Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

[chevalij]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Much appreciated! I think this thread will become very popular in the coming months!

[cuppacoffee]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

chevalier, one way or another, I know you will get your shim kit.

my respect for Breville

As an innovator and appliance manufacturer, I always admired and respected Breville.

With the advent of the Smart Grinder, and the service Phil and the Breville team provide to this forum, I have changed my opnion, and now think theyre awesome.

Cant wait to see what they come up with next!

[chevalij]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

This isnt my first Breville appliance and still like it. Im just a tad confused as to why Breville AU is sending them out and Breville (or at least the rep) has no idea if or when they would be issued in north America. You can only assume this would be a corporate issue and not a country specific problem :-?

[Barry_Duncan]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Breville is an Australian company.

Founded on Melbourne Cup day in 1932, by two young Australians, Bill OBrien and Harry Norville. Breville is a derivative of their names. They started by making radios.

Though Brevilles roots are in Australia, Breville designed products are now sold in over 30 countries around the world, including the United States.

They may sell through licensed distributers in some countries.

While they may be made in china they are designed in Australia.

There have been takeover attempts, however I believe that Breville is still Australian owned.

http://www.breville.com.au/75thbirthday/story.asp


Barry

[>mcknightp]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

This isnt my first Breville appliance and still like it.  Im just a tad confused as to why Breville AU is sending them out and Breville (or at least the rep) has no idea if or when they would be issued in north America.   You can only assume this would be a corporate issue and not a country specific problem   

I emailed the North American team this morning & its just a simple case of the Canadian customer service reps not having the most up to date info on this.

Yes, Breville is still an Australian owned & operated company thats traded publicly on the ASX.

As Dennis alluded to, we have some amazing coffee products in the pipeline! Watch this space! We may even debut one of these products via Coffee Snobs!

Cheers, Phil

[slipslopslap]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Im interested to find out if this a free standing version,or very similar to, the onboard Grinder  from the Breville BES860 Combo?

Thanks.
Stuart.

[Thundergod]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Slightly off topic but still on Breville.

The other day I was chasing up a part for my Breville kettle (model SK50).
They have a filter that fits in the spout to supposedly reduce scale build up (seems to work) and just last week my wife noticed it had perished.

A ring around of Breville and my nearest service agent proved fruitless.

Breville said they stopped making them in late 2007.

Considering the kettle looks almost like new I was a bit surprised that the only consumable is not available.
If the kettle is designed to last this long why cant I still get a filter?

[chevalij]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

I emailed the North American team this morning & its just a simple case of the Canadian customer service reps not having the most up to date info on this.

Cheers, Phil

I realize this isnt your job to help wayward shimless Canadians, but do you think its worth contacting them again 

[>mcknightp]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

I realize this isnt your job to help wayward shimless Canadians, but do you think its worth contacting them again 

No problem. They have it sorted & the kit will actually be sent from our LA office.

Cheers, Phil

[>mcknightp]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Im interested to find out if this a free standing version,or very similar to, the onboard Grinder  from the Breville BES860 Combo?

Hi Stuart, the only parts in the BCG800 grinder that are the same as the BES860 espresso machine are the motor & top burr. Everything else has been re-engineered when the stand-alone package was being developed.

Cheers, Phil

[dustinbennett]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

After five years, my Cuisinart all in one finally died last week. I got it as a wedding gift and pre-coffee snob (add: I was still using both milk and SweetNLow at the time I got it, BARF!). However, there wasnt a dire need to replace it as the coffee shop down the street is privatley owned and the guy knows what hes doing. In fact, I blame him for my current snobbery!

Anyway, for the past week Ive been going back and forth as to which grinder to get. I made my "decision" yesterday and ordered a Capresso, however, after reading not only the positive things on this thread about the grinder but ALSO Phils willingness to help folks out, I have canceled the Capresso and just ordered the BCG800 which will be on my front door tomorrow! When I see a company going above and beyond with their customers Ill gladly pay more for their product. Phil, you have earned a customer today!

Now since Ive gone WAY over budget on what I was going to spend on a grinder ive got to find a coffee maker for around $100. :-/

Thanks again for the good discussion on this thread everyone!

[GreenBeanGenii]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Great thread.

May I have clarification on several points.

Breville site says warranty is one year. Some posters said they have a two year warranty. Was this obtained by paying for a longer warranty period?

Given this is (nicely) marked as a suitable grinder for its price, what should/could I consider as an espresso machine to accompany this. Budget is about $1700.
Preference is for semi-auto.
Taking the leap from plunger to proper coffee. Have a roaster in mind as well but thats another thread
Cheers

[Ryjoda]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

May I have clarification on several points.

Breville site says warranty is one year. Some posters said they have a two year warranty. Was this obtained by paying for a longer warranty period?

Comes standard with a two year warranty.

Given this is (nicely) marked as a suitable grinder for its price, what should/could I consider as an espresso machine to accompany this. Budget is about $1700.
Preference is for semi-auto.

Your a bit off topic but Im sure you will get heaps of feedback and advice if you start a topic in the right category or search an old thread.

[GreenBeanGenii]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Thanks for the reply,ryjodal.

Bit annoying that the web says one year warranty but those that purchased the unit (like your good self) affirm its 2 years. Should one have upgraditis, then two years is not unreasonable to have the grinder.

Soon as I hit SEND, I realised I had gone off topic. Shall gather thoughts and try in the correct part of the forum.

Must ask myself, why did we ever think plunger coffee was the answer!! LOL.
GBG

[bikpaintr]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

No 2 year warranty over here, the manual included with the U.S. models clearly states that the grinder has a 1 year limited warranty.

As shipped the BCG800 I received was totally hopeless for espresso grinding producing 10 second (or less) gushers even on the finest settings. The shim kit recommends using one 1mm & one .40mm shim so why does Breville ship the grinder with only a .40mm shim installed?

  I removed the original shim & installed the two recommended shims but the grind was still too coarse so I added the .23mm shim from the kit. This got me into the 22 second range using the #23 setting but by then I was pretty much out of espresso blend. One thing I noticed is that with the grinder shimmed to produce a usable espresso grind it seems to be incredibly slow. Set on #23 it took 30 seconds to turn out a 20 gram dose. Is this typical of what others that are grinding fine enough for a conventional double basket (LM, ect) are seeing? The Baratza Vario turns out 1.6 grams per second in the espresso range.

  Ive been grinding strictly for vac pot the last 4 days & in the drip range the Breville does a very nice job. Its noisier then the grinders Im used to but certainly has some well thought out features. Now that Im restocked with espresso blends & S/O Ill try the espresso range again this week.