Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

[bennett]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Good review Pavoniboy. I am quite interested to see how the Breville will affect Hx sales. Whilst it is obviously a category killer in its price range, would there be any compelling reasons to buy an E61 Hx machine eg VBM jnr over the Breville ? Apart from the obvious appliance vs Italian machine debates.

What Im trying to say is if you have $4000 to spend buy an Alex, if not buy the Breville, would there be any reason to consider a $2500 Hx machine over and above the Breville.

This is a serious question maybe best answered by Chris or Dennis, and please no Breville-hater posts to inflame the situation. Obviously the jury is still out on longevity/serviceability etc, but the results in the cup seem very good.

My next machine was always going to be something like the Alex Duetto when upgrade-itis finally hit me. However hypothetically I could sell the VBM and buy the Breville and still have some change...would this be a silly choice ? Interesting hypothetical 

[TC]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Good review Pavoniboy. I am quite interested to see how the Breville will affect Hx sales. Whilst it is obviously a category killer in its price range, would there be any compelling reasons to buy an E61 Hx machine eg VBM jnr over the Breville ? Apart from the obvious appliance vs Italian machine debates.

What Im trying to say is if you have $4000 to spend buy an Alex, if not buy the Breville, would there be any reason to consider a $2500 Hx machine over and above the Breville.

This is a serious question maybe best answered by Chris or Dennis, and please no Breville-hater posts to inflame the situation. Obviously the jury is still out on longevity/serviceability etc, but the results in the cup seem very good.

My next machine was always going to be something like the Alex Duetto when upgrade-itis finally hit me. However hypothetically I could sell the VBM and buy the Breville and still have some change...would this be a silly choice ? Interesting hypothetical 

I think that time will tell Bennett,

There will always be a market for Italian bling.

A great machine will produce great coffee when all the other planets align and I think that many people will continue to buy on looks and will be thrilled with their purchases and what is in the cup. Its why I originally purchased my old e-61 when I could just have easily bought a PID Linea or something similar.

I think the Breville will have huge impact in the "lower end" market. For mine, $1.1k on Silvia and Rocky for example might not be as attractive with the Breville not all that far away. Many will simply save a bit more and step up.

In the last couple of months, the number of enquiries for single boiler machines (even the e-61 versions) has dropped off dramatically.

I think the top end domestic market is safe. What may happen though- and I think I am seeing it- is that those in this market see the value in rotary pump. Giotto Evoluzione/Izzo and similar machines are going to do really well. I think we will see more real lever machines as well. I would LOVE to get a Pompeii group onto an Alex platform.  8-)

Back to dual boilers....Lower end vibe pump dual boilers might have a tough time. Breville or Minore III/IV?  :-?

Chris

[cuppacoffee]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Thanks for your comments PB and I enjoyed reading your review and the pics too. Nice view!

Ive been raving about this machine for quite a while and its good to see that all my hype, wasnt all just hype.

Bennett, like Chris, Im fortunate to have a wide choice of machines available to me and have owned some real beauties. My next home machine will be the Dual Boiler. I just love its functionality and ability to cater equally to either geek or newbie.

Personally, I think that one of the key things this machine has done is to give the status quo a good shake. It has filled what was a pretty big hole in the market. Given the amount of these machines Ive sold to date, and the number I know have been sold elsewhere, either traditional Italian machine sales have suffered, or we are seeing a whole new generation of coffee drinkers enter the home machine market!

I must admit that just a year to two ago, I was one of those people who would disparage the quality of goods that came from China - the introduction of the Smart Grinder with the Dual Boiler hot on its heels has made me reconsider. I think we have some interesting times ahead.

I wonder what Breville will come up with next? :

[Nav]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

I wonder what Breville will come up with next?  :

Im waiting for the Breville Smart Coffee Roaster

[Pavoniboy]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

would there be any reason to consider a $2500 Hx machine over and above the Breville.

Its only my personal opinion and choice, but I chose the Breville and the change left over in my bank account over an Italian HX machine that I was previously considering.

[blacktea]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Im waiting for the Breville Smart Coffee Roaster

+1 Nav =D

[TC]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

I want the Breville Smart Teamaker   8-)

[wallop]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Just ordered my machine today . Should have it sometime this week. Cant wait to get my hands on it after reading all the positive comments here.

[Lewdannie]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Keen to see one in the wild. None on display at Myer, DJs or HN Carindale :-?

[sandy]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Pavoniboy, you said the steam was disappointing in power - just wondered how this translates in terms of the time taken to get good microfoam?

[Adam_Preston]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Great to see people enjoying the 9 in the wild....Sweet photos and reviews too!

Im keen to upgrade my pilot production version to a MP one now...Phil, Ill trade you for a play on our 3 group Strada?

[dr.a.j.pickering]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Pavoniboy, you said the steam was disappointing in power - just wondered how this translates in terms of the time taken to get good microfoam?

I can steam enough milk for a latte in 22cl/7.5oz glass in roughly the time it takes to pull the shot 30secs

I think disappointing is relative, much more than any single boiler much better then any thermoblock just not commercial power.

I have to say I am not disappointed with steam

I am going to try a video of the full process soon and will post it.

[quickling]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Very strange about the steam power. I would assume it is better than silvia with a 300ml boiler? Or the ECM Botticelli, which is meant to be really good with its 400ml boiler?

How does it compare to a small h/x machine with say a 1.3L boiler?

Is it just a matter of turning the pressurestat up? Or to replace the steam tip with one with more/bigger holes?

There was also remarks about the preproduction model having less than expected steam. Was this fixed?

[cuppacoffee]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

I dont think it all that strange quickling. If you just want to make a comparison between machines in regard to outright quantity when you turn the steam on, then yes, many other machines will produce more.

When you then ask the Breville to continue to produce steam, long after the others are begging to recover, it will do that. If you ask someone with minimal experience to produce good microfoam with little fuss, they will be able to achieve this too.

Seriously, at home, if you need to texturise milk quicker than this machine, then you dont need a Breville or a HX. You need a commercial dual boiler.

[sans_souci]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Well Ive had my machine since the day it was released. I dont have much to add to the reviews above as they are very detailed and accurate in my opinion. Being able to play with temperatures and pre-infusion is lots of fun. Being able to extract a beautiful thick dark crema time after time is even more fun.

Its still takes me quite few shots to dial in a new coffee but thats just me and Ill get better at it with time.

I havent found a coffee that tastes better off the factory default of 93 degrees yet, but its very interesting to note the changes in the cup when moving temperature around.

Steam may not be as powerful as a commercial machine, but its not a commercial machine. That also does not mean it doesnt produce great micro foam. It does this with relatively no fuss at all. So I dont really understand why anyone would be disappointed with it, I think its fantastic.

There is nothing on this machine that, as yet, has disappointed me. Im so impressed Ive recommended it to three others who have all made a purchase. I just wish I could carry it with me to work and on holidays!