Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

[stihl88]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

First post here...

I just got my Smart Grinder last night and am happy with the results however i think its in need of the shim kit also.

Ive got it on the finest setting and am using the Presso, with fresh beans it tastes great still. Though still flows a little fast on the finest setting and struggles to get any crema.

[Michael_Sydney]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

I too had to order a shim kit as in standard form I could not get fine enough for my Astoria. The kit arrived quickly with good instruction. No problem installing the shims and now I am very happy with the results and ease of use of the machine. Lots of clever design features and a low noise level.

One grumble though... the instructions state that the shims should be installed by a qualified technician or the warranty could be void! I wrote to Breville for clarification but they did not reply. I was very tempted to return the machine to the retailer for a complete replacement.

A two year warranty is generous but possibly you are out in the cold if you install the shims.

[Dom_Collopy]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

I appear to be one of the lucky ones, I ordered the shims when I bought the grinder, they arrived a couple of days later, but I have had no need to install them.

Possibly they had already been installed by the manufacturer.

My grind range for espresso is 3 and 6 settings from the right.

Still very happy with the grind quality, ease of use (how did I live without hands free?) and, yes, the relative quietness, especially when compared to rocky.

[stihl88]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Well i thought i needed the shim kit for when i was using the Presso but ive since upgraded and got the BES900 dual boiler and find that most of my beans are ground on the 4-6 mark from the Espresso end and it works great. Ive requested a shim kit from Phil at Breville but havent received it yet, i thought they sent them out asap?

[stihl88]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

Well i thought i needed the shim kit for when i was using the Presso but ive since upgraded and got the BES900 dual boiler and find that most of my beans are ground on the 4-6 mark from the Espresso end and it works great. Ive requested a shim kit from Phil at Breville but havent received it yet, i thought they sent them out asap?

Just recieved my shim Kit yesterday, thanks Phil.

[phatfred]

Re: Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

I just ordered a Silvia yesterday, spending pretty much the whole budget on the machine. But the wife has okayed buying the Smart Grinder if it is around $200. Does anyone know where to get this the cheapest at the moment?

[neddysmith]

Looking at get a Smart grinder, just wonder from those who have purchased them recently are they installing the shim kits from the factory or do you still have to order and install them?

[bigbully]

Hi all,

just brought the smart grinder today from harvey norman today for $160 and was wondering has any body used it for their siphon? and if so where would be a good starting point? thx for the help guys

[bigbully]

just brought mine from harvey norman for $160

[prydey]

Gee, some of you guys are getting great deals on these grinders. what was the advertised price at HN? here in SA, good guys and harvey norman both have them for $299. good guys will go to $215. i guess you just have to be in the right spot at the right time, or have much better negotiation skills than me.

i also have a em6910 (got that for $575 from good guys, still advt for $699 currently), so am keen to read more about people's experience with this combo. does the grinder need shimming when paired with em6910 or is it a bit 'lucky dip' at the moment. bit hard to establish some sort of pattern at the moment. some adding shims, some not.

[Heisenberg]

No need for shim kits either. that is if the production code on the bottom of the grinder starts with 1102 or higher.... The fine-ness issue has been sorted on these newer releases. Good news. Off to buy mine now.

[neddysmith]

Thanks guys, looking around i found refurbisjed or seconds ones for $169, but looks like i will beoff to this other non sponsor to try and get one for the $160, hopefully they stll have some left and at that price.....

[prydey]

do tell...

[Gremlin]

No need for shim kits either. that is if the production code on the bottom of the grinder starts with 1102 or higher.... The fine-ness issue has been sorted on these newer releases. Good news. Off to buy mine now.

There must still be a bit of variance in the manufacturing tolerances based on my experience with 2 brand new BSG's today.

I purchased two grinders today, both have the same batch/lot number of 1201 and using the same beans in both grinders I'm getting what I think is a pretty big difference in grind.

For example on grinder 1 (the one I think is a bit dodgy) If I set the grinder to maximum fineness I'm getting around a 20 second shot on the BES900, yet with Grinder 2 (again exactly the same beans, same dose, and I know the tamp pressure is the same as I'm using an Espro clicky) any grind setting finer than under the p of espresso just chokes the BES900.

It seems like I've got one grinder that is probably on the - side of their tolerances and one on the + side.

Not sure what to do, try and get shims for Grinder 1 (Im in NZ), or return it and try my luck to see if I can get one that grinds closer to what my other ones does.

Anyone else own two grinders from the same batch number and find they they're vastly different ?

[Heisenberg]

There must still be a bit of variance in the manufacturing tolerances based on my experience with 2 brand new BSG's today.

I purchased two grinders today, both have the same batch/lot number of 1201 and using the same beans in both grinders I'm getting what I think is a pretty big difference in grind.

For example on grinder 1 (the one I think is a bit dodgy) If I set the grinder to maximum fineness I'm getting around a 20 second shot on the BES900, yet with Grinder 2 (again exactly the same beans, same dose, and I know the tamp pressure is the same as I'm using an Espro clicky) any grind setting finer than under the p of espresso just chokes the BES900.

It seems like I've got one grinder that is probably on the - side of their tolerances and one on the + side.

Not sure what to do, try and get shims for Grinder 1 (Im in NZ), or return it and try my luck to see if I can get one that grinds closer to what my other ones does.

Anyone else own two grinders from the same batch number and find they they're vastly different ?

I'd be calling Breville customer care first. They seem to be knowledgeable and helpful. They'll not want to hear that there's a difference, that's for sure. I reckon if you have their backing for a swap/return, you'll have an easier time at the retailer. I got mine yesterday and it chokes my isomac tea at the 2 finest settings and functionality-wise, I don't think there's much out there that can beat it, until you get into the Mazzer etc.
Let me know how it goes, I'm keen to hear how you rectify it..

H