Breville Oracle Owners Thread BES980XL

[ClintoKL]

I was using fresh beans (that I bought in Australia) they would have been about 30 days from roasting. Didnt matter if i selected grind 45 or grind 1 the result was exactly the same and you could see the grind itself was the same. I factory reset the machine and went out and bought the same Lavazza beans I used in Australia. In Australia I had to set it at grind 27 and extracted perfectly (actaully I couldnt believe how good the coffee was!). Here I have got the grind set to 14 but preinfuse is still 8 seconds but it is extracting the 2 ounces in 30 seconds. The espresso shot is very black and the crema is a good colour but thin :-(
I have bumped up the tamp pressure as well!!!!

I dont think this is quite right? Grind 14 and increase in tamp pressure when in Australia I was grind 27 and default tamp.

Would anyone have the 1300-Oracle number as a regular Australia telephone number?

Thanks
Clint

[kyeba]

Try different beans that are local and fresh (not sure of the availability of that in Malaysia). Haven't heard anything good about lavazza so try something else to narrow the problem

[ClintoKL]

I was using fresh beans (that I bought in Australia) they would have been about 30 days from roasting. Didnt matter if i selected grind 45 or grind 1 the result was exactly the same and you could see the grind itself was the same. I factory reset the machine and went out and bought the same Lavazza beans I used in Australia. In Australia I had to set it at grind 27 and extracted perfectly (actaully I couldnt believe how good the coffee was!). Here I have got the grind set to 14 but preinfuse is still 8 seconds but it is extracting the 2 ounces in 30 seconds. The espresso shot is very black and the crema is a good colour but thin :-(
I have bumped up the tamp pressure as well!!!!

I dont think this is quite right? Grind 14 and increase in tamp pressure when in Australia I was grind 27 and default tamp.

Would anyone have the 1300-Oracle number as a regular Australia telephone number?

Thanks
Clint

Actually, i have just dialed it down to Grind 8 and set Tamp to 5 and 5 and it produced an ok espresso. Pre infuse about 9 seconds and 2 x 1 ounce in 30 seconds. Poured ok and Crema looks ok, a little thin but colour was ok.

Im just really worried about the grind settings at Grind 8 it doesnt give a lot of wiggle room to the fine side and i dont reckon thats right.

Virtually every post i see, people say there Grind settings are 27 give or take. Does anyone else have any experience with Grind settings sub 10?

Anyway still looking for the Club Oracle non toll free number if anyone knows it?

[ClintoKL]

Try different beans that are local and fresh (not sure of the availability of that in Malaysia). Haven't heard anything good about lavazza so try something else to narrow the problem

Ya will try again. Malaysia has a great coffee culture. Lots of young people returning from their Uni stints in Melbourne and bringing that coffee culture with them including roasting.

[cdhjrf]

Just call the Breville on +61293848100 and they should be able to transfer you to club Oracle.
Also check around for a local roaster so you know your getting fresh beans roasted within the last 2 weeks.

[ClintoKL]

Just as an update, i called Breville in Australia and we pulled out the top burr and changed the grind size from 6 to 4 on the burr. Not much of an improved result. I could change the Grind from 8 to 12 now and get the same equivalent result as 8. Breville convinced the beans are rubbish so I went out just now and bought expensive Columbian beans roasted 12 days ago (AUD$23 for 200g) but guess what? NO difference.
Im still sitting at grind 12 and its pouring just a little over 2 ounces in 30 seconds with a thin weak Crema. The coffee is clearly under extracted, It starts pouring at 8 seconds, you can tell when it pours and by taste. (I have yet, at ANY grind setting been able to get a pour between 9 and 14 seconds, even Grind 1 it still pours at 8 seconds)
Im suspecting Ive got a dud machine :-(

Has anyone changed their tamp settings? Mine is at 5 and 4 seconds (will increasing it to 6 or 7 pack it more tightly?)
Also my pre infuse is set at power 60 and 7 seconds, is that the default?

Thanks Guys
Clint

[cdhjrf]

It's starting to sound like a grind problem. I always used to get my pour starting at 11 seconds and with the grinder set to around 34 but different beans and freshness would have me tweaking it a couple of clicks either way. That's with all factory settings.

Craig

[ClintoKL]

It's starting to sound like a grind problem. I always used to get my pour starting at 11 seconds and with the grinder set to around 34 but different beans and freshness would have me tweaking it a couple of clicks either way. That's with all factory settings.

Craig

Well I now have my grind at 20 and I have upped the tamp pressure to 7 and Im now getting my pour at 10 seconds and a correctly extracted shots at 30. The issue is getting the puck out of the portafilter at tamp 7. Takes quite a few almighty hits to dislodge it. I guess thats ok but I definitely feel like the grinder is not working correctly. No matter if I grind at 35 or grind at 10 I cant see any visual/feel difference between the two grinds. But the first few times I used it, it was definitely working. Grind at 10 previously and virtually no coffee came out. Grind at 35 and it poured out. No longer the case. Im now using tamp pressure to compensate the grind. Im pretty disappointed really. But suspect not much i can do other than fly it back to Australia when visiting at Xmas and send in to Breville and then collect it the following Xmas. Breville claim its a 2 year warranty but only valid in Australia :-(

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

How did you transport the machine from Aus to Malaysia? As checked luggage?

[cdhjrf]

Well I now have my grind at 20 and I have upped the tamp pressure to 7 and Im now getting my pour at 10 seconds and a correctly extracted shots at 30. The issue is getting the puck out of the portafilter at tamp 7. Takes quite a few almighty hits to dislodge it. I guess thats ok but I definitely feel like the grinder is not working correctly. No matter if I grind at 35 or grind at 10 I cant see any visual/feel difference between the two grinds. But the first few times I used it, it was definitely working. Grind at 10 previously and virtually no coffee came out. Grind at 35 and it poured out. No longer the case. Im now using tamp pressure to compensate the grind. Im pretty disappointed really. But suspect not much i can do other than fly it back to Australia when visiting at Xmas and send in to Breville and then collect it the following Xmas. Breville claim its a 2 year warranty but only valid in Australia :-(

I know that it takes a solid could of hits to get the puck out of mine just on the factory settings. I think it's the way the basket is designed so the coffee doesn't slip around whilst it's tamping

[KatBrazier]

Well I now have my grind at 20 and I have upped the tamp pressure to 7 and Im now getting my pour at 10 seconds and a correctly extracted shots at 30. The issue is getting the puck out of the portafilter at tamp 7. Takes quite a few almighty hits to dislodge it. I guess thats ok but I definitely feel like the grinder is not working correctly. No matter if I grind at 35 or grind at 10 I cant see any visual/feel difference between the two grinds. But the first few times I used it, it was definitely working. Grind at 10 previously and virtually no coffee came out. Grind at 35 and it poured out. No longer the case. Im now using tamp pressure to compensate the grind. Im pretty disappointed really. But suspect not much i can do other than fly it back to Australia when visiting at Xmas and send in to Breville and then collect it the following Xmas. Breville claim its a 2 year warranty but only valid in Australia :-(

Hi ClintoKL,
Kat from Breville here. I’ve been following your posts & how frustrating for you!

I have an idea of what it might be – the top burr may not be assembled correctly.
Please try the following:
1. Remove excess beans from hopper
2. Replace hopper & grind out excess beans in the throat of the grinder
3. Switch off machine, remove hopper & vacuum or thoroughly brush out the top burr
4. Remove top burr, vacuum underneath
5. Replace top burr & feel for a CLICK at the very end when you lock it into place
6. If it doesn’t click it’s not locked
7. Replace hopper and try and grind some coffee (for say 10 seconds & then stop) on Grind setting 1 – keep the sample
8. Change your grind setting to 30, purge some grind otherwise you won’t see the change
9. Grind some coffee on this grind setting for 10 seconds – keep the sample
10. You should see a BIG difference visually in grind size
11. If so, return your grinder to 25, purge a little coffee and grind & pour a fresh coffee

Let me know what happens.
Cheers,
Kat

[ClintoKL]

Hi ClintoKL,
Kat from Breville here. I’ve been following your posts & how frustrating for you!

I have an idea of what it might be – the top burr may not be assembled correctly.
Please try the following:
1. Remove excess beans from hopper
2. Replace hopper & grind out excess beans in the throat of the grinder
3. Switch off machine, remove hopper & vacuum or thoroughly brush out the top burr
4. Remove top burr, vacuum underneath
5. Replace top burr & feel for a CLICK at the very end when you lock it into place
6. If it doesn’t click it’s not locked
7. Replace hopper and try and grind some coffee (for say 10 seconds & then stop) on Grind setting 1 – keep the sample
8. Change your grind setting to 30, purge some grind otherwise you won’t see the change
9. Grind some coffee on this grind setting for 10 seconds – keep the sample
10. You should see a BIG difference visually in grind size
11. If so, return your grinder to 25, purge a little coffee and grind & pour a fresh coffee

Let me know what happens.
Cheers,
Kat

Thanks Kat, will give it a try tomorrow and let you know the results. Really appreciate your suggestion and proactivity!

[ClintoKL]

Thanks Kat, will give it a try tomorrow and let you know the results. Really appreciate your suggestion and proactivity!

Hi Kat,

Would it be possible to take this conversation across to email or Skype? I dont want to hijack this thread into a support session. This thread should be celebrating a good machine and forum members helping each other on tips and tricks and reviews etc.

I feel like my machine has issues and have done some thorough testing the last 2 days and would like to discuss them with you/Breville.

Could you please let me know? I will PM you my email address

Thanks
Clint

[WantRancilio10]

Im happy to share my email address here with you

But not with everyone so much I should think. That's what Private Messaging is for - see top left of the page. I'd suggest amending your post above and deleting the email address.

[Javaphile]

Hi Kat,

Would it be possible to take this conversation across to email or Skype? I dont want to hijack this thread into a support session. This thread should be celebrating a good machine and forum members helping each other on tips and tricks and reviews etc.

I feel like my machine has issues and have done some thorough testing the last 2 days and would like to discuss them with you/Breville.

Could you please let me know? I will PM you my email address

Thanks
Clint

This is not just a celebration or tips and tricks thread. It is a thread for all things dealing with the Oracle, including troubleshooting. Kat has conducted any number of such troubleshooting sessions for various Breville machines here. Such sessions are a help to others and to Breville as well as it saves time on their call-in line when people can come in here and figure out what the issue is with their machine.


Java "Bring on the troubleshooting session!" phile