Breville Bambino Not Pulling Shots? Common Causes & Easy Fixes

The Breville Bambino is a fan favorite for its compact size, fast heat-up time, and ability to pull café-quality espresso shots for a moderate price. But what happens when it suddenly refuses to cooperate? No espresso. No drip. Just a quiet hiss or a gurgle and a blinking light…

If your Bambino isn’t pulling shots, don’t panic. In most cases, the issue is fixable without needing to call in the pros or replace the entire machine.

More often than not, it’s an issue with the pressurized basket. Otherwise, it’s probably stale beans, coffee residue, or mineral buildup. A descaling cycle may be enough to solve it.

Let’s explore the most common reasons your Breville Bambino isn’t pulling shots and how you can get things flowing again.

Step 1: Check the Portafilter for Clogs

The very first thing to inspect is your portafilter basket, which is the small, perforated metal insert that holds your ground coffee.

Remove it from the portafilter and hold it up to a light source. You should be able to see clearly through all the tiny holes at the bottom. If most of them look blocked or gummed up with old coffee oils, that’s likely the culprit.

Over time, fine coffee particles and oils can clog the basket’s micro-holes, especially if you’re using oily dark roasts or not cleaning the coffee basket regularly. A clogged basket restricts water flow, leading to slow or completely stalled extractions.

Fix: Soak the basket in a cleaning solution (like Cafiza or a mix of hot water and vinegar) and gently scrub it with a soft brush or a pin to dislodge any buildup. Rinse thoroughly before reinserting.

It might be wise to start using fresh beans as well. Stale beans may be causing the residue.

Step 2: Test the Machine’s Water Flow Without Coffee

Once the basket is clean, run a water shot through the machine without any coffee in the portafilter. If water flows freely through the hot water dispenser, it means the internal mechanics, which are the pump, heating system, and group head, are likely working fine.

If the water won’t come through even without coffee, you may be looking at a more serious issue, such as a pump failure or blockage in the group head.

Step 3: Recheck the Grind Size and Tamping Technique

Even if the machine itself is working fine, your grind size and tamping pressure can make or break a shot. A grind that’s too fine or tamping that’s too aggressive can cause over-extraction or longer extraction time, or, in extreme cases, prevent water from passing through altogether.

Try using a slightly coarser grind and light tamping pressure, or even no tamping at all, just to see if water starts flowing. The Bambino’s pump isn’t as robust as commercial machines, so it’s more sensitive to resistance.

Also, avoid overfilling the basket. Filling too high or compressing the grounds too tightly creates unnecessary back pressure. Your technique may need improvement for the coffee to flow again.

Step 4: Check for False Programming of Shot Volume

One sneaky issue that trips up some Bambino users is accidentally programming a shot button to stop too early. The Bambino allows you to manually set how long each shot button (single or double) runs for, and sometimes users unintentionally shorten this duration, resulting in only a few milliliters of water passing through before the shot cuts off.

Fix: Hold down both shot buttons until they start blinking. Then pull a new shot, and let it run for the desired volume. The machine will remember this duration going forward.

Pro tip: Use a shot glass or measuring cup to calibrate. A typical single shot is around 30ml, and a double shot is about 60ml.

Step 5: Check for Pressure Buildup and Blockages

Another common issue with the Bambino is pressure buildup during extraction, especially if the water has nowhere to go. If you hear the pump engaging but see no flow, and maybe even get a bit of steam or coffee spitting from the portafilter, you’re likely dealing with a blockage.

To know for sure, check the following:

Shower screen (the round metal plate under the shower head): Unscrew and clean it. Lime scale and fines can clog this easily.
Steam wand: While not directly related to shot pulling, buildup here can indicate mineral accumulation throughout the machine.
Internal water lines: These can get blocked due to scale or debris, especially if your water isn’t filtered.

Fix: A thorough descale is essential here. Use Breville’s recommended descaling solution or a gentle citric acid solution to clean out mineral buildup. Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s descaling steps.

Step 6: See If You Need a Pump Replacement

If you’ve gone through all the above steps and the machine still won’t pull a proper shot, the issue might be your pump.

The Bambino uses a vibration pump that’s fairly durable, but like any mechanical part, it can wear out over time. If the pump is failing, you may hear it start but see little to no pressure being built. Unfortunately, this usually requires professional repair or replacement.

Maintenance Tips for the Breville Bambino

To avoid shot-pulling issues down the line, it’s worth building a few maintenance habits into your coffee routine:

Daily: Rinse the portafilter and basket after every use. Run a blank shot of hot water to flush the group head.
Weekly: Backflush with a blind basket and cleaning tablet. Clean the shower screen.
Monthly: Descale, especially if your water is hard or unfiltered.
As Needed: Inspect the basket holes and group head for clogs. Recalibrate shot volumes occasionally.

The Final Scoop

The Breville Bambino is a great machine for beginners and pros alike, but when it stops pulling shots, it can be a real showstopper. The good news? Most problems stem from basic maintenance issues: clogged baskets, bad grinding, or accidental programming mishaps. All of these are easily fixable at home by buying nicer beans or cleaning the machine regularly.

With a little bit of patience and some targeted troubleshooting, you’ll likely have your Bambino back to brewing in no time.