Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

[PrescottCR]

i do hope its chanelling, as its hard for me to get the machine for service. when the pump kicks in after pre infusion it hits 9.5 and then drops to 8 bar and stays there. it doent fluctuate or move

Well, if it happens with the blank and you're not getting any water dripping out of the portafilter, then it's not channeling. Channeling only happens with an espresso puck.

Sorry.

[csutak40]

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

I am confused. I just purchased the naked portafilter and I am still concerned that an aftermarket filter won't fit. It is shaped the same as the standard group head of the Breville, that is, it is sloping, like some cups do, so the bottom is a lot narrower then the 58mm at the top (I don't have a calliper, but about 50mm) I have been thinking of the VST, but am a bit worried about buying it through the mail, in case it doesn't fit. Does anyone here actually have it? Looking at the picture of it, it doesn't look as though it slopes like the Breville does.

And, if it was to fit, I have another question. Ridged or ridgeless? I have read the explanation of the difference Things Coffee | Pullman Tamper, Coffee Tamper, VST Filter Basket, VST Refractometer, Hottop, Coffee Roaster, KN-8828B-2 and as I NEVER use the single basket, it sounds as though ridgeless would be better, except.... Question #3 The manual says to use the single dual wall filter for backflushing. Is there a reason for that? I mean the rubber disk seems to fit the double basket fine, so the ONLY reason I swap to the single dual basket to backflush is because the manual says so.

Actually, I just realised something. I can use the original PF for backflushing purposes, (still don't quite understand why one needs to use the single, dual wall basket) so if the VST basked would fit the naked PF, I would be better off with a ridgeless one. Does anyone know any place in Melbourne, where I could go and look at the VST filters up close and personal?

[WiredArabica]

I am confused. I just purchased the naked portafilter and I am still concerned that an aftermarket filter won't fit. It is shaped the same as the standard group head of the Breville, that is, it is sloping, like some cups do, so the bottom is a lot narrower then the 58mm at the top (I don't have a calliper, but about 50mm) I have been thinking of the VST, but am a bit worried about buying it through the mail, in case it doesn't fit. Does anyone here actually have it? Looking at the picture of it, it doesn't look as though it slopes like the Breville does.

And, if it was to fit, I have another question. Ridged or ridgeless? I have read the explanation of the difference Things Coffee | Pullman Tamper, Coffee Tamper, VST Filter Basket, VST Refractometer, Hottop, Coffee Roaster, KN-8828B-2 and as I NEVER use the single basket, it sounds as though ridgeless would be better, except.... Question #3 The manual says to use the single dual wall filter for backflushing. Is there a reason for that? I mean the rubber disk seems to fit the double basket fine, so the ONLY reason I swap to the single dual basket to backflush is because the manual says so.

Actually, I just realised something. I can use the original PF for backflushing purposes, (still don't quite understand why one needs to use the single, dual wall basket) so if the VST basked would fit the naked PF, I would be better off with a ridgeless one. Does anyone know any place in Melbourne, where I could go and look at the VST filters up close and personal?

The 22g VST basket fits both the standard and naked portafilter; there are quite a few including myself using this combination. On the standard portafilter with 22g VST there isn't a lot of clearance at the floor of the portafilter but it seems to work ok. That said, I generally prefer the 18g myself (which usually ends up with ~20g of coffee in it anyway, dosed to the correct height).

You are correct that you need a ridgeless version, and you will find it a snug fit compared to the Breville.

[johnsmith]

Question #3 The manual says to use the single dual wall filter for backflushing. Is there a reason for that? I mean the rubber disk seems to fit the double basket fine, so the ONLY reason I swap to the single dual basket to backflush is because the manual says so.

Both of my double walled baskets are still in the box. I use the single wall single shot basket with the rubber disk for backflushing. I've tried using the double shot basket with the rubber disk, but it didn't seem to form as good of a seal as the single shot one.

[DavidW1960]

Both of my double walled baskets are still in the box. I use the single wall single shot basket with the rubber disk for backflushing. I've tried using the double shot basket with the rubber disk, but it didn't seem to form as good of a seal as the single shot one.

Possibly the original recommendation to use the dual walled single basket for backflushing was because the silicon disc came with a hole in it and it needed the dual basket to create a bit more pressure. If you use a real blind filter or the now supplied silicon disc without the hole it probably doesn't matter which basket you use.

[csutak40]

The 22g VST basket fits both the standard and naked portafilter; there are quite a few including myself using this combination. On the standard portafilter with 22g VST there isn't a lot of clearance at the floor of the portafilter but it seems to work ok. That said, I generally prefer the 18g myself (which usually ends up with ~20g of coffee in it anyway, dosed to the correct height).

You are correct that you need a ridgeless version, and you will find it a snug fit compared to the Breville.

Thank you for that - feel more confident now. I had a triple basket for my Silvia, so I presume that I will like that better. Yes, I do end up putting ~20gr in the Breville double filter.
the VST being a snug-ger fit then the Breville is a bit of a worry, as I have to wrestle with the Breville already (have arthritis and carpal tunnel, which doesn't help)

[wilko23]

Does anyone in Sydney know where you can buy the VST baskets in a shop? Or is there a sponsor or online store that is recommended? I want to buy a 22g basket to use with my standard portafilter...

[Javaphile]

Five posts above yours is a link to a sponsor's 15g VST basket's page. They also sell plenty of other VST baskets including the 22g ones.


Java "Whoop! There it is!" phile

[Jimmytheboot]

Does anyone in Sydney know where you can buy the VST baskets in a shop? Or is there a sponsor or online store that is recommended? I want to buy a 22g basket to use with my standard portafilter...

Things Coffee | Pullman Tamper, Coffee Tamper, VST Filter Basket, VST Refractometer, Hottop, Coffee Roaster, KN-8828B-2

With shipping still theyre cheaper than I've seen in shops

[Boltor]

Sorry if the answer is hidden in this thread already however...

Is it worth waiting for a MKII or MKIII? Are these real, soon, etc? Saw reference to a "B" model, so possibly this is the same as a "MKII"?

Coming from a Rancilio Silvia, so looking to buy soon...

Thanks for any advice / views!

(Amazing thread btw, so much knowledge!)

[PrescottCR]

I think the /B delivers the same functionality that the original did with some upgrade parts. That is, it doesn't bring anything new to the table like the BES870 does over the BES860. Judging by what was shown at the SCAA in Boston, there isn't a notably different BES900 coming anytime soon.

When I think of MKII I think of Cameras, and there's usually a performance upgrade of some kind. I bet Breville would call such an upgrade the BES910 or BES950 or something.

Keep in mind that I don't work for Breville and I'm just speculating! A /b will be a fine machine, the /a versions that I have are keeping me quite happy.

Talk to your retailer if you have one near by.

Good luck!

[Boltor]

^ great, thanks for the advice. Will certainly contact Breville, but of course, sometimes manufacturers are a little circumspect about new models.

[crazysurfanz]

Thank you for that - feel more confident now. I had a triple basket for my Silvia, so I presume that I will like that better. Yes, I do end up putting ~20gr in the Breville double filter.
the VST being a snug-ger fit then the Breville is a bit of a worry, as I have to wrestle with the Breville already (have arthritis and carpal tunnel, which doesn't help)

With having the naked and standard portafilter you shouldn't need to change the baskets very often as you suggested you can leave the single/backwash one setup in the standard and the double or a vst if you get one in the naked -this is exactly what I do

[blend52]

...Is it worth waiting for a MKII or MKIII? Are these real, soon, etc?

The "B" version is currently available in Au. ..they are identified as BES900 B on the box.
I couldn't detail exactly what the upgrades are, but if you see a coloured one, im pretty certain it will be that latest "B" spec.

[Boltor]

^ thanks

Just did a bit of googling and found someone saying these are differences found between /A and /B:

- The plastic insert piece inside the portafilter cup is gone.

- The portafilter fits in much more snugly with increased resistance. Less likely to spin out.

- The puck no longer sticks after pulling a shot.

- The pressure is more precisely dialed in easily yielding 8.5 to 10.5 depending on tamping.

- The machine came with a smaller 16 oz steaming pitcher

Anyone else heard of other differences?