Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

[Barry_Duncan]

Ozscott,

As far as reliability, the BDB was only released 14 months ago. How long will it last? We don’t know yet. During development Breville tested some units with the equivalent of 10 year of use.

Any new machine is likely to have some unexpected teething problems. With the BDB some early machines were delivered from the factory with the over pressure valve set too high, requiring recalibration. Also some machines have had a perished O ring block the water flow. Both of these problems are minor but annoying. They should not occur now in new machines. Otherwise the BDB has proved to be reliable.

While the Rancilio Sylvia has a reputation for being well built and reliable and can produce very good quality coffee, it is a far more basic machine than the BDB and requires more input and skill from the operator.

Barry

[ozscott]

Thanks all - much appreciated. I know something of the Silvia's having used them before and read many many a thread on here over the years about them. They are a little tank and require a fair bit of input which I see as a good thing. The Breville sounds like its a nice machine that produces a good cup also.

Cheers

[TC]

Hi Scott,

FWIW, I don't think the Silvia is likely to suit your bro.

He will be accustomed to either texturing during the pour or at worst immediately after. Moving to a Silvia will require a wait and also the need to learn how to prime the boiler. It will not handle volume as well as the Sunbeam did.

My opinion is that he may be better to grab the Breville or perhaps something like the Lelit P60T if the funds are available- so as to replicate the usability of the Sunbeam, but at a different level. If the funds are not there, perhaps he'd be best to save and wait until he can purchase the "right" machine rather than rush a compromise purchase.

[buzzhunter]

I removed the shower screen for a clean and when I replaced it, I stripped the thread! It still sits there okay, but isn't as firm as it should be (I can rotate it in place when it's cold). Not sure that it's had a huge impact on flavour but the water streams kind of seem to be coming more from around the screen now rather than 'through' it. Could just be paranoia setting in...

Firstly - any thoughts on whether it will be a significant problem, and/or how I could fix it?

Secondly - hot tip to others, only retighten the screw when the machine is cold...!

Aaaarrgghhh!

[ozscott]

Thanks Chris - much appreciated as always.

Cheers

[Barry_Duncan]

I removed the shower screen for a clean and when I replaced it, I stripped the thread!

Aaaarrgghhh!

Buzzhunter,

Welcome to the BDB and CoffeeSnobs.

I once had trouble getting the screw out that holds the shower screen into the machine. The machine was hot and the Allen key provided kept popping out of the hole in the screw head. Because of the shape of the countersunk screw head, there is only room for a shallow hole.

I tried again when the machine was cold and I got it out. I was careful when replacing it to only tighten it lightly.

With your shower screen lose; do you think it is affecting the flavour of your coffee? When the coffee puck gets wet it expands and gives some pressure up onto the shower screen. That is shown by the imprint of the screen on the puck. Perhapse it would help to give it a longer preinfusion time.

What part of the thread is damaged? The screw or where it screws into or both? To clean up the threads you may need to find someone with thread taps and dies of the right size. Maybe a car or engineering workshop.

Enjoy your coffee.

Barry

[Javaphile]

Enough of the snarking and trolling people, this isn't the grade school playground. Let's keep things civil so this doesn't have to be taken beyond the deletion of some posts.


Java "Don't make me pull the car over!" phile

[buzzhunter]

With your shower screen lose; do you think it is affecting the flavour of your coffee? When the coffee puck gets wet it expands and gives some pressure up onto the shower screen. That is shown by the imprint of the screen on the puck. Perhapse it would help to give it a longer preinfusion time.

What part of the thread is damaged? The screw or where it screws into or both? To clean up the threads you may need to find someone with thread taps and dies of the right size. Maybe a car or engineering workshop.

Enjoy your coffee.

Barry

Hi Barry, thanks for the response. Love the forum - have read a lot of this thread.

Coffee flavour - yeah I think it might have changed the flavour a bit, but I might be being super analytical. Also a few other variables cos I'm using my not so favourite beans at the moment. So not certain on that.

Puck seems fine, but requiring a bit less effort to get out of the PF so maybe it's not expanding as much.

It's unfortunately the thread that the screw screws into that's damaged so not just a new screw... Can you possible spell out the 'thread taps and dies of the right size' suggestion a bit for me? Thanks again.

[DavidW1960]

Barry is saying you might need to get the nut re-tapped - putting a new thread on it and the socket where it screws in re-tapped. Actually if they re-tap it you will need a larger nut diameter. A machine/metal work workshop should be able to help.

I can't see the screen being loose as a good thing and think you need to get it fixed. You could also take it to Breville for them to fix but it won't be under warranty unless they are feeling generous.

[buzzhunter]

Barry is saying you might need to get the nut re-tapped - putting a new thread on it and the socket where it screws in re-tapped. Actually if they re-tap it you will need a larger nut diameter. A machine/metal work workshop should be able to help.

I can't see the screen being loose as a good thing and think you need to get it fixed. You could also take it to Breville for them to fix but it won't be under warranty unless they are feeling generous.

Thanks David. Yeah screen is getting looser and coffee is now channelling pretty badly, creating some bog-awful flavours.

I'll speak to some bike shops (my other obsession) and see if they can do some handy work. I'll post the results...

[J_Hutt]

Thanks David. Yeah screen is getting looser and coffee is now channelling pretty badly, creating some bog-awful flavours.

I'll speak to some bike shops (my other obsession) and see if they can do some handy work. I'll post the results...

Rather than tapping the hole out to a larger size, you can get inserts to repair the stripped thread - see example Thread Insert Repair Kits - Champion Parts

[DavidW1960]

I'd actually ask Breville to repair it I think. I don't know if Buzzhunter has a problem with the nut or the socket or both - if it was me I'd get Breville to fix it. But an insert is another good idea I guess.

[Barry_Duncan]

I looked up thread repair on the net, there are various methods and kits available. There are even mobile thread repairers listed.

Barry

[buzzhunter]

I looked up thread repair on the net, there are various methods and kits available. There are even mobile thread repairers listed.

Barry

Some great ideas - thanks everyone. Going to try a self tapping screw, or get a longer nut (as I've only stripped the first 1/2 of the socket). Next stop once that fails is try one of these ambitious DIY approaches, and then when all else fails I'll tell Breville I was just riding along (bike shop joke) when suddenly this happened... I'll let you know as I fall further into a dark pit of regret and lethargy (from lack of caffeine).

[blend52]

Has any one dismantled the group on the BDB yet ?
If its anything like most other group assemblies, the part which the shower screen retaining screw is tapped into (water dispersion block ?) , is a separate part that can easily be replaced for a few $$$'s
....?? Phil Mcbreville ???