Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

[Banjo.au]

Hi djvkool, welcome to coffeesnobs!

1. You're under-dosing! Put more coffee in the filter basket by adjusting to 'more' with the amount adjustment. With the correct dose, the metal line on the edge of the tamper should be visible all the way round the basket when you tamp with about 15kg 'force'. Search the forum (top RH corner) for 'five cent test' as a further guide to the correct dose. Also when you remove the portafilter there should be a slight imprint of the shower screen on the top of your puck, and the puck should come out in one firm piece when you knock it out.
2. Your grind is possibly too course, but get the dose right first, then adjust the grind to get 30ml in 25 to 30 secs, or 60ml in 25 to 30 secs with the double basket. If you haven't adjusted the pre-infusion away from 7 secs yet, that will mean 32 to 37 secs on the shot clock. If the pressure gauge still isn't hitting 9 bar, don't worry too much, but if you've got enough coffee of the correct grind in the basket, you'll come pretty close.

Enjoy the journey!

[MarkZammit]

Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Anyone read epicure in the age today? The BDB rated tops in review of auto and manual machines scoring 23.5/24.

Sure, hardly a definitive review, but high praise nonetheless. Obviously longevity issues were not scored, but on taste, rated very high.

[Barry_Duncan]

The same feature on coffee is in today’s Sydney Morning Herald in the Good Food section.

The road test of domestic coffee machines was done by Craig Simon, the 2012 Australian Barista Champion and David Makin a two times Australian Barista Champ.

The 4 autos tested were marked down low mainly due to poor taste and milk frothing.

Of the 5 manual machines the Giotto Rocket Evvoluzione, the only shiny Italian machine tested, was behind the top rating Breville Dual Boiler being down half a point on ease of use. The Sunbeam EM7000 Dual Thermoblock machine was behind the BDB on all points.

Barista comment about the Giotto. “Someone with real skill could get a better coffee than even the Breville but it is hard to justify because of the price.” Over double the price.

The Giotto has the advantages of having a rotary pump and can be plumbed in and it is sold and serviced by Chris at Talk Coffee in Melbourne.


Simon says “ Of those tested, the Breville’s combination of price and quality was truly stunning making it the gold star selection.”

Photos and text of the Road Test:
http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food...302-2fcmm.html

Barry

[csutak40]

I apologise if this has been discussed, but I just don't have time to read the entire thread. I have read quite a bit of it over the months I have been considering buying one of these machines.
I have a couple of questions. I have found a deal on line that seems the best around ATM. They offer an extra 5 years warranty for $129. I have a feeling that it probably wouldn't cover any of the things that are likely to need attention. I think they would probably all go under "wear and tear". Does anyone here got one of these extended warranties? Do you think it is worth it?
My other question is... I have a Silvia, that I am about to sell. I have a triple shot basket, a blind filter and a Pullman tamper that fits it. Would those fit the Breville, or should I sell them with the Silvia? In other words, can you tell me the size of the filter baskets that come with the Breville?
I also want to buy a naked portafilter to go with it. Is there any particular brand/size I should look for?
I just thought of yet another question. Sometime last year, Breville was offering classes with the purchase. I know that they no longer offer this, but I would love to go to some classes, if they are still available (even if I have to pay) I find it a lot easier to learn to use something new, if I get hands on lessons, instead of trying to decipher the manual

[Yelta]

I apologise if this has been discussed, but I just don't have time to read the entire thread. I have read quite a bit of it over the months I have been considering buying one of these machines.
I have a couple of questions. I have found a deal on line that seems the best around ATM. They offer an extra 5 years warranty for $129. I have a feeling that it probably wouldn't cover any of the things that are likely to need attention. I think they would probably all go under "wear and tear". Does anyone here got one of these extended warranties? Do you think it is worth it?
My other question is... I have a Silvia, that I am about to sell. I have a triple shot basket, a blind filter and a Pullman tamper that fits it. Would those fit the Breville, or should I sell them with the Silvia? In other words, can you tell me the size of the filter baskets that come with the Breville?
I also want to buy a naked portafilter to go with it. Is there any particular brand/size I should look for?
I just thought of yet another question. Sometime last year, Breville was offering classes with the purchase. I know that they no longer offer this, but I would love to go to some classes, if they are still available (even if I have to pay) I find it a lot easier to learn to use something new, if I get hands on lessons, instead of trying to decipher the manual

Forget the extended warranty, they're a rip off.

The Silvia gear won't fit the Breville.

I'm pretty sure Talk Coffee Extreme machines for lovers of the brown bean one of our sponsors in Melb offers tuition, contact Chris and discuss the matter.

[Banjo.au]

The BDB filter basket size is nominally 58mm. Isn't that the same as a Silvia?

The BDB portafilter is proprietary; nothing else will fit.

The only naked portafilter that will fit the BDB is the one Breville sells: Naked Portafilter - Espresso - Beverages - Parts & Accessories

[mwcalder05]

The Pullman will most probably fit the BDB

[Lukemc]

Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

If your in Sydney there's a roaster/cafe in wooloomooloo that offer classes and use the breville dual boiler for the class. Worth a look

[djvkool]

Hi djvkool, welcome to coffeesnobs!

1. You're under-dosing! Put more coffee in the filter basket by adjusting to 'more' with the amount adjustment. With the correct dose, the metal line on the edge of the tamper should be visible all the way round the basket when you tamp with about 15kg 'force'. Search the forum (top RH corner) for 'five cent test' as a further guide to the correct dose. Also when you remove the portafilter there should be a slight imprint of the shower screen on the top of your puck, and the puck should come out in one firm piece when you knock it out.
2. Your grind is possibly too course, but get the dose right first, then adjust the grind to get 30ml in 25 to 30 secs, or 60ml in 25 to 30 secs with the double basket. If you haven't adjusted the pre-infusion away from 7 secs yet, that will mean 32 to 37 secs on the shot clock. If the pressure gauge still isn't hitting 9 bar, don't worry too much, but if you've got enough coffee of the correct grind in the basket, you'll come pretty close.

Enjoy the journey!

Thank you Banjo, I will give that a go, I tried to dose more but the coffee spills everywhere haha...I'll keep practicing as this is my first manual machine, as I have been living with cafe coffees and Nespresso at home...

[Banjo.au]

Ha! Then you need something like a dosing funnel or dosing cylinder from Welcome to orphanespresso.com - to keep the grinds under control, or you can make one yourself by cutting down a circular plastic yoghurt container so it fits in the top of the basket. 170g Dairy Farmers containers work. Of course that means you won't be able to use the pf holder in the grinder and you will need to make an adjustment to the dose, because the presence of the pf holder causes the grinder to updose. With the funnel in place, I sit the pf handle on a 40mm block to keep it about level. You then need to distribute, settle and level the dose before tamping.

Keep going, you'll get there, and what you'll learn along the way is worth as much if not more than than the prize at the end.

Did I say end? Like I said the first time, enjoy the journey.

[Banjo.au]

Or, you could try setting the grinder to deliver half or a third of the dose at a time, and settle the dose in stages as you go to prevent spills.

[TC]

Hi djvkool,

There is also the Coffee Catcha which is at a whole different level of quality and design. It's beautifully finished and has quite some mass as well.

When I first heard about it, I was dubious but I think it's a better solution than OE and far superior to home made solutions. It's also available locally

Chris

[csutak40]

I'm pretty sure Talk Coffee Extreme machines for lovers of the brown bean one of our sponsors in Melb offers tuition, contact Chris and discuss the matter.

I thought of Chris, but he seems to only sell higher end machines, that are out of my price-range, so I presume he would only offer tuition with the machines he sells. Will check with him though - thank you

[Yelta]

Hi djvkool,

There is also the Coffee Catcha which is at a whole different level of quality and design. It's beautifully finished and has quite some mass as well.

When I first heard about it, I was dubious but I think it's a better solution than OE and far superior to home made solutions. It's also available locally

Chris

Not sure why this device is superior to the OE funnel Chris, the OE job is simplicity it's self and works beautifully, it's also a quarter of the price $US18 compare to $AU75.

[Hildy]

the coffee catcha is fantastic - it feels very nice in the hand. have not used the OE tube.