Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

[NickH]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Hi all
I am a new owner of a BCG800. I bought it along with a Dual Boiler and am having fun experimenting and getting used to them both.
Using its auto mode with grind setting set to 17 (first setting recommended for a single wall), dose adjustment in the middle and number of shots set to 2, I was surprised to find that it was grinding about 26g each time.
Is this normal? I havent tried setting the number of shots to 1 yet but I am assuming that it will just give me half that amount.
Cheers, Nick

[WiredArabica]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Hi all
I am a new owner of a BCG800. I bought it along with a Dual Boiler and am having fun experimenting and getting used to them both.
Using its auto mode with grind setting set to 17 (first setting recommended for a single wall), dose adjustment in the middle and number of shots set to 2, I was surprised to find that it was grinding about 26g each time.
Is this normal? I havent tried setting the number of shots to 1 yet but I am assuming that it will just give me half that amount.
Cheers, Nick

Its a timed dose, and reasonably consistent shot to shot.  It adjusts the grind time based on where the grind adjustment is set and whether or not the portafilter holder is fitted.  The number of shots you select indeed is just a multiplier, and each bar on the adjust knob is 5%.
Find the correct grind setting first, then play with the dose settings depending as appropriate for your preferred dosing method.

[gonzob]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

My shim kit arrived today (took a week).

I decided to do some measurements, so I took off the outer burr, wound the fineness adjustment all one way, and measured the distance from the burr carrier to the top of the machine. I then wound the fineness knob all the other way (counting the clicks) and measured the distance again.

What I got was 1.6mm travel for 84 clicks.

This means that a 0.4mm shim should change the position by 21 clicks. i.e if you put in a 0.4mm shim you will get the same clearance by winding the fineness setting 21 clicks to the left. This is NOT 21 graduations on the scale, its 21 clicks on the knob.

This gives you an idea of how much you have to shim the machine. If the finest setting is not quite enough, then putting in a 0.4mm shim will give you 21 clicks more (of course, by that time the burrs may be touching)

Gonzo

[dski]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Good work measuring. I found I needed the thicker shim (0.4mm) plus two thinner shims to correct my machine - which bought me about 10 clicks at most I reckon, at which point the burrs began touching as you say. I should measure mine too.

This gives you an idea of how much you have to shim the machine. If the finest setting is not quite enough, then putting in a 0.4mm shim will give you 21 clicks more (of course, by that time the burrs may be touching)

[nabsie]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Good work measuring. I found I needed the thicker shim (0.4mm) plus two thinner shims to correct my machine

The thicker shims are 1.0mm and thin ones are 0.4mm

Any thinner than 0.4mm would be like alfoil :-? LOL

[gonzob]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

The kit I got had 4 shims
1 x 1.0mm
2 x 0.4mm and
1 x 0.2mm

After shimming my machine, now, with no coffee between the burrs, when I wind the knob to a point a couple of clicks from the finest setting, the knob becomes difficult to turn. I assume that this is the burrs touching hard. I did not risk running the machine in that position. I am grinding at about 10 clicks coarser.

It is still not grinding fine enough for my Silvia, but I am compensating by over-filling and hard tamping on an 18g basket. I will run like this for a few days, then check the burrs for wear.

Gonzo

[nabsie]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Wow, must be some difference between kits. my kit had 1 x 1.0mm and 2 x 0.4mm

[Thirteen13]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

How are people getting there hands on the shim kits ? I read someone but cant remember, that Breville were sending out shim kits for free on request ?

[Barry_Duncan]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

How are people getting there hands on the shim kits ?

When I got my SG from Dennis at Cuppacoffee, a shim kit came with it in the box. It included 3 shims of sizes unknown.

Phone Breville and they will send you a shim kit for free.

Barry.

[Thirteen13]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

cheers Barry will do

[dski]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

The thicker shims are 1.0mm and thin ones are 0.4mm

Any thinner than 0.4mm would be like alfoil  LOL

Sorry, youre quite right! Excuse that last post.

The kit I got had 4 shims
1 x 1.0mm
2 x 0.4mm and
1 x 0.2mm

Same here, I eventually went with 1.6 mm total shim factor, to get a sufficiently fine grind for a Europiccola. Now still 5 clicks off the end lock.

Some disconcerting metal grindy sounds at first, but that settled down, and you can see where the burrs have rubbed smooth where they touch.

Seems to work fine now... (but please take my comments as experience sharing and not direct advice.)

[Maxey]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Hi  Just confirming I got 4 shims today recommended install by Breville is 1 .0mm and 0.4 be installed no grinding sounds at all without beans on any setting : Ok Just did 3 settings  3 clicks from the finest or unable to turn the dial further 2clicks from the end slight mud  3 clicks from the end  28sec  with 18mm double shot do you think I should add the 2 extra shims or not worth the risk?

[mikloise]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

For anyone thats interested. One of the large retailers has these for $199 at the moment.

[Ingram]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Said large retailer have gift cards available @ 20% off at the moment from the biggest postal service in australia so you can get it for $160 or less if you price match an online only retailer and then use the cards.

[gonzob]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Hi  Just confirming I got 4 shims today recommended install by Breville is 1 .0mm and 0.4 be installed  no grinding sounds at all without beans on any setting : Ok Just did 3 settings  3 clicks from the finest or unable to turn the dial further 2clicks from the end slight mud  3 clicks from the end  28sec  with 18mm double shot do you think I should add the 2 extra shims or not worth the risk?

Once you have coffee between the burrs it can be difficult to turn the knob. You should make adjustments while the grinder is running.

My solution was to pull out the outer burr, clean all the coffee grounds. Then re-assemble with no beans in the hopper, and, without running the motor, see how far you can turn the knob towards the finest setting. If you can get to the finest setting, then the burrs arent touching hard. Back it off to about the mid-point and run the grinder, gradually increasing the fineness (while running) until it makes noise, or you reach the right-hand end. If you can get there without noise, then theres more clearance available to shim.

Of course, the coffee may be fine enough for your needs. If so, dont shim any more.

Gonzo