Coffee Grinders with Breville Dual Boiler

jtevans1991 on 30/10/2023 - 14:10

My Nespresso pod machine is on its death bed so I’m looking to upgrade and delve into a more advanced coffee machine.

Initially, the Breville Barista Express caught my attention as it seemed to have good reviews as well as be an all-in-one package with the grinder included.

Upon delving deeper, a lot of people tend to recommend getting a dedicated coffee grinder for the best coffee rather than using a built in one.

This has lead me to looking at the Breville Dual Boiler which seems to be universally loved and a great all round machine as its price point.

If I opt for Dual Boiler, what are some of the coffee grinders you’ve used and would recommend?

Open to any other tips, tricks or recommendations for a beginner in this realm.

Electrical & Electronics Coffee Grinder

Comments

  • emblurr on 30/10/2023 - 14:16
    +5

    I use a Breville Smart grinder pro with my dual boiler. I'm happy with it. There are better ones.

    • Naigrabzo on 30/10/2023 - 16:28

      Same here…

  • Shadowsfury on 30/10/2023 - 14:24
    +2

    I just ordered the Dual Boiler last week and purchased the Smart Grinder Pro on the weekend - for the price it seems alright and it would be at least double the price to get into the next level of recommendations (Eureka Mignon)

    • ATTS on 01/11/2023 - 14:38

      I dont know if i read right

      But heard the dual boiler can take 10 minutes to warm up

      Can someone confirm who has the machine?

      Thanks

      • roderickh on 04/11/2023 - 18:22

        Mine is ready to go around 7 mins

        • ATTS on 04/11/2023 - 18:28

          Thanks. Just wondering howcom3 it takes so long?

          Im reading some say the breville barista pro only takes 3 secs? Is that correct?

          • roderickh on 04/11/2023 - 18:39

            @ATTS: It needs to fire up both boilers to temperature.

            Barista pro doesn't have any boiler, just a thermojet element that it heats up. When you activate the BBP, it passes cold water through the element to heat the water up.

            I sold my barista pro to upgrade to the dual boiler.
            The BDB is better in every single way once it is up to temperature, and I can do multiple shots (and steaming milk) consistently.

            • chew_chew on 04/11/2023 - 18:45

              @roderickh: I have a barista touch which is similar to the barista pro, am also considering if worth upgrading and to what machine.

              I understand how the thermojet is fast but does not provide temp stability as well as say dual boiler.

              Keen to understand in what ways do U find the dual boiler being better than the bbp? Is it the 58mm basket/portafilter? Ability to brew/steam at the same time? Do U find any significant difference in the coffee in terms of extraction/consistency? And in terms steaming milk, how's the speed and consistency of foam compare?

              Thanks in advance!

              • ATTS on 04/11/2023 - 18:56

                @chew_chew: Just curious is temp stability the temperature dropping when making more than one double shot coffee in quick succession?

                • chew_chew on 04/11/2023 - 20:27

                  @ATTS: From my limited understanding (guys feel free to correct me if I'm wrong), the thermojet is quick to heat up but the temp isn't as stable as say a dual boiler system.

                  From Lance's video here (on the bambino plus which also has the thermojet):
                  https://youtu.be/U2TNEhrBU5Q?si=cM6dgC_KWcx9hVlS

                  Sounds like the brew temp isn't as stable and he recommends purging in between shots.

            • ATTS on 04/11/2023 - 18:53

              @roderickh: I see thanks

        • ATTS on 04/11/2023 - 18:58

          Btw when did you get your machine? And for how much

          Im not sure whether i should wait to see if there will be a black friday sale for coffee machine

          • roderickh on 05/11/2023 - 14:02
            +1

            @ATTS: @chew_chew

            Re BDB better than BBP - it comes down to what you look for in the coffee journey, I was happy with the BBP but wanted to further experiment on different brews methods and also stronger milk steaming. The BDB has adjustable preinfusion and also ability to be slayer modded - thus why I was keen to upgrade.

            Keep in mind the 54mm puck size is definitely friendlier, and you will need an external grinder with the BDB.
            Also whilst 58mm accessories although more common in the industry, the 54mm breville is such a popular option for homeowners that you will see cheaper options available from ali - also the BDB 58mm isn't a e61 head so you need to be specific when buying a naked PF.

            Re the temp stability, it produces consistently hot water - I often use the hot water spout to make matcha for my SO and it is noticeably warmer via the BDB, it was lukewarm on the BBP.

            Re milk steaming, BBE took me around 60 seconds. BBP was around 45 seconds. BDB around 30 seconds.

            @ATTS I got it in september this year after using the BBP for about a year. I got it used (with the SGP) for a good deal so couldn't pass up.

            Honestly the OZ pricing is so much better than NZ, and I would've jumped at the 999 pricing there. (It's cheapest 1400 NZD here once a year as the dynamic duo).

            One thing I do miss though is my countertop space. The BDB is significantly bigger than the BBP.

  • xjoel on 30/10/2023 - 14:24
    +2

    Depends on your budget. The smart grinder pro is the most popular budget choice and is often on sale but there are definitely better grinders out there if you're prepared to spend more. I've personally been very happy with my Eureka Mignon.

    • ATTS on 04/11/2023 - 19:21

      Is smart grinder pro silent aswell?

  • erebos on 30/10/2023 - 14:35
    +2

    Hopefully this suggestion will aid rather than complicate your decision, but look into manual grinders too.

    I am no expert, but I’ve been using the 1Zepresso J-Max for the last 6 months and been very happy with it, bought on Amazon for $259. I only make espresso based drinks on my BDB.

    According to people who know much more than me the J-Max performs at a similar level to an electric grinder in the ~$600 price realm, and should certainly outperform the smart grinder pro especially for espresso-level grind.

  • ASA on 30/10/2023 - 15:37
    +1

    I use a Eureka Mignon Manuale and I'm very happy with it. The only issue is if you use different beans and need to change the grind settings its very difficult to accurately return to a given setting - the way they have implemented the grind selection knob. If you have a 3D printer there is an excellent solution to this problem which I highly recommend.

    The Manuale is the cheapest version. I would also look into deals on the Specialita - there used to be deals from an Italian distributor

    • jtevans1991 on 31/10/2023 - 12:09

      thanks! I've had a look at reviews of the Eureka Mignon range and they look to be great, well built machines which i'm also comparing to a Baratza Sette 270.

      quite a few reviews mentioned the stepless knob being a pro (due to how finely you can tune things) but also a con due to what you mentioned above (if you're using different beans). Although i don't have a 3D printer, my brother does so i'd be keen to hear what the solution was!

      • chew_chew on 31/10/2023 - 13:27
        +1

        Baratza encore esp came out recently, so U might want to take a look.
        Fellows opus also similar price range

      • ASA on 31/10/2023 - 13:43
        +1

        Checkout…

        https://www.printables.com/model/473351-grind-setting-dial-v…

        I also printed his tilted stand, dosing cup and fork plug. And I purchased a single dosing thingie with bellows from AliExpress (from CafeMasy store). Very happy with that too :)

        • roderickh on 05/11/2023 - 14:03

          @ASA have you noticed any benefits via the tilted stand? I have the same grinder with the finecoar dial + cafemasy bellows, and am generally pretty happy with the retention..

          • ASA on 11/11/2023 - 18:16

            @roderickh: Sorry didnt see your post until now. Tbh I haven't done a side by side comparison since I've been single dosing, but it does feel like the extra angle helps retention. Also the angle of the chute is now more vertical so it does seem that using a bellows blows the grounds down into the dosing cup rather than across the room :)

            • roderickh on 11/11/2023 - 18:28

              @ASA: @ASA did you print any forks etc to suit a cup, or is it simply placed central below the chute?

              • ASA on 18/11/2023 - 21:04

                @roderickh: The STL files include a raised stand on which sits the dosing cup. It, and the cup, have magnets to align everything under the chute (altho they could be stronger)

  • ronburgundy11 on 30/10/2023 - 16:12
    +2

    Breville Smart Grinder Pro is the best in terms of value for money. Well worth it.

  • schlomo on 30/10/2023 - 17:15
    +2

    I started with the classic ozbargain bdb+smart grinder pro combo and if i could turn back time I would have just shelled out extra for something in the $500+ "entry" grinder range from the get go.
    especially if you're espresso focused.

    • jtevans1991 on 30/10/2023 - 19:07

      Thanks for the heads up! What was the reasoning behind that? Did you outgrow the smart grinder pro quicker than expected?

      I’m generally going to be using it for espressos and lattes, but future-proofing in terms of a grinder is something I’ll definitely consider.

  • POSITIVEVIBESONLY on 05/11/2023 - 00:51

    I love my Niche Zero and haven't looked back. It is only worth it if you're looking for a single dosing grinder but the shots it produces and big on body and so easy to dial in.

    Otherwise I would advise to go on FB marketplace and get a 2nd hand Mazzer, they're bloody cheap from closed down cafes and are a workhorse that will last decades. Mazzers are miles ahead of eurekas and baratzas.

  • inertia8 on 06/11/2023 - 10:26
    +1

    BDB is a great choice, mine (bes900) is 11-12yrs old and still going strong. It was repaired under warranty a few times and for the last 7yrs I've taken to maintaining it myself.. plenty of info online, it's easy to work on and the bes920 even more so.

    For the Grinder, I'm using a compak K6 silencio (got it for a bargain years ago), but was going to pair it with a compak k3.

    Obviously check out coffee snobs forum if you haven't already

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