Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

[samhighley]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

What the guys hear are mostly talking about is a very minor adjustment that seems to have very little impact on taste.

I agree with this. Im extremely happy with my BES-900, and my only minor issue is that the extraction pressure appears to be a little high. If I aim for a 30-40 second pour from the double basket with 18-19 grams of coffee (roasted 2-3 weeks hence) and 15ish kg of tamp pressure, then the pressure gauge on my machine will usually exceed 12 on the gauge.

I fully accept that the difference in results in terms of the coffee in the cup is likely to be small.

Im hoping to shoot a video this afternoon showing my process and the results im getting in terms of pour and pressure.

Breville have contacted me and given me the details of where to take the machine here in Canberra should I wish to have it adjusted.

[pcrussell50]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

The beauty, and revolutionary thing about the Breville Dual Boiler is that it gives unsurpassed, automatic (though fully adjustable), control of the temperatures and pressures, like no other machines to date

Oh really?

perhaps i should have clarified when i called the BDB revolutionary, that i was referring to the kind of machine that ordinary people might have in their homes.  im sure there are uber-expensive commercial superautos out there that might offer the level of control and adjustability of the BDB, but i dont know about those kinds of things...  im more interested in having a car and a roof over my head.

maybe you are not aware of the worldwide discussion of the revolutionary nature of the BDB, because you are an aussie, and Breville is one of your local brands, and you guys got it first?

even here in america, where perhaps 1 in 100 of us know anything about espresso, (or formula one, or road racing in general), the BDB is the biggest news in i dont know how long.  we are waiting with baited breath for reports of its long-term durability, and for some bloke like the canadian mark prince, to put it through one of his legendary-thorough reviews.  our optimism is based largely on his pre-view, (as opposed to his re-view).  my personal optimism is reinforced by youz guys here on cs who have one and are excited enough to tell about it.

cheers,
-pete

[howser999]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

So, dropped a synesso ridgeless double into the mahcine this evening. First thoughts vs. standard breville:

1. Need to grind way finer. May in fact need to add some shims to the grinder to accommodate.

Ill have a better idea tomorrow morning on actual performance when I fire her up again....

[howser999]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Tried the synesso again. Still not quite there.

HAve moved the grind setting from "O" to basically the 2nd notch from the end, and still getting slightly to much volume through. Also, the puck seems much less compressed than with the stock breville basket and a tad wet on top when I take out the handle. Still controlling for 19g coffee, etc.

So, any suggestions on the way forward. Im thinking:

A) Pressure related
B) Need another shim in the grinder
C) Anything else I should watch out for?

[argus]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Howser,
Some good info from Phil on getting your smart grinder to the sweet spot when shimming here:
http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?nu...978609/266#266

I get the same damp top with that basket which Phil addressed here:
http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?nu...978609/208#208

[howser999]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Thanks Argus,

Have read that info before, and have kept it in mind when adjusting the settings (ie. will always measure weight of new batch if I change grind fineness). The wet puck was a nice reminder though.

Moving on, do you think it sounds like I need a finer grind? Or is it possible that increased pressure at the head would cause faster pours, regardless of optimum grind size? Did you notice a big diff with your synesso basket?

[Roz]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

I run with my 14g Double Ridgless Synesso. My dose is closer to 20g.

I have not been bothered with my VST baskets yet and I have not tried the stock basket.

[Adam_Preston]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread




Did you do that sketch on the board Phil?  Its very neat.

[pcrussell50]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

it is a wee bit more precise than your average varsity physics professor, I reckon. that based on my reading of physics in New Zealand. I did go to form 1-3 in Melbourne though, which is how I came to be an Australiophile.

-Peter

[shabbi]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Hi all,

Another long time lurker here... Ive been watching this thread with a very keen eye since its inception as Ive been interested in buying the BDB from when it was first announced. I got my hands on one just under a month ago to replace my Sunbeam EM6900. I am teaming my Dual Boiler with the Mazzer Super Jolly grinder.

So, heres what I like about the BDB (in comparison to the only other machine Ive used - the EM6900):
- Start-up/warm-up quicker than expected.
- Relatively quiet
- Water fill point at the front
- Storage container behind the drip tray
- Steam. I know a lot of people were disappointed with the pressure - but having only experienced the EM6900 - the BDB is wonderful. It textures milk quickly and Im happy with the output.
- Magnetic tamp holder
- Looks sleek (Ok, yes, Im female. Looks matter)
- And of course, the coffee!

What I think could be improved:
- Shot clock time could be displayed for longer than a few seconds after the shot is poured (as mentioned by other CSers)
- The drip tray has a lot of nooks and crannies to clean around
- The front metal panel of the drip tray catches water between it and the plastic drip tray when washing. There is potential for it to catch dirty water and muck in it.

Im having the following issues - which are possibly due to user error:
- The majority of my pucks stick to the shower screen (pretty much regardless of how I dose and/or tamp)
- On good pours the pressure gauge is around the 11-12 mark. (I dont think Im not over tamping as the only way I can get the machine to read 9 one the gauge is when the pour runs only 19 or so seconds...) No, I havent got around to sticking the cardboard fix on I did however phone Breville on Tuesday morning about this and a coffee specialist was/is going to return my call...

For George - just like Trentski I dont weigh my grinds, tamp against scales etc - but still enjoy a good coffee - this machine can provide that with a little bit of practice. Go for it - you wont be disappointed. With my old machine I rarely drank coffee I hadnt made - now that I have the Dual Boiler itll be even rarer.

Theres my 2c worth. Its been wonderful reading these threads and wish you all the best coffees from your Dual Boiler. Ill be sure to let you know the outcome if I hear from Breville about the pressure issue.

Cheers and have a great weekend!
Shabbi

[soctec]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Thanks Shabbi, I appreciate the reply,.....I am very close....George

[SimonC]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

For anyone who follows Seattle Coffee Gears video reviews, here is their review of the BES900 fresh off YouTube.

I find these ladies quite amusing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NIGabvnD2w&feature=uploademail

[samhighley]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

For anyone who follows Seattle Coffee Gears video reviews, here is their review of the BES900 fresh off YouTube.

Interesting that the pressure gauge has been changed slightly for the US market. It reads "DUAL BOILER" down the bottom of the gauge, whereas on mine it reads "PRESSURE". And, the word "BAR" has been moved up the top underneath the two little screws.

Do we take from this that the gauge itself has been changed?

[samhighley]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Seattle Coffee Gears video reviews, here is their review of the BES900 fresh off YouTube.

Also interesting that when she goes into the pre-infusion menu, the pre-infusion time indicator says "Pd" instead of "Pr".

[Tze]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Props to Breville for allowing anyone to have this done, all you have to do is call!

Props to Breville for allowing anyone to have their machine fixed to the way theyre promoting the machine should operate?

Hi Toasty,

If youre in Sydney bring your machine & grinder & the beans youre using to Botany & Ill adjust the machine if necessary & give you a demo on how to get 11-14secs & a 35-40sec shot from YOUR equipment. What grinder do you have & what beans & how long out of roast are they?? OBTW are you using the single or double basket?

If youre not in Syd, then Im in Launceston, Hobart, Melbourne & Brisbane over the next 5 weeks & the same offer stands. Let me know so I can give you times, dates & venue details.

Cheers, Phil

Hi Phil, I have been holding off on the OPV adjustment till I had a while with the machine - certaintly can get 35-40sec pulls that are quite nice with a range of fresh beans (w smart grinder) though always reading at the 12-13bar range. 

Having now heard the feedback on the OPV, am now thinking of sending it in for a fix.  Am based in Melbourne so wandering if I should send in to your centre or if it is something that you can do whilst over here per your note above.

Cheers