Buying this used Breville Barista Express (BES870)

[cbrshadow]

I have the opportunity to upgrade my "Kuchef Espresso Machine" that I bought from Aldi about 6 months ago. I've used it for probably 4 espresso drinks daily (2 of those w/ milk and steam) and have been reasonably happy w/ the machine.
I ordered a Orphan Espresso Pharos which should be here today, but thought I might upgrade the espresso machine a bit as well, although my budget is low right now.

A friend of mine is selling his Breville Barista Express (BES870, I believe) and will take $250 for it. It's 3 years old and was used for the first two years about 3-4 times/week. In the last year it has been stored in his kitchen cabinet, but he showed me that everything is currently functional on it.

Is this a good deal? Reasonable upgrade from my Kuchef?

Reasons to upgrade:
1) Kuchef has a weirdly small basket size that I can't find a metal tamper for. I've been using the plastic one that comes with it, which is about 3mm diameter too small for the basket so it's hard to evenly tamp.
2) I like that the Breville has programable volume settings for single or double shots
3) I believe the Breville will provide better steam

I likely wont use the grinder that is built into the machine, since i'll have my OE Pharos.

Is this an upgrade?

Thanks,
Ryan

[cbrshadow]

Looks like this is actually the older BES860

[LeroyC]

I haven't had any personal experience with either of these machines but my thoughts would be that the Breville will be a better machine all round than your Kuchef. While we can't discuss prices directly I think you're in the right ball park for sure.

[waza]

Hey Ryan,

From my research into my recent purchase of the BES870 I read the BES860 temperature is too low for good extraction. I've been using the 870 for over a week now and I'm starting to get good shots but for Milk based drinks I have resorted to steaming milk first. Reason being it is a much hotter final product.

[frasermcq]

Hi Ryan
We've got an 860 at work and it gets hammered on a daily basis. It's the second of two machines, with the first failing under warranty, however this one's well into its second year of service.
Using a HX machine at home, I am still surprised by how good a job this little Breville does - delivering consistently good extractions, albeit with the grinder set as fine as it will go. It gets fed fresh roasted beans from a local roaster (about 1kg per week), but does need to be regularly back flushed (weekly) and descaled (3 monthly). I find that the steam performance drops off after a while, and descaling the group and the steam arm brings it back to life. If its a well looked after machine, then for the right money, I don't think you can go wrong.

[waza]

but does need to be regularly back flushed (weekly) and descaled (3 monthly).

Hey Fraser,

Sorry to kind of steer the thread off topic but I was under the impression the Breville machines didn't require back flushing. Can any one confirm if this is the case? I have the BES870 And want to keep it running right.

[level3ninja]

Everything with an OPV should be backflushed, as far as I am aware. I backflush my machine after every coffee making session, and always get grinds coming out. They get sucked up when the pressure is switched off and a small back pressure created. If those old grinds are left in the pipes they will influence the flavour of your shots. Not overwhelmingly, but it will certainly be better without them.

[waza]

Great now I know what the grey disc is for! Should always fully read instructions. Thanks Ninja

Edit: turns out the BES870 doesn't require backflushing as such but does come with the tablets and a disc that sits in the portafilter, you then run the cleaning cycle outlined in the manual.

[timdimdom]

Edit: turns out the BES870 doesn't require backflushing as such but does come with the tablets and a disc that sits in the portafilter, you then run the cleaning cycle outlined in the manual.

where is this information from?

you'll find that most csers will blackflush after every shot which is indeed a little excessive, but you should be running a cleaning with the tablets at least fortnightly to monthly if you 'want it running right'. stale oils dont just get flushed out with water and as ninja said everything with an opv should be back flushed. also makes sense if the breville comes with a cleaning disc that it is required.
descaling is more of a debatable one because its related to the softness of the water you put through the machine but is still needed in every machine - the frequency changes according to softness.

[TC]

where is this information from?

you'll find that most csers will blackflush after every shot....

I'm not so sure about that. Based on the machines we have serviced and repaired across the last year my call would be that you might replace most with "some".... and it's a pretty small some at that

[waza]

where is this information from?

The manual for the machine and also there are a bunch of video's on youtube that go over the process. The manual doesn't mention back flushing once in the whole document.

Seattle coffee gear had a video on it and in the comments said it doesn't need to be back flushed only cleaned with the tablet and following Breville's instructions.

Maybe im getting machines mixed up the one in the video is the dual boiler does the BES870 have a 3 way solenoid?

theoharis2000

1 year ago




So,why do a backflush since there is no 3 way solenoid valve????










Seattle Coffee Gear

1 year ago
in reply to theoharis2000



The cleaning process on this machine isn't a backflush process; it's cleaning the brew head and screen for you. - Kat

[ddhytz]

Maybe im getting machines mixed up the one in the video is the dual boiler does the BES870 have a 3 way solenoid?

This is the one for 860.

[waza]

Yea so its the same thing except the 860/870 doesn't have the digital display to access it.

Is this considered back flushing though?

I'm pretty sure people aren't doing this after every use at least with Breville machines... Maybe without the tablet?

[noidle22]

These machines run a slightly different system to the conventional 3 way solenoid used for brewing/dumping. There is 2 solenoids, one a 3 way and one a 2 way.

During extraction, the 2 way solenoid is closed and the 3 way solenoid is passing water from the thermblock to the group head. Once the brew finishes, the 2 way solenoid opens and the 3 way solenoid closes off water supply to the group head. All the pressure then dumps out through the 2 way solenoid, through a steam baffle and into the drip tray.
The other role of the 3 way solenoid is to divert water from the thermoblock to the steam arm or hot water tap.

As only fresh water passes through the 3 way solenoid, the backflush cleans primarily the shower screen and 2 way solenoid. You will get a build up of coffee residue under the shower screen though which is the main task of the cleaning procedure I believe.