Breville’s Bambino is a popular choice among coffee enthusiasts, with the ability to produce professional-level coffee including several optimized functions.
One of these functions is the attached steam wand. The Bambino steam wand foams milk to three different textures, as well as three distinct temperatures.
However, while the Bambino is a fantastic coffee maker, it’s possible you may encounter steam wand malfunctions during its use.
Knowing how to fix technical problems like these can often be confusing. But don’t worry – we’re here to help!
In this guide, we’ll take you through:
- What to do when your steam wand malfunctions
- How to resolve the problem
- How to prevent it from happening again.
Let’s get into it!
Common Signs of Steam Wand Issues
First and foremost, let’s go over some of the signs and symptoms that indicate your steam wand isn’t working correctly.
One of the most common signs of your steam wand malfunctioning is the steam lights flashing, alongside the temperature and texture buttons flashing.
Your steam wand may also stop mid-way and fail to finish steaming. Other issues you may encounter are weak steam pressure or irregular temperature of the resulting milk.
Initial Troubleshooting Steps
The first thing you should do in the event of steam wand malfunctioning is to check for obvious blockages, or issues affecting the power of the machine. It’s always a good idea to try turning the machine on and off again as a reset.
If you’ve reset your machine and there are no obvious signs of blockage or damage, then your next steps are to clean the wand thoroughly.
You should also check the settings on the machine are correct. Let’s delve into how to perform these steps.
Checking and Cleaning the Steam Wand
A frequent cause of steam wand issues is milk buildup in the wand. This means if you’re having issues you should remove the steam wand to give it a deep cleaning.
Breville recommends you clean your steam wand regularly; otherwise, the steam wand may become blocked in which case the steam wand lights will flash.
To clean the wand, unscrew the tip of the wand using the provided cleaning tool. Soak the steam wand tip in hot water, and then replace it back onto the wand!
Every now and then your machine may need a more hearty clean. However, in order to remove milk residue and limescale buildup, the Bambino will flash on the 2-cup button to let you know when to perform a descale.
There are two main products you can use to do this: white vinegar or powdered descaler. Dilute the vinegar with water in a 1:1 ratio, or dilute the descaler as instructed on the packet.
Then, fill the machine with the solution to the descale line and run on the descale cycle by pressing the 2-cup and steam buttons together for five seconds.
Additionally, make sure you have a container to collect the solution! Once the descale cycle has finished, refill the machine with pure water. Repeat the descale cycle again to fully rinse the descale solution away.
Breville also recommends you purge the steam wand every time you use it after wiping it clean with a damp cloth. This will help to ensure your steam wand stays clear of build-up.
Also Read: Breville Bambino Not Pumping Water? Here’s How to Fix
Adjusting Steam Wand Settings
If the machine is still failing to work after you have thoroughly cleaned it, it may be time to examine the settings on the machine.
You can perform a factory reset of the machine to restart settings. Press the 1 cup and 2 cup buttons down for ten seconds. Lights will flash three times to indicate a factory reset is complete.
After a factory reset is complete, try your machine and steam wand again to see if this has solved the issue.
When to Seek Professional Repairs
At this stage, if the steam wand is still not working, there may be an issue with the internal components of the machine.
This can include issues such as a faulty water pump or solenoid valve. These are issues you will need to enlist the help of professionals to fix.
Breville’s Bambino comes with a two-year warranty in the case of faulty components in the machine.
Therefore, if you have tried to troubleshoot but your steam wand is still not working, it’s best to get in touch with Breville to have a professional take a look at your machine!
Breville may organize a replacement, or take your machine for repairs depending on the nature of the issue.
Preventive Maintenance Tips
The best way to prevent issues with your machine is to perform regular cleaning.
You should purge your steam wand after every use, and remove the steam wand to soak it in hot water regularly.
Every few months or so you should also do a deeper clean for limescale buildup as well.
Keeping your machine well-maintained in this manner will help to ensure that it stays in the best working order possible!
Final Thoughts
As we’ve seen, there are a few issues that can arise in the steam wand when using Breville’s Bambino coffee machine.
These include things such as the steam wand suddenly not working, the wand flashing lights, or the wand becoming clogged.
In most cases, these issues can be resolved by removing and cleaning the wand thoroughly. However, it also may require a check or reset of settings. If these actions fail, it might be time to get in touch with a professional.
All in all, the best way to avoid issues with your machine in the first place is to ensure you’re keeping your machine well-maintained in between all that coffee drinking!
