Breville BCG800 Smart Grinder

[45trekker]

I'm not sure about the 4 digit number, but a lot of mfrs use a 4 digit code where the first 2 digits is the year and the next 2 digits is the week of the year, so 1213 would be this year (12) 13th week, so manufactured in early April 2012. I just bought one from Harvey Norman and it is also a 1213 machine.

I used mine the minute I got it home. It grinds fine enough for me. Fluffy clumps about 4 click away from finest on the beans I'm using up at the moment. It is very easy to use and the default shot setting gave me about 11gm of coffee plus or minus a bit as my kitchen scales are not the greatest. I'm not a real coffee snob though and just have an old Sunbeam EM2300. I haven't looked for shims on the grinder, but I will be careful when I remove the burrs to clean the machine.

[magnil]

This excellent grinder is not available in Europe. Anyone knows where I can buy it and get it shipped to Europe (Sweden)?

[Heisenberg]

Just bought a BSG in the Sales, with the various changes (or alleged changes) to this product since its release i need some clarification on where along the line mine is.
i have not used the BSG yet so i cannot tell whether it grinds fine enough for my needs i would still like to know if my burrs are sitting on no shims, factory installed shims or i have the alleged new set of burrs that doesn't need shims? i cannot seem to find a Serial Number other than the numbers 1213 stamped in the bottom.
In reality whats my best bet, should i take it back and get a slow-cooker and save up for something else?

Hi there,

I've heard straight from Breville that anything with a batch code of 1102 or higher is the improved model w no need for shims. So, yours will be spot on..

[richard_m_h]

take their "plunger" and "espresso" settings with a grain of salt. I'm to the left of the e in espresso, depending on the beans. a new grinder and a new machine take a bit of getting used to.

[johnsmith]

from my research, it appears that the folks here in cs are generally very happy with the smart grinder, particularly in combination with the dual boiler.

however, the people at coffeegeek appear to be less impressed by it, and many recommend getting the vario to pair with the dual boiler. part of the reason is the whole not fine enough/shim issue, which has been resolved, and that the vario's grinds are more consistent. in general, the people on coffeegeek appear to be a lot more... let's say 'scientific', in that they weigh their shots instead of relying on volume, and use scales that measure in 0.1 grams.

i do like the smart grinder's price and features, including the lockable hoop, magnetic grind catcher and not to mention the electronic dosing. i guess what i'm asking is if anyone has compared the two, and have an opinion on whether the vario is worth the extra cash?

[Andy]

Remember that most of the posts on coffee geek are from the USA. Different voltages, different equipment, same product name.

Most grinders (not all) provide quality and speed in proportion to cost. You can spend $100-$5000 on a grinder and if you cannot tell the difference in your brew method then it really doesnt matter.
Pick a budget, spend up to it and you should be fine.

[dr.a.j.pickering]

from my research, it appears that the folks here in cs are generally very happy with the smart grinder, particularly in combination with the dual boiler.

however, the people at coffeegeek appear to be less impressed by it, and many recommend getting the vario to pair with the dual boiler. part of the reason is the whole not fine enough/shim issue, which has been resolved, and that the vario's grinds are more consistent. in general, the people on coffeegeek appear to be a lot more... let's say 'scientific', in that they weigh their shots instead of relying on volume, and use scales that measure in 0.1 grams.

i do like the smart grinder's price and features, including the lockable hoop, magnetic grind catcher and not to mention the electronic dosing. i guess what i'm asking is if anyone has compared the two, and have an opinion on whether the vario is worth the extra cash?

I have both these grinders

The vairo allows me easier more precise controll, the grind quality is better and grind retention is much much lower

On the other hand much messier

Most importantly in the cup I prefere the Vairo but it's nearly 3 times the price! And as Andy says spend 3 times again and you'll get better again

[Tango]

I've had my BCG800 set on 2 shots for a good few last months which adequately filled my basket. But just recently, for no apparent reason, it now stops and barely fills halfway. I've turned the amount adjustment up to full but it still doesn't dose enough.

I thought it might have been different density beans but it doesn't seem to make a difference.

Any ideas guys?? Is there an electronic reset or something!?

[neofelis]

I own 2 smart grinders; 1102 and 1205.
The 1102 batch number sounds and runs totally different to the 1205 model.

I feel as if the batch numbers 1102 aren't the new reformed models as I get a finer grind with the 1205 model. The 1102 batch number was purchased in september 2011.

[John_J]

I've had my BCG800 set on 2 shots for a good few last months which adequately filled my basket. But just recently, for no apparent reason, it now stops and barely fills halfway. I've turned the amount adjustment up to full but it still doesn't dose enough.

I thought it might have been different density beans but it doesn't seem to make a difference.

Any ideas guys?? Is there an electronic reset or something!?

there is a major change in volume between 17 and 18 markers on the scale from the left, I can't remember which way it goes, are you anywhere near that position on the scale?

[Tupinamba]

I am a happy owner of a BDB and a Smart grinder. Whenever I open a new bag of beans and grind them for the first couple of times, I enjoy a very good aroma which fades away after a few days. Coffee tastes excellent at the beginning as well. I keep my beans in an airtight glass jar inside a cabinet. I noticed the cabinet smelled too well, so the aroma must have been escaping from the jar. Then I replaced the silicon ring in the jar by a rubber one which seems to do a much better job.

Every time I want to make coffee I transfer some beans to the hopper. When I am done I transfer back the remaining beans from the hopper to the jar and also the uncrushed beans laying on top of the burrs. Then I turn on the grinder to get rid of the coffee grinds in the burrs so the grinder is ready for next time.

Questions:

Am I too paranoid? Is it pointless to move beans back and forth? Should I just keep them in the hopper? [250gr last for about 10 days]

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

Sounds sensible enough to me Tupinamba. I don't attempt to reclaim unused beans from my K3, but I don't generally only add the amount of beans that I intend to grind within the next hour, plus a few more to stop popcorning. 10 days in the hopper will send your beans stale (plenty will argue that 5 mins in the hopper will do it....but i don't notice a problem for short periods).

[Tupinamba]

Sounds sensible enough to me Tupinamba. I don't attempt to reclaim unused beans from my K3, but I don't generally only add the amount of beans that I intend to grind within the next hour, plus a few more to stop popcorning. 10 days in the hopper will send your beans stale (plenty will argue that 5 mins in the hopper will do it....but i don't notice a problem for short periods).

Thanks for your answer. Well, I always add a more beans than I need because I want to avoid under dosing. I haven't noticed the beans jumping around in the hopper, and I don't think there is enough space to jump in the short section between the bottom of the hopper and the burrs. I have found someone is obsessed enough to run controlled experiments on popcorn effects Commercial non-sponsor link removed

[Dazzler]

I've had my BCG800 set on 2 shots for a good few last months which adequately filled my basket. But just recently, for no apparent reason, it now stops and barely fills halfway. I've turned the amount adjustment up to full but it still doesn't dose enough.

I thought it might have been different density beans but it doesn't seem to make a difference.

Any ideas guys?? Is there an electronic reset or something!?

Mine has exactly the same symptoms as of about 3 weeks ago, wierd!

[squire1]

I have read most of this thread and could not find an answer.. How does the smart grinder measure out the dose amount is it done by time? It produces the same amount over and am interested in how..
I love how I can place the group head in the holder and push the button and walk away