Does a Latte Drinker Need a Different Espresso Machine Than an Espresso Drinker?
Summary
The espresso side can be exactly the same. What separates machines for lattes and cappuccinos is how the milk gets steamed and what has to be cleaned afterward: a manual steam wand you control, an automatic wand that stops at a temperature you pick, or a carafe that froths the milk and pours it into the cup. A household making three milk drinks every morning feels those differences far more than someone who drinks one espresso.
Three ways the milk gets made
| Manual steam wand | Automatic steam wand | Milk carafe | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Example | Breville Bambino | Breville Bambino Plus, Breville Oracle Dual Boiler | De'Longhi automatic machines with the LatteCrema system |
| Who decides when the milk is done | You | The machine, at the setting you chose | The machine |
| Settings on the machine | None | Bambino Plus: 3 temperatures and 3 foam levels. Oracle Dual Boiler: 115°F to 165°F and 9 texture levels | A knob on the carafe sets the amount of foam |
| Where the milk ends up | In a pitcher you hold | In a pitcher under the wand | In the cup, straight from the carafe |
On the Bambino Plus the pitcher sits on a temperature sensor in the drip tray, and steaming stops once the milk reaches the chosen setting. The Oracle Dual Boiler's range is wide enough that one person can have a 120°F latte and the next a 160°F cappuccino without anyone touching a thermometer.
What is left after the last drink
De'Longhi's LatteCrema carafe runs its own rinse cycle with steam and water. Milk still in the carafe can go back into the refrigerator and be used the next day, so nobody pours out what's left each morning. When it does need a full wash, the carafe comes apart and De'Longhi says all of its parts are dishwasher safe. On the Bambino Plus, the wand purges itself when it is lowered back into place.
Oat milk, almond milk, and the carafe
De'Longhi says the LatteCrema system was designed for whole, semi-skimmed, pasteurized fresh, and low-fat dairy milk, and for soy, oat, and almond drinks, with the same results. Its tip for the best foam is cool milk from the fridge, ideally partially skimmed at 1.5% fat.
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Sources
- Breville — the Bambino
- Breville — the Bambino Plus
- Breville — the Oracle Dual Boiler
- De'Longhi — LatteCrema System
We have not tested these products. Specs, prices, stock and terms are as published on these pages on the date above and can change; check the manufacturer or retailer before you buy.