Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

[byron.simpson]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

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

I had a BES860 for a short time, it sure seams to have the same function settings as the grinder on the combo machine...... Does anyone know for sure??? They just seam too good to be true for $250-$299. My gut tells me to stretch the budget to a K3T.

[leonardopm]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Hi all,

This is my first post here.

Ive been watching with attention this topic and until now it seems that BCG800 (+ shim kit sometimes) is a espresso suitable grinder.

BUT, until now I didnt see any discussion about the adjustment engine of this grinder. As far as I know it is a STEPPED grinder with only 25 settings. In this case ,maybe it has 8 or 10 settings in the espresso range.

So I ask: How is possible to dial in such a grinder to espresso, using different blends, with only 8 or 10 steps? How is going the experience of the owners with such limiting factor?

Thanks,

Leonardo

[Dennis]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

grinder with only 25 settings

All grinders have a finite practical number of settings.

All grinders will have just part of that finite range suitable for espresso.

How many settings would you like?

[mcsblues]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

grinder with only 25 settings

All grinders have a finite practical number of settings.

All grinders will have just part of that finite range suitable for espresso.

How many settings would you like?

Yes, I was thinking about this. While Im a long way from an expert, my experiments and the shims Ive added lead me to think there is approx 0.3 mm per step. Would any finer adjustment be meaningful given all the other factors that come in to play (freshness and variety of the beans, humidity, tamping technique consistency ... etc)?

[Ryjoda]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Each step in adjustment on the BCG800 has a noticeable difference in the pour rate but not a major one like the em0480. I would say it is similar to the Rocky in its differnce between settings but am happy to be told otherwise.

.

So I ask: How is possible to dial in such a grinder to espresso, using different blends, with only 8 or 10 steps? How is going the experience of the owners with such limiting factor?

Any grinder with a stepped adjustment will only have a few practical grind settings in its unique espresso range. 3-4 would be plenty on most I would think. I pretty much only used two different settings on my em0480, and made the difference with dose and tamp because of the big difference in grind each adjustment made.

[Dimal]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

[split] [link=http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?num=1296903595/0#0][splithere][/link][splithere_end]

Please restrict comments, etc to this particular grinder. General interest comments will be moved to a new thread or a more appropriate thread.....

Mal.

[leonardopm]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

I believe that problem with stepped grinders is not related to the number of steps, but with the gaps between them.

I never used a stepped grinder but I see many users around the world complaining about getting "locked" between steps, in other words, getting too fast pours with one setting and choking when using the next step.

The age of beans and its type also seems to recquire a fine adjustment, as sometimes I have to turn my modded BCG450 as few as 5mm to get the correct setting.

Talking about BCG450 the stepless adjustment is maybe the most important feature of this grinder, at least for me, and unbelievably the Smart Grinder took it off.


Dear Phil,

Ill understand if you say no, because youre a Breville employee but...do you know if it is possible to easily mod the BCG800 to make it stepless, even voiding the warranty? I would take the risk, no doubt.

Thanks.

Leonardo

[TC]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Hello Leonard,

I think one of the things about forums is that its all too easy to get pent up over process rather than outcome.

The smart ginder (with shims if required) is more than capable of doing the job and I say that from first-hand experience.

My take is that the "increments" are actually in the knob mechansim rather than the adjustment of the burrs and it would be technically possible to be mid step anyway.

This is a great grinder and competes on very much level ground with the Vario in my opinion. Its not a commercial Compak K3T, but it was never trying to be.

I am still of the opinion that nothing better exists under about $500.

Ultimately, the best bet is to experience the grinder first and then come to your own educated opinion.

Chris

[leonardopm]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Dear Chris,

Thanks for the answer.

Do you have one Smart grinder? Could you please inform if I can put it between steps just holding the knob in a intermediary position?

Leonardo

[maheel]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Hi Leonardo

i reckon if your that deep into your coffee you should consider a better grinder than worry about steps and shims in a bcg800.

[mcsblues]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Dear Chris,

Thanks for the answer.

Do you have one Smart grinder? Could you please inform if I can put it between steps just holding the knob in a intermediary position?

Leonardo

Leonardo, I have one and yes you can (and you dont need to hold it) but it really isnt necessary (the steps arent that big).

Actually, I could stand to be corrected, but to me it really is a step less grinder - as Chris says the increments are achieved using the knob mechanism and the only steps are not mechanical merely the electronic readout which just gives you a very useful indication of where you are in the range (but not between steps).

HTH

[leonardopm]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Hey JJ,

Thanks for answering. If the steps in the display are merely discrete readings of a continuous scale, then it really makes it a stepless grinder. The only concern is that we cant know exactly where between steps were working.

Sounds very good to me.

Maheel,

I appreciate your advice, but here in Brazil good grinders are extremely expensive. Besides that, customs taxes and exchange rate dont help when buying online worldwide, so finding a good grinder costing US$199,00 that can be turned in a excelent grinder with a few mods is a very good opportunity and cant be wasted.

Im also looking at grinders like K3T and Vario, but costing half the price and considering its actual rating among customers, the BCG800 is a strong player in the match.

Leonardo

[lopey12]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Hi all,

I have been lurking here for a while and have now decided to start upgrading. So it seems good grinder first along with good beans. Since it is my birthday soon I have talked the missus, my mum and mother in law into buying me one of these grinders as a pressie. While I can offer absolutely nothing to compare too, I will post what I think of it ASAP.

It seems the beanbay service is too good. As I was writing this my sample pack arrived at the door but I have nothing to grind it with! I only made the order on the weekend. I hope the beans keep fresh for a couple of weeks!

[Kevo]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

I hope the beans keep fresh for a couple of weeks!

Wishful but unfortunately wrongful thinking Azas.
If you want the best from that sample pack you best beg, steal (maybe not ) or borrow a decent grinder until your pressie grinder arrives.
Better still, bring your birthday forward a couple of weeks. The fresher coffee will be more enjoyable all the way up to the actual day!
Either way, enjoy and welcome on board.
Kevo.

[vyapada]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Kevos got the right idea!