Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

[SouthsideAmericanBulldogs]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Looks great B-)

[crazysurfanz]

Were you using full cream milk for that Mark?

[MarkZammit]

Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Were you using full cream milk for that Mark?

Yeah, I only drink full cream.

[PrescottCR]

Hey SSABs, that looks like an inverted typical heart, pretty cool!

[frangutz]

Thanks. Good read. When I first got my machine I too was very happy. I've just not been happy recently.

Just as a matter of interest, I actually do use the manual mode and not the presets. But when the machine stopped functioning properly (ie no pressure) I tried changing beans etc I realised it was the machine so got it repaired. When it came back I started using the manual mode Like I used to always before.

However I found that my shots went from taking 35-37sec (as it always worked - watching one of Phil's videos) to 45 seconds plus. I thought this is strange. So I thought I should try the presets.

Unfortunately running the presets gives high variability. Even tonight it took 45 sec for my preset shot.

This morning I did a 39 sec manual shot, pressure at 9bar but tasted incorrectly extracted. (that's why I tried the preset again tonight)

So I don't understand why i'm getting so much variability now. It's annoying. Maybe it needs another adjustment - or as some other person has mentioned, maybe the error is just me :-)

As I said, just my feeling. It won't be leaving my kitchen too soon ... but it's also not getting lots of kudo's from me when my friends are looking at machines.

=F.

Well, I haven't been on this forum for a while and that's because I'm so annoyed with my machine right now.

I have got a new pump, firmware and internals in the machine as the repair agent said that I have the old version in there which was causing me the issue with the pressure. They tested and said all good.

A couple of weeks after the repair, I got them to put a new seal in because I was still getting pressure loss. In fact, I get steam pouring out the side, coffee pours over the group handle. My machine became a real mess. I've mentioned this in other posts previously!

Even after they put the new seal in, they say all is good. But I can't get the pressure - the most is about 5 bar. I have changed beans (ie different vendors), played with grind settings (using a BCG800), made sure that I'm tamping down to the chrome part of the tamper - i think i'm using about 15KG pressure.

Right now, I'm not getting the pressure leak, but I do still get some leakage. I only get 5 bar pressure at the most and the coffee tastes - well it used to be better.

I probably need to bring the machine back.... for the 3rd time. But I'm tired of leaving it there for 2 weeks at a time (the repair guy only works 1 day a week and so that means if he doesn't get to your machine you wait another week....).

This machine is just over 1 year old (16months). Last 4 months have been painful. And I'm over the machine.

I really don't believe it's my technique.

Having read some other posts on the board, i'm wondering if it is the other set of O-rings that are inside the machine that are causing me my headache.

Something wrong with the machine?

If anybody is interested, I'll post photos.

=F.

[frangutz]

wow been a while since i was last here, maybe 6 months ago.

Anyway after 2500 shots from my BES900 its started to play up a 2nd time around. For those that dont know my machine is about 15 months old, so got a few shots under its belt.
My problem comes from this time the porta once slotted into the group head is not sealing at all. I rang breville and they sent me a free replacement seal to lock the porta in, but not working. You basically have to almost lock the portafiler in completely to the right near the steam wand to make it get any seal at all!

Anyone experienced this yet? I've got a feeling its another warranty job.

Ha, mate sounds like my machine. I just posted something similar a few minutes ago. I'm turning my handle right over to the right (at least at the 45 degree mark). No good seal. I also believe i Have to kind of lift the handle up (ie push it up) as I turn it.

I ahve new internals in my machine - only a few weeks old - so I know it is not the pump. I also changed coffee (different vendor) and still have the same problem.

I do at least 2-3 shots per day - sometimes more. Obviously this machine isn't cut out to handle lots of use..... ;-P

=F.

[Thirteen13]

Hey Fran,
yeah just read your post and when i read the bit about coffee spewing out from around the group i thought exactly my problem.
Logically it can only make sense that the collar/guides whatever you want to call it are no good. Ive had the seal, the cermic brick out and set it up on the bench how it would lock into the machine. Everyone would know this already, but the top seal of the porta locks against the rubber steam seal. The ceremic block seats into the steam seal.
The ONLY problem that logically make sense is the collar/guides have worn away too much, OR have been moved which i doubt, but they have worn down to create a gap so the top of the porta isnt seating hard against the porta, hence why when you lock the filter in at the centre position it spews out water/coffee.

However when you add more pressure and lock it in harder to the right position it creates a tighter seal.
This is a job that i think needs to be documented because i can guarentee this is going to become an issue for just about everyone 18-24 months into owning the machine. And its a problem that looks simple enough to DIY.

I dont have a problem claiming warranty, but it takes 2-3 weeks to fix cause appliance shops are so busy and i hate not having coffee every day. Too late now, back to the Aero.

Take the machine back tell them its the collar where the porta locks in. I dont think the machine has faulty internals, i think its the use of all the plastic bits to cut on costs that will be the down fall of this machine. The constant wear and tear.
How many shots you pulled on your machine Fran, to give insite into how many times porta get locked in.

I honestly dont think the machine is THAT sensitive that a new bean, firmness of tamp will alter how it performs. I dont really tamp that hard, but other times i have given it a mega firm tamp to test and results where the same. I use different coffee all the time. The only thing that effects the flow is how fine the grind is and the dose/amount.
Regardless it shouldnt spew water and break the water tight seal

[frangutz]

Hey 13, we were doing about 2-3 shots per day over our 18 months. I'll give the service agent a call again this week and find out what the story is. I initially thought it was the seal, but as I can see on your post, it is probably the collar.

You know, one time i tried turning the black part that sits behind the shower screen (the piece that the screw is screwed into - sorry don't know the part name and I don't have a photo handy). But that helped get a real good seal - good pressure and it all worked well - except for when I wanted to make a single cup (or used the dual wall for back flushing) = then I realised I couldn't turn the handle. So i put it back into the right order and got the leaking again :-0

Glad to hear it isn't just me with the issue!!

=F.

[PrescottCR]

...
I honestly dont think the machine is THAT sensitive that a new bean, firmness of tamp will alter how it performs. I dont really tamp that hard, but other times i have given it a mega firm tamp to test and results where the same. I use different coffee all the time. The only thing that effects the flow is how fine the grind is and the dose/amount.
Regardless it shouldnt spew water and break the water tight seal

No kidding, no machine is that sensitive to new beans!

Does your cleaning disc have a hole in it? If f not any leaking with it? I'm guessing it would still leak with a blind by your description. It would be nice to try a different portafilter/basket combo if you could.

Oh well, good luck! I'm keen to hear how this works out for you,

Rich

[DavidW1960]

Guys - you are way overthinking this - the machine(s) are FAULTY and need to be repaired by Breville. End of Story.

[Thirteen13]

Guys - you are way overthinking this - the machine(s) are FAULTY and need to be repaired by Breville. End of Story.

Whats being overthought ? We are just discussing the similarities in our problem? We both by the sound of it have the same problem and chances are others will also, so im sure will prove helpful to someone else down the track. Plus i realise the machine needs to be repaired, but im interested to know what you mean by your comment ? Are we talking about the problem too much ?

Plus helps break this thread up from the usual same questions over and over.

Prescott: Na i got solid disc, i also have a proper blind basket, but i'm 99% confident that its the collar thats the problem. At the central position the top of the porta isnt locking in hard enough against the steam seal so water is leaking out past the top.
With a blind basket, basket with disc or coffee in basket the porta at central leaks around the top, more so at the back, but leaks and has been for about 1 months now.

Only when the porta is turn very much to the right does it create the water tight seal. Only parts that will contribute to this issue is either, bad steam seal (which is brand new), damaged porta filter (its metal and undamaed), collar guides being worn down, too low to make porta lock up far enough.

[DavidW1960]

You can talk about it as much as you like but it's not going to solve the problem.

[Thirteen13]

You can talk about it as much as you like but it's not going to solve the problem.

Obviously but im sure it will provide useful to someone in the future!

[blend52]

The worn plastic PF locking ring is a known issue, and discussed on other coffee forums.

[Vinitasse]

Obviously but im sure it will provide useful to someone in the future!

Hey Thirteen... don't let the wanna-be thought police get to you. This is a forum and discussions are always welcome so go for it and shout out loud about your BDB.... after all... this is the right place for exactly that