Owning an espresso machine means committing to regular maintenance—descaling, cleaning the steam wand, and backflushing to keep it running smoothly. But sometimes, you run into unexpected repairs, like replacing the rubber grip on the steam wand.
In my case, my cat chewed the grip off my Breville Bambino’s steam wand. I initially panicked, thinking this would be one of those small but irreplaceable parts. Thankfully, Breville makes spare parts readily available, which is one of the reasons I love their machines.
Finding a Replacement
After some research, I found that Breville sells the original grip (Model: SP0001532) on their website (link). However, I wanted something a bit different—specifically, one without the small flap that my cat would inevitably chew off again.
I ended up ordering a Simonelli rubber grip from Amazon, which was slightly cheaper and came in a two-pack.
Installing the New Grip
The tricky part was putting the new grip on. The rubber material makes it snug, which is great for preventing movement but tough when trying to slide it into place. Here’s how I managed:
- Detach the steam wand tip – This allows you to slide the grip on from the bottom.
- Apply dish soap – I used Dawn dish soap, coating the inside of the grip lightly to reduce friction.
- Slide the grip on – With a little effort, I pushed it up the wand.
- Clean the wand – I wiped off excess soap with a wet towel, then ran the steam wand in a pitcher of water to ensure no residue remained.
Final Thoughts
This small repair made a big difference. The new grip feels secure and makes steaming milk much easier without worrying about burns. It’s a reminder that maintaining an espresso machine isn’t just about cleaning—it’s also about replacing worn-out parts when needed.
If you need to replace your steam wand grip, check out Breville’s official store for the original or explore third-party options like the Simonelli grip for a slight variation.