Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

[cuppacoffee]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Denis and Chris,
Did either of you guys end up doing a lab test on the particle grind size from the BCG800?

Yes, I did. Theres a graph buried deep in the early pages of this thread. Ive re-attached it here.

[snewman]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Disregard my comment on a stale thread - I had 2 open on the BCG800 and it was the other one that had no entries in months. This ones definitely still active!

[dr.a.j.pickering]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

I am having an issue i have this grinder and need to fit all 3 shims to get the right grind. But now I seem to be getting a clogging issue in the star/flower shaped plastic below the lower burs it seems grinds are sticking.

This presents with a reduced dose for the set time I had initially put this down to a lack of cleaning on my behalf but this now evident after using only one bag 250g bag of beans which lasts me about 4 days.

At present I use a vacuum cleaner to suck out the grinds between each refill, as the brush does not get them all out but still finding having to up the dose towards the end of the bag

Any advice would be helpful

for reference I am using belaroma octavia which I buy direct from the factory/coffee center round the corner so never more much more than 2 weeks post roast.

[cuppacoffee]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

I am having an issue i have this grinder and need to fit all 3 shims to get the right grind.  But now I seem to be getting a clogging issue in the star/flower shaped plastic below the lower burs it seems grinds are sticking.

This presents with a reduced dose for the set time I had initially put this down to a lack of cleaning on my behalf but this now evident after using only one bag 250g bag of beans which lasts me about 4 days.

At present I use a vacuum cleaner to suck out the grinds between each refill, as the brush does not get them all out but still finding having to up the dose towards the end of the bag

Any advice would be helpful

for reference I am using belaroma octavia which I buy direct from the factory/coffee center round the corner so never more much more than 2 weeks post roast.

I will take a guess here:

You are grinding very fine to try and get a slow pour.

The grind you have selected is very fine - indeed, so fine that you are clogging your grinder.

Fact: Belaroma octavia is a low viscosity coffee and very lightly roasted.

Back to opinion: Coffees with these characterstics may not be suitable for espresso and/or difficult to work with in order to obtain the intended results.

Suggest you try one of their different blends, or coffee from a different source.

[artman]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Hello, I have a Faema E98 A1. Would the Breville provide a good enough grind for this sort of machine, or would I notice a difference if I went for something like the K3?

The easy cleaning, small size etc are appealing on the Breville, but I am wondering if saving up a bit more $$ would be worthwhile?

In terms of noise, can any one advise how it would compare to something like the K3?

Cheers

[cuppacoffee]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Hello artman

Is a particular grinder good enough can quickly become subjective.  If I had a limit of $500 for a grinder I would choose the Breville every time, and pocket the change.  If I had a $600 budget, Id buy the K3T.

The K3T is certainly bigger than the Smart Grinder, and may be louder too, but that doesnt necessarily make it noisier.  Its not just about volume, but pitch, frequency, amplitude, will result in a sound thats either harmonious, or down right irritating!

[artman]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Thanks cuppacoffee, I guess what I a trying to work out is, for the extra 300 odd between the 2 grinders, will I taste the difference (I drink a mix of espresso and flat white) and will the difference is significant? I do realise its subjective and each persons interpretation will vary, but just trying to get a feel for this.

I read previously in these posts that the Breville is very easy to clean and doesnt retain many grinds (which would be good for single shots), and is not very messy at all, how would the K3 compare?

Cheers

[cuppacoffee]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

pm sent in response, so I dont get into trouble for going off topic...lol!

[dr.a.j.pickering]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Fact: Belaroma octavia is a low viscosity coffee and very lightly roasted. 

Back to opinion: Coffees with these characterstics may not be suitable for espresso and/or difficult to work with in order to obtain the intended results.

Suggest you try one of their different blends, or coffee from a different source.

Thanks I didnt think the grind was that fine, I drink at the bellaroma coffee centre all the time and it is octavia that they run as a house blend and I really like it I guess they know how to work with it.

I have to say I get a good result. Any suggestions on similar tasting blend that will be appropriate for the smart grinder

[artman]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Thanks for the PM Dennis

[ush85]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Hi, just gonna chip in a lil bit. I bought mine from Chris quite a while ago.

I had to upgrade mine with the shim kits, around 3-4 shims, cant remember, 1 large and 2-3 small ones.

At maximum fines, machine was choked, 2 bars to the left and some fine tuning, grind then becomes fine enough to get a good honey like flow from the Diadema Perfetta (also from Chris).

I do need to use WDT though, primarily because im new and i suck

Ive run some house blends from Chris, gridlock, padre and SOs. All seems fine for me and everythings good in the cup, well to my untrained palate anyways.

I do gauge my quality in the cup against local cafes like 65 degrees, padre, auction room. And... I still cant tell the difference, maybe difference will be more apparent if i taste the shots side by side, same minute

[cuppacoffee]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

I have to say I get a good result. Any suggestions on similar tasting blend that will be appropriate for the smart grinder

If youre getting a good result then it seems like a minor issue.

As to what tastes similar...nothing.

If youre looking for what tastes better...then probably any of the coffees from the Sponsor list on the left...mine included.

[Pascopete]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Hi from the USA.  I received my BCG 800 last Monday and washed it and started trying it out Tuesday.  I found that I had to set it to the finest end of espresso to get pours of over 10 seconds.  So, I figure I need a shim set too.  My coffee tastes pretty good at the finest setting, but I would like to be able to dial in for an optimum.  I recently got a used Gaggia Classic and wanted  a better grinder.  (I hac been using a Capresso Infinity).  I will contact the Breville USA support by email thanks to Phil and all the others who have posted to this thread.
oldbeanburner

[Pascopete]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

I sure hope I didnt kill this thread.  It has been going on for months and is the definitive source of information regarding the BCG 800.  I got to this thread from a post on CG after i couldnt find anyone with answers there. 

Please dont let this thread die. :-*

[Dimal]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Im sure you havent done that mate...

Its just a matter of waiting for someone with the information at their fingertips to pop in and help you out.

Breville are one of our esteemed Site Sponsors and if you can track down Phil McKnight - "mcknightp" - he will be able to help you out Im sure... 8-)

Mal.