New Breville BCG820 "Smart Grinder Pro"

[parktho]

Parktho,
I suggest you give Breville a call and ask for a replacement. Your grinder sound like it is faulty I'm afraid. My top bur setting is still on the default (6) and digital setting of 11. These settings grind very fine espresso, anything below 10 (digital) chokes my machine (E.C.M Classica P.I.D), of course this is with freshly roasted green beans from Coffee Snobs. Breville are very good at replacement of these grinders by the way. Go get a new one and see how that one goes.
Brad

Called Breville. They told me to use fresh beans. I did. Now I have no issues - I am using burr setting 3 and digital grind setting 11. I shouldn't have been so cheap using supermarket beans to trial it in the first place, although I still feel it should be just as capable as my old Sunbeam.

[bgd57]

I'm still playing around with this, and I haven't yet been able to block my Sunbeam 6910. Admittedly, I'm using supermarket beans while I muck around and they normally require a finer grind to do so. Nevertheless, I got my old E0480 out and did it in parallel. 17 g into a VST basket by weight from both grinders. Finest grind on E0480 didn't block it but slowed it down to drips. Finest grind on the Breville (both at 1 on the digital screen and 1 on the upper burr). I'm a bit disappointed as I don't believe there is another way to further reduce the grind - i.e. shims. I also feel that the Breville adjusts at much smaller increments - meaning that winding it doesn't have as much range of movement as the Sunbeam if you want to do very coarse grinds for filter, plunger, etc...

Parktho,
I suggest you give Breville a call and ask for a replacement. Your grinder sound like it is faulty I'm afraid. My top bur setting is still on the default (6) and digital setting of 11. These settings grind very fine espresso, anything below 10 (digital) chokes my machine (E.C.M Classica P.I.D), of course this is with freshly roasted green beans from Coffee Snobs. Breville are very good at replacement of these grinders by the way. Go get a new one and see how that one goes.
Brad

[parktho]

I'm still playing around with this, and I haven't yet been able to block my Sunbeam 6910. Admittedly, I'm using supermarket beans while I muck around and they normally require a finer grind to do so. Nevertheless, I got my old E0480 out and did it in parallel. 17 g into a VST basket by weight from both grinders. Finest grind on E0480 didn't block it but slowed it down to drips. Finest grind on the Breville (both at 1 on the digital screen and 1 on the upper burr). I'm a bit disappointed as I don't believe there is another way to further reduce the grind - i.e. shims. I also feel that the Breville adjusts at much smaller increments - meaning that winding it doesn't have as much range of movement as the Sunbeam if you want to do very coarse grinds for filter, plunger, etc...

[bgd57]

I have just upgraded from the Sunbeam E0480. With the Sunbeam, I used to grind into a small plastic container on a scale until I got 17g for my 17g VST basket.

With the Breville, one feature which appealed to me was the Dosing iQ system. However, I'm disappointed to learn that this doesn't work when making small grind adjustments in the espresso range - it only changes the time when changing number of shots or style of coffee. Given this, I was wondering if anyone has a rule of thumb they follow to make adjustments to the time when also making adjustments to the grind within the espresso range. Through my limited experimentation, I make a 0.2-0.4 second increase in grind duration for every 1 unit decrease in grind. However, I find myself still checking it by weight everytime on a set of scales to ensure I've got 17 g. I'd prefer to move to the convenience of grinding straight into the portafilter.

On another note, I am liking the Breville more than the Sunbeam - it's easier to keep clean. However, I find the Breville sounds less grunty and not as 'satisfying' as the Sunbeam. Sometimes the Breville sounds like it struggles over individual beans and I wonder whether this makes the grind less consistent?

Thomas.

Hi Thomas,
Easiest way to get an exact weight of grinds, is just weigh your portafilter whilst empty, then grind straight into the portafilter. You are pretty much on the money with 0.2 - 0.4 sec increase per 1 notch finer grind. This all varies with each bean type and roast profile, so you will continually have to adjust to suit. I try for 18g with 18 sec time setting and 12 grind setting. Hope this helps.
Brad

[parktho]

I have just upgraded from the Sunbeam E0480. With the Sunbeam, I used to grind into a small plastic container on a scale until I got 17g for my 17g VST basket.

With the Breville, one feature which appealed to me was the Dosing iQ system. However, I'm disappointed to learn that this doesn't work when making small grind adjustments in the espresso range - it only changes the time when changing number of shots or style of coffee. Given this, I was wondering if anyone has a rule of thumb they follow to make adjustments to the time when also making adjustments to the grind within the espresso range. Through my limited experimentation, I make a 0.2-0.4 second increase in grind duration for every 1 unit decrease in grind. However, I find myself still checking it by weight everytime on a set of scales to ensure I've got 17 g. I'd prefer to move to the convenience of grinding straight into the portafilter.

On another note, I am liking the Breville more than the Sunbeam - it's easier to keep clean. However, I find the Breville sounds less grunty and not as 'satisfying' as the Sunbeam. Sometimes the Breville sounds like it struggles over individual beans and I wonder whether this makes the grind less consistent?

Thomas.

[NickRPT]

Hello guys !
I am new at the coffee machines , etc but i can say that i am a big coffee lover :-)
I have now for few months a Breville barista express that got the attached grinder on top !
Except the external adjustment for fine and coarse cut , there is the internal adjustment too that i think goes from 1 - 9 !
Now is at the 6 as stock !
What is the difference between those 2 adjustments , the external and internal ?

Thank you very much !!!

[level3ninja]

Hmmm, these are on sale again through eBay (20% off selected stores), tossing up whether I should upgrade my EM04080 or save a bit longer and get a Rocky? Currently using an EM6910 that I will be using for the foreseeable future.

If you care more about convenience of a timer get the Breville, if you care about the quality of the coffee you'll get out of it save for a Rocky or Mahlkonig Vario

[miicah]

Hmmm, these are on sale again through eBay (20% off selected stores), tossing up whether I should upgrade my EM04080 or save a bit longer and get a Rocky? Currently using an EM6910 that I will be using for the foreseeable future.

[WhatEverBeansNecessary]

How do folks see these comparing with a Rocky? I'm guessing you lose some in grind quality/consistency but gain some in functionality. Would that be a fair statement? If so, how much do you lose in grind quality? Is it worth it for the functionality?

I previously owned a Rocky and have used a Smart Grinder a handful of times. I found the Rocky to be superior in nearly every way. Grind was much better, build quality far superior (built like a tank), speed probably not a huge difference but never timed it, retention probably about the same (again not tested).

You don't get the flashy electronic changing of grind settings and a few other bits n bobs but I think these are more prone to failure than the manual counterparts anyway.

The Smart Grinder is cheaper, but the Rocky will last and last with a better grind quality.

[redrich2000]

How do folks see these comparing with a Rocky? I'm guessing you lose some in grind quality/consistency but gain some in functionality. Would that be a fair statement? If so, how much do you lose in grind quality? Is it worth it for the functionality?

[cafelazio]

After one years daily use i have been happy with the Breville bcg820; my primary grinder a Compak k6 silenzio. they are paired to a Faema Carisma S1. I use the bcg820 as single doser and would like comments on being used as such. I would point out if using the bcg820 with a loaded hopper ie beans costantly between the burrs,DO NOT TIGHTEN the grind without running the grinder, as it is detrimental to the adjustment mechanism and motor on a light appliance such as the bcg820...
Cafelazio.

[bgd57]

Well the Breville BCG820 didn't last long. On the 10th day (today), I was grinding up a brew, when bang, a loud, knocking noise, followed by a high pitched squeal as the burrs where not meshing. Pulled the thing apart and cleaned everything. Kind of got it working, but with a crunching noise. I then rang Breville Customer care and the guy was very helpful and said take it back to where I bought it from and get a new one. So of to Harvey Norman and got a new one. Here is hoping this one will last longer than 10 days.

[bgd57]

That's the right way to do it

Once again I recommend getting some scales (they're cheap!) and weighing your grind and shots for a short while, you don't have to do it every time once the grind is dialed in, but I found it helpful! If you dose ~16-18g (depending on your basket) and then extract 35-40g of espresso (Should be about 60ml total volume) I've found that to be a good starting point! I also time it to make sure it's taking 25-30s, obviously none of this is gospel and you're free to experiment outside those rough bounds, but it makes for a good starting point

Yes, I have scales. Scales are good to dial in grind size and shots and a timer, which is one of the features of the P.I.D on the Classika. Just getting it all synchronised is the goal.

Brad

[Quant]

Thanks for the help prydey. You are right of course, numbers don't mean much, they are just a guide. I will keep playing around until I get it just the way I like it.

That's the right way to do it

Once again I recommend getting some scales (they're cheap!) and weighing your grind and shots for a short while, you dont have to do it every time once the grind is dialed in, but I found it helpful! If you dose ~16-18g (depending on your basket) and then extract 35-40g of espresso (Should be about 60ml total volume) I've found that to be a good starting point! I also time it to make sure it's taking 25-30s, obviously none of this is gospel and you're free to experiment outside those rough bounds, but it makes for a good starting point

[bgd57]

disregard the numbers. just grind to suit your machine. if you really want the grind numbers to read lower, just adjust the top burr to 7.

Thanks for the help prydey. You are right of course, numbers don't mean much, they are just a guide. I will keep playing around until I get it just the way I like it.