Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

[ggoosen]

If the shot length is getting shorter each day, it's because of the beans aging. Do you switch between the two baskets?

I hardly ever switch, as i use the Single Wall Double Cup basket most of the time.

Here is an example, and it may be due to my process.

Last cup of coffee at night.

Grind, Dose(18g), Tamp(15kg), Pour (31s)

Next morning come in wait for machine to heat up.
Grind, Dose(18g), Tamp(15kg), Pour (42s)

[jhocarz]

@ggoosen

double basket you mean single wall 2 cup basket right?

the process says grind, dose - you mean you grind something in excess of 18g? where does the excess go? do you throw it away or keep it?

[ggoosen]

@ggoosen

double basket you mean single wall 2 cup basket right?

the process says grind, dose - you mean you grind something in excess of 18g? where does the excess go? do you throw it away or keep it?

Yeh sorry, i edited my post now for clarity but its the single wall double cup..

I grind +- 18-19g from the Smart Grinder (as the settings on the grinder around not exact) i then use a micro scale to make sure its 18g (this is only for now till i teach myself)

Anything in excess of 18g i chuck in the bin.

My actuall grind dose procecedure in detail is

Zero scale using PF basket.
Grind using BSG.
Remove PF from grinder
Remove basket from PF (i have removed the PF spring for this)
Weigh Grinds on scale (remove any excess)
Spread the coffee around using my finger, and tap the PF on my matt to settle grinds
Use Tamper to Tamp to 15kg and twist to polish
Brush off any lose grinds on the PF
Purge Group Head
Insert PF and Press Double button
Place 2 cups under the PF 1 is an espresso shot and 1 is a cup (i use this to test a shot and a milk based drink)
Shot timer start and runs as above.


As you can see the process is 99% repeatable.

[jhocarz]

base from my experience this has to do with the weather and humidity. evenings and mornings usually have different humidity level, and they vary. humidity affects the grounds, the more they are exposed to the air the more they absorb moisture depending on the humidity. so this is where the micro adjustments come into play, some small tweaks rather than big tweaks on grind setting.

also fresh beans and optimum beans are ok for a week or two - meaning fairly stable - then after which it starts to age, and then rapid change will happen daily, it looses gas more rapidly

so for your problem, it just normal that way, so you mean that day 1, 32 evening, day 2 early morning 42, does it mean that day 2 later in the evening it goes back to 32?

[PrescottCR]

base from my experience this has to do with the weather and humidity. evenings and mornings usually have different humidity level, and they vary. humidity affects the grounds, the more they are exposed to the air the more they absorb moisture depending on the humidity. so this is where the micro adjustments come into play, some small tweaks rather than big tweaks on grind setting.

also fresh beans and optimum beans are ok for a week or two - meaning fairly stable - then after which it starts to age, and then rapid change will happen daily, it looses gas more rapidly

so for your problem, it just normal that way, so you mean that day 1, 32 evening, day 2 early morning 42, does it mean that day 2 later in the evening it goes back to 32?

This is correct. ggoosen is dealing with environmental changes, including the beans aging. The weakest link in your chain is the smart grinder IMHO. A better grinder might help you a bit, but you're still going to have to change the grind daily, or hourly depending.

Adjust the grind tighter to get longer times, looser for shorter times. Don't be afraid to adjust it. The trick is to learn your grinder so you get really good at guessing how much of an adjustment to make in order to get your times where you want.

[ggoosen]

so for your problem, it just normal that way, so you mean that day 1, 32 evening, day 2 early morning 42, does it mean that day 2 later in the evening it goes back to 32?

tbh i havent actually tested that, that would be a good point.

[BradG]

Could the difference between 70% and 90% humidity cause your shot to pour 10 seconds slower?

[jhocarz]

Could the difference between 70% and 90% humidity cause your shot to pour 10 seconds slower?

70 and 90 makes a difference not necessarily 10sec different, remember you have to factor in roast temp of the beans which is a factor on moisture absorption which in ground form. usually in during my within 2 weeks the beans are stable and after that its chasing espresso. specially at 3rd week but easily solved by the micro adjustments in vario.

prescottcr is correct, learn the trick with your grinder. the machine is pretty much always constant, and eventually your tamp, and dosing. so it the real fun will be "chasing espresso" and it will be more fun when you know how to play with the grinder as this is how you chase the espresso. soon enough you will see who everything mix and match, age and days and you'll be ready to adjust as days go by even to a point of predicting like "should i move the micro now before i grind or just after the first shot". its fun and later this will temp you let go your comfort usual bean to explore different blends and SO, which i suggest you should do. dont just stick to one blend, there are thousands of blends and hundreds of SO to enjoy.

like a riding your favorite car or bike, you dont want keep circling around the same route right, now that you know how to ride it well, the road is endless, go forth and explore.

[tronix]

Hi all, long time reader, first time poster.

I am a BES900/BCG800 owner, just popped in to add my 2 cents.

My machine has worked almost flawlessly for almost 2 years, tonight it just stopped. The pressure won't go up at all and the pump or something is making a funny noise. It made perfect coffee this morning and last night.

I thought I would tell my story before I engage the next step with Breville.

I pre-ordered and pre-paid for my machine on the 20th August 2011 (almost 2 years to the day!!) and my invoice shows this date. After loads of delays with Breville I actually received my machine on September 2, 2011.

I have convinced others to purchase units of this set up (machine and grinder) after people have been to my place and tasted my coffee. To some friends and 3 complete sets to my office (we've replaced the set up every 6 months because they break very easily under office use). We have 2 "dead" grinders and 2 machines sitting in a cupboard (could be good for parts!)

We tried at work once to get a Brisbane service center to look at it, don't bother, it comes back worse than it goes out (I think he just wiped it).

Anyway, has anyone had any success with a warranty claim (I have one day to go - from invoice date) OR good service from anywhere in Brisbane?

All fixed. Thank you so much to the guys at Platinum Appliance Services @ Albion and Scott Gregory from Breville

They fixed my machine, replacing some seals and OPV etc, now it is all working again. Would recommend A+++ lol

[swamprat96]

interesting that the machine is starting to get bad reviews after a ton of good reviews on productreview.com.au. When you read them its down to the service agents Breville use in some areas and the slow shipping of parts. To crack this market Breville really need to fix this issue in Australia and perhaps adapt the same model they use in the states when a Breville office is not close by-ship a replacement machine.
We all know these machines are built pretty well - and when Breville themselves fix them the service is good. Shame to be let down by a poor service network.

[csutak40]

Yeh sorry, i edited my post now for clarity but its the single wall double cup..



Zero scale using PF basket.
Grind using BSG.
Remove PF from grinder
Remove basket from PF (i have removed the PF spring for this)
Weigh Grinds on scale (remove any excess)
.

I can't comment on the rest, but thought I'd mention that it is possible (save some work) to zero your scale with the PF attached, so no need to remove it. Too much like hard work

[ggoosen]

I can't comment on the rest, but thought I'd mention that it is possible (save some work) to zero your scale with the PF attached, so no need to remove it. Too much like hard work

He he I wish I wish, the scale I am using is a coin scale that is very accurate but only does to 100g

[PrescottCR]

Take the spring off and zero it out with just the basket if you like..

[Steve82]

I have doserless grinders SG and K3.

I am sure to the dismay of some, I grind into a plastic cup, the 300ml clear disposable variety.

Allows me to zero out the scale with the cup, I get the exact weight of grinds I am after, then I can shake and distribute the grinds really evenly into the filter basket, a couple of little taps, then straight into my tamping regime, which is a light levelling tamp followed up by the real deal.

Sounds like stuffing around, but I can do it pretty quick and gives consistent results.
I pretty much only ever use a naked PF and I am very happy with how even my pours are 90% of the time. 10 second pre infusion probably contributes a lot to this as well.

[kwantfm]

I am sure to the dismay of some, I grind into a plastic cup, the 300ml clear disposable variety.

Definitely a good method to improve quality and consistency of extraction... no dismay here!