Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

[specialpants]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Unpacked and played around with the BDB this morning. My initial thoughts:

Machine – very innovative and I’ll get over the fact it has plastic knobs. I found it interesting to see that the portafilter was able fit into an e61 group head, but not the other way round

Espresso – no complaints. I still need to familiarise myself with the pre-infusion and the varying pump noise. I am glad it’s not as loud as the Sunbeam 6910! I made two decent shots that showed 10bar on the gauge. I was using self roasted beans and a mazzer mini.

Steam – great results… although lacking that grunt I’m more use to.

I also took note of the gauge for anyone that is interested:
Approx 7 bar using the Breville pressurised basket (2 cup)
Approx 7.5 bar using the Sunbeam equivalent
I didn’t have a blind filter handy so wasn’t able to see where the OPV is set.

[trentski]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Machine – very innovative and I’ll get over the fact it has plastic knobs. I found it interesting to see that the portafilter was able fit into an e61 group head, but not the other way round

My Giotto Premium Plus has plastic knobs, they seem to work 8-)

My car fits in my garage, but my garage doesnt fit in my car, does that help explain the group handle situation that is confusing you? ;D

[specialpants]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

I agree - steam works well and the plastic paddle doesnt affect the steam in anyway, but breville did go to the effort of putting metallic paint on it.

My car fits in my garage, but my garage doesnt fit in my car, does that help explain the group handle situation that is confusing you?

It all makes sense now

Sorry, what I was trying to say is Ive got a naked e61 handle and a little part of me was hoping it would fit the breville but it wasnt the case.

[treker59]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

am picking my bes900 up tomorrow ordered on the 19/12 has been a long wait hope it is worth the wait also can the boilers be emptied if the machine is not used for a while while on holidays etc i look forward to play with it just my luck i get it and i have to go away for the weekend it will be an interesting journey in to coffee

[DavidW1960]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Are people using ridged or ridge less VST? 15 or 18g?

[malliemcg]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

We just grabbed a BDB and smart grinder for use at work between a few of us. Id never seen one of these in the flesh before (but recommended another person at work look at one based on this site). Its a nice machine, and incredibly easy to use.

I reckon well see a ROI in a rather short period of time, Im still tripping about the price (non sponsor so not mentioned) but picked up the pair and knock box for less than RRP of the BDB. Bargain!

Now the education as to why we need to buy freshly roasted beans and no pre-ground is not acceptable to "save" money. The cost of a coffee has gone from $3.3-4.3 to $1-2, quality and consistency is improved and you want to save a few more cents losing excellent flavours. Grrrr

[shapeshifter]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

The next set of wooden handles and tamper have been made, luckily they are mine, I absolutely LOVE them.

The wood is Purple Heart, if anyone has seen this wood in real life youll understand how much I love this

A huge thanks to Phil for making life easier for the maker of these as well 

Ill have more photos and some in the making photos as well on my blog later on.

[Roz]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Hmm I must get on board on these wood handles, maybe get my naked changed!

They look great and no doubt feel better!

[Courierdog]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

I received our BDB on Wednesday and the Smart Grinder on Friday.
There in no question I have to increase our coffee budget.
We will be over caffeinated in short order.
Fantastic espresso machine.
Grinder requires the shim kit and as usual the Canadian distributor is less than cooperative on with either the naked portafilters or the shim kits.
Canadian Distributors wonder why we buy from the US it is because the US gives service the Canadian Distributors talk about service.

[treker59]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

just picked up my bes900 and unpacked i take it the plastic piece in the bottom of the portafilter i should take out and what is the bast way a screwdriver ? i appreciate any advice i am new at this thanks

[Barry_Duncan]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

what is the bast way

Welcome to the club, Trekker.

I used a screwdriver shaft throught the spout to unscrew it. Then  a couple of screwdrivers to push the plastic gadget out. Others have used a cork screw without removing the spout.

Enjoy it.

Barry.

[Banjo.au]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Are people using ridged or ridge less VST? 15 or 18g?

Definitely ridgeless, unless you dont want to remove it often.  The Breville baskets are ridgeless, and the spring will hold a ridged basket very firmly. 

Andrew

[DavidW1960]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Thanks. Yeah I worked out the Breville baskets were ridge less.

[Pandani]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Hello, All,
I placed my first post (below) on 27th January, 2012, and have only now realised that it would have been more appropriately placed here.

"Hi, CS all. I am brand new CS member, having lurked here as visitor for a while gathering info. Unpacked my new BES900 yesterday, brewed this morning, not good. 
Old grinder, SB EM0430, definitely not up to job, in addition to which I can see that I have a way to go to learn to drive this thing. Also, need to pay attention to selection and sourcing of beans.  Looking forward to happy times ahead."

Previous machine was Breville ESP8, so I am dealing with a whole new process in the BES900.

My choice of BSB was not a brand-loyalty thing — I had decided on a Silvia plus Rocky, but further research led me to the opinion that the features of the BSB and the thorough development work that went into it justified the additional purchase price.

As stated by others, the dose quantity and tamping technique makes a dramatic difference to the results.

Having made a degree progress in the dosing and tamping, I have achieved some results approximating to a coffee that I would approve of from a cafe.

I do need to juggle shot times manually, though, as I cant get consistency in automatic mode.

Anyhow, am booked for an instruction session with site sponsors, the Di Bella Coffee people, where I will buy my next run of beans and some other acessories that I will surely need.

Thanks for great info gleaned from your posts above.

[Pandani]

Re: Breville BES900 Dual Boiler - Owners thread

Correction to post 5 mins. ago: In para 4, "BSB" should be "BDB".