Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

[Ryjoda]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

The instructions were clear and concise, only took me several minutes to make the change. Firstly added five shims as per instruction ground some coffee and pulled a couple of shots, still not quite fine enough and this was on the 2nd to last finest setting, so went ahead and added the other 5 shims.

I had a similar experience. The first five shims didnt seem to make a huge difference but after I installed the second five I was grinding fine enough for my Silvia on the eighth finest setting. It seems that half of the grinders that are making it out are not grinding fine enough and need the shims.

I thank Phil for the quick service and sending me the shims. I am happy with the grinder, it is a major improvement over my em0480 and as good as Rocky IMO. Better value thats for sure.

[julesinoz2010]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

It seems that half of the grinders that are making it out are not grinding fine enough and need the shims.  


Well, I must say, if I bought 10 really cheap cars and had to send 5 back then I would be dissapointed.  Newbeanboy (Anthony) has purchased 3 grinders and ALL of them have been faulty.  

I have been using the EM0480 for the last 3 years and its been grinding beens - thats about it.  Its only now that after making a concerted effort to improve my morning coffee that I can tell its my limiting factor.  So I am upgrading - but based on these findings I am going to stretch to the Mazzer/Macap end of the spectrum.  So lets see.  

Still, I am very interested to see two things.  

1)  How Newbeanboys Breville works over time
2)  How ridiculously cheap the Breville may be in the next 6 months or so

Why? so I can get one for my wifes Decaf - and not have to hide horrible preground, stale, underextracted coffee under a mound of textured milk

Cheers guys

Julian

[Morgz]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Has anyone tested the Baratza Virtuoso that 5senses sells? Looks to me to be another option at the Sunbeam/Breville price level.

http://www.(commercial non-sponsor)/shop/equipment/category/baratza/baratza-virtuoso

(not sure if links are allowed... if not, go to 5senses site for info)

My Sunbeam was OK but the mess it made drove me nuts. Having said that, it wasnt as susceptible to jamming as my Macap but maybe thats the price you pay for a clean grinder  :-X

[vyapada]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

CoffeeGeek has lots of reviews on such things, Mark Prince seems to like the Baratza line.

[Dennis]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

CoffeeGeek has lots of reviews on such things, Mark Prince seems to like the Baratza line.

A bit off topic, but Im not sure why you might bother to go to an off-shore website for reviews of equipment likely to have different specifications and performance to AU models.

There is a very good section on CS that contains reviews.

[stucci]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Seems to be a good grinder & hopefully Breville sort out what seem like minor bugs.

Some have suggested that the smart grinder is on par with the Vario, however the Compak K3 is described as a step up.

I have a Vario and I find that the grind quality is similar to the Macap M4 I had previously. General opinion (to the best of my knowledge) is that the M4 is as good or better than the K3, and the Mazzer Mini for that matter.

I hope to give the smart grinder a try for myself, as taste is very subjective, but am interested if the Vario comparison was based on general features and functionality, or also grind quality?

[Ryjoda]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Well, I must say, if I bought 10 really cheap cars and had to send 5 back then I would be dissapointed

There is no need to send the grinder back, just contact Phil and install the shims. The Breville is light years ahead of the em0480 in every aspect.

I know its hard to believe that a grinder, not grinding fine enough from new, can compete with $400+ grinders. Its very dissapointing and a major turn off on an otherwise good grinder.

[mcsblues]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Mine arrived this afternoon and while it does need the shim kit (missed the customer service 5.00 pm cut off by 2 minutes! - but sent an email) I am very impressed anyway. Very quiet and MUCH less mess than the Sunbeam 0450. The grind also looks more consistent, and I am wondering if that is the reason the Sunbeam grinders can be fairly easily tweaked to give reasonable shot timing (but not necessarily good coffee) - because there is a mix of fine and coarse particles and enough very fine stuff in the mix will choke anything ... but that doesnt make it good.

Make sense? I have been fine tuning for a while ...

One other question - is there something about the Sunbeam baskets that pretty much require you to over dose ... or the machine itself (6910)? On the Breville I almost immediately set the (double shot) dose to +5 .. because that is what I am used to!

[newbeanboy]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Got my shim kit from Phil today (thanks Phil) easy to install, more or less the same as the sunbeam for those who have done that although the build quality of the Breville is better and it is a little easier to take apart and rebuild.

Ran out of beans trying to get the grind right as I was running a little low but it all looks pretty good, final shot before the beans came to an end was much fuller flavoured than I could get with the sunbeam. Look forward to a bit more time to play with it on the weekend.

Im a very happy camper now it does seem a great value grinder for the money as many others have said.

[slipslopslap]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Is this a free standing version of the onboard Grinder  from the Breville BES860 Combo?

Thanks.
Stuart.  

[mcsblues]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

My shim kit arrived this morning - like the others I am just blown away with what we used to call service these days - so thanks Phil!

A couple of things - the kit and instructions has changed since creatore di caffes post a week or so back. The kit now contains 4 shims and the instructions recommend inserting the 1 mm and the 0.4 mm (no drama just another trip to the workshop for the calliper! - the kit has 1 x 1mm, 2 x 0.4mm and 1 x 0.2mm)



Anyway, did as recommended and an immediate improvement - havent quite got it dialled in yet but the attached is with what I have been doing (+2 then tap down then manually top up before levelling and tamping) - but importantly now at the 4th finest setting. As I said before it seems to be a Sunbeam thing the up/over dosing so I cant blame the Breville for that.



The second minor thing Phil is the sheet says "Note Failure to use a Breville Service Technician may void warranty"

Now I appreciate that some idiots might ignore the instructions - eg re the left hand thread - but as you are sending these kits out to consumers directly, I assume you are not going to void the warranty in the absence of obvious failures to read and follow the directions?

[JDCrema]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Thanks Newbeanboy and Java Junkie.
hey JJ that looks to be a much better shim/instruction than the one I received. Either way am happy at present with the grinder.
Although would really love to try a Macap or Mazzer to see how much difference there might be. Upgraditis? 8-)

[mcsblues]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Although would really love to try a Macap or Mazzer to see how much difference there might be. Upgraditis?  8-)

Pretty much my thoughts exactly. Im very happy with the Breville for now and while I was resigned to upgrading espresso machine and grinder in one step .,. soonish! - Im now thinking rather than getting something like a Compak K3T, I might hold out for a Macap M4D - and that could wait for a while. Either way Ill be visiting a sponsor who can demonstrate the alternatives along side the Breville.

[byron.simpson]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Stay tuned cksyd. We are negotiating a special sponsor spec. unit which will have some very useful goodies in it which would normally come at some fair cost. This spec. wont be available to the majors

Any update in regards to this???

[cuppacoffee]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Stay tuned cksyd. We are negotiating a special sponsor spec. unit which will have some very useful goodies in it which would normally come at some fair cost. This spec. wont be available to the majors  

Any update in regards to this???

Not yet. I think everyone is playing New Year catch up. Ive sent our friends at Breville a reminder.