randytsuch Senior Member Joined: 11 Jun 2009 Posts: 578 Location: LA, Ca Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: Expobar Office with... Grinder: Baratza Vario Roaster: Customized Alpenrost,...
Posted Wed Feb 16, 2011, 1:28pm Subject: Re: Does anybody know the new Breville BCG800 (Smart Grinder)?
jbb Said:
As somebody about to pull the trigger on a B vario, would anybody counsel waiting until a clearer picture on the capabilities of this grinder emerges? The price is great, but, as others have pointed out, only 25 settings covering press to espresso? also, not withstanding the aussie posts, the comments on how it does for espresso at this point seem spotty.
The vario would not be my "dream grinder". but for the immediate future i need one grinder to handle both drip/vac pot and espresso, and in this regard the vario seems like a very practical choice that would be a step up (in terms of grind quality) from my Rocky. The only downsides I've heard are it may not be a grinder you bequeath to your grandchildren, and a few negative comments on static.
Posted Wed Feb 16, 2011, 2:23pm Subject: Re: Does anybody know the new Breville BCG800 (Smart Grinder)?
A 30 day (or even a week) return policy would be a great no risk way to try it out. I would just like to see the details on day to day use of the grinder; ...Dialed in X blend 3 notches from upper limit. 25 second 2 oz pour. One notch up and down on the adjustment gave me X volume in 25 seconds. Several different blends and over a week or 2 and compared to some capable espresso grinder. Was it rock solid shot to shot, day after day, was it a fiddle every morning? etc. The shim requirement is not a big deal if it will improve resolution in the espresso grind range. I'm all for the blind taste testing too....
The BB&B return policy is like Costco's, basically you can return it whenever you want.
I bought the 800's little brother, and was using it at work. Later, I replaced it with a Virt, and returned it to BBB around a month after I bought it, and they just took it back.
I did have some issues with the smaller Breville, if the beans I used were too hard (too lightly roasted), the Breville's belt would slip, and it would stop grinding until I adjusted it courser.
Endo Senior Member Joined: 26 Jun 2008 Posts: 804 Location: , location, location. Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: machine is < important than... Grinder: !
Posted Wed Feb 16, 2011, 6:58pm Subject: Re: Does anybody know the new Breville BCG800 (Smart Grinder)?
I would worry more about the 6 month return than the 30 day return (that's about the time my Vario broke). They shipped me a replacement the same day!
Judging from the horribly irregular sound coming from that Breville in the videos, good customer support would be high on my list of "must haves".
I think I'd be inclinded to spend the extra $100 for the new Baratza Prescio for that reason alone. (Although I admit the sexy LCD screen is hard to resist).
Posted Thu Feb 17, 2011, 8:37am Subject: Re: Does anybody know the new Breville BCG800 (Smart Grinder)?
I just went through the same dilemma (have a vario on the way). The Breville may be a giant killer, but we just don't know yet. The seattle coffee video review was not encouraging, they couldn't get a decent espresso grind out of it. At least we know with the vario that it can produce good results across all grind types, that their customer service is good and that there are many happy users out there. Having said that, I have 3 Breville appliances that I'm very happy with. I think their designs are first rate and the new grinder looks ingenious in terms of its features and flexibility. I guess we'll just have to wait and see if this new grinder is really a contender.
GDK Senior Member Joined: 17 Feb 2011 Posts: 92 Location: Ontario, Canada Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: MiniVivaldi II, preinfusion,... Grinder: Baratza Vario W
Posted Thu Feb 17, 2011, 8:52am Subject: Re: Does anybody know the new Breville BCG800 (Smart Grinder)?
I was also set on the Vario but now I may wait a little.
I am convinced that without the shim kit modification, the Breville would be a disappointment for many owning non-pressurized espresso machines. Some time ago I bought another (cheaper) Breville model and returned it back shortly (thanks god for Amazon's return policy). Many at amazon.com were praising it for making good espresso but it clearly did not cut it. This model is likely closer to the goal, but I am waiting for a serious review with the modification kit installed.
Posted Thu Feb 17, 2011, 9:03am Subject: Re: Does anybody know the new Breville BCG800 (Smart Grinder)?
I know I will never own one but find the thread interesting. Here is a Breville-promoted YouTube clip with an Aussie actress plugging the machine. I find it interesting and revealing that they don't run any audio of the grinder in action. YouTube warning for those at work: Breville promotion
RE: Price. The Breville grinder runs $200; a Vario costs $450. The average car payment in the US is $416 per month. For me, spending that extra $250 one time for a step-up on a grinder that often lasts 10 years is a no-brainer. Inexpensive grinders are false economy. YMMV.
jbb Senior Member Joined: 20 Sep 2009 Posts: 134 Location: Riverside, CA Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: silvia v2, la spaziale s1v1 Grinder: rocky, b. vario
Posted Thu Feb 17, 2011, 9:08am Subject: Re: Does anybody know the new Breville BCG800 (Smart Grinder)?
joc3721 Said:
The Breville may be a giant killer, but we just don't know yet....At least we know with the vario that it can produce good results across all grind types, that their customer service is good and that there are many happy users out there.
I did some more reading and thinking about it last night, and came to pretty much identical conclusions. If one needs a single, reasonably affordable grinder that can do both espresso and drip the Vario looks like the best bet at the this point and time, especially if a move to an additional espresso dedicated grinder is anticipated in the future. And like you say the support service seems top notch. So my Vario is now on its way. If I can get my vivaldi up and running before I sell Rocky I'll try to bring over some tasters and have a side by side shoot out.
netseraph Senior Member Joined: 11 Feb 2011 Posts: 3 Location: IA Expertise: Just starting
Posted Thu Feb 17, 2011, 9:14am Subject: Re: Does anybody know the new Breville BCG800 (Smart Grinder)?
GDK Said:
I was also set on the Vario but now I may wait a little.
I am convinced that without the shim kit modification, the Breville would be a disappointment for many owning non-pressurized espresso machines. Some time ago I bought another (cheaper) Breville model and returned it back shortly (thanks god for Amazon's return policy). Many at amazon.com were praising it for making good espresso but it clearly did not cut it. This model is likely closer to the goal, but I am waiting for a serious review with the modification kit installed.
Looks like the shim will elevate the bottom burr up 0.2-1.4 mm. This is the same trick I used to make my $25 Cuisinart DBM-8 produce fine enough grind for espresso. I'm not sure if I will go after $200+ grinder to get marginal improvement.
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