Replacing Sunbeam EM0490 grinder with Breville BCG820

[milesandbos]

Hi All,

My parents are currently using the EM0490 grinder and it seems to do a fairly decent job. I'm thinking of upgrading their grinder for xmas and was looking at the BCG820.

Do you think the upgrade will produce better coffee? Is there a lot of difference between the two grinders? (sorry, bit of a coffee amateur).

Thanks

[richard_m_h]

They are both entry level things so I doubt many have tried both. I have the BCG800 and its a good thing. An upgrade would be something like a compak k3 push but that's also a different price bracket.

[readeral]

They are both entry level things so I doubt many have tried both. I have the BCG800 and its a good thing. An upgrade would be something like a compak k3 push but that's also a different price bracket.

If OP was looking beyond the EM/BCG options, the K3 Touch would be more like an upgrade as far as retaining feature set, but getting better quality grind is concerned. The Push might feel like a regression as it doesn't have a timing function like the appliance made ones do.

It's hard to compare these grinders to anything cause the details of their burr size and grams per second etc. aren't really published. That being said, I doubt that your parents would see much gain from a move to a BSG from the Sunbeam. I own a Sunbeam myself (which I am far too eager to upgrade from), and have a friend with the BSG. My anecdotal thoughts is that they're comparable.

If you could let us know what they use the grinder for then we might be able to get a better picture, and so then provide a bit more advice. However, I think you're likely to be in the $450-$500 range before you get them any sort of improvement that they'll notice.

[WantRancilio10]

If it's stovetop coffee or a sunbeam machine an upgrade is not really necessary (they can be forgiving on the grind). The breville grinder would be a good fit for the breville dual boiler. If the machine is more illustrious than that you would need to aim higher again.

[readeral]

If it's stovetop coffee or a sunbeam machine an upgrade is not really necessary. The breville grinder would be a good fit for the breville dual boiler. If the machine is more illustrious than that you would need to aim higher again.

You reckon WR? I'm not sure the grind quality would increase between the two appliances. Just feature set. Happy to be wrong though. I know that Sunbeam can be wildly inaccurate week to week depending if you pull it apart to clean it (like I do), but if you're used to the quirks... surely one would save their cash and go higher quality grinder paired with a Breville Double Boiler (which apparent longevity questions aside is a pretty capable machine)?

[WantRancilio10]

I'd love to receive a $700 macap/mazzer etc as a gift but it's probably optimistic to expect it to arrive from one's offspring.

My understanding is that the Breville is capable of grind quality more on a par with a Rocky - a significant improvement on the 0480/0490.

[readeral]

Depends whether one's offspring is a merchant banker or not...

Cool. Really it comes down to how they use it eh.

[WantRancilio10]

"Struggling to get right adjustment" can be a common theme with the Breville. I'm not sure if that's a reflection on the users or the grinder.

[GreenBeanGenii]

"Struggling to get right adjustment" can be a common theme with the Breville. I'm not sure if that's a reflection on the users or the grinder.

From my pov, it is a confidence thing. The Breville was on the same setting UNTIL I made a quantum leap.
This happened when I wanted the best result from the very first Bean Bay purchase some years back. The beans were Ethiopian.

Had good service from the Breville and enjoyed many a French Press. 2016 opens the door for more adventure if all goes well

[milesandbos]

Thanks for all the replies, sorry it took me so long to respond.

Their coffee machine is an oldie, I think it is an E61 Rocket?? Probably about 5-7 years old. They mainly use it to make lattes and the occasional espresso.

I'm happy to spend up to $500 if it is going to make a noticeable difference to the quality of their coffees.

[richard_m_h]

Macap M2M | Talk Coffee

Compak K3 Push OD | Talk Coffee

I'd talk to Chris though