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  • Greenbeanme
    replied
    Originally posted by StephenT2 View Post
    I bought by Breville Double Boiler and Smart Pro grinder a month ago, yet to get a good latté. I realise in the 239 pages in this site, the answer will be there, but easier to ask for setting recommendations. I’m using Campos beans, 1 month old. I would appreciate knowing what a member or two are using for their settings. For instance, the grinder manual says setting of about 12, yet on YouTube, somebody recommends 4, what are your recommendations? Thanks, Stephen.
    Hi Stephen
    I have the same set up, had the smart grinder a while but upgraded from a Gaggia classic to a BDB in 2022.

    After a bit of trial and error have some pointers that have worked for me.

    In terms of grind size, I'm going anywhere between 8 and 3/2 depending on the bean (average I would say is 7-5), noting that I have adjusted the burr to a few notches finer by taking it out and moving the ring, so you might take this down even a little more.
    I am using a VST double basket though, which I believe allows for a finer grind.

    I'm generally going 1:2.5ish, but don't drink milk based drinks so personal pref. Dosing 17-18g.

    I also recently ditched the supplied Breville tamp (it's terrible / not wide enough) and getting better results with a 58.5mm (got a Normcore which very happy with, figure anything this size will be better IMO).

    I'm also using WDT, and got a 3rd party bottomless portafilter - thankfully I can see that not getting channelling, but this can be a big help if you're not getting the shots you're happy with.

    I'm hitting about 8-9 bars generally after preinfusion, hit 7ish once or twice when have ground too course, so have also been happy with the factory set OPV. I expected it to hit a bit higher based on info I have seen. Have hit 9.5 bars some shots but again, this was clearly when too fine, and when this has happened the shot has taken too long also, so not a worry.

    Of course, everyone is different, but found the above has been good for me with the BDB. Hope this helps!

    Leave a comment:


  • FNQ
    replied
    Hi Stephen T2

    Great advice above.

    Re your comment " yet to get a good latte "

    There are 'lots' of things that combine to do this. The posts above give good advice to get the right beans and get the grinder dialed in which are CRUCIAL
    After that technique comes into play with dose / tamp / texturing milk .....all elements of a good latte.

    I will offer some ideas that you may need to consider, but don't stress and try and do all things at once Get the little bits right and ticked off one by one and you will quickly get some good shots out of the machine ( texturing milk I found takes practice as well as theory)

    So here goes. ( please feel free to ignore if i am not telling you anything new)


    Do you have a recipe for your latte. ( eg 36 gms out in the shot and 150-160 mls of milk ( just an example but works well in the small jug) Gives you something to aim and repeat

    Do you have a ratio sorted (weight) eg 18 gms of grinds in the PF and 36 gms out equates to a double shot at 1:2 ( this works well in the standard double Breville basket)

    Please don't use the double walled baskets or try mastery at this stage using the single PF ( I am useless on the single - not easy to repeat)

    Tamp - I found the BDB tamp okay - but easy to get crooked tamps ( opens the way to channelling and too quick shots even though your grind might be pretty good) - Don't be tempted to do what i used to do - tamp first time and find crooked and then use a second attempt to correct over the initial ( mainly because i didn't always hold the portafilter on a consistent flat surface ( highly recommend tamp stand or at least a mat)

    I highly recommend only using the manual buttons to start and stop shots... The programming of volumetrics is okay but in the end I wanted more control

    Check your pressure at the puck. My new BDB had 10.5 on the gauge when measured using the blind rubber insert in the PF ( TOO High and makes harder to control)
    If you have too high - look up OPV adjusts - or whilst under warranty if worried a workaround uses the Preinfusion menu ( ask about this if you need, there are some very good BDB tinkerers on this forum -Not me)

    Good luck

    Leave a comment:


  • Dimal
    commented on 's reply
    Yep, those Campos beans would be coming to the end of their best. Might be Ok but better to try and grab some freshly roasted beans within a week of roasting, such as those listed by our Maestro under the Bean Bay tab at the top of the page.

  • level3ninja
    replied
    With that grinder you're going to need to WDT or you'll have significant channelling, which will make dialling in near impossible. See if you can get your hands on one of these (https://coffeesnobs.com.au/forum/mar...t-tool-10-melb).

    You'll also need a set of accurate 0.1g scales . Don't have to be expensive, there's ones on eBay for around $15 delivered that do the job. I describe them in this post (https://coffeesnobs.com.au/forum/equ...kingsdun-scale). ittpsnttps ttpsorder to be using a consistent amount of ground coffee each time, as the BCG820 does not have a consistent output of grams per second. Aim for 20g in the double basket. From there adjust the grind setting to make the shot take longer or shorter.

    Leave a comment:


  • StephenT2
    commented on 's reply
    Thank you.

  • Javaphile
    replied
    Everybody's settings are different. Focus on process/workflow and using fresh beans.


    Java "Old beans suck" phile

    Leave a comment:


  • StephenT2
    started a topic Help for settings, BDB & Smart Pro

    Help for settings, BDB & Smart Pro

    I bought by Breville Double Boiler and Smart Pro grinder a month ago, yet to get a good latté. I realise in the 239 pages in this site, the answer will be there, but easier to ask for setting recommendations. I’m using Campos beans, 1 month old. I would appreciate knowing what a member or two are using for their settings. For instance, the grinder manual says setting of about 12, yet on YouTube, somebody recommends 4, what are your recommendations? Thanks, Stephen.
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