Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

[DavidW1960]

Searching for ideas......

First ever issue with my Dual Boiler......

Minimal to no water flow from the grouphead with any mode (manual,1 or 2 cup). Full water flow from the hot water tap. No issues with the steam. Thought that maybe it had somehow got an airlock but nothing is apparant. Reset everything electronic, tried running the hot water tap etc. The one thing i am getting is a lot of gurgling from the boiler which is what made me think of an airlock.

Machine is regularly water back flushed and chemically backflushed.....

Any ideas.....?

Assuming a reset (Turn off, press and hold 1 and 2 cup buttons, turn on) doesn't work then you have the same issue I had. Breville will need to fix it.

[Khanuen]

Just bought a bdb and grinder. First double shot was a disaster. Portafilter exploded off sending coffee everywhere. In the excitement I pulled the milk jug away with the steam still going.. That sent milk everywhere too and left burnt milk on the steam wand. My son thought it was hilarious.

Second time was much better and had a decent coffee but the shot started a nice colour then turned pale half way through(That's blonding yeh?) What are some ballpark settings I should use on the grinder? Any suggestions on some beans to try that I can pick up at the local shops(Lane Cove)?

[Chris_Crocker]

Chris,

It looks like you are having the same problem I had a month ago.

Mine was a simple but annoying case of a perished O ring.

Look at my posts here on page 55, replies 2704, 2715 and 2724.

If you live in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane, contact your nearest factory outlet for Breville, Kambrook & Philips appliances. Otherwise contact Breville for their nearest authorised repairer.

I went to the Ultimo factory outlet in Sydney where it was fixed within one day. Other people have had similar repairs take 2 weeks or more.

Barry

Thanks Barry and David. Once i'd eliminated the obvious i thought it might be a repair job!! You've both put my mind at ease that it shouldn't be anything to serious. I'm in Adelaide and as it turns out i've got a service agent within walking distance of home. Fingers crossed they know what they're doing and i won't be without my beloved for too long!!

[neofelis]

Hmm, 3 cases of the same problem.. Let us know how you go Chris and if it was indeed the O ring.

If it is then maybe others might want to get theirs fixed just before warranty runs out. I've personally got 4 years warranty so I'll definately be getting mine replaced just before it runs out just to be on the safe side.

Based on others experiences they might perish every 12 months meaning that the machine will be in a service center every year
Hopefully breville can come up with a fix for this problem and let all users to get theirs replaced with a more durable one.

In other news: anyone seen this? http://www.current.com.au/2012/07/20...RHWFGKUHT.html

When it comes to promoting its coffee machines, specifically the Dual Boiler BES900, Breville has done a great job engaging with and nurturing the blogosphere. On one website, Coffeesnobs.com.au, the dedicated thread for this machine has received almost 2,700 comments, nearly all positive, and more than 170,000 views.

Make that 190,000+ views Has this thread topped the charts here? It would have to be close.

[Barry_Duncan]

What are some ballpark settings I should use on the grinder? Any suggestions on some beans to try that I can pick up at the local shops(Lane Cove)?

Welcome to the club. I can't tell you where to set your grinder as it will vary with the age of beans, weather and dosing etc. If running too fast turn a click or two finer, if too slow turn coarser. As beans age you will need to go finer.

As far as coffee beans at Lane Cove, I doubt that you will get better than Pablo and Rusty’s on the mall. They roast their beans at Ryde and brew some of the best coffee on the north side of Sydney at their five outlets.

Barry

[Barry_Duncan]

Based on others experiences they might perish every 12 months meaning that the machine will be in a service center every year

I was told that the early O rings used were more likely to perish. I expect that the replacements and those used in newer machines will last a lot longer than 12 months.

When I told Len, the fix it man at Ultimo, what my problem was, he said it would be the O ring and that he had some spares in his tool box, so he must have had a few before.

Barry

[Khanuen]

OK thanks Barry. Pablo and Rusty's is where I get my coffee but didn't realise they sold beans. I've just been using some toby's estate espresso beans from the green grocer in west Lane Cove. The label says they were roasted 13 days ago. Are they getting a bit old or is that OK?

I think I've got the grinder a bit closer to where I want it now. This morning I'd taken it too fine and had to work back but ended up with a nice coffee this morning. I should be aiming at 40 seconds on the shot clock? If it starts turning watery I should manually stop the shot? I'm a total noob at this but having fun fiddling around with everything.

[Barry_Duncan]

Nothing wrong with Toby’s Estate. 13 days is just right. Usually coffee is accepted as being at the best between about 1 to 3 weeks, provided it is kept sealed and away from heat and light. Try several different coffees and use what you like. Many of us here roast our own at home with BeanBay greens.

It is usually accepted to aim for between 25 and 30 seconds for a shot. Adjust your grinder as you go.

A good barista may adjust his grinder a dozen times a day.

Barry

[DavidW1960]

Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

But the 25-30 seconds is exclusive of pre-infusion no?

[Khanuen]

I found a page in the user guide that says 25 to 35 seconds. That's referring to the shot clock reading or just the shot excluding pre infusion?

[dr.a.j.pickering]

Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

This all about taste I like my shots tight, I aim for first drop of espresso to fall 12-14 sec on shot clock
And the whole extraction (45-50mls) to last about 35-40 sec on the shot clock

With beans I use less than this produces sour acidic shots any more and bitter overtones creep in

I would call that a double ristretto (but that is a different debate)

Remember numbers are a small part the taste is most important!

[Khanuen]

Success! I just made two flat whites with "milk art" on the top with a 33 second extraction. My milk art looked like a wonky heart with leaves on it so far from perfect but it was enough to impress my wife who's been teasing me about my previous attempts.

[squire1]

Hi all I have had my bes900 and smart grinder for 3 weeks. What a great machine!! I am very happy with it. I took a lucky guess at the grind settings and third cup was perfect. Have made 3 to 6 cups a day since and have had no problems with it.
There are so many good things about this machine that I like, thumbs up for the grinder as well.

[Barry_Duncan]

Welcome here Squire. Good to see that you are another happy camper.

At the Breville stand at the Aroma Festival a month ago it was said that they had sold about 1,500 BDBs. It would be interesting to know how that compares with other machines.

Barry

[Thirteen13]

Had a quick look today and Ive pulled over 1,100 shots.. I basically worked it out to be about 14kg of coffee. Not too bad for 5 months. Works out to be 220 coffee's a month or an average of 7.3 coffee's a day . I hope that makes me snobby enough