Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

[mikemp3]

John, "How long had the machine been on for before you did the test?" I usually have it on for half and hour before using but we were testing for over a couple of hours and it was about the last thing we did. Yes the portafilter was heated and almost too hot to touch.

[WiredArabica]

I've had the Double boiler for 6 mths now and no problems but found some coffees were extracting very sour.

I went to visit the roaster we examined my technique etc which was fine. He examined my water temp as it exited the machine and it was 89 degrees this was less than the 93 degrees stated on the LCD screen. So we raised the temp on the LCD to 95 and the water exiting was now about 93.

This has made a significant improvement to my espressos. You require enough heat to caramelise the sugars and produce the denser flavour characters that will balance the sour elements. The sour elements are still there but now balanced with bolder, caramel, chocolate, bitter character. This has probably been mentioned much before but was a simple but substantial improvement.

Of course you can lower the temperature if you seek lighter fruitier sourer elements.

One should definitely experiment with temperature, it's one of the BDB's great tricks.

Just a question - how did your roaster measure the temperature? Because this just doesn't seem a realistic result. There aren't any commercial scace devices that will fit the BDB group to my knowledge and measuring without one is, well, a bit tricky really.

[argus]

Just wanted to write to say thanks to Len at the Ultimo repair centre.

+1
Len is a true gentleman and also went out of his way to assist me!

[Dannok]

My machine was one of the early ones, it had the OPV adjusted (9.5) but none of the other fixes since it had been stuck in distribution for nearly a year, based upon its serial number.

Len suggested that he take the unit to Botany for a full upgrade, which he did a day or two later - new valve assembly and apparently replacing lots of plastic plumbing with metal parts (I have not bothered looking inside). This is a brand new upgrade that Len did not have the parts for at the time. The machine was couriered back to me same day on the Friday after dropping it in on the Monday, which was OK since the machine really feels like new, quite different - the pump is much quieter, pressure spot on 9 for good extraction... the collar was replaced to help with PF ejection, new firmware so the vol buttons should work, though I am now in the habit of using manual... I do think it is doing a better job. Perhaps it is counting shots better by ignoring flushes > 7 secs also.

Does anyone know how to tell if you've had these upgrades done? Anyway to check firmware version or obvious changes internally?

I got my machine back last week after being in Botany for 3 weeks and the job sheet only listed pressure gauge and group head seal, I was expecting at least to see the o-ring replaced. I had a look inside mine when I got it back to adjust the OPV as it seemed to be operating higher and don't recall seeing much metal plumbing, would have been in at a similar time to yours Coffeengineer.

[Miloolimm]

I'll definitely suggest she use the manual button from now.

All this being said, I've tried pulling shots with the auto (for arguments sake) and had one fail, but the follow up shot go smoothly. this has happened a few times to me now, as I wanted to be sure it wasn't just a random occurrence. In all instances, including the failed shots, the flow rates have been identical: no channeling, no gushing, it's been slow and consistent, and no spikes or drops in pressure. Doesn't fill the cup like it would if it'd gone catastrophically wrong. The dose, grind and tamp have been near identical, with some minimal adjustments to tighten up with the aging beans, and shifting to fresh beans.

Definitely taking on your advice, just curious as to what else (if anything) might be occurring here.

Just so you know, you are not alone. I've had mine about a year and what you described has just starting happening to me intermittently and as far as I can tell, randomly. I've reset the machine a couple of times and left it unplugged but still happens now and then.

And I don't think just using manual is an acceptable solution. I often go off and get milk etc whilst shot is pouring so timer is useful to me. It is also and advertised feature so I hope it would be fixed under warranty.

A few posts back someone mentions a firmware update that solves this timer issue. Has hat been confirmed somehow or speculation?

[howser999]

Just wanted to write to say thanks to Len at the Ultimo repair centre. I have not read all this thread so apologies for any repeats.

I have had my BDB for around one year and it suddenly stopped any flow (valve/O ring I guess) so I took it down to Ultimo and fortunately Len arrived while I was there so I was able to take him though all the issues. Note Len is an independent contractor and keeps his own hours, best not to to expect him there till 11 in the morning.

My machine was one of the early ones, it had the OPV adjusted (9.5) but none of the other fixes since it had been stuck in distribution for nearly a year, based upon its serial number.

Len suggested that he take the unit to Botany for a full upgrade, which he did a day or two later - new valve assembly and apparently replacing lots of plastic plumbing with metal parts (I have not bothered looking inside). This is a brand new upgrade that Len did not have the parts for at the time. The machine was couriered back to me same day on the Friday after dropping it in on the Monday, which was OK since the machine really feels like new, quite different - the pump is much quieter, pressure spot on 9 for good extraction... the collar was replaced to help with PF ejection, new firmware so the vol buttons should work, though I am now in the habit of using manual... I do think it is doing a better job. Perhaps it is counting shots better by ignoring flushes > 7 secs also.

The only issue not addressed was an upgraded drip tray to stop leakage onto the bench. Phil McK told me that there was a new drip tray coming into production in about 6 months, at Sydney Aromafest. My solution is attached, bit of a hack but it does work for my situation where I like to do the PF wiggle from full pressure and so there is a bit of spraying: Fill the underside of the drip tray around the centre with silastic and then hit the top with an angle grinder to remove the lip and divert any flow back into the tray. One needs to take this much off for it to work reliably.

Havent been back here for a while - been to busy enjoying my BDB

Just a question - apart from the pressure issue, should I be sending my BDB in for an upgrade to metal parts, o-ring etc. as per this post I have quoted?

Thanks!

[argus]

Coffeengineer, are you planning to pop open the lid and share some photos of these new metal parts? I'm sure many of us would be interested to see what Breville has come up with.

[csutak40]

Really good thanks, the course was great

Just working my way though correct dosing and volume now I've started using a triple basket

Can you get a triple basket for the BDB?

[Lukemc]

Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Can you get a triple basket for the BDB?

I purchased a naked portafilter and a VST 20gm basket never actually tried it in the standard sorry.

[csutak40]

I purchased a naked portafilter and a VST 20gm basket never actually tried it in the standard sorry.

Sorry, I am pretty new here, haven't even received my machine yet. All of this may have been asked and answered, but I just don't have time to read this whole thread ATM. Do plan to.... I have considered buying the naked portafilter, so, you can fit a 20gm basket in that? (I am presuming you have the Breville naked portafilter? AFIK that is the only one that fits, right?) I am asking because I use a triple in my Silvia and was thinking that I will probably miss that in the Breville.

[Lukemc]

Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Sorry, I am pretty new here, haven't even received my machine yet. All of this may have been asked and answered, but I just don't have time to read this whole thread ATM. Do plan to.... I have considered buying the naked portafilter, so, you can fit a 20gm basket in that? (I am presuming you have the Breville naked portafilter? AFIK that is the only one that fits, right?) I am asking because I use a triple in my Silvia and was thinking that I will probably miss that in the Breville.

Yeah mate it fit nicely. I don't have my BDB anymore so can't test it in the normal one sorry. I'm sure someone here will for you thought.

[Lukemc]

Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Oh sorry. Yeah only a naked from breville. Was $89 delivered from memory direct by calling their customer care number

[Barry_Duncan]

Can you get a triple basket for the BDB?

I have a 58mm quad shot basket that I bought from Andy in 2011. They are no longer in BeanBay. It fits in both my original and my naked portafilters.

http://coffeesnobs.com.au/brewing-eq...ot-basket.html

Barry

[ph3var]

Well to follow up on my issue, I dropped my machine off nearly 5 weeks ago and haven't seen it since :/
Apparently no parts where available and had to be ordered overseas.

[argus]

My machine came back from repair yesterday, even though the paperwork from Breville h/o says it was repaired they have replaced it with what seems to be an ex demo or refurbished unit. My original machine was one of the very early builds from 2011 and the replacement is a mid 2012 build so I'm guessing should include most of the various improvements that have been made since release. Portafilter is very snug in this one and shows no sign of moving at all during extraction, no scratches or dents and the two cup button at default setting has also so far been spot on. Had a look at the shot counter in the service menu to see how much work it had done, shows 10 so it's only done 100 shots, quite chuffed. Pump on this one seems louder/ more "rattley" when doing a flush or using hot water than I remember but sounds normal when extracting. While in the service mode I scrolled through the 00:00 to 12:00 indicators and from memory on the old machine they were all XX:00 however on the replacement they are all XX:00 except for 02:02. Anyone know what this indication means?