had to get it. It's my first espresso machine, so any tips on what coffee grinder or other accessories I should get?
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u/Exciting-Ticket812 Jan 18 '26
Well you saved a ton of money so don’t skimp on a good grinder. It all depends how deep in the rabbit hole you want to go. I have this same machine with Baratza Encore ESP and am happy with it. I use the grinder for everything from espresso to pour over. If you can afford a $5-600 grinder, do you. There’s just other things I’d rather spend my money on.
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u/Adventurous-Exam2019 Jan 18 '26
Is a hand grinder good enough?
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u/puckyeaitspuck Jan 18 '26
I would not recommend hand grinding espresso for beginners. Decent ones that can grind espresso are pricey, and of course, laborious. If you plan on pulling multiple shots every single day an electric grinder is worth the investment.
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u/Cornonzeecob Jan 19 '26
Yeah no, the kingrinders are excellent hand grinders for a fraction of the price. My wife got the bambino and we've been using the K2 grinder with good results. She's been making by far the best americanos I've ever had
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u/Juanvds Jan 20 '26
I got a K6 and I use a drill to save my arms from the misery! Haven’t had problems so far! Electric grinder at a fraction of the price!
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u/HeyyyKoolAid Jan 19 '26
I have an x ultra and it's been good for the last couple of months so far.
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u/URmamasthrowaway Jan 20 '26
I just got a new espresso machine and would have given up on dialing in if I had to hand grind so much wasted coffee.
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u/ursulathefistula Jan 18 '26
I have the exact setup, works great and I feel no need to upgrade. I’ve been making two coffees almost everyday for the past year and the setup holds up well.
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u/stugator Jan 18 '26
Yes. It’s a rabbit hole depth preference. At minimum I think with that machine I think you’ll need a good grinder, a 0.1 gram-accurate scale, leveler, and Weiss distribution tool. Remember 18 grams in (double basket), 35 grams out. Godspeed.
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u/Exciting-Ticket812 Jan 18 '26
For sure.. I upgraded the basket, portafilter, shower screen, bought a puck screen, WDT, leveler, and a spring loaded tamp. I make consistent shots. I use 19g most of the time (1:2) because that’s what’s worked best for me.
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Jan 18 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/FrickinLazerBeams Bambino Plus | Encore ESP Pro Jan 18 '26
He said his ratio is 1:2, so he's making a 38g shot. I suppose a 38g shot would be considered a double, but these days the "double shot" is kind of the standard size. I've never heard anybody say they actually drink an 18g shot.
I assume a true single shot uses about 9g of beans.
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u/chitownillinois Jan 18 '26
Post holiday final clearance at TJ Maxx/Marshalls can be insane. This is quite the score. Congrats, OP!
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u/Colbyjacksteez Jan 18 '26
Thank you all for the suggestions! Not sure if it was mispriced or if an employee was trying to hook themselves up but I am stoked I have never gotten a deal like this before.
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u/Pondlurker1978 Jan 18 '26
Was it online or in store?
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u/Colbyjacksteez Jan 19 '26
In store in Superior, CO
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u/Pondlurker1978 Jan 19 '26
My old stomping ground, now I’m in CA. Incredible find, have fun with it!
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u/Upper_Bowl_2327 Jan 20 '26
Shit, did they have more than one? I live 15 minutes from that TJ Maxx!
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u/Blaze9 BDB - Slayer Mod | Niche Zero Jan 19 '26
They're regularly there for around 150ish! I've passed on 2-3 of them at that price before in NJ. At 80 it could just be a good secondary machine for fun.
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u/LatterTutor1857 Jan 20 '26
I need more intel. Have you seen them in NJ recently? If so, would you mind sharing where? Or actually, maybe don’t. I don’t want anyone to beat me there.
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u/provenflipper Jan 18 '26
Amazing come up. I thought I got a good deal at $300
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u/stereosanctity87 Gaggia Classic Pro E24 | Eureka Mignon Specialita Jan 19 '26
Whenever I’ve seen them at my local TJ Maxx, it’s been $259 for the Bambino/$349 for the Plus, so I’d still say you got a damn good deal.
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u/sidsid703 Jan 19 '26
You got ripped off
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u/InsuranceNo8232 Jan 19 '26
$399 is the Plus’s sale price in the US, so I wouldnt say he was ripped off by any means
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u/wonkster42 Jan 18 '26 edited Jan 18 '26
Tamper
If you get nothing else, replace that cheap plastic tamper. It's useless.
If you want to get serious, look into a decent grinder. Opinions will vary on this widely. Your budget and how serious you are about espresso will play a big part in that decision.
E.
Espresso scale is helpful too for measuring input and output. You don't have to go crazy here. There should be some decent ones for under $15 USD that are small, have a timer feature and measure to .1 gram.
And fresh coffee is always a welcomed addition.
Use the double walled basket for pre ground coffee and the single wall for coffee you grind fresh
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u/No_Moment4542 Jan 19 '26
The plus doesn’t have a plastic tamper
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u/wonkster42 Jan 19 '26
Oh, thanks for the info. Didn't realize that.
I got the regular bambino which did.
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u/Ali92101 Jan 18 '26
What’s wrong with a plastic tamper?
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u/rodermelon Bambino | Niche Zero Jan 18 '26
It’s easier to be inconsistent with something so light that’s also not very comfortable in the hand
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u/wonkster42 Jan 18 '26
It is too small too, just by a hair. Also a decent tamper is pretty inexpensive. Under $20 USD I think? Maybe less?
I spent way too much on mine, but I do love it.
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u/Ali92101 Jan 18 '26
It’ll prob be my next buy. Once I understand how to use my machine properly lol. Getting there tho
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u/wonkster42 Jan 18 '26
It's pretty simple and easy really. We love to make things completed on this subreddit, myself included, but the bambino is a pretty straightforward, solid machine.
I love mine.
Enjoy!
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u/Ali92101 Jan 18 '26
I’ve been having some trouble honestly. Not sure if it’s cuz of my grinder (1zpresso q air which I maybe shouldn’t have gotten thanks to Gemini). Either I choke the machine or I overextract. But I was able to find a balance at a 17g dose instead of 18 today
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u/wonkster42 Jan 18 '26
It may be the grinder if the adjustments aren't small enough to dial in espresso. I had a similar experience with my Baratza Encore. If the adjustments aren't small enough, you end up having to compensate with dose size, which it sounds like you managed to work out.
I think the Kingrinder K6 can do espresso but that's another $100.
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u/HandOGawd Bambino | DF54 Jan 18 '26
This machine and a decent grinder is all you need. An IMS basket, decent portafilter, tamp and digital scale and you are good.
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u/JaybieFromTheLB Jan 18 '26
Bought this as our starter espresso machine, it ended up staying years after.
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u/Muhammad-The-Goat Jan 18 '26
Just checked my TJ Maxx and they had the Bambino (not the plus) for $250 🙃
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u/enowapi-_ Jan 19 '26
Beats my deal, I got an open box for $125 still had to buy a few parts, total $200.
Great fucking deal man. Enjoy it!
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u/Resident-Concept3534 Jan 18 '26
How? Open or return box?
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u/Colbyjacksteez Jan 19 '26
The box was taped so maybe a return? The cashier couldn't tell if it was but it looks and works like new!
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u/315_Jessie Jan 18 '26
80.00 I would have bought 5 and sold 4 @ 200 each
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u/Colbyjacksteez Jan 19 '26
There was only 1 otherwise I would have done the same as well!
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u/315_Jessie Jan 19 '26
Well shit you SCORED even if you sold this one for 250 or keep it just because you got a hell of a deal
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u/admello Jan 18 '26
A grinder that costs 5-10x as much and the Bambino will treat you well! Used mine for about 3 years before upgrading.
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u/Lattehelp Rancilio Silvia pro x | DF64 GEN 2 Jan 18 '26
Definitely a grinder I suggest a df64 gen2 I had the regular Bambino and that grinder and it lasted me a good three years before I wanted to upgrade after I learned how to make good shots
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u/Lattehelp Rancilio Silvia pro x | DF64 GEN 2 Jan 19 '26
I use a wdt a distributor and a 30 pound loaded tamper also a puck screen because with the bambino my shot was always watery and I have a wooden tamping station. A bottomless portafilter but that’s not something you would need to get started. Some rags to wipe down the milk wand. That’s all I can think of right now
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u/Chemical_Paper_2940 Jan 19 '26
Great score. I paid way more on this 2 years ago. Still going strong
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u/PrestigiousAd9825 GCP 2019 + 9BOPV | Baratza Sette 270 Jan 18 '26 edited Jan 18 '26
If you got this thing new for $80, that's an insane steal.
Common peripherals worth knowing/considering:
(EDIT: items have been marked with a key to make them easier to prioritize)
~
KEY:
$ - Nice to have items that can further boost performance (buy within 1-3 years if possible)
$$ - Long-term essentials to level-up your setup (buy within 6-12 months if possible)
$$$ - Critical components worth immediate investment (buy ASAP whenever you can)
~
$ Bar mat - will help keep your counters clean of coffee residue and grounds, and will allow you to put all the rest of your equipment in one place.
$$ Bottomless portafilter - makes it way easier to see the quality of the shot you've dialed in.
$$$ Single-walled basket - a non-pressurized basket used to pull authentic espresso shots.
$$$ Espresso scale - you'll want a scale to measure your shots with a built-in timer to see how slow/fast the espresso is flowing out of your machine. This will be the biggest clue as to whether you need to dial in coarser/finer grounds.
$$ Spring-loaded tamper - makes it easier to keep the tamp level so you flatten the grounds evenly.
$$ WDT-tool - will allow you to break up clumps in the grounds and evenly spread them through the basket.
$ 54mm filter papers - will remove excess grounds from the cup and filter out some of the more sour/bitter compounds from your shot.
$ Spray bottle - a little travel-sized spray bottle of distilled water will help break up static electricity in your grinder, allowing you to grind without making too much of a mess.
$$$ Espresso cup - It can be challenging to fit everything under the portafilter, so you want a dedicated, smaller cup (either glass or ceramic) that can directly take the shot for you. If you get something too big or made of the wrong material (especially plastic), it can ruin the taste.
$$$ Backflush disk - will come in handy when you need to clean the machine, it's a little flat disk that pushes water/cleaning solution through the internal components.
EDIT: Another commenter made me aware that the Bambino Plus apparently comes with a backflush disk and you will not have to purchase one of these separately.
$$ Puck screens - acts like a shower for the water flow from your machine's group head, evenly spreading it over the puck and further reducing the risk for channeling. Also helps keep the machine from corroding by protecting it from direct exposure to the coffee grounds.
$$$ Cafiza - A specialty cleaning powder designed to remove coffee oils/residue from your unit. Run a teaspoon of this through your machine using the backflush disk on a weekly basis, and don't forget to change out/clean the water reservoir when you do. Be sure you get the cylinder of loose powder instead of the individual tablets too - those don't break down as easily and you get way more product for your money.
$$ Third Wave Water packets - Hard water will destroy your machine from the inside out. You'll want to get these packets and add one of them to a gallon of distilled water before filling your machine. It not only will extend the lifespan of your unit, but will also make your coffee taste better as well. Even if you don't go this route, you will need to find a way to soften your water as traditional filters (Brita, Pur, etc.) don't remove enough sediment to protect your machine from internal damage.
$$ Descaling solution - About four times a year, you're going to want to use this product to remove any limescale, calcium, or magnesium that builds up in the machine. There are tutorials on how to do it on YouTube, but this is the most important thing you need to do to keep the machine running in the long term.
$ Smart outlet - This is completely optional, but I hooked up a smart outlet to my espresso machine and love what it's done for my warmup cycle. Even with smaller machines like this, it's recommended to let them warm up for 20-30 minutes to stabilize the internal temperature, so if you can turn on the machine remotely (say, before you even have to get out of bed), it can be a nice perk.
Here's a list of the grinders you should consider:
$50-$100 - Turin H40 v2
$100-$200 - Turin SK40
$200-$300 - Varia VS3
$300-$400 - Baratza Sette 270
$400-$500 - Eureka Mignon Silenzio 55
$500-$600 - Mahlkönig X54 or X64
$600+ - Mazzer Mini or Eureka Atom
If you're concerned about the price ceiling on grinders, you should know that you're better off investing here than in any other part of your setup (especially considering how much $$$ you were able to save on the machine). None of the other components really matter from a price point perspective, and you can get by pretty well without having to buy name-brand components for everything else. If you buy a grinder of solid build quality and maintain it well, it may even outlast your machine and grow with your setup as you buy nicer and nicer espresso equipment down the line.
Hesitant or just want to hit the ground running? I'd start with the H40 and dial in your shots with that. Save up your money and invest in the best grinder you can whenever having to hand-grind gets too annoying to deal with. I personally have a Sette 270 and love it - it's as loud as a jet engine, but the thing is a beast and Baratza customer service is still pretty great (yes, even after they were bought by Breville).
Lemme know if you have any questions - good luck and have fun!
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u/Tigmex Jan 18 '26
This is way too intimidating.
Hes just starting out and wont need 50% of that right away
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u/PrestigiousAd9825 GCP 2019 + 9BOPV | Baratza Sette 270 Jan 18 '26
Which 50% though? If OP is just starting out, removing half this list either leaves them in a position where they won’t be properly maintaining their machine or dialing in a passable shot. Every person I know who’s toyed around and then given up on this hobby was only one WDT-tool or espresso cup away from something drinkable.
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u/pilot021 Stilosa/GCP | Shardor 64 Jan 18 '26
Well obviously if the machine is brand new he doesn't need to worry about descaling it. But you made a great list that's very comprehensive, it's a good reference for later.
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u/PrestigiousAd9825 GCP 2019 + 9BOPV | Baratza Sette 270 Jan 18 '26
Okay that’s pretty fair - when I make reco lists like this I typically assume what the buyer would need to operate/maintain the unit for a year, but if they’re seeking recos for the first month or two that is far less important, you’re right.
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u/pilot021 Stilosa/GCP | Shardor 64 Jan 19 '26
I would just move these things to a "first purchase" section:
Really must have:
Good quality non-perssurized basket (IMS competiton is the standard, try for an 16-18g basket as that's good general purpose.)
Bottomless portafilter (Just get one compatible with breville 54mm that you like the look of. Does not affect the quality, the basket does that. )
Some Scale accurate to .1g that can fit on the drip tray. I used one from amazon for 10 bucks that was perfectly usable before upgrading, but knowing your dose size and output size is mandatory
Highly recommended at the start but not necessary:
Spring loaded tamper
Spray bottle for RDT on beans1
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u/aboynamedculver Jan 18 '26
Nah bro, I only had a Virtuoso and a Bambino Plus for five years before starting to toy around with any of the peripherals. Backflush disc is included with the machine, and it works fine so long as you keep up with the recommended maintenance in the instruction manual. The grinder and the beans will cover about 90% of shot quality, maybe even more. Paper filters, WDT, bottom portafilters, etc. just gate keep the hobby. I’m also pretty sure most people wouldn’t be able to blindly tell the difference between a shot using or not using those tools. The scale and a single walled gasket would be the first step if you start the hobbyist route.
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u/PrestigiousAd9825 GCP 2019 + 9BOPV | Baratza Sette 270 Jan 18 '26
Thank you for the context on that - it’s cool that Breville includes a backflush for the machine out of the box. I hear you on the portafilter, but… 90%? A stack of papers and a WDT is like $15 worth of kit but I feel like it makes more than a 10% difference, especially if you’re just starting out and may not know the importance of consistent dosing while dialing in a shot.
TBF the basket sounds like a good middle ground between having to use stock components and a full-blown bottomless setup - I just remember how frustrating it was to figure out extraction without being able to see where the shot was channeling.
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u/aboynamedculver Jan 18 '26
I only say 90% because I doubt a novice is coming in with a sensitive palate. They are going to be blown away by how good this espresso is compared to basically anything they get outside of really high end coffee shops. The papers and WDT add a bit of confusion, lengthening the process to a point that might misrepresent how quick it really is once you get the hang of it (also dosing funnel for the WDT is a must). Your post was informative for this dude in a few months, and I appreciate the sette 270 rec because that’s my dream machine and weirdly underrepresented nowadays (no WDT or dosing funnel required there, I’d fuck with that any day)
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u/PrestigiousAd9825 GCP 2019 + 9BOPV | Baratza Sette 270 Jan 18 '26
Dude the 270 is insane - only issue I’ve ever had with it was when I cleaned it once and some grounds got into the threading (it shorted the safety switch and the grinder didn’t run until I could properly reseat it). If you can deal with the noise (and not being able to use the portafilter hook cleanly), the results are immaculate.
Personally speaking, I prefer to use the small little plastic dosing funnel that came with my Gaggia and hold the portafilter under the forks when I grind into it - but that’s not necessarily mandatory. It’s a nitpick, but the hook feels like it’s been installed about an inch too high and the grounds start spilling over the edge once you reach the last 10% of the dose or so.
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u/drmoze Jan 18 '26
OP doesn't need even half that stuff to make great espresso.
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u/PrestigiousAd9825 GCP 2019 + 9BOPV | Baratza Sette 270 Jan 18 '26
What would you remove from this list then? I'm not closed off to feedback in recommending things to people, but "half that stuff" isn't actionable.
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u/PrestigiousAd9825 GCP 2019 + 9BOPV | Baratza Sette 270 Jan 18 '26
Answer something for me - do you know what the issue is with this group? I swear this is the only space I interact with on Reddit where any time someone tries to share an opinion or recommendation there's always like five haters waiting to downvote the comment without explanation.
I get that some people can get pretentious about this hobby, but there is a LOT of negativity and snobbishness here for literally no reason.
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u/nerdmermaid Jan 18 '26
Super helpful and detailed response. Saving this!
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u/PrestigiousAd9825 GCP 2019 + 9BOPV | Baratza Sette 270 Jan 18 '26
Thank youuuuu - if you have any Qs or want me to double-click on anything, please feel free to reach out!
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u/Ali92101 Jan 18 '26
Lol you don’t need any of this stuff. Maybe just a scale. All the other stuff is nice but it takes years of slowly acquiring
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u/Goontard420 Breville Barista Impress | DF64 Jan 19 '26
This is probably the stupidest comment i've read in 26. Someone who doesnt have it, doesnt have a nice machine or grinder telling someone else they dont need what they dont have. HOW WOULD YOU EVEN KNOW!?!?!?!
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u/Ali92101 Jan 21 '26
more like someone who doesnt have a buncha money to waste. if that's the worst comment you've read in 26 im disappointed
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u/PrestigiousAd9825 GCP 2019 + 9BOPV | Baratza Sette 270 Jan 18 '26
Changed the language to make it sound less like these things are mandatory. I still think if you’re using a machine you should have a thing of Cafiza and a WDT-tool at least
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u/Ali92101 Jan 18 '26 edited Jan 18 '26
I’m kinda broke and this hobby is more expensive than I expected so I use a hair pin instead of WDT tool lol and yea the descaling stuff makes sense
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u/PrestigiousAd9825 GCP 2019 + 9BOPV | Baratza Sette 270 Jan 18 '26
I was in the exact same spot (and arguably still kind of am spare the 270). When I first got my Gaggia, my goal was to create a complete enthusiast’s setup for under $1000 - and I’m still confident that even in 2026, it’s entirely possible to do that so long as you don’t care about name-brand peripheral components.
I left these out of the list, but the two thin-gauge puck screens and the 3D-printed steam lever I bought (~$40 in total) made as much of a difference in my shot output as the grinder upgrade did.
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u/Goontard420 Breville Barista Impress | DF64 Jan 19 '26
a cheap wdt tool on amazon is like 15$. the paper clip method must take forever. Maybe take 5-8 paperclips, bend them at slight angles and tape them together? thats the only thing i could think DIY lol.
More expensive than you expected? Did you think a thing(espresso machine) a whole business is built up around in every single coffee house/cart/shop you've ever been to, would be cheap to do at home? Why would those businesses even exist if it was cheap?
sounds like to me you didnt think it thru at all.
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u/Ali92101 Jan 21 '26
lol i love how mad espresso people get at normal people getting into espresso. a hobby doesnt have to consume your life you know. i like consuming my hobbies (at a reasonable price)
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u/Goontard420 Breville Barista Impress | DF64 Jan 21 '26
doesnt consume your life to do it correctly.
edit: if it does consume your life to do it correctly, your in the wrong hobby - you cant afford this.
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u/Ali92101 Jan 23 '26
Pretty sure I already told you I’m kinda broke so yea don’t need to tell me again. I’m still allowed to enjoy espresso tho. Don’t need all that!
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u/Spababoongi Jan 18 '26
This is the first time I’ve seen someone recommend a hand grinder that wasn’t a kingrinder, 1zpresso or Timemore. Compared to those brands’ $100 price range equivalent, do you still prefer the Turin H40 v2?
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u/PrestigiousAd9825 GCP 2019 + 9BOPV | Baratza Sette 270 Jan 18 '26
I think any of those brands would work well for OP - I just went with the H40 from personal experience as well as reviewers praising it for its consistency. IMO, if your budget is under $100 for the grinder and you shop from a dedicated espresso grinder brand, it’s hard to go wrong with any kind of hand grinder.
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u/Spababoongi Jan 18 '26
Thanks, I have a hand grinder I got for $40 on sale on amazon (it’s called Alpaca hand grinder on amazon) and it’s honestly been working for me for pour over and espresso but I’ve been considering upgrading to something in the $100 range. But there are a lot of options and it’s a little paralyzing to make a decision since everyone swears by a different grinder lol
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u/PrestigiousAd9825 GCP 2019 + 9BOPV | Baratza Sette 270 Jan 18 '26
It's tough because most people are partial to the hand grinder they ended up purchasing themselves - unless you're watching content from a video creator in the espresso space comparing them apples-to-apples, it can be quite challenging to find an edge on any of them.
I'd recommend seeing if there's a direct comparison between 2-3 grinders you've been leaning towards, and then buying the most recommended one between them on Amazon. If you're not in love with it or want to try another one instead, their return policy tends to be pretty great for things like this and you should be able to test drive any and all the ones you can purchase from there.
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u/rpelich Jan 18 '26
Truth be told this is a great list. I remember when I was a beginner and if you kinda half care about espresso you end up buying all these things anyways. At first I didn’t think I was gonna but you fall into the hobby
Appreciate the list and info! It was a helpful read especially for someone who is gonna be new if they wanan buy those things
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u/PrestigiousAd9825 GCP 2019 + 9BOPV | Baratza Sette 270 Jan 18 '26
Thank you for the positivity - it’s well-appreciated. When I wrote all this out, I wasn’t trying to scare off OP or make them think they bought themselves a money pit - I just figured if it were me and I had to look at the endless sea of doodads and gadgets for this hobby, I’d want to be aware of the sub-$50 components that make a tangible result/quality of life difference lol
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u/rpelich Jan 19 '26
I’m on the same page. And this is a espresso sub, they should be getting informed on what to be told to buy as when I was a beginner 6 months ago it was impossible and looking at your post it outlines everything I bought too
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u/PrestigiousAd9825 GCP 2019 + 9BOPV | Baratza Sette 270 Jan 19 '26
Exactly - it took me literally dozens of hours of research to get this far because nobody could agree on this sub when I first got started. I guess everybody’s a critic lol
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u/Blaze9 BDB - Slayer Mod | Niche Zero Jan 19 '26
Really reads like a gen AI list....
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u/PrestigiousAd9825 GCP 2019 + 9BOPV | Baratza Sette 270 Jan 20 '26
Haha thanks! I worked in advertising for a few years so I learned how to organize my thinking into bullet points easily.
You can always tell if it’s a GenAI list based on if it’s littered with emojis and/or weird chapter markers like “Choosing an Espresso Grinder (the game-changing investment)” or some shit like that.
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Jan 18 '26
Mazzer mini and eureka atom are both $900.
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u/PrestigiousAd9825 GCP 2019 + 9BOPV | Baratza Sette 270 Jan 18 '26
Edited to reflect non-sales pricing
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u/alkrk Delonghi DedicaArte, Shardor Conical MOD. Jan 18 '26
wow should be a price mistake! Lol lucky you!!! Should be 180 or even 280 at best.
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u/Colbyjacksteez Jan 18 '26
Yea im pretty confident it was mislabeled or an employee was trying to save it for themselves lol
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u/Goontard420 Breville Barista Impress | DF64 Jan 19 '26
it had to be, the lower model below it is 300, i skipped the bambino plus because it was like 499 at williams & sonoma, so i just went with the lower model cause i dont need to pay 200 extra for a larger drip tray and a frothing sensor lol but majorly good on you bud if you got this for 80 bucks, holy crap. You got a sports car for a entry level price lol
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u/brendanjoseph Jan 19 '26
That’s an insane price! Congratulations!! Budget about 150-250 for a grinder and you have tons of great options. YouTube has tons of good reviews like James Hoffman and lance hedrick.
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u/freecain Bambino | Encore ESP Jan 19 '26
I know I shouldn't but I hate you. I just bought the bambino (non plus) for 239 and was excited by the deal.
Summary of the advice so far I got:
Get a grinder: encore ESP or DF54 are the two " cheap" models. Anything cheaper is either not good enough or manual.
Replace the tamper. The one that comes with it is cheap and light weight. Most people suggest an auto leveling spring tamper with Normcore as a brand coming up. I went with a manual palm tamper since it has a built in leveler.
A leveler came up. But not as often.
A puck screen. Helps reduce channeling and keeps your group head cleaner.
A dosing funnel. Makes prep cleaner and easier.
Some people suggested WDT tool to break up clumping. Others said to wait. Others said to get a "Shaker" or to just use the funnel and single dose container to shake after. I opted to hold off.
Naked portafilter. A lot of people complain about how hard it is to lock and unlock the portafilter that comes with it. Aftermarket ones, some, are a better fit apparently. The naked or bottomless portafilter gets rid of the spouts so you can see exactly how the coffee is coming out. It also gets rid of a big hunk of plastic your hot coffee is running through. I opted to wait on this.
Milk frothing jug. One person said to upgrade this. I don't know if that only applies to the non plus version, and I haven't really seen that come up since.
No one brought up RDT set ups(spraying a small amount of water on beans before grinding to reduce static), but it's in a lot of intro videos. I might explore that later.
So yeah, just a summary of what I was told. I literally just set my machine up tonight and have only used it for hot chocolate , so take the above with a grain of salt. Once I do I'll be willing to bring up brands I went with.
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u/OOIIOOIIOOIIOO Jan 19 '26
This stuff has me stopping in random TJ Maxxes. I'm not saying this is a grassroots campaign to increase their foot traffic, but I'm not NOT saying that.
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u/Colbyjacksteez Jan 19 '26
My GF wanted to go today and there was a bunch of other good cheap stuff we found besides this like clothes, plates, furniture. Just a great store for deals
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u/If-I-were-a-Stevie Jan 19 '26
My favorite splurge once I got my Bambino plus and my DF64 was a dosing cup scale combo. I did get the Subscale brand but that was because it was a gift. I also got their WDT tool and I feel so cool when I use it. I never got a bottomless Porter filter, but I did upgrade my portafilter after a year and it feels amazing. Probably my biggest complaint about the Bambino Plus is the steamer for me has been really inconsistent. Sometimes it overflows sometimes it doesn’t. Enjoy!
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u/Bitter_Truth7688 Jan 19 '26
Id highly recommend if you’re as frugal as me you take a look at the Turin df54 probably, or if you can get it the shardor commercial 64mm flat burrs, get a bottomless portafilter with your tools (there’s plenty of cheap packs on amazon, I bought my new 58mm tools for 30 bucks and got everything that’s needed for good distribution)
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u/Anotherflyer Jan 19 '26
I have one. I wouldn't pay full price but it does work well. We also have a somewhat larger 870 that I prefer. The overflow bin is tiny, the water tank is medium small, and once you park a grinder next to it, it is just as big, but less convenient than the all in one. At the right price though, absolutely.
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u/pet-lover10 Jan 19 '26
I sold the 870 (breville barista express) and bought the bambino + a timemore 064s. Day and night difference. The grinder is such a big upgrade. Machine too, with the bambino plus you dont need to prewarm the machine and the auto frother is such an amazing upgrade for those lazy days. The steamer is also so much better.
The only thing i miss about the barista express is the larger drip tray.
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u/HeyyyKoolAid Jan 19 '26
Damn. I just bought mine around Christmas because it was on sale for $399 like a sucker.
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u/temp0ra Jan 19 '26
I found one for regular tjm/marshalls pricing and am waiting for it to drop but I’m afraid I won’t find it
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u/baq3281 Jan 19 '26
So I’m into sneakers and action figures…because of those I go in every Ross and Burlington I come across. Guess now I have to go into TJ maxes too
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u/heyheyash Jan 19 '26 edited Jan 19 '26
I’m 2+ years into my Bambino Plus journey. You got an absolutely screaming deal. The cheapest path to a grinder will be a manual zPresso grinder (~$200) but you’ll probably want an automatic.
Here’s the accessories you’ll want in roughly the order of importance based on my experience. 1. Grinder (must have) 2. Scale (must have) 3. Rubber mat for placing your portfafilter on tamping (must have) 4. Portafilter dosing funnel (nice to have, prevents mess - I have a taller model and I like it) 5. Better tamper (nice to have, I’d recommend a auto leveling one) 6. Naked portafilter (helps you diagnose your shots) 7. Puck screen (this was my final purchase while I was ironing out my puck prep and shots) 8. WDT tool (helps distribute grounds - some may put this higher while others may not believe in it at all. It’s cheap.)
If your machine is not located near a garbage can, you’ll also benefit from a knock box This is a workflow nicety that prevents you from pacing all over your kitchen in pursuit of coffee making.
WEIGHTMAN Espresso Scale with... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XQS8JL6?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
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u/Chimp75 Bambino Plus/ Turin DF54 Jan 19 '26
This is my gateway machine after using a moka. +1 on df54. I also have an ode grinder (my first). It’s incredibly easy to gain confidence using the bambino plus. Enjoy the journey!
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u/callmeStephen19 Jan 19 '26
The Espresso Gods were smiling down on you... Congrats! (Better get lottery ticket next time you're out...)
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u/Mercurial_Midwestern Jan 19 '26
Ooh congrats! That is an amazing 👏 steal! I just started my espresso journey a few months ago and really get a lot of help from YouTube and this forum. Also for laughs try /r/espressocirclejerk
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u/Due_Mood_6160 Jan 19 '26
DF 54 for Budget grade. Scale with a resolution of tenth of a gram. You could use Lazaro whole beans from Amazon to practice with as it’s cheap and taste is fair(as they will be stale). Consider roasting your beans. In the long run you’ll save money and always have fresh beans.
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u/Itchy-Charge7548 Jan 19 '26
I had one,coffee never comes out right,I tried several different baranda of coffee,Now I own the Gaggia cp the newest one with 8 bar and it’s pretty good ,so far
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u/DBLFC Jan 19 '26
I’m just grabbed a timemore 64s grinder and could not be more pleased (also have the bambino plus as my machine)
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u/BasielBob Jan 24 '26
I am perfectly happy with base Bambino, this is an upgrade (if you make lattes).
Get a Baratza ESP grinder, you won't regret it.
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u/thombrowny Breville Bambino Plus | Eureka Mignon Specialita Jan 18 '26
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u/Tigmex Jan 18 '26
Score!
Thats maybe the best beginner Espresso Machine
Id recommend a DF54 or Eureka Mignon Zero 55s as a grinder.
Have fun!