Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

[WiredArabica]

Will try that out. I don't mind the pre-infusion but is 10ml of water too much? It sort of works in the slightly overdosed breville basket, but makes a whole mess in 18g VST.

If you're getting a soggy / messy puck particularly with VST I'd be more inclined to think underdose... I only weigh for diagnostic and curiosity purposes occasionally but I think I usually have around 20-22g in my 18g VST depending on the particular coffee.
Note that you can play with pre-infusion duration on the fly (press & hold Manual will provide pre-infusion pressure while it's held down and ramp up when released) or bypass it entirely by pressing & holding the 1 or 2 shot button (release to cut the shot), but the pre-infusion pressure can only be adjusted via the menu, IIRC the default pressure is 65%. Default duration is 7sec (I usually use 3-5 or so. Personal preference).

[jabbba]

If you're getting a soggy / messy puck particularly with VST I'd be more inclined to think underdose... I only weigh for diagnostic and curiosity purposes occasionally but I think I usually have around 20-22g in my 18g VST depending on the particular coffee.
Note that you can play with pre-infusion duration on the fly (press & hold Manual will provide pre-infusion pressure while it's held down and ramp up when released) or bypass it entirely by pressing & holding the 1 or 2 shot button (release to cut the shot), but the pre-infusion pressure can only be adjusted via the menu, IIRC the default pressure is 65%. Default duration is 7sec (I usually use 3-5 or so. Personal preference).

Thanks for your reply. I get all that, I have been using the machine for a year, but after it was fixed a lot more water is coming out during pre-infusion so I am not sure what is right, before or after. Hopefully Phil can clarify that, and if this is not right, I will send the machine back to Sparky's. In any case, with more water now, I am thinking allowing it more time to expand and work might actually be better, so I will increase the time to maybe 10-12 seconds and see how I go.

[donaldallen]

I just got the Dual Boiler and the Smart Grinder, so I'm very green in this area.


But I just can't get my machine to extract a shot. I've tried various different grind settings, different tamp pressures, etc. but the machine goes all the way to 11 bar and either nothing comes out of the portafilter or very little. Using factory defaults, single wall single shot. Fresh coffee (roasted two days ago).


Is my machine screwed or am I doing something wrong?

[Banjo.au]

Hey donaldallen, welcome to the forum!

I presume water comes out of the shower screen when the portafilter isn't attached or there's no coffee in the filter, ie no restriction?

I note you've mentioned that you've tried different gring settings, but it sounds like you're still grinding too fine and you're choking the machine. Also, beans so fresh will need a coarser grind than week-old beans.

Maybe you have a Smart Grinder that grinds finer than normal. Where on the scale are you grinding?

[donaldallen]

Hey donaldallen, welcome to the forum!

I presume water comes out of the shower screen when the portafilter isn't attached or there's no coffee in the filter, ie no restriction?

I note you've mentioned that you've tried different gring settings, but it sounds like you're still grinding too fine and you're choking the machine. Also, beans so fresh will need a coarser grind than week-old beans.

Maybe you have a Smart Grinder that grinds finer than normal. Where on the scale are you grinding?

Hi there! Yes, water does come out of the shower screen without anything attached. I've tried so many different grind settings... I've done about 20 shots, and at most, only a little bit comes out and the machine stops.

On the Smart Grinder, I've tried all the way to Fine, and every few notches before it. I've tried tamping lightly, tamping with lots of pressure, in between, still the same result.

It's a brand new machine so I can't imagine it's got a problem. I'm sure it's me. But argh. I can't figure it out and it's frustrating.

[danestead]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Hi donald, maybe try the double shot (single wall) filter as it isn't as finicky to get a good shot, I find. When u tamp, the top of the silver cap on the tamper should be level with the top of the portafilter and the shower screen should leave a slight impression on the puck after you have poured your shot. Just keep grinding coarser until you get the right flow rate.

[Yelta]

Hi there! Yes, water does come out of the shower screen without anything attached. I've tried so many different grind settings... I've done about 20 shots, and at most, only a little bit comes out and the machine stops.

On the Smart Grinder, I've tried all the way to Fine, and every few notches before it. I've tried tamping lightly, tamping with lots of pressure, in between, still the same result.

It's a brand new machine so I can't imagine it's got a problem. I'm sure it's me. But argh. I can't figure it out and it's frustrating.

Morning DA, as it's a brand new machine why not talk to the retailer for some advice?

[Banjo.au]

Evening, donaldallen,

I don't think the machine has a problem, but I still think you may be just grinding too fine. Tamping pressure has a lot less impact than grind and dose.

I don't have any shims in my grinder, and depending on the coffee and the basket I'm using I've had to grind anywhere from three or four scale graduations left of 'Espresso' to two graduations off the finest setting. At the moment I'm grinding at the 'O' in Espresso. If I use a different basket I'll have to grind two graduations/four clicks finer. The last lot of beans had me grinding near the 'R' in Espresso.

There is a lot of variation in coffee and in Smart Grinders. Don't give up yet. I'd keep going coarser by at least two scale graduations/four clicks at a time until you're producing coffee. Or start under the 'O' and adjust from there.

Someone who uses the single basket might chime in with their thoughts.

[Barry_Duncan]

What no flow?

Donald,

I regularly use the single basket.

I have added one thick shim to my Smart Grinder. With freshly roasted coffee I set it to just to the right of percolator and as it ages I go finer until after about one week I set it to about r in espresso. Yours will be different. They are not all the same.

11 bar is plenty of pressure. If you get no or little flow while dosing and tamping as recommended, you are definitely grinding far too fine.

Barry

[DavidW1960]

I've done about 20 shots, and at most, only a little bit comes out and the machine stops.

Are you using the manual button to extract the shot or one of the pre-sets? Try using manual. Also sounds like you need to grind more coarsely.

[donaldallen]

Are you using the manual button to extract the shot or one of the pre-sets? Try using manual. Also sounds like you need to grind more coarsely.

This solved my problem. Using manual, and a big courser, I was able to pull an amazing shot. Thanks for your help!

[WiredArabica]

This solved my problem. Using manual, and a big courser, I was able to pull an amazing shot. Thanks for your help!

Hey donaldallen, welcome to the BDB club! Sounds like you're making progress.
Here are some videos that you may find useful while you're starting out.

~Wired.

[clubbi4]

Hi All, Has anyone had varying volumes on the 2 cup button?? I've had different volumes every time i pull a shot. I've set it a number of times and still get 40ml, 45ml and some times even 70ml. Is this a common problem?? Is there any fix for this?

Cheers

[Barry_Duncan]

As it is difficult for a machine like this to simply measure volume, I believe that the one or two cup function measures the time for the shot. When the flow varies due to different coffee or a different grind or dose or tamp, the volume will vary.

The fix is to use the manual button and watch the shot clock, the flow and the amount in the cup and switch it off when there is enough. If the flow is too quick we fine up the grind for the next pour.

Barry

[Banjo.au]

I'll watch this discussion with interest!

Barry or anyone else, I'd like you to please explain why pushing the volumetric buttons with no portafilter or no coffee in the basket doesn't result in a 32-37 second pour if it's measuring time only.

Edit: It would be great if Phil McKnight or someone from Breville could enlighten us as to the design of this feature, and what might cause variations in the volume delivered assuming that grind and dose are actually consistent.