A compact machine that heats in about 3 seconds and textures milk by itself in the jug, so flat whites need no steaming skill.
Updated
- Automatic steam wand Milk system
- 1.9 L Water tank
- 2 years Warranty
- 30.4 cm Height
Pros
- ThermoJet heating: Sage states it is ready in 3 seconds
- Automatic steam wand with 3 milk temperatures and 3 foam levels
- Only 19.4 cm wide, with a 1.9 L water tank
- Single and dual wall baskets for fresh beans or pre-ground coffee
- Prompts a cleaning cycle after 200 shots
Cons
- No grinder: you need a burr grinder or fresh pre-ground coffee
- Hot water comes through the steam wand; there is no separate spout
- Auto texturing needs the supplied jug sitting on the drip tray sensor
- Best for
- Milk-drink lovers who want café-style microfoam without learning to steam, and who have a grinder or buy fresh ground coffee.
- Not for
- Anyone without a grinder who wants to use whole beans, or people who want a separate hot water spout and more manual control.
Our verdict
The Bambino Plus suits people whose usual drink is a flat white or a latte and who don’t want to learn to steam milk. You fill the supplied jug between its MIN and MAX marks, stand it on the sensor in the drip tray, pick one of three temperatures and three foam levels, and the wand textures the milk and stops by itself. Lower the wand afterwards and it purges itself.
The espresso side is simple: a 54 mm portafilter, a 15 bar pump and ThermoJet heating that Sage says is ready in 3 seconds, in a body 19.4 cm wide with a 1.9 litre tank. Single and dual wall baskets, a water filter, a tamper and a trimming tool come in the box. There is no grinder, so each shot is only as good as your grinder or your ground coffee, and hot water for an americano comes through the steam wand rather than a separate spout.
Cleaning and running costs
The machine counts shots and asks for a cleaning cycle after 200, using one of Sage’s espresso cleaning tablets (a supply comes in the box; refills are SEC250NEU0NEU1). Sage’s manual sets descaling by water hardness: every 90 days at hardness level 4 and every 60 days at level 6, with Sage’s descaler (SES007NEU0NEU1). The tablet and descaler pages don’t show this model in their visible compatibility lists, so check before ordering. The ClaroSwiss water filter (SES008WHT0NEU1) lists the Bambino Plus and is due for replacement every 3 months, and the 54 mm shower seal is part SP0025526. Wash parts by hand, not in the dishwasher. Sage’s 2-year guarantee excludes faults caused by skipped descaling or poor cleaning. To find your hardness level, see our guide to descaling a coffee machine in a hard-water area.
Who should look elsewhere
If you want to grind whole beans without buying a separate grinder, the Sage Barista Express Impress builds one in, with a manual steam wand. If width is the limit, the De’Longhi Dedica Style is 14.9 cm wide, with a manual frother and a smaller tank.
Compare it with every espresso machine we track, or see it in the best espresso machines for home, compact coffee machines that fit under kitchen cupboards and which coffee machine you should buy.
Sage the Bambino Plus specs
- Automatic steam wand Milk system
- 1.9 L Water tank
- 2 years Warranty
- 30.4 cm Height
Coffee
| Built-in grinder | No |
|---|---|
| Heating system | ThermoJet |
| Portafilter size | 54 mm |
| Heat-up time | 3 s |
| Grind settings | not listed |
| Pump pressure | 15 bar |
Milk
| Milk system | Automatic steam wand |
|---|
Size
| Water tank | 1.9 L |
|---|---|
| Width | 19.4 cm |
| Height | 30.4 cm |
| Depth | 36.2 cm |
| Weight | not listed |
Ownership
| Warranty | 2 years |
|---|
Cleaning
| Takes a water filter | Yes |
|---|
Features
| Power | 1,600 W |
|---|
Manufacturer figures, checked 2 Nov 2026. — means not listed.
Where to buy the Sage the Bambino Plus
- Sage£399.95Go to Sage (opens in a new tab)
- Hughes£399Go to Hughes (opens in a new tab)
- John Lewis£399.99Go to John Lewis (opens in a new tab)
Prices and stock change; the retailer’s page is always the final word.
What owners say
Owners bought the Bambino Plus as a compact espresso machine for milk drinks. They praise the coffee, the quick heat-up and the automatic milk texturing, and find it easy to use. The main complaint is its light body, which needs holding when the portafilter goes in or out; one owner had a splashing drip tray, another rust-like spots.
What owners like
- Owners rate the coffee highly once it is dialled in
- Automatic texturing gives good milk for flat whites and cappuccinos
- Easy to use day to day
- Compact enough for a small kitchen
Common complaints
- Light body needs holding steady when fitting the portafilter
Often mentioned in the 21 we read
- Build quality (mixed; 6 of 21)
- Taste (mostly positive; 6 of 21)
- Ease of use (mostly positive; 5 of 21)
- Size (mostly positive; 3 of 21)
- Milk quality (mostly positive; 3 of 21)
- Customer service (mostly positive; 3 of 21)
Based on 21 owner reviews we read across Sage, Hughes, and Harts of Stur Analysed
Our summary of what we read, in our own words, not quotes. Individual reviews and posts stay on the sites where they were written.
Bambino Plus questions
How often should I descale a Sage Bambino Plus?
Sage’s manual suggests every 90 days if your water hardness is level 4 and every 60 days at level 6. The machine also warns you: 1 cup and steam flash alternately with 2 cup. Take the water filter out, fill the tank to the DESCALE line with hot water and descaler, then, with the machine off, hold 1 cup and steam for 5 seconds.
Why are the 1 cup and 2 cup lights flashing?
The machine has counted 200 shots and wants a cleaning cycle. Put the cleaning disc and one espresso cleaning tablet in the basket, lock the portafilter in, then hold the 1 cup and 2 cup buttons together for 5 seconds. Afterwards, wash the portafilter and basket by hand: Sage says no parts or accessories should go in the dishwasher.
How do I get hot water from the Bambino Plus?
Through the steam wand: the Bambino Plus has no separate hot water spout. Press the 1 cup and milk foam buttons together to start the flow, and press 1 cup again to stop it. That covers an americano or a cup of tea, but if you make many, a machine with its own hot water outlet, such as the Barista Express Impress, is handier.
Why has it stopped steaming, with both milk lights flashing?
The steam wand is probably blocked. Sage’s manual says to run a manual purge by holding the steam button for 5 seconds, then clear the holes in the steam tip with the cleaning tool supplied. To stop it happening, lower the wand after every use so it purges itself; if you leave it raised, the temperature and foam lights run downwards as a reminder.
Which water filter fits the Bambino Plus?
Sage’s ClaroSwiss cartridge, SES008WHT0NEU1, lists the Bambino Plus among the machines it fits. Soak a new filter in cold water for 5 minutes, rinse the holder, clip the filter in and put it back in the tank. Sage suggests replacing it after 3 months. Take it out before you descale, as the descaling steps in the manual require.
Do I need a separate grinder?
Only if you want to use whole beans, because the Bambino Plus has no grinder. With pre-ground coffee, use the dual wall baskets; with freshly ground beans, the single wall ones. The 1 cup basket takes 8 to 11 g and the 2 cup basket 16 to 19 g. Sage’s manual asks for a tamp of 10 to 15 kg, then a trim with the Razor tool.