Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

[rduncan]

VST 18g and VST 22g work fine for BES900

What 3rd party basket would people recommend? VST 18g or the synesso?

The VST 18g and VST 22g both work fine on my BES900. 

  Robert

[jaysonleow]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Always proofread your responses so you dont words out.

I see what you did there ;D

[rduncan]

Correction: Unscrewing the spouts NOT recommended

Clarification/Correction:

When removing the plastic insert, I strongly recommend that new owners avoid unscrewing the spouts on the portafilter (as has been recommended). Like emmanuel (in this thread), I did so and then the spouts did NOT align correctly. Removing the plastic bit without removal of the spouts avoids that problem.

Dang! My first post and I left out a very important word: "NOT"

  Robert

[Barry_Duncan]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

I unscrewed mine when removing the plastic. I was careful to replace the thin washer before screwing it back and my spouts align perfectly east west.

Several owners reported losing their washer. it is easy for it to drop on the floor or into your sock. Without it you wont get it square.

I am consistantly getting 11 to 12 bar and a teriffic brew quality. Perhapse I should cover up the gauge.

Barry

[artman]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

I would get it adjusted to the "correct" 9 bar pressure, you might have to adjust your grind a bit coarser to get the same pour. From the accounts of others, if you are an espresso drinker, you will get a better mouth feel.

Might as well have it running at what is considered the "ideal" brewing pressure, regardless of your current results, as potentially, they might be a little bit better, and very unlikely not be worse.

Cheers

[rduncan]

Fix for misaligned spouts

I unscrewed mine when removing the plastic. I was careful to replace the thin washer before screwing it back and my spouts align perfectly east west.

Yes, I did the same: unscrewed spouts, retained and replaced washer, and still got the spouts misaligned. Unless there was more than one washer, I did the same as you, but still ended up with misaligned spouts.

Solution: Added a rubber O-Ring to the washer (thanks, Home Depot!). By selecting the right size O-Ring, I was able to get the right alignment. Do not recommend Plumbers tape, as it is intended as a waterproof seal, and would not be adjustable to the degree (pun intended) desired, to get alignment. 

Feeling better: no longer walking around with a misaligned spout! ;D

  Robert

[pcrussell50]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

phil sez:

The BES900 takes between 6 & 7mins to reach operating temperature & even with the element in the group head, the PF still wont be at optimum temp.

a bloke over on home-barista asked if the PID for the group heater made it into the production BDB machines. Anyone know for sure?

-peter

[TC]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

asked if the PID for the group heater made it into the production BDB machines.  Anyone know for sure?

Hi Peter,

A thermistor is used to actively heat the group.

[pcrussell50]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

asked if the PID for the group heater made it into the production BDB machines.  Anyone know for sure?

Hi Peter,

A thermistor is used to actively heat the group.

looks like mark prince over at coffeegeek was wrong.  he said:

And heres where Brevilles next trick is. It features not one, but two PID controllers. One is working on the brew boiler, and the second one isnt where youd expect it: it is on the grouphead, not the steam boiler. The steam boiler is controlled via a thermostat thermister control (which is more precise than a thermostat).

http://coffeegeek.com/proreviews/fir...boiler/details

spewin.  i was hoping it has two PIDs, especially the on one on the grouphead.

-peter

[TC]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

;D Nope- Mark is correct Peter. My foggy memory :

[pcrussell50]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

;D Nope- Mark is correct Peter. My foggy memory :

perhaps you need a shot of espresso to clear the fog a bit

-peter

[SteveH48]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

A thermistor is used to actively heat the group.

No!  - a thermistor is merely a temperature sensor not a heater - it is part of an electronic circuit which is much better than a mechanical thermostat at maintaining a stable temperature.

[TC]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Thats why I just corrected my statement :

[dclark]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Ill advise what the service centre finds.

Dropped the machine off at the service this centre this morning. Since been advised that they are sending it up to Sydney service centre as advice from Breville is that it could be a couple of things, so to save on waiting for spare parts, best to send it up there.

Told it will take about a week.

[SteveH48]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Sorry Talk_coffee, I was having trouble following the course of the thread and didnt realize that your correction applied to the thermistor thingo - just wanted to make sure that the machine wasnt done an injustice. Perhaps the fog would have cleared for me too had I visited my Bessie 860 first. :-/