Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

[cycluke]

Hi,

I got my BDB a few days ago, graduating from a Sunbeam 6900. Machine looks and feels great, but I haven't been able to pull really nice tight shots like I could from the 6900. I've had to take the grind back several notches coarser and be really careful not to overdose in order to get the shot through. The pressure gauge never goes over 9 bar even when I've overdosed the basket and used an overly fine grind. Is this the way it should be?

Luke

[Barry_Duncan]

Hello Luke,

Welcome to the BDB and CoffeeSnobs.

If 9 bar is the maximum you get when choked up with a fine grind or if you use the plastic insert, that is what your over pressure valve is set to. The pressure is not as critical for making great coffee as the temperature. Anywhere from about 8 to 12 is OK. Mine is 9 ½.

You may have to slightly adjust your dose, grind tamp and pour to get what you want. The grind will need to change with changes in coffee and its age as well as changes in the weather. What is your grinder and what coffee are you using?

Cheers,
Barry

[Barry_Duncan]

clubbi4. I suggest that if you can’t make coffee on your BDB as good as that made in good coffee shops, you should do a coffee barista course to learn how to get the best out of your machine.

I will stick to my BDB appliance as it fits well in my kitchen near my toaster and microwave and like water dragon I am able to produce better coffee than what most cafes produce on Italian commercial machines that cost several $1,000’s more than my Breville did.

Barry

[clubbi4]

clubbi4. I suggest that if you can’t make coffee on your BDB as good as that made in good coffee shops, you should do a coffee barista course to learn how to get the best out of your machine.

I will stick to my BDB appliance as it fits well in my kitchen near my toaster and microwave and like water dragon I am able to produce better coffee than what most cafes produce on Italian commercial machines that cost several $1,000’s more than my Breville did.

Barry

lol....I didn't say I couldn't, we are only commenting on the volumetrics of the BDB..maybe you should read the previous replies before replying yourself.

[Boltor]

lol....I didn't say I couldn't, we are only commenting on the volumetrics of the BDB..maybe you should read the previous replies before replying yourself.

Hi - genuine question here - what do you mean by volumetrics of the DBD?

[Barry_Duncan]

Volumetrics refers here to the volume of coffee produced after pressing the one cup or two cup buttons on the BDB.

See page 13 in the instruction booklet and page 15 for programming.

The concern by some here is that when set the volume does not remain consistent each time coffee is made.

Barry

[cycluke]

Hello Luke,

Welcome to the BDB and CoffeeSnobs.

If 9 bar is the maximum you get when choked up with a fine grind or if you use the plastic insert, that is what your over pressure valve is set to. The pressure is not as critical for making great coffee as the temperature. Anywhere from about 8 to 12 is OK. Mine is 9 ½.

You may have to slightly adjust your dose, grind tamp and pour to get what you want. The grind will need to change with changes in coffee and its age as well as changes in the weather. What is your grinder and what coffee are you using?

Cheers,
Barry

Thanks Barry,

I have adjusted the grind and dose to achieve a 25-30sec extraction. I'm using the same grinder (Sunbeam conical Burr) that I was using with my EM6900, but having to grind much coarser (Setting 10 versus 5-6 for the 6900) and dose less to achieve a reasonable extraction rate. However the pour is not thick and honey-like, the crema is much less and the flavour not nearly as intense as it should be. I haven't played with temp or preinfusion settings yet, because to me these are more fine tuning adjustments. I'm using coffee from a local roaster that I'm involved with (212 Coffee Roasters).

Luke

[Steve82]

Thanks Barry,

I have adjusted the grind and dose to achieve a 25-30sec extraction. I'm using the same grinder (Sunbeam conical Burr) that I was using with my EM6900, but having to grind much coarser (Setting 10 versus 5-6 for the 6900) and dose less to achieve a reasonable extraction rate. However the pour is not thick and honey-like, the crema is much less and the flavour not nearly as intense as it should be. I haven't played with temp or preinfusion settings yet, because to me these are more fine tuning adjustments. I'm using coffee from a local roaster that I'm involved with (212 Coffee Roasters).

Luke

So we can assume your still using the default PI settings? Are you including that in your stated time? I will assume your coffee is fresh as well being from a local roaster?

Just my humble opinion, from playing around with the PI settings on this machine A LOT and noting how very differently the same settings can behave on different types of coffee.

For people just starting out with this machine, I would recommend switching off PI altogether until you can get a good shot that your happy with.
I only say this because I have found that unless the puck achieves very close to or total saturation during PI it can play all sorts of havoc with your shots.
Even a slight up dose and/or harder tamp can change dramatically how the PI behaves. Once your happy with the taste / consistency of your shots, switch back to the default PI settings, 60% for 7secs and note the differences in how your shot behaves / tastes.

For me, I can grind much finer on a Compak K3 than usual / have before with other machines or the BES900 without using PI and use the adjustable PI pressure and time settings to my advantage to get some very different and tasty shots. I like to adjust the PI pressure so that the gauge reads around 3 to 4 bar during PI and do this until I see the coffee beading on the filter basket,(10 to 14sec) some coffees even let it drip a few mls before letting the machine ramp up to full pressure, the variables are infinite as is the moving target for a " god shot " Should also note that i like to play around with lots of different coffees as single origins.

If your budget allows, I would suggest upgrading your grinder at some stage to see the full potential of what your new machine can do and getting the naked PF so you can diagnose your extractions much easier.

Good luck.

[cycluke]

So we can assume your still using the default PI settings? Are you including that in your stated time? I will assume your coffee is fresh as well being from a local roaster?

Just my humble opinion, from playing around with the PI settings on this machine A LOT and noting how very differently the same settings can behave on different types of coffee.

For people just starting out with this machine, I would recommend switching off PI altogether until you can get a good shot that your happy with.
I only say this because I have found that unless the puck achieves very close to or total saturation during PI it can play all sorts of havoc with your shots.
Even a slight up dose and/or harder tamp can change dramatically how the PI behaves. Once your happy with the taste / consistency of your shots, switch back to the default PI settings, 60% for 7secs and note the differences in how your shot behaves / tastes.

For me, I can grind much finer on a Compak K3 than usual / have before with other machines or the BES900 without using PI and use the adjustable PI pressure and time settings to my advantage to get some very different and tasty shots. I like to adjust the PI pressure so that the gauge reads around 3 to 4 bar during PI and do this until I see the coffee beading on the filter basket,(10 to 14sec) some coffees even let it drip a few mls before letting the machine ramp up to full pressure, the variables are infinite as is the moving target for a " god shot " Should also note that i like to play around with lots of different coffees as single origins.

If your budget allows, I would suggest upgrading your grinder at some stage to see the full potential of what your new machine can do and getting the naked PF so you can diagnose your extractions much easier.

Good luck.

Thanks Steve,

Yes I'm using the default PI settings. My "shot time" was not including the PI, so closer to 40sec on the display timer. Yep fresh quality coffee.
I'll definitely try turning the PI off next. I assumed this wasn't the issue though because my Sunbeam also had a PI cycle albeit a different one. It will be interesting, however, to see how this changes the pour. I will report back. Interestingly during the current PI, the gauge barely moves, maybe hits 1 bar.

I'm currently waiting to receive the Smart Grinder that I got with my BDB package. So will see how that goes, the sunbeam conical burr grinder has been amazingly consistent for me though and combined with the 6900 I was pulling great shots.

I'm keen to get a naked PF for the Breville, I made my own from a spare PF for my sunbeam. It certainly helps with diagnostics.

[Boltor]

Volumetrics refers here to the volume of coffee produced after pressing the one cup or two cup buttons on the BDB.

See page 13 in the instruction booklet and page 15 for programming.

The concern by some here is that when set the volume does not remain consistent each time coffee is made.

Barry

thanks Barry, appreciate the response. So, is this a big deal? How much variation do you get, and is it noticeable? thanks

[csutak40]

^ 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?

Hmmm. I recently bought a machine and wondered if I should hold out for the B version. I was assured (by several people) that there won't be a B version in Australia this year. I asked about the coloured version, and was told it was exactly the same as the stainless steel one. I actually considered buying a black one to go with my Compak K3P, but as no one at Breville could tell me what it was made out of (still getting back to me, after nearly two months! ) I thought it would be safer to stick with S/S

Having said that... I have recently taken the Toby/Breville course and the machines there were all Stainless Steel and when I mentioned the fact that I have removed the plastic insert from my PF, the instructor didn't know what I was talking about - none of the machines there had them. (my machine had a December date on it, FWIW)

I have had one instance of the PF spinning out during a shot, also had the puck stick a few times. Had no problems with pressure

Not sure how to measure the jug. Do you measure up to the spout? (400ml) or the top? (abt 700ml). At Toby's there were using after market jugs that were a lot smaller (as am I)

[afrenshaw]

Hey, I need help! This is my first time ... ugh ... We have a Breville Dual Broiler. I've cleaned it before but this time I'm getting a message that says "busy" ... whaaat? Any suggestions?

[afrenshaw]

I don't even know if I'm in the right forum?

[gunta]

I've bought the 900/B a couple of weeks ago . 1249.Plastic is gone ,portafilter fits tight ,but I can't compare it to the A version , still spun out
on occasion , you have to do it up tight .Same with the puck ,doesn't stick often , but it's best to wriggle the handle a little before taking it off .
Pressure 10 1/4 with blind filter .Pitcher is about 16 oz .
I have been able to pull pretty good shots with my machine after only a few goes because to this forum .Thank you all .Regards .Strop!

[PrescottCR]

Hey, I need help! This is my first time ... ugh ... We have a Breville Dual Broiler. I've cleaned it before but this time I'm getting a message that says "busy" ... whaaat? Any suggestions?

Looks like 'Busy' is only supposed to happen under these circumstances.

Page 13 of the manual-
The machine is in START UP modewhen the POWER button light isflashing. During this time, theMANUAL, 1 CUP and 2 CUP buttonswill be disabled. Similarly, if you pressthe MENU button during START UPmode and select SHOT VOL orCLEAN CYCLE, the LCD screen willdisplay BUSY.
Always wait until the machine is inSTANDBY mode. This is when thePOWER button light stops flashingand the MANUAL, 1 CUP and 2 CUPbuttons illuminate.