Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

[billjw]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Hi Guys

Thanks for that. I use filtered water as well. Could be charcoal so Id better stop poking it with a pin! Ill keep soaking it in hot water and talk to the seller on Monday. There is a part supplier in Perth (CBD) so at worst I should be able to pick up another. It is just the removable head, btw, if I take it off the wand delvers steam quite well.

I think I followed all the set up instructions but will go back and re-read. Just in case I missed some small point.

Looks like the microwave will be heating my milk for now ...

[Thirteen13]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

I am just re-reading your post from above, are you saying that the bulby bit on the end of the steam wand, you took that off and black stuff is coming out ?
If its all cumbley then id prob only say its charcoal, unsure why that would be in there, sounds like osmething from manufacturing process...

Either way, just try and clean it out/clear it out. You really want the steam working its a really good feature of the machine.

So youve fitted the little filter bag in the water tank, after your washed it out with soapy water.. Youve run the machine through with water to flush it out, run the steam, cleaned the baskets etc etc.
You should be good to go. Just play with the presets then move on..

Also u know about backflushing and cleaning ? Hence the silly rubber disc u get with it.

[billjw]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Hi

Um, pretty much yep to all the above. Didnt use soapy water but did wash it through with water. Then ran the 2 cup button, hot water and steam (though it didnt work) through a whole water reservoir as per instructions. By filter bag you mean the spongy thing that goes into the filter bracket (for want of a better word).

The stuff isnt crumbly, just black liquid. I am guessing its charcoal though because it doesnt wipe off the bench easily. Its a bit sticky I guess. Kind of hard to explain.

Thanks for re-reading. Appreciate the help. I really want the wand to work and stream the milk properly. If I take the bulb off the steam does work and seems to have enough pressure. That said the heat on the want above the rubber handle is a LOT hotter than below the rubber handle. Not sure thats critical, Im just looking for anything to fix.

The bulb is sitting in its second bowl of hot water. Might try boiling water.

Cheers

R

[Thirteen13]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

yeah just get rid of that black stuff then should be smooth sailing

[Yelta]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

The black stuff is not the problem, its a symptom of what may be a serious underlying problem, on the other hand it may just be a simple blockage, dont try to fix it yourself, the machine should go back for replacement.

[Thirteen13]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

this is true also... I wonder what it could be though, black and crumbley... sounds like charcoal but then why would there be charcoal?
Sounds like could be residue from the manufactering...
Id just take it back and replace it either way

[billjw]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Ok, probably the best thing to do.

Ill go in tomorrow and see if I can just get them to change that part from the display for mine. I can ask!

The rest of the machine is fine its just the bulb on the wand.

But if it is a serious underlying problem ...

Thanks guys

[DavidW1960]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Get a full replacement - not just the bulb. Id be very worried about this in a brand new machine. Dont mess with it.

[Pavoniboy]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

The Breville filters are ion exchange resin filters to reduce the molecules that cause scaling in espresso machines. The idea being if you use these you shouldnt need to descale the machine anywhere near as frequently as if you didnt use them.
The Brita jugs are for your taste, not to reduce scale. They will take out taste of chlorine etc in your water. The use of Brita jugs will make no significant impact on time to descale.

Ron1n, I agree with the others - exchange your whole unit. You dont know where that unknown substance has come from and replacing the head on the steam wand wont fix the issue if that stuff is coming from somewhere else and just getting stuck there.
Its a brand spanking new machine with some unknown substance where it shouldnt be stopping the machine from working as designed - so get a new one.

[Yelta]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

its just the bulb on the wand.

Does it make clean steam with the tip/bulb removed, or havent you tried that?

[Thirteen13]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

i think OP mentioned above it does steam without bulb

[billjw]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Hi all

Thanks again. Good advice. It does steam without the bulb BUT Ill take it back today and see what they say. Hopefully a direct swap for another one. I have to say, except for that one small part, the machine is great. Glad I didnt waste any time in getting it.

Cheers

R

edit: the steam comes out clean and the black crap has gone. Though as David says, we still dont know how it got there or where it came from ...

[Thirteen13]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

where on a Sunday over here can you go to take it back ? Spudshed in Jandakot....

Sorry i jest, im originally from east coast and moving to WA to have no Sunday trading i found a joke. I like it how Spudshed Jandakot is open 24/7 though.

Anyway back onto BES900.
Just a question on dose and grind.....
Im trying to fine tune a bean at the moment on the smart grinder. I noticed on 1shot -2 with about 75% espresso the coffee runs a bit to fast, still a good crema, good flavour but just runs to quickly.
However on -1 with 60% espresso i find it pours too slowly.

It seems i need to get in the middle... Should i use the grind settings to adjust the fine tuning... As in -2 with a finer grind ?

[Gnat]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Three options off the top of my head:
- Grind it at -2, then give it another quick burst for that little bit extra
- Grind it at -2, slightly finer
- Grind it at -1, slightly coarser

[Stumpybum007]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Hi all,
Despite reading through 35 pages of discussion on the BES900 I cant find anyone who seems to be having similar problems to me.
I am an early adopter, my unit arrived in Brisbane in September of last year. It was a combo deal including the breville BCG800 grinder. All had been going very well up until 2 months ago. I noticed that the extraction times seemed to be increasing while the boiler seemed to make some struggling noises. Over a few weeks the amount of water coming through the head dropped off. Finally no water would come out, even without attaching the filter. The steam wand and hot water heads continued to work fine.
I have continued to use the same beans, from Dibella. My technique has remained unchanged (I hope).The machine has been cleaned regularly as per the manual and the filter changed.
I called the breville support line. I stated the model number and problem. I was advised it was likely a scale buildup, easily fixed by flushing vinegar through the system. Despite my query that the manual stated not to descale the machine, the support person reassured me this was the correct thing to do. You can probably guess what happened. The machine still didnt work but now smelled very strongly of vinegar. As did I.
Further advice from breville was to take the machine into a service center.
After two weeks the machine was returned. I was advised that the had replaced some internal seals that they presumed the vinegar had damaged.
The machine still does not work properly. When the auto extraction buttons are pressed there is now a loud zapping noise. The machine cycles though the pre-extraction phase, generates pressure for less than ten seconds, pressure falls and then continues to chug along at a pressure of zero indefinitely. Right now no water comes through the head at all. I have also noticed the top surface of the machine, for resting cups, has become too hot to touch.
Im very sorry for the long dialogue. The breville support line doesnt seem to have done me any favours and neither has the authorized service center. At least I wasnt worried about electrocution before I took it in. If anyone has some advice as to my next step I would be very grateful.
Cheers

Hello all,
Just an update if anyone is interested. I contacted the store I bought the machine from and was referred on to Breville. After again contacting Breville I received a call from Phil of the forums fame. He gave me a few things to try, none of which made any difference. He then suggested I return the machine to the repairer I had already tried. At least he didnt suggest I put vinegar in the machine.
All in all a fairly disappointing response from breville so far, given that its been at least six weeks since Ive had a proper working machine and is likely to be many more until I do.
Im glad most people seem to be happy with their purchase, but Im afraid I cant reccomend this machine at all. 
Cheers