8.3/ 10
Check price on Amazon
Around $600
- Steam wand
- Manual
- Heater
- Thermocoil
- Temperature
- PID
- Stands out
- Pressure gauge
Why we love it
The Infuser is Breville’s older no-grinder machine, from before the Bambino. It has PID temperature control you can adjust in 2°F steps, low-pressure pre-infusion, a pressure gauge that shows whether the shot is in range, single and double shots that stop themselves with a manual override, and an automatic purge after steaming so the next shot isn't too hot. It has no grinder and a manual wand, and it heats with a thermocoil, so Breville states no three-second heat-up for it. It's worth knowing the newer Bambino Plus costs $100 less, heats in three seconds and froths milk for you.
Pros
- PID temperature control, adjustable in 2°F steps
- Pressure gauge shows whether a shot is in range
- Low-pressure pre-infusion for an even extraction
- Shots stop themselves, with a manual override
- Purges itself after steaming, so the next shot isn't too hot
Cons
- No built-in grinder: budget for an espresso grinder
- Thermocoil heating: Breville doesn’t state a heat-up time
- Manual steam wand: milk texturing is a skill to learn
- One-year warranty, where Breville’s newer machines carry two
