(GPGT)Espresso machine hoot

[blacktalon]

It's an Aussie home appliance brand right?


Read there's a "flying portafilter" issue.
Sounds dangerous and must have to do with the plastic grouphead.



A double boiler from VBM, Expobar, Rocket weights about 30KG while the Breville weights 13KG. Doesn't sound right to me. It's not like electronics with nanotechnology.

Neither will i want a plastic on something with so much heat and pressure.
Anything gives way and that's it.

I've been using the Breville Dual Boiler for 1.5 years now, and I must say I can't be more satisfied with it. You are right in that it contains a lot of plastic, but the important parts are all stainless steel. In fact, some parts are on par, or even exceed that of the LM GS3, which is a $7000 machine. Specifically, the water inlet to the brew boiler is preheated by the steam boiler, a feature that improves temp stability and is only seen in the GS3. An additional PID at the group head ensures temp stability without the bulk of the E61. Little but important design features like the water tank refill or the steam controller EXCEED that of the GS3. And most importantly, it makes great coffee.

Is it as hardy as a fully stainless steel machine? No. Can it be easily maintained? Well, the only maintenance I've done so far is to change the water filter and back flush regularly. Descaling will not be easy, and I don't plan to attempt it.

Long story short, I think this machine is great for a beginner, especially at its price point. It provides the features and stability of a much more expensive machine, therefore minimizing the learning curve. And when the inevitable urge to upgrade hits, well, it's price is less painful than most other machines.

 

[testerjp]

It's an Aussie home appliance brand right?

Can find direct reviews from the Aussies.
http://www.productreview.com.au/p/breville-bes900-dual-boiler.html?rating=2#reviews

Read there's a "flying portafilter" issue.
Sounds dangerous and must have to do with the plastic grouphead.



A double boiler from VBM, Expobar, Rocket weights about 30KG while the Breville weights 13KG. Doesn't sound right to me. It's not like electronics with nanotechnology.

Neither will i want a plastic on something with so much heat and pressure.
Anything gives way and that's it.

Why quote but edit out the links to the reviews by real consumers in Australia where breville is from.
Lol

http://www.productreview.com.au/p/breville-bes900-dual-boiler.html?rating=2#reviews

Actually preheat into brew feature is common among double boilers.

From Bella Barista UK on Expobar.
It's not necessary to hx machines though.

So is auto refill, very common.

 

[CTBR]

I think the general consensus is that: yes the breville dual boilers make good coffee for the limited time that it is up and running, maybe 2yrs+ if you're lucky, but it won't last as long as the traditional espresso machines which lasts much longer(>10yrs?), but cost more for the same features. I'm not sure if them being made in china has anything to do with their short lifetime but they probably use cheaper parts.

 

[IntelFlash]

It can't last long because it's plastic.
If anything breaks, i think it will cost an arm and leg to replace the assembly just like the normal Jura, Delonghi, Krups espresso machines.

The boiler rises to over 100 degrees inside.
How often do you see an oven, cooker, that is made up of that much plastic.
I felt it before and the grouphead looks like plastic which is pretty disturbing.
The PID on the grouphead if i'm not wrong, is only for reading, not controllable.

 

[Rprime]

the breville double boiler being made from plastics also meant that there is less likelihood that you will accidentally burn your fingers when blur blur in the morning like i did with mine! not necessarily a bad thing lol
boiler preheating isn't an issue to consider if you dont pull more than 2 shot and have them shot after shot consectively, at least not for an E61 group kind.

with regards to weighing scale, i can throughly recommend acaia. i had the perl for almost a year now and use it for both baking and coffee. the very responsive nature made it well suited for pourovers.

 

[compuser]

A normal 0.1g $10-$20 scale is good enough.

No way it can make your brewing much better.

 

[japhethlimweiyi]

Not sure if this is the right place, and probably an extremely long shot, but does anyone have a HG One you want to sell?

 

[stonecold996]

A normal 0.1g $10-$20 scale is good enough.

No way it can make your brewing much better.

Its the same as why people buy expensive bags. Sure, there are bags that can do the same job for $10-$20, but people are still willing to spend more for the quality and experience.

 

[chikyblink]

Not sure if this is the right place, and probably an extremely long shot, but does anyone have a HG One you want to sell?

Hey, you can try contacting Highlander coffee. Look for Cedric or Phil.
Another long shot but the last I heard from Cedric, which is more than a year ago, they have 3 in their inventory.

Sent from Samsung SM-N910G using GAGT

 

[CTBR]

Hey, you can try contacting Highlander coffee. Look for Cedric or Phil.
Another long shot but the last I heard from Cedric, which is more than a year ago, they have 3 in their inventory.

Sent from Samsung SM-N910G using GAGT

Wow, they sell HG-one? How much were they selling it for?

 

[chikyblink]

Wow, they sell HG-one? How much were they selling it for?

No I don't believe they bought those to sell. Probably used them for their classes or something I dunno.

Sent from Samsung SM-N910G using GAGT

 

[Lazy_Tiger]

Not sure if this is the right place, and probably an extremely long shot, but does anyone have a HG One you want to sell?

Hg one users in Singapore is few. Most will shun it for the price of a hand grinder. But I'll only sell mine for a electronic grinder if the ease of basket prep, single dosing and grind retention is as good!

Save and just buy from the webstore.

 

[japhethlimweiyi]

Thanks chikyblink, will check with them soon!

Lazy_Tiger ya, hence the long shot. I am prepared to buy one first hand but probably in the later part of the year.

 

[Rprime]

Its the same as why people buy expensive bags. Sure, there are bags that can do the same job for $10-$20, but people are still willing to spend more for the quality and experience.

i agree. i spend spend more for the experience. i like the process of brewing and enjoying thereafter. to me, brewing is 50% of the enjoyment
in this case, having the acaia scale help me monitor my pour rate over time (when linked to the phone) - so i guess it helps in terms of teaching me something.

 

[Lazy_Tiger]

i agree. i spend spend more for the experience. i like the process of brewing and enjoying thereafter. to me, brewing is 50% of the enjoyment
in this case, having the acaia scale help me monitor my pour rate over time (when linked to the phone) - so i guess it helps in terms of teaching me something.

mind giving short review to the acaia scale?
I'm keen on getting the lunar version but its really expensive.

i think acaia is the way to go esp for pourover because of the flowrate data. really not easy to have cup to cup consistency in flow rate without any measurement.

 

[Lazy_Tiger]

Thanks chikyblink, will check with them soon!

Lazy_Tiger ya, hence the long shot. I am prepared to buy one first hand but probably in the later part of the year.

If u do have a chance to try it out, test it with light roasted beans. with medium or dark roast the hg one grinds like butter but for light roasts, the more delicate built home barista might encounter some uncomfortable resistance when grinding fine for espresso.

For pourover grinds, no problem for any bean. 15g dose can be ground in less than 5 secs.

 

[japhethlimweiyi]

If u do have a chance to try it out, test it with light roasted beans. with medium or dark roast the hg one grinds like butter but for light roasts, the more delicate built home barista might encounter some uncomfortable resistance when grinding fine for espresso.

For pourover grinds, no problem for any bean. 15g dose can be ground in less than 5 secs.

Yep, hope I get the chance to try it out before buying. Which version is yours, and with what burrs? I have been wondering if I should go for the BB Mazzer or the TiN burr set.

 

[patryn33]

Yep, hope I get the chance to try it out before buying. Which version is yours, and with what burrs? I have been wondering if I should go for the BB Mazzer or the TiN burr set.

A lot of ppl get the TIN burr but also buy the 71mm burr as it grinds faster.

After a week of chemex got me beans for espresso

 

[prozaizxc]

Just to check, has anyone shipped machines from overseas, particularly from espressocoffeecompany? There is a machine I am keen on buying, and it's quite a lot cheaper there than buying local. I am worried about damages and reliability of the company, but the prices in Singapore, though slightly better than in the past, are still pretty prohibitive.

i bought my rancilio silvia and macap m4 grinder from them. they process the order pretty fast and ship out within 2-3 days but the delivery by tent was pretty slow took about 2 weeks plus and was 1 week off the estimated arrival date for my machines.

If you're ordering, can help me order one rancilio bottomless portafilter if possible and i can pay bit of the shipping cost? >.<

 

[Lazy_Tiger]

Yep, hope I get the chance to try it out before buying. Which version is yours, and with what burrs? I have been wondering if I should go for the BB Mazzer or the TiN burr set.

mine is the newer version. stepped adjusted without the compression screw. I got the TiN burr set.