De'Longhi Dedica vs Breville Bambino: The Entry Espresso Choice

A pressurised basket has a restricted outlet that creates resistance regardless of your grind, so almost any coffee produces something that looks like espresso. A normal basket relies entirely on the grind for resistance, which means a bad grind gives an obviously bad shot and a good grind gives a good one. The second is harder and has a much higher ceiling.

The Bambino comfortably, the Dedica with more effort and a smaller jug. Milk texture depends on steam power and dryness, and a weaker wand tends to heat the milk before it has been aerated properly, leaving big bubbles. Practise with a small jug and cold milk, and stop aerating well before the milk feels warm.

Yes, on a schedule set by your water hardness, and it is the main thing that decides how long a small machine lasts. Scale forms inside the boiler and the heating path and it is far easier to prevent than to remove. Using filtered or made up water is cheaper than descaling and much cheaper than a failed heater.

A grinder capable of espresso, a scale, and a tamper that fits the basket. That list usually costs more than the machine, which is the part people find out afterwards. Set the whole budget before choosing the machine rather than buying the machine and discovering the rest, since a good machine and a bad grinder is the worse of the two mistakes.