I pulled a few shots last night. Initially I was only getting about half an ounce per shot. Couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong. Tried different grinds and tamp pressures with no luck. Eventually I just reprogrammed the shot volume to give the correct amount. Has anyone else had this problem out of the box? Is there any other possible cause, or was it just calibrated wrong from the factory? Pressure was sitting around or just below 10 bars. Seems to be working great now that I've reprogrammed the volume.
Feuros, I tried the automatic one-shot button for the first time today, using about 18.5 g of the Intelligentsia BC. The machine shut off just seconds after the pre-infusion! (Pressure went to 9.5, then Bam!) So it was way out of adjustment, at least for that weight of coffee. Went into the menu and re-adjusted, which went smoothly. At least based on my experience, it may not be unusual for the machines to need user adjustment.
So a couple of comments on earlier posts. My 2 shot volume from the BDB button produced an 18g shot out of the box, about 1/2 of what I would expect and have been pulling based on excellent advice from other posters. I've reprogrammed it. I've had my machine about a month if that helps at all on timing of delivery and firmware version.
A few posts back were comments about temperature. Out of curiosity, I put a thermometer in the shot glass and found temp of 180F, confirmed with an infrared. Cup was heated so I don't think that accounts for the difference (BDB set at 200). Would it really drop 20 during the pull? Or could my thermostat be off in the BDB?
So there's a firmware update. Is there any user ability to upgrade? Is there a need to?
And lastly, guess I'll have to get on the naked PF bandwagon, my shots don't look anything like the videos. LOL
The firmware update addresses short pours out of the box, but most experienced users prefer to control shots manually.
There is no reason to think there is anything wrong with the temp of your machine. You CANNOT measure temp of a shot in the manner you described. You need a Scace or some other type of thermo-filter.
Posted Sat Mar 17, 2012, 2:55pm Subject: Re: Breville Dual Boiler BES900XL Owners Thread
mcknightp Said:
The firmware update addresses short pours out of the box, but most experienced users prefer to control shots manually.
There is no reason to think there is anything wrong with the temp of your machine. You CANNOT measure temp of a shot in the manner you described. You need a Scace or some other type of thermo-filter.
When I tried to measure the temp at the shower screen, as well as I could by sticking a thermocouple up into the water stream just as it exited the screen, it measured within a degree of the reported value, and very stable. (Though with that setup it was hard to keep the thermocouple in the stream for long). A 20 degree drop into the cup doesn't seem implausible.
A great thing about this machine is the way it removes variables, allowing one to focus on those that remain. I have to think this will improve the whole field of coffee, from roasters to users. As consumers we'll be more able to give intelligent feedback to suppliers, something that must have been very difficult when the shot temperatures were drifting all over the place.
So far, I haven't noticed the same kind of stability in the volumetric settings, which is probably why most users may prefer to pull a shot manually. Using the same bean (fairly hard, lightly roasted Kenyans), and amount (18.6 g in an 18 g basket), and varying grind fineness from an Orphan Espresso Pharos grinder set with a feeler gauge, I get pours ranging from 38g (gusher, grounds too coarse) to 20g (grounds a bit too fine, slightly ristrettoish). This corresponds to a range in the Pharos double nut setting from .045 (gusher) to .029 (too tight), measured from 0.
BrianG Senior Member Joined: 11 Jun 2006 Posts: 83 Location: Richmond, VA Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Alex Duetto 3.0 Grinder: Vario
Posted Sat Mar 17, 2012, 5:25pm Subject: Re: Breville Dual Boiler BES900XL Owners Thread
Hello all, joining in to subscribe to the thread. I sold my trusty, plumbed-in E61 heat exchanger and was lured by the feature set of the BDB. Had it for about 6 weeks and have been pretty happy so far. Now I've got an unneeded hole in the granite countertop and an unused water softener/filter system. Never figured I'd buy a machine that isn't plumbed-in. Oh well, at least it'll be there for a future upgrade...
Metatron Senior Member Joined: 10 Nov 2011 Posts: 46 Location: Calgary, Canada Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: BDB900 Grinder: Vario
Posted Sat Mar 17, 2012, 9:00pm Subject: Re: Breville Dual Boiler BES900XL Owners Thread
BrianG Said:
Hello all, joining in to subscribe to the thread. I sold my trusty, plumbed-in E61 heat exchanger and was lured by the feature set of the BDB. Had it for about 6 weeks and have been pretty happy so far. Now I've got an unneeded hole in the granite countertop and an unused water softener/filter system. Never figured I'd buy a machine that isn't plumbed-in. Oh well, at least it'll be there for a future upgrade...
JohnLyn Senior Member Joined: 15 Aug 2011 Posts: 230 Location: Golden, BC, Canada Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: La Spaziale Mini Vivaldy Grinder: Vario Drip: Bonavita Roaster: Toastess popper
Posted Sun Mar 18, 2012, 10:43am Subject: Re: Breville Dual Boiler BES900XL Owners Thread
I have only had this machine for two days now, and granted it is the first time I have owned a machine that can produce real espresso. I have wanted this to happen for a LONG time now. I had a cuisinart so i won't even call this an upgrade, I'll just call it my first machine (although I was able to produce some drinkable espresso and produce latte art when compared to average cafes). two days later, with the the various advice that I have weeded through here and on HB and I am producing shots using 49th Parallel Epic espresso that are approaching the quality of a couple of my favourite cafe's that use this blend.
I have had three coffee epiphanies in my life: the first italian espresso I ever had that changed me forever; the first "third Wave" spro that I ever had; and now what I have produced on this machine at home..... by me!! and I am just starting the journey.
So first of all, I believe I have received a machine from the second production line at it has arrived properly calibrated running a stable 9.5. So well done Breville on fixing that issue. The steam is NOT anaemic. It produces excellent microfoam, very dry steam.
I am sure that many people have had this experience when working with their first machine that is capable of excellent espresso and I am glad to be one of them (so please readers, don't tag me as a fan boy of the BDB, just another enthusiastic lover of good coffee). And now the journey begins....
Here's a pic for the fun of it (wish I had those custom wooden handles though!):
Espresso brewing and steaming capabilities are on par with the Vetrano, but the dedicated brew boiler and PID make it much easier to get repeatable results. What I miss most about the Vetrano is the built-like-a-tank commercial construction, and the heavy feel of the brass portafilter. Biggest peeve with the BDB is the fact that they used a proprietary design for the portafilter lugs. No big deal but it would have been nice to reuse my existing naked portafilter.
JohnLyn Said:
don't tag me as a fan boy of the BDB, just another enthusiastic lover of good coffee
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