Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

[joes]

I have just acquired a BDB and am (very slowly) working my way through this thread. ATM, I am basically doing searches for things of interest. I have a question. I apologise if it has been asked and answered before.

Is the BDB group head a different size from "normal" 58mm group heads? I attempted to buy a 58mm triple filter. Luckily I took the GH with me, because it wouldn't fit properly. I also already have a 58mm blind filter that I used with my Silvia, that also doesn't fit. My Pullman tamper also doesn't sit right either.

BTW, the rubber disk that came with the BDB, doesn't seem to have a hole in it. Has that changed with the newer models, or are you talking about something different

The rubber disk that you refer to likely is the disk used for the backflush or clean cycle. It should not have a hole. Use it with the single filter, once in a while with water (I've been doing that once a week) and less often with one of the cleaning tablets. See instructions in the manual for more information.

My 58 mm Reg Barber tamper works well with the BDB.

[PrescottCR]

I have just acquired a BDB and am (very slowly) working my way through this thread. ATM, I am basically doing searches for things of interest. I have a question. I apologise if it has been asked and answered before.

Is the BDB group head a different size from "normal" 58mm group heads? I attempted to buy a 58mm triple filter. Luckily I took the GH with me, because it wouldn't fit properly. I also already have a 58mm blind filter that I used with my Silvia, that also doesn't fit. My Pullman tamper also doesn't sit right either.

BTW, the rubber disk that came with the BDB, doesn't seem to have a hole in it. Has that changed with the newer models, or are you talking about something different

I have an aftermarket 58mm calibrated tamp that works fine. Keep in mind the shape of the 18g basket only allows the tamp to set something like 7mm or so. If you under-dose the basket (and 18g of your coffee may not be enough) then you'll hit the basket with you tamp before you tamp coffee.

From what I've seen the first batch or so of the rubber discs did have a hole, and the video on Breville's site shows water dripping drop the basket during cleaning.

Any 58mm blind or basket should fit fine too. I use a 58mm blind at work that is for commercial machines with no issues.

[camo645]

Hey Guys,

I have been lurking around for a while but this is my first time posting!

Just thought I would let you know I ordered my Dual Boiler + Smart Grinder
from Harvey Norman last week. The advertised price was $1247 but the
nice bloke there knocked it down to $1200 flat! Only hitch is that it will take
a couple weeks to be back in stock because I needed to be different and get
the black one! Can not wait to get it!!

Cam

[bones23]

Hi guys.

Basically the same post as camo645 as have also been lurking around for a while and have just purchased my first BDB.

Just thought I'd let everyone know that David Jones have the Duel Boiler + Smart Grinder on until mother's day for $1199. Got mine today on price match from JB Hi-Fi Home also for $1199.

Enjoy - i'll be back for hints and tips once i get my BDB up and running!!

[ph3var]

I finally got mine back from repair after 6 weeks and now it maxs out at 7.5 on the pressure gauge. I cant get anywhere near as much flavor then I used to get before when it was showing 12. Any help because i don't want to spend another 2 hour round trip taking it back again.

[joes]

I finally got mine back from repair after 6 weeks and now it maxs out at 7.5 on the pressure gauge. I cant get anywhere near as much flavor then I used to get before when it was showing 12. Any help because i don't want to spend another 2 hour round trip taking it back again.

Try making your grind just a little finer and add a gram or so to the volume of ground coffee. Tamp it well and then see if the pressure rises.

[shapeshifter]

I finally got mine back from repair after 6 weeks and now it maxs out at 7.5 on the pressure gauge. I cant get anywhere near as much flavor then I used to get before when it was showing 12. Any help because i don't want to spend another 2 hour round trip taking it back again.

Have you tried seeing what the actual pressure is without coffee, using a blind basket, or use your double wall with the rubber insert for cleaning, as long as it doesn't have a hole in it.

If you have and it's still only 7.5 you might need to adjust the OPV yourself, instructions are on my website nic.steve-tek.com.

If it's higher than you need to do as joes suggested and work on your grind and technique until you find the right spot for you.

[Barry_Duncan]

joes,

What pressure do you get when you completely block the flow with a blind filter or a plastic insert without a hole in it or with finely ground coffee?

The maximum pressure is set by the over pressure valve, while the actual pressure you get is due to the resistance to flow due to the fineness of grind, dosing and tamping.

Barry

[ph3var]

That is the pressure with a blind test, about 7.7.
Will take a look at adjusting it myself.

[jhocarz]

hi guys i think this is my first post here but i have a login account already

anyway couple of days ago the gauge started to fluctuate, it hits 9.5 then drops to 7 or 6 then rises to 9 or 8 and so on
i did the blind, single shot double wall, and 32 sec the gauge stayed 9.5. is this channeling? i mean i never had this before
i tried to choke it by doing over dose and also finer grounds but still it fluctuates.
what ive noticed is when i do a grind dial that hits 8bars, the gauge stays at 8bars, but if the grind hits the 9.5 then it fluctuates
what is this?

[jhocarz]

That is the pressure with a blind test, about 7.7.
Will take a look at adjusting it myself.

hi ph3var, if the pressure with the blind is 7.7 then you have to tweak it at the back and bring it to 9.5, there are youtube videos around to help you with it. or the nic link will do

[shapeshifter]

hi guys i think this is my first post here but i have a login account already

anyway couple of days ago the gauge started to fluctuate, it hits 9.5 then drops to 7 or 6 then rises to 9 or 8 and so on
i did the blind, single shot double wall, and 32 sec the gauge stayed 9.5. is this channeling? i mean i never had this before
i tried to choke it by doing over dose and also finer grounds but still it fluctuates.
what ive noticed is when i do a grind dial that hits 8bars, the gauge stays at 8bars, but if the grind hits the 9.5 then it fluctuates
what is this?

It just is what it is...I know that is no help.

It's definitely a grind and tamp issue, I've done experiments with a few different grinders and what I've found happening is this.

My smart grinder, when pulling the shot will go up to 9 bar stay there for about 11 seconds and then start to come down 1/2 to 1 bar by the time I've finished pulling my shot at between 25-30 seconds on average.

My Spong hand grinder, when pulling the shot will go to 8.5 bar and will stay there for the duration, it does not move even slightly.

Obviously different beans need different grinds so there is a little bit of playing with both grinders to get what is right first but time and time again across all different beans and blends I will have the same thing happening.

So what is the difference, I'm not entirely sure but the smart grinder I grind straight into the pf and then tamp, whereas the Spong I grind into the tin and then funnel it into the pf and then tamp. I personally think it must have something to do with being able to get a more consistent fill from manually doing it than letting the grinder do it. Either that or the smart grinder really is shit if the Spong can get better quality and consistent shots

[wilko23]

Hi just hoping someone can point me in the right direction for a larger basket that fits the standard handle? what is the biggest you can get? And also where to buy it from? I mainly want it so i can make 2 coffees simultaneously that are stronger than the standard double basket can get it... thanks

[jhocarz]

Hi just hoping someone can point me in the right direction for a larger basket that fits the standard handle? what is the biggest you can get? And also where to buy it from? I mainly want it so i can make 2 coffees simultaneously that are stronger than the standard double basket can get it... thanks

try to check vst they have a higher grams basket i think they have a 22g basket or try to find a triple basket but then you have to check if they fit on the stock bdb basket, the 15g and 20g i have fits, if the basket grams you are looking for doesnt fit then you have to get the naked portafilter thats bottomless so any basket will fit

[jhocarz]

It just is what it is...I know that is no help.

It's definitely a grind and tamp issue, I've done experiments with a few different grinders and what I've found happening is this.

My smart grinder, when pulling the shot will go up to 9 bar stay there for about 11 seconds and then start to come down 1/2 to 1 bar by the time I've finished pulling my shot at between 25-30 seconds on average.

My Spong hand grinder, when pulling the shot will go to 8.5 bar and will stay there for the duration, it does not move even slightly.

Obviously different beans need different grinds so there is a little bit of playing with both grinders to get what is right first but time and time again across all different beans and blends I will have the same thing happening.

So what is the difference, I'm not entirely sure but the smart grinder I grind straight into the pf and then tamp, whereas the Spong I grind into the tin and then funnel it into the pf and then tamp. I personally think it must have something to do with being able to get a more consistent fill from manually doing it than letting the grinder do it. Either that or the smart grinder really is shit if the Spong can get better quality and consistent shots

im using the baratza, i am pushing for the beans as a factor (age), since all the time im doing this routine. correct i have noticed different beans makes different grind setting and then the roast. but its just weird never encountered this before despite different SO and blends ive done. i am a bit confident that its not the pump since the breville guy told me to check on using the single shot dual wall with the blind and the 9.5 stayed so it means i have no pump issue.

ive de gassing my new beans right now but even with a 2/3day old beans still i fluctuates. i hope the breville guy will answer my email tonight to continue our conversation.