Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

[clubbi4]

Can't be a novice feature if a bar sita is using it.....

I just use manual and have never had a problem with my shot volumes.

I didn't gone to skool

[MarkZammit]

Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

I didn't gone to skool

I quite like bar sita. Sounds more down to earth.

[Banjo.au]

The 6910 cost half as much and did a more precise job....explain that!!

I'm sorry, I shouldn't have overlooked the 6910 in my reply. I'd love to be able to explain it properly, but I've never owned a 6910 and am not familiar with it. A little research tells me that a 6910 doesn't have an OPV, and the shot volume function is volumetric, not time-based, so let's surmise or as I sometimes call it, MSU. I'm sure someone will quickly tell me if I'm very wrong again.

1. Volumetric means a flow meter of some sort, and with no OPV you only need one, so the 6910 system is less complex. You don't need the same sort of software to manage the measurement, although on the surface, what's so complex about measuring the volume of water past two points in the machine and subtracting one measurement from another I'm not really sure.

2. For around twice the price of a 6910, the BDB offers a lot more than twice the number of flow meters. The BDB has features for which you would normally pay at least twice the price again, and is reportedly capable of producing shots just as good as those machines. I've had no opportunity to do a side-by-side comparison as have others, but I've certainly enjoyed some magnificent shots from my machine. To produce a machine with the BDB's features at its price point, some compromises would have to be made. I don't know, but maybe the choice of flow meter was such a compromise compared to the flow meter in the 6910, or maybe the BDB's firmware for this feature was a compromise. Certainly there has been a firmware update to improve the shot volume function; has your machine got the latest firmware?

3. Does every 6910 deliver a consistent shot volume? I've no idea. Does every BDB deliver an inconsistent shot volume? I doubt it, or there would probably be a lot more owners complaining about in this thread. Certainly a fair number say that they avoid issues with the volumetric buttons by using manual instead, and recommend that others do the same. From memory, my 2-cup button was reasonably consistent when I used it, but I've been using the manual button for at least eight months now because I prefer it. Maybe I should play with the 2-cup button again to check.

4. Two out of three ain't bad? I would expect a commercial machine to be pretty good in this area, as do you. You've got or had a 6910 that was very good. You've got a BDB that's not as good, and if it's as bad as you say, then you're entitled to want better.

5. For all its apparent success, the BDB Mk I is probably something of a trial run for Breville and its manufacturing plant, and it's been something of a trial for some if not a lot of its early users also. That's not meant to excuse the BDB's faults, but some are to be expected; it's what Breville does about them that is key. Phil McNight tells us there are Mk II and Mk III versions to come, so let's hope they incorporate some lessons.

I'm pleased that "bar sita'" caused a smile. I liked it too.

If anyone thinks I'm still very wrong or you know some enlightening facts, please fire away. Flame suit and flak jacket on!

[Lukemc]

Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Hey all. I purchased my BDB a few months ago but the PF had the black plastic insert in it so I'm guessing I got old stock with maybe old firmware. Took notice of the gauge today with a blind basket and was just seeking reassurance I guess that the OPV is calibrated correctly..... Or is is slightly high?

It's sits on 10.5 (should it be more like 9-9.5) with the blind basket. I have a pic but tapatalk won't let me upload it!!

[Croc]

Hey all. I purchased my BDB a few months ago but the PF had the black plastic insert in it so I'm guessing I got old stock with maybe old firmware. Took notice of the gauge today with a blind basket and was just seeking reassurance I guess that the OPV is calibrated correctly..... Or is is slightly high?

It's sits on 10.5 (should it be more like 9-9.5) with the blind basket. I have a pic but tapatalk won't let me upload it!!

10.5 with blind is PERFECT, remember that with blind basket and there is no release at all so it shows higher. I get spot on 9 bars with fresh beans

[Barry_Duncan]

I understand that the water pressure of an espresso machine is not as critical for good brewing as the temperature. Generally anywhere between about 9 and 12 bars is quite OK.

My BDB was set at 12 when I got it. When my faulty O ring was replaced the OPV was set to 9½. I didn’t notice any difference in the coffee.

Barry

[Lukemc]

Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Thanks guys

[jabbba]

Just wanted to report that I might have hit the sweet spot for the way I like my coffee, maybe you find it useful. BDB generally likes a lot of coffee, so with 18g baskets for a good extraction you need 18-22g of coffee, and shots are usually too rich for my liking. I bought 15g VST basket and with anything between 16-18g of coffee, I am getting nice balance of sweetness and acidity.

[PrescottCR]

Jabba- I'm curious what kind of shot times you're getting, start to finish and if your pucks are as dry as with the Breville baskets.

Others have mentioned the single basket that comes with the machine holds 14gm nicely and that's what I've been using with wonderful results. The VST baskets have far more holes in them then even the 18gm Breville, and I found I had to grind much finer to get a 30 sec or so extraction. That also results in wetter pucks for me. Not a huge deal, but messier. I'm already messy enough

[jabbba]

Jabba- I'm curious what kind of shot times you're getting, start to finish and if your pucks are as dry as with the Breville baskets.

Others have mentioned the single basket that comes with the machine holds 14gm nicely and that's what I've been using with wonderful results. The VST baskets have far more holes in them then even the 18gm Breville, and I found I had to grind much finer to get a 30 sec or so extraction. That also results in wetter pucks for me. Not a huge deal, but messier. I'm already messy enough

You are spot on there. Looks like the trend in coffee roasting in Brisbane was to roast lighter and lighter, my smart grinder couldn't keep up, and I was sick of tamping hard and gushers that I kept getting. So I've got myself a Compak K3T (Wega branded). Once dialed in, the pouring times (excluding pre-infusion) are between 25-30 for about 50ml of espresso. The puck is still a bit wet but firm, and more often than not, doesn't stick to the showerscreen. I think I will pay off the new grinder in less than a year just by buying less coffee. ;-)

[Gtr]

Hi all - I've been using my breville for three months now and I'm very happy with it. It's been a good upgrade from the sunbeam 6910 I perviously had.
Cheers Steve

[mr_walker]

Hi all,
I have searched high and low and can not find a reference to my problem.
My BES900 is approx 9mths old, been absolutley great.
I use a selection of fresh beans from a number of online and retail shops....
Typically for a double shot I get around 35-40sec extraction, which gives me a great start to the day.
For the past 2 days, no matter which bean (I have 3 atm) tamp pressure, grind size, etc..... I get exactly an 18 second extraction?
I have left it turned off for a period, tried a factory reset, makes no difference.

Any help really appreciated.

I also have this exact problem with my machine - I posted a couple of months ago but nobody else responded with the same issue. My machine stops at 19 seconds when I use the double shot button. It was strange because it stopped pouring at exactly the same time, every time. Grind, dose and tamp aren't the issue. I did some experimenting and if I left the cake in there and poured several shots in a row, by the 3rd or 4th it would start doing the full pour. From a cold start, it would go back to 19 seconds again. My theory is that there is a problem with the volumetric flow meter in the system. It started playing up at about the 11 month old mark.

I haven't been able to do anything about it, and now I use the manual button instead. Still, with the machine still under warranty I would like to get it sorted. I called Breville before Christmas and they said someone would call me back, but nobody called and I haven't followed it up yet. I should get it repaired but I just haven't been willing to go without my BDB for any period of time

It's fine to say just use the manual button, but if the feature is there I would like it to work.

Cheers,

Simon

[PrescottCR]

Simon- I think there's a way to reboot the system, so-to-speak. You might try the old network router trick of unplug, wait, re-plug too.

I want to say someone had a suggestion of holding down some combo of 4 buttons to completely reset the machine.

I agree, it should work as advertised.

Hope that gets worked out for you!

[swamprat96]

Well it seems the O'Ring problem is still around. Purchased June last year- got no pressure this morning. 9 months so off to mascot. No mean feat when you live on the central coast. Not very happy but at least its under warranty.

[DavidW1960]

Well it seems the O'Ring problem is still around. Purchased June last year- got no pressure this morning. 9 months so off to mascot. No mean feat when you live on the central coast. Not very happy but at least its under warranty.

Breville sent a courier to pick mine up on the Central Coast.