Posted Thu May 26, 2011, 5:58am Subject: Re: Does anyone have a Breville Smart Grinder?
Right, like I noted in my edit, I finally did find the video where they applied shims, and it certainly got fine enough. I would want to see other evidences of grind quality, of course - the naked extraction didn't look great, but that's as much about the load/level/tamp process (and this was just a quick-and-dirty demo, not a fastidious-and-exacting evaluation).
Consider it's price-point competition - does it grind as evenly and repeatably as, say, a Virtuoso?
NickH Senior Member Joined: 1 Sep 2009 Posts: 49 Location: New Brunswick, Canada Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: La Pavoni Europiccola Grinder: Breville Smart... Drip: Aeropress
Posted Thu May 26, 2011, 6:14am Subject: Re: Does anyone have a Breville Smart Grinder?
Yeah, can't say. I used the Vario for a few months, but never the Virtuoso/Preciso. IMO it grinds as consistent/fine as the Vario, but the Vario just doesn't have to work as hard. Which goes back, again, to your comment about longevity. It also provides a similar step/micro-step system as the Baratza, which is useful when you're making only a couple espressos a day.
I use a naked portafilter on my Pavoni and while there are even more factors affecting dispersion on extraction (pull weight, lead time on infusion, single or fellini pull etc.) for what it's worth my last 3 pulls had great extraction with no channeling.
As an update: I installed the shims and, contrary to what I saw in the SCG video, it actually eliminated most of the ugly clumping. By adding the 1mm shim I have it dialed in 3 notches back from finest for the Brazil I'm using. That gives me ample room to adjust for different coffees/blends and environment. I pulled 5 shots in the process of dialing it last night and the last couple were extremely consistent and had some beautiful flecking and striping that I struggled to achieve on the Kyocera (though this is also the first time I've used this particular Brazilian bean). Tasted amazing too. This morning's shot was equally gorgeous and required 0 grinder adjustment. I'll get a photo of the next shot to demonstrate quality.
After working with it for almost 2 weeks, all but one concern has been assuaged. Because of Breville espresso rep, I was half expecting to return it, but thought I would give it a shot simply because the store where I bought it guaranteed instant and hassle-free return. I have no regrets. It remains to be seen how long it will last. Conclusion thus far: It's certainly worth considering if, like me, you're on a tight budget and only make a small number of drinks a day/week.
Posted Thu May 26, 2011, 7:59am Subject: Re: Does anyone have a Breville Smart Grinder?
psychobrew Said:
I know Breville is a dirty word around here, but their latest products have been getting great reviews and that includes the Breville Smart Grinder. The product itself looks great and the price is really good too.
If you have any experience with this grinder, what is your opinion of it?
Edit: This was supposed to go in the Espresso/Grinders forums. It seems I followed a link about other grinders from that forum and ended up here....Since I don't want to cross post, can this thread please be moved?
I have one and fine its ease of use and adjustability excellent. Breville did their homework designing this machine.
Len
"Coffee leads men to trifle away their time, scald their chops, and spend their money, all for a little base, black, thick, nasty, bitter, stinking nauseous puddle water." ~The Women's Petition Against Coffee, 1674
Posted Fri May 27, 2011, 5:52am Subject: Re: Does anyone have a Breville Smart Grinder?
Just LOOKING at the number of adjustments, not nearly as many as a Preciso or Vario. I would say that if your grinder budget is $200, it's "par". You have to go up in price to get that level of fine control.
NickH Senior Member Joined: 1 Sep 2009 Posts: 49 Location: New Brunswick, Canada Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: La Pavoni Europiccola Grinder: Breville Smart... Drip: Aeropress
Posted Fri May 27, 2011, 6:29am Subject: Re: Does anyone have a Breville Smart Grinder?
Between each of the lines marked on the lcd screen there is one or two more "clicks" or "turns" that are unmarked. There are more as you get up into the finer espresso range sometimes three or four clicks between steps. Can't compare it to the Preciso and it definitely doesn't have the same number of steps as the Vario, but the Breville behaves in some ways like a stepless (you can stop between clicks of the dial) and the Vario is more than double the price. After three different S.Os, two blends and two weeks, I have yet to have the experience of not being able to dial it in because of "missing steps".
Keep in mind that the Breville is NOT a dedicated espresso grinder - go stepless for that (the ascaso i-mini is a great option in the same price/size range). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbtYtChhdyE
Posted Fri May 27, 2011, 7:23am Subject: Re: Does anyone have a Breville Smart Grinder?
NickH Said:
Between each of the lines marked on the lcd screen there is one or two more "clicks" or "turns" that are unmarked. There are more as you get up into the finer espresso range sometimes three or four clicks between steps.
psychobrew Senior Member Joined: 19 May 2011 Posts: 93 Location: Maryland Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Fri May 27, 2011, 6:50pm Subject: Re: Does anyone have a Breville Smart Grinder?
NickH Said:
Between each of the lines marked on the lcd screen there is one or two more "clicks" or "turns" that are unmarked. There are more as you get up into the finer espresso range sometimes three or four clicks between steps. Can't compare it to the Preciso and it definitely doesn't have the same number of steps as the Vario, but the Breville behaves in some ways like a stepless (you can stop between clicks of the dial) and the Vario is more than double the price. After three different S.Os, two blends and two weeks, I have yet to have the experience of not being able to dial it in because of "missing steps".
Keep in mind that the Breville is NOT a dedicated espresso grinder - go stepless for that (the ascaso i-mini is a great option in the same price/size range). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbtYtChhdyE
NickH Senior Member Joined: 1 Sep 2009 Posts: 49 Location: New Brunswick, Canada Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: La Pavoni Europiccola Grinder: Breville Smart... Drip: Aeropress
Posted Fri May 27, 2011, 7:00pm Subject: Re: Does anyone have a Breville Smart Grinder?
It has more adjustability in the espresso range, I can't really comment on anything else though, since I've never used it. I've heard good things though - honestly I don't think you'd go wrong with either machine and if you think you'd EVER use it for anything but espresso, the Ascaso would be a nightmare.
If you wanted a "simple and easy" choice - coming to coffeegeek was your first mistake :) A good mistake though, I promise - you'll be happy when that first perfect shot hits your lips.
psychobrew Senior Member Joined: 19 May 2011 Posts: 93 Location: Maryland Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Sat May 28, 2011, 1:21pm Subject: Re: Does anyone have a Breville Smart Grinder?
NickH Said:
It has more adjustability in the espresso range, I can't really comment on anything else though, since I've never used it. I've heard good things though - honestly I don't think you'd go wrong with either machine and if you think you'd EVER use it for anything but espresso, the Ascaso would be a nightmare.
If you wanted a "simple and easy" choice - coming to coffeegeek was your first mistake :) A good mistake though, I promise - you'll be happy when that first perfect shot hits your lips.
If the Smart Grinder is basically step less, then how would the iMini have more adjustability? The thing I don't like about the iMini is it stores alot of grinds in the chute, though I'm assuming it doesn't suffer from the same clumping issues.
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