can you do back to back shots with this machine? I'm starting an espresso cart rental business and shopping around for a machine that can keep a high pace. i don't want to go over 2500$
NOTICE: As I clearly said in the video, while I am affiliated with Breville by way of teaching classes for them, this video was not expected, sponsored, or even approved by Breville. I strictly teach classes. I've even decided NOT to use an affiliate link for these videos even though I have sold dozens of machines (losing out on lots of money) from my videos. Please do not come in the comments thinking you're sly by pointing out my very willingly admitted connection to Breville. Authenticity is my main staple, my muse, my highest priority. I wore the Breville shirt and made the disclosure to be above reproach. I could've easily kept mum about it, but the fact I'm confident it doesn't sway my opinion, I decided to disclose. I get no payments from any machine sale. I get no money from this endorsement. I simply teach people at home to make better coffee through Williams-Sonoma by way of breville End of story. Thanks for reading and I sincerely hope you all will maintain the trust I've hopefully cultivated with you all. Cheers!
I'm new to coffee making and your videos are the best! I recently bought the BDB and the coffees are just as good if not better than at the local cafes!
@@LanceHedrick Hello Lance. Thanks for your videos and love your relax presentation. Which grinder would you recommend ? Thanks in advance ! Keep it up !!!
Just to add on. I originally purchased my BDB refurbished, and after 9 years I had to send in my machine for repairs. Breville support was great. They gave me two offers since my machine was so old - After some discussion they offered to just send me a new model (they made some changes to the BDB over that time) for what was ~50% off, and reduced the repair quote by about half. The repair ended up that they just shipped me the newest model anyway, and since I ended up with 2 machines I then resold one. Between the discount for the original refurb, and the extra machine that I pawned off, the total cost of my BDB is so small, and is crazy that they'd just do a solid replacement for something that was around for so long.
@@LanceHedrick Does the resolution of issues maybe depend on the luck of the draw on the person who answers your phone call? I haven’t taken mine out of the box yet. I’m watching your videos so I can get a general understanding of the Breville Barista Express machine just received for my birthday.
Man. Lance, you're hitting it out the park. So natural in front of the camera, super easy to follow, really entertaining - you make a 19 minute video seem too short! I have the UK version - Sage - and I have no remorse whatsoever, it's been such a fantastic machine, especially the quick group head heating, and the cherry on top is pre programmed time for it to wake up and begin heating. Absolutely love it. I'll probably hold off on mods for some time, as the rabbit hole that is espresso is already so deep, but the flow mod is certainly something I'll consider in the near future! Thanks for the amazing content, and keep it up, my dude!
Absolutely! And know you don't need to mid in order to pull shots in pre infusion mode. Just hold down the shot button! Can do low pressure shots without any mod
Great information. I had the older version of this for around 10 years. It is still in operation w my son. Got the 920 and as you I really like this about 4 yeas now and working good. Thanks for all. God Bless
can you do back to back shots with this machine? I'm starting an espresso cart rental business and shopping around for a machine that can keep a high pace. i don't want to go over 2500$
Lance, so glad I found your channel. I’m on my second Breville infuser and have really liked them. 7 years for first, 2 years for second. I’m thinking some day of upgrading and want to learn how to control flow rate, temp, etc but am too scared of making any modifications.
Aghh I'm on the same boat my first infuser is pretty much dead now after 7years. Agonizing on what to do now , just rebuying the same or changing, wish I could upgrade. 🥲😂
Just got a fairly well used 900 for free and really enjoying fixing it up, descaling, etc. For a consumer product it's really well designed, spare parts are a plenty and there's a good community around it. Comparing that to the 2 group head commercial machine I have where I have to call the manufacturer whenever I need to ask if a spare part exists.. the Breville dual boiler is awesome.
B “the Infuser” owner here with 7 years and one pump replacement. Glad the brand is getting lots of love and that this upper model is more solid and can be modded. My machine is fine with a good grinder but sadly I can’t control the temp nor the flow so towards the end of the shot the pressure always increases. Cool video, ofc now I’m considering this model, someday 😅
Just got this 2+ years old BDB 2nd hand 790USD. 1700 shot counts. With PID, pressure control and Slayer mod potential. Totally worth it and love it very much. Thank for the suggestion Lance!!
I have a BDB w/ niche combo too, it’s a great machine! Would love to see videos of all the mods from you!! I like the sound of making it a quieter machine!
I love how this machine seems like an intersection of the espresso and maker community. This seems like an absolute endgame machine, I just wish it would look a bit better. It seems hard to justify spending so much money something I hate looking at, especially if I'll use it every day.
Thanks for your in depth review. We bought our BES860XL from Williams & Sonoma in September 2009. It's still working after all these years with some work-arounds [the grind quantity is no longer reliable, and there is some corrosion on the base at the rear]. We'll invest in a new Breville Double Boiler in the next few weeks.
I’ve had two breville coffee machines first one I got second hand and it lasted me 10 years. I’ve now got the dual boiler ( replacing a small delonghi) and swear by it. They are a great machine without mods and just so much better afterwards
I may have made the mentioned comment about using my Breville espresso machine for eight years. It is still in a new condition, with only double basket needing to be replaced once (no gasket replacement needed to be done yet after all thousands of shots the machine has made). In fact I still own and use every Breville appliance I ever purchased in the past 20 or so years! It is likely that Breville machines have much less embedded energy than full-on steel E61 machines. This is something to consider seriously. Do they look as cool as some expensive Italian ones? Probably not. But if the quality of coffee they produce is the measure to go by, the sheer amount of control and mod-ability for an even greater amount of control make Breville espresso machines a very smart purchase, indeed. To close this comment, I'll just say to espresso newbies, and relative espresso newbies - listen to Lance. With his credentials and the clearly demonstrated enormous breadth of knowledge related to making exceptional espresso, if he says that Breville Double Boiler is an amazing espresso machine, then it most certainly is. Pocket the cash you would have spent on a La Marzocco and use it to buy some excellent beans to feed your BDB over the next 10 years or so.
I love my Breville DB, however, it cannot be stressed enough about the maintenance issues. If you are a DIY type of person, then the link Lance indicated is quite valuable and you will almost certainly encounter many of these issues within a year or two (which is unfortunate). However, some of the replacement tasks are quite hard to do and require quite a bit of dexterity with the tiny parts. The other issue regarding maintenance is that most espresso machine repair places won't touch Brevilles. I live in Seattle, which is a coffee mecca town with lots of cafes as well as espresso repair places. There is only one place (Seattle Coffee Gear) I'm aware of that touches Brevilles and they're not cheap. You can certainly send in your machine to Breville but that will be costly as well. Anyways, I love my DB and just hope it survives until something equivalent with better durability and maintenance simplicity comes along.
Hey there, I just got my BDB, and out of the box, the hot water knob on the side of the machine does not rotate/turn in either direction, and I'm afraid to "force it" since I don't want to break it...any thoughts?
This is my favourite video so far. I think you've already hinted yourself at what you could cover next with the drip coffee from an espresso machine and the super fast shots. I bet breville/sage are delighted with this!
Thanks for this video Lance. Really appreciate it. Always wondered about the longevity of these but as you say everyone has different experiences. Having owned various Italian made machines over the last 10 years and had parts on them fail I'm at the point of wanting the features that have been in the BDB for ages. It certainly helps to be able to self repair whatever machine you own but having a community of modders and support around with information is a massive plus. Breville launched the BES900 back in 2011 and some in the coffee forum community said at the time it was too good to be true. Well 10 years later Breville have improved on that base and still have features that outperform other manufacturers. 💪💖
I bought a refurbished bes900xl BDB in early 2015 for around 700.00 Brand new cost was 1299.00, Now brand new is around 1600-1800.00 It came in pristine condition and with even MORE extras and accessories than the norm. I only used it on average of once a day for a year, made a big move from one state to another,.. got really sick, never unpacked it for 5 years. Just recently dug it out, did all the back flushing, ordered more new cleaning tabs and water filters. It is up and running like brand new. It still has years of use ahead. Since then they launched the 920 which gives you the ability to descale the machine on your own, the 900xl doesnt have that. I figured when and if I get to the point of it needing to be sent to manufacture for any repairs, as I have seen from other posts that instead of repairing the old machine and the time and costs, they just send you a replacement of the newer model. I have to say, this BDB IS an AWESOME machine!
Love this thread you started. I'm glad you come from Italian made machines, too. I love the looks and quality of them, but just not a fan of the e61 platform. BDB is on another level for the price. Sure, it isn't gorgeous and sure, the materials for the shell aren't stainless steel, but if you, as Pete Russell says, practice preventative maintenance, it'll last a long time!
3:40: not only does higher flow rate at the end potentially induce channeling, but it also amplifies the bitters. Whereas with flow control, you can gradually back off the flow (pressure will fall) as the shot progresses. Then simply end the shot when you start seeing ‘blonding’.
Lance, thank you so much for sharing your experience! These E61 grouphead espresso machines are getting all the craze these days but really, they're considerably much more expensive and less functional than the Breville dual boiler. An equivalent dual boiler, PID and flow control machine would cost atleast 3000$!
I know! It's insane. People complain about longevity on breville, but at half the cost, you can make any fix necessary and still come out way on top and finance a much nicer grinder haha!
You just convinced me to pull the trigger on an open box BDB for $699 after taxes and shipping! I'll be pairing it with a eureka mingion specialita grinder. I really love the traditional italian style e61 machines but I feel like this will be a great first setup and hard to beat for the price ($1400 all in).
I have this machine. After 8 months of 2-4 shots a day, the steam boiler started leaking steam. I contacted Breville, they sent me pre paid label to ship them the machine. I lost the machine about 2 weeks and got it back working perfect with absolutely no charge. I m very happy with the purchase. Thinking about the mods …. Maybe I ll try the Slayer one even though I have doubts about the taste of a 50 sec shot .
Even James Hoffman in his comparison of 5 sub £1500 machines narrowed it down to the BDB and the Profitec 500… when it’s on sale in Australia it’s like 1,200 AUD. That’s like 850 USD.
Yeah! Though, to be fair, James looks at machines as they are and goes into his preferential fodder with work flow. I try to show machines in as much depth as possible. I'd rather have terrible workflow and insane temp control and pressure stability than vice versa, tbh. But yeah! James is a big sage fan.
I've had the DB for a year and I love it - will definitely consider some mods when it's out of warranty. I was lucky to get it half-price in the UK so bought a Niche Zero too.
Yeah, I had a Breville Dual Boiler about 6 - 7 years old and it started not being able to hold pressure and some other issues. Called Breville to see if they could repair it and they told me my model was no longer serviceable. Called a local shop to see if they could repair it and they told me they have stopped repairing Breville Espresso Machines because getting parts was extremely difficult. At this point I had a $1,200 paper weight that we ended up giving to someone to try and part out. Bought an ecm synchronika, granted they are much more expensive but will last much longer and easier to repair. As far as toaster ovens go I love Breville but I feel pretty burned on the Breville Dual Boiler.
Lance, Great vid! I've had my BDB for several years now and I got lucky as my machine is quite capable of flow profiling right out of the box. I understand this is not true with every BDB, but my water valve allows quite a bit of profiling before disabling the group flow. I can go from 9 bar to 3 bar with no mods at all. Again, Great vid. I very much enjoy your channel!
Breville is so approachable. My first espresso machine was a Barista Express with the integrated grinder and until you lived with a machine it's often hard to understand why some features matter. I hestiated hard between the Breville Dual Boiler and a Profitec and only landed on the latter because the accessories are not as easy to find online (outside the US) and I had the budget for it. Yes the Dual boiler is technically a 58mm group head but you can't just purchase any cool looking 58mm portafilter for it. But just for the fact you can do your own descaling at home, front access to the reservoir (we don't all have a beautiful kitchen), it's a great GREAT machine. Endgame is a strong word because once you get into the rabbit hole, like you said the Decent becomes an option, but for the majority of people this will be the best machine they ever had.
I say end game with the caveat of budget end game. It can out perform machines 3 times it's price regarding flow control, heat stability, and pressure accuracy due to the location of the reading. It's just a freaking beast. Put in the kill switch and you have a JV Decent
I've had two of these second hand and both have lasted over 5 years with no issues. Just did the slayer mod as well, jesus I can't believe people pay 10 x the amount for a machine that can flow profile. This thing is awesome for what you pay.
I got a BDB too, 920 XL, paired with a Baratza 270WI. What a great combo. The Breville is an impressive machine for the price, very serviceable and moddable. Great review, my friend :)
Years back when I was looking for the best machine to learn on and keep years, I chose the little sister, The Infuser (not called Breville in France) and boy for the price it's an awesome machine. I don't have it anymore but it still working wonders with the actual owner after 4 years. Yeah, I wish it was a bit less plasticy but for that price can't argue. I like the aesthetics too. The pitcher was actually good too. Plus the Breville grinder and you can be that snob espresso / latte art enthusiast who all your friends will hate and all that without breaking the bank.
@@LanceHedrick Oh I didn't know about the burrs. Thanks for the info. Yeah truly solid grinder like almost all Breville coffee stuff. It's a very solid entry gate for those who want to discover coffee at low price. What attracted me in Breville is the modern aesthetics, I'm not a fan of Italian chrome, I'm a bit of a maniac and a scratch on the chrome and the machine and I have a free trip from the window 😂 With Breville "sanded" aluminum parts, you can just wipe them from time to time with vinegar then water and it's like new.
Yeah my first mod was day 1 on the drip tray. I didn’t realize the metal drip tray edge was fake metal and tried to tamp on it and put a dent that glares at me until this day lol 😝 10yo BDB
I'd cry if that happened haha! I had good growth to begin but it has slowed aggressively. All good, though! Here to help first and foremost. Glad you're enjoying
Thanks for sharing all this information. I have enjoyed soaking up your wisdom and I have learned a ton. My big question is when do you think they will do another refresh on the BDB? I don’t want to buy too soon and then they switch things up on me.
Easily the most technical and informative videos (I've seen several on your channel). One machine I had hoped you had already reviewed is the Slayer Single Group. I would very much like to know your opinion of that machine, thanks!!
Lol you’re sarcastic but funny. Thanks for the review. It’s nice to hear someone support breville. Which was my 1st and 2nd machines “cheaper pressurized” types. Now I am ready to move up to a better machine and considering the Breville infuser vs duo dual vs rancillo Silvia vs solis perfetta. Would love to see those head to head. Always a question of how manual I want and counter size unfortunately.
Had my dual boiler for 3 years and it never skipped a beat. Upgraded it this year to a decent espresso machine. The decent was the only machine I was prepared to replace my dual boiler with.
Ive been looking at this machine for a while now, would people recommend buying the dynamic duo package? Does the Smart grinder match the capability of this machine?
@@LanceHedrick oh trust me, I've seen all the things this sweet baby can do on Reddit. Thanks for always providing that amazing content boss. Keep it up and glad to see that you're getting more popular!
A little late to the party here - possibly buying a BDB soon!!! - but can the Slayer mod replicate the pump kill switch if you just cut the flow using the knob? I'm trying to figure out why you'd need the switch if you've already done the Slayer stuff. (Also, Lance, if you see this - any competitors to the BDB at its current price point?)
I've had the BDB and Niche combo for almost a year now. Heard of the Slayer mod before but I'm still struggling with other aspects of espresso making so want to master that before moving on. I especially like the idea that you can install a rotary pump too! Keep up the good work!
I just got my BDB, and out of the box the hot water knob on the side doesn't seem to rotate/turn in either direction, and I don't want to "force it"...am I missing something?
@@wtortoriello That's a bummer. I can't recall having to do anything special with it .. it should just rotate freely out of the box. Not sure if opening up the machine to fix it yourself would void any warranty if you're inclined to try and fix it yourself. Might be best to let the vendor know about it - they should accept a return/swap.
If there’s a flow meter hooked up to a PID controller which controls the needle valve, it will work the same. But you will need a small actuator to control the needle valve.
I bought this machine as new for 600€ few years ago. I think it has been a serious bang for buck. Now about to enter to the world of modifications with this 😄
We ordered the BDB earlier this month. Unfortunately, it was DOA. Called Breville support... power it off, unplug it, wait a minute, plug it back in, power it on again. Nothing. Returned it to the local retail store. After intense cross examination by the store manager, he agreed to process the return. The experience caused me to question Breville and the appliance approach to espresso. I'll continue with our cheap Capresso for now and upgrade to something better down the road.
Hi Lance: first of all congrats on the entire channel which is excellent. I, too, have a Sage(Breville)Dual Boiler having started with a Barista Express. I totally agree the BDB is THE most under-rated machine. Even in standard form its a performance bargain. Someone needs to champion this machine and who better than you? Yes please work your way thru all the mods, in detail, one by one - and show us how to get the best from each. Its noteworthy that both James Hoffman and John Buckman also highly rate this machine. Thanks and please keep doing what you're doing! Graham
Thanks, Graham! Yes- I know John and James both enjoy it- particularly the former. I know James has some issues with it, but overall enjoys it. I'm a huge fan, although I know lifespan has been an issue for some. Anyway, I'll certainly champion it as a budget "end game" when concerning quality and adaptability. Thanks for the kind words!
I would really love to get this machine but unfortunately the black version is never back in stock and the wife would not allow the SS color anywhere near the kitchen where I have my coffee bar setup.
No luck needed! Incredible machine. Make sure to use those links in the caption and immerse yourself in the online BDB community. Quite a cultish following. And don't descale! You'll read all this at those links. Use good water.
Wow! Love the mod for flow control. Breville has so many modern features like a timer to turn on, the heated group, reminders to clean, preinfusion, many of the retro machines can't keep up. I also like the Decent but this combo is very compelling.
@@LanceHedrick After thinking about it, I am wondering if it has pressure and flow control simultaneously which is why the manometer in the group is showing the pressure dropping as the flow is decreased. If so, this is superior to the decent which can have the pressure go too high, ie 11 bar, as the flow is decreased. Not sure I understand the mechanics fully.
TY so much for this video. I’ve been looking to get back into espresso now that I have more time and despite the size being bigger than I want, I think the modifications you mention might make this my machine. Thanks a bunch!!
Can't wait for more mods! Imagine a 3d printed servo motor / bracket mounted onto the valve knob where people can share temperature and flow profiles and upload it to their brevilles for kicks :)
I beat the Breville service guy a bit when they wanted $85 for the top burr on an Express model, and they ended up sending one for free. I use them for my appliances now, and they've been great.
My BDB started leaking and was tripping the GFCI. It’s well out of warranty so I decided to upgrade to a more prosumer machine. However, after seeing this, I’m going to fix it and put it back to work.
Superb summary, Lance! Bravo! Another cool thing about it, that admittedly does not make better espresso however, is the stainless steel boilers and solid stainless portafilter, as compared to copper and brass, which are soft and and easier to work, but more reactive. It's a nerdy detail but some of us are nerds ;) In fairness I should say that I am not bothered by copper and brass espresso machines... In fact I have three of them (in addition to my BDB). Just that I think stainless is cool.
I really like breville’s ergonomics and design but sadly my father and I together both had longevity issues on 3 different machines, usually after 2-4 years… I think the idea to move to gear pump in the LH edition should be spread across the bdb line… Hell, the LH edition should replace the bdb line entirely.
Hey again Are slayer shots more suited to lighter roast beans or any? I enjoy dark. Also have you uprated the shower screen or puck like a VST on your DB
Slayer shots, imo, just don't do a great job for any coffee and here is why- the slow fill of the puck means the bottom will be wetted way after the top, so you'll have a temperature gradient with low efficacy water near the bottom. It's a weird style. I prefer quick filling the puck for preinfusion.
And of course I've updated the basket and screen, tho the stock ones are shockingly good. They aim to have similar precision to VST when making screens and baskets
Basket is any ole 58mm basket. They all fit. Go straight to VST or IMS for those. The screen you can get on Amazon no problem. Just type in ims breville dual boiler screen
This video has me second guessing. After owning a BDB for 8 years (and having replaced gaskets, the solenoid, and having done the brass OPV mod) the steam wand started leaking and then the boiler stopped working due to thermocouple corrosion. I tried fixing it but accessibility to the boiler is major surgery. I threw in the towel, called it a good run, and am getting an Italian E61 PID Heat Exchanger. But maybe I should stick with the BDB for all its cool features. Damn you Lance for having me second guess myself! Great videos by the way 👍.
Hi Lance, I was wondering about d) in the description. I can't find any more info about this and would love the opportunity to get finer control when using the slayer mod. Is there any chance you could point me in the right direction? Love the video - it led me to finally take the plunge and get a BDB!!
Lance what is the ideal pressure at the group head. Is it 8 bar accounting for the losses from the pump, assuming it’s pumping at 9 bar? These machines can be purchased née for around $600 usd on sale. One thing people say about it is that it fails on the descale setting. When descaling some part of it overheats and fails.
Hey! It is relative. Hendon and co wrote a paper showing 6 bar might be ideal. You can change the OPV to what you want. Or you can mod it for profiling. And that cheap?! You must be in Australia!
@@LanceHedrick Also have you tried the Acaia Brewmaster app? That's what I've been using with my lunar, it also has a brew log function with flow graph, auto start function, etc. If you have, what do you like better about the SE Profiler app?
Huh. Wondering what to get for my first real espresso machine. Currently I have my eyes set on an ascaso steel duo pid. This does.sound tempting though and is cheaper. Breville is Sage in Europe right?
Any comments on the steam boiler dying after descaling? This happened to me, had to ship the machine for an expensive repair. No explanation from Breville Canada at all. My water is soft so it wasn't caused by hard water...
I have the breville bambino, I focus on what I can control with my budget. 1. Good grinder 2. Good coffee beans 3. Good tamping consolidation tools 4. Good milks 5. Scale
I love my dual boiler. For the price it actually has some incredible features that only commercial espresso machines have. I just wish they would make one fully out of proper stainless steel not the foil wrapped plastic. Also I have no many issues with the “de scale me” icon never disappearing. I also wish they made a model with a rotary pump belt in, and you plumbed it, instead of using the reservoir
I found a 900XL for $350 on a local listing. Was a local couple who bought it and basically used it 3 times. I've never been as lucky about a purchase before or since. Other than descale access I'm not really sure what the difference is, but it's still heats up really quick and makes fantastic espresso!
@@LanceHedrick I very much appreciate it! I've always been curious how easy or not the mods would be since most people have the 920, but seems pretty dang simple. As always, thanks for the great content!
Hey Lance, i was wondering if you were going to explore/ explain more in depth the flow profiling aspects of this and other machines. what your looking for and what not. I recently upgraded from a Gaggia classic pro to a BDB and I'm very interested in the flow profiling. Love the video's, my favorite channel for espresso so far. Keep up the great content.
I am new to all this espresso stuff, but it fascinates me now that I have been searching for espresso machines. I’m thinking a pout getting the Gaggia Classic Pro (Prestige), Since the BDB looks like too much to learn on and don’t know if I should spend this kind of money when I know nothing much as of yet about making espresso. Can you tell me if spending the money on a Gaggia Classic Pro to start would a wise choice, or should I just splurge out of the gate and get the DBD which is the one I really want, but spending an additional $1000 (once I add a good grinder) would be advantageous at this beginners stage ?
Hi Lance, nice review, I am planing to buy a dual boiler and a grinder. Is Breville DB as good as the more expensive espresso machines? What grinder matches with it? Thanks.
Hello again Thank you for a very informative video. I thought breville had only thermocoils ? And not boilers.. I only drink espressos, no milk If it is a "boiler" which is better, Is there an equivalent single boiler ??? Thanks😊
Hi Lance! I was inspired to buy the dual boiler by your and James Hoffmann’s video. However, I’m getting 10.5bars at the group, rather than the expected max 9Bars - as also advertised on their product page. Do you see this as a problem? And should I contact Breville to get this issue resolved? Thanks!
You can adjust the opv by opening the lid and adjusting it with a flat head screw driver, but really you want to control the pressure with the grind better to hit the max 9 bar regardless
I have never had a Breville, but if I were starting my coffee journey over again with limited funds I would go this route. I can't wait to see you do some Decent Espresso videos... Keep up the amazing videos. Even tho I don't have a Breville, or plan on getting one, your style and delivery of material makes me watch anyway. Don't change a thing.
Between this unit and a decent grinder, you’re looking at $2000. Dunno about you, but for the average homeowner that’s a serious chunk of change. You can get a used car for that kinda money. “Limited funds” IMO puts you under $300 for an espresso machine…. and frankly, with a little care in your choice and a bit of homework, you can pull good shots from a lot of those inexpensive thermoblock devices.
Had mine 10 years, used every day, no drama. Surprisingly good.
Pinned this. Thank you
can you do back to back shots with this machine? I'm starting an espresso cart rental business and shopping around for a machine that can keep a high pace. i don't want to go over 2500$
NOTICE:
As I clearly said in the video, while I am affiliated with Breville by way of teaching classes for them, this video was not expected, sponsored, or even approved by Breville. I strictly teach classes.
I've even decided NOT to use an affiliate link for these videos even though I have sold dozens of machines (losing out on lots of money) from my videos.
Please do not come in the comments thinking you're sly by pointing out my very willingly admitted connection to Breville.
Authenticity is my main staple, my muse, my highest priority. I wore the Breville shirt and made the disclosure to be above reproach. I could've easily kept mum about it, but the fact I'm confident it doesn't sway my opinion, I decided to disclose.
I get no payments from any machine sale.
I get no money from this endorsement.
I simply teach people at home to make better coffee through Williams-Sonoma by way of breville
End of story.
Thanks for reading and I sincerely hope you all will maintain the trust I've hopefully cultivated with you all.
Cheers!
Sorry to see that this further disclosure was necessary. I thought it was very clear at the start of the video.
Appreciate it. I've had some calling my word into question and I just don't appreciate it. Thanks for the kind words!
I'm new to coffee making and your videos are the best! I recently bought the BDB and the coffees are just as good if not better than at the local cafes!
Heck yeah! You should be able to dominate your local cafe quality in no time, especially with a good grinder
@@LanceHedrick Hello Lance. Thanks for your videos and love your relax presentation. Which grinder would you recommend ? Thanks in advance ! Keep it up !!!
Just to add on. I originally purchased my BDB refurbished, and after 9 years I had to send in my machine for repairs. Breville support was great. They gave me two offers since my machine was so old - After some discussion they offered to just send me a new model (they made some changes to the BDB over that time) for what was ~50% off, and reduced the repair quote by about half. The repair ended up that they just shipped me the newest model anyway, and since I ended up with 2 machines I then resold one. Between the discount for the original refurb, and the extra machine that I pawned off, the total cost of my BDB is so small, and is crazy that they'd just do a solid replacement for something that was around for so long.
im jealous. the grinder in my 2017 Breville Express went bad, and they want 250$ to do the fix :(
@@ezbacc lol that's basically the cost of their smart grinder pro
It really is. Odd they're charging that much. I'm curious what the issue is? They're not super hard to navigate
@@bbbo85 is that grinder any good?
@@LanceHedrick Does the resolution of issues maybe depend on the luck of the draw on the person who answers your phone call? I haven’t taken mine out of the box yet. I’m watching your videos so I can get a general understanding of the Breville Barista Express machine just received for my birthday.
Man. Lance, you're hitting it out the park. So natural in front of the camera, super easy to follow, really entertaining - you make a 19 minute video seem too short!
I have the UK version - Sage - and I have no remorse whatsoever, it's been such a fantastic machine, especially the quick group head heating, and the cherry on top is pre programmed time for it to wake up and begin heating. Absolutely love it. I'll probably hold off on mods for some time, as the rabbit hole that is espresso is already so deep, but the flow mod is certainly something I'll consider in the near future!
Thanks for the amazing content, and keep it up, my dude!
Absolutely! And know you don't need to mid in order to pull shots in pre infusion mode. Just hold down the shot button! Can do low pressure shots without any mod
Where's it made?
@@johnsmithington3167 - All Breville® products are designed and engineered in Australia and manufactured and assembled in China, I believe?
Great information. I had the older version of this for around 10 years. It is still in operation w my son. Got the 920 and as you I really like this about 4 yeas now and working good. Thanks for all. God Bless
can you do back to back shots with this machine? I'm starting an espresso cart rental business and shopping around for a machine that can keep a high pace. i don't want to go over 2500$
Lance, so glad I found your channel. I’m on my second Breville infuser and have really liked them. 7 years for first, 2 years for second. I’m thinking some day of upgrading and want to learn how to control flow rate, temp, etc but am too scared of making any modifications.
Aghh I'm on the same boat my first infuser is pretty much dead now after 7years. Agonizing on what to do now , just rebuying the same or changing, wish I could upgrade. 🥲😂
Excellent. Anyone that questions your integrity has obviously no knowledge of the legit coffee community. You deserve your positive reputation.
Just got a fairly well used 900 for free and really enjoying fixing it up, descaling, etc. For a consumer product it's really well designed, spare parts are a plenty and there's a good community around it. Comparing that to the 2 group head commercial machine I have where I have to call the manufacturer whenever I need to ask if a spare part exists.. the Breville dual boiler is awesome.
B “the Infuser” owner here with 7 years and one pump replacement. Glad the brand is getting lots of love and that this upper model is more solid and can be modded. My machine is fine with a good grinder but sadly I can’t control the temp nor the flow so towards the end of the shot the pressure always increases. Cool video, ofc now I’m considering this model, someday 😅
You could modify your infuser for flow control with a pump dimmer.
I love this video! I'd love to see you walk through the mod in another video
For sure. I'll definitely consider it! It's really very easy
@@LanceHedrick Just bought a dual boiler and use a slayer at the cafe i work at. would love to see a video about how to do the slayer mod!! :)
Just got this 2+ years old BDB 2nd hand 790USD. 1700 shot counts. With PID, pressure control and Slayer mod potential. Totally worth it and love it very much. Thank for the suggestion Lance!!
I have a BDB w/ niche combo too, it’s a great machine! Would love to see videos of all the mods from you!! I like the sound of making it a quieter machine!
Definitely will consider that! So many videos I want to make 😭
If you haven't, consider joining my patreon to help me make more!
I love how this machine seems like an intersection of the espresso and maker community. This seems like an absolute endgame machine, I just wish it would look a bit better.
It seems hard to justify spending so much money something I hate looking at, especially if I'll use it every day.
I think it looks good, even if not as good as some other machines
Just got this machine for the wife for Christmas. We will def make some of the modifications but want to get use to the machine first.
Thanks for your in depth review. We bought our BES860XL from Williams & Sonoma in September 2009. It's still working after all these years with some work-arounds [the grind quantity is no longer reliable, and there is some corrosion on the base at the rear]. We'll invest in a new Breville Double Boiler in the next few weeks.
I’ve had two breville coffee machines first one I got second hand and it lasted me 10 years. I’ve now got the dual boiler ( replacing a small delonghi) and swear by it. They are a great machine without mods and just so much better afterwards
Agreed 100%!
I may have made the mentioned comment about using my Breville espresso machine for eight years. It is still in a new condition, with only double basket needing to be replaced once (no gasket replacement needed to be done yet after all thousands of shots the machine has made). In fact I still own and use every Breville appliance I ever purchased in the past 20 or so years!
It is likely that Breville machines have much less embedded energy than full-on steel E61 machines. This is something to consider seriously. Do they look as cool as some expensive Italian ones? Probably not. But if the quality of coffee they produce is the measure to go by, the sheer amount of control and mod-ability for an even greater amount of control make Breville espresso machines a very smart purchase, indeed.
To close this comment, I'll just say to espresso newbies, and relative espresso newbies - listen to Lance. With his credentials and the clearly demonstrated enormous breadth of knowledge related to making exceptional espresso, if he says that Breville Double Boiler is an amazing espresso machine, then it most certainly is. Pocket the cash you would have spent on a La Marzocco and use it to buy some excellent beans to feed your BDB over the next 10 years or so.
I just love everything about you. the knowledge the attitude the joy of watching you and everything in between.
Thank you so much! I appreciate all your comments.
@@LanceHedrick it's so beautiful to see the steaming thick wand with you
Hahaha! That's awesome
I love my Breville DB, however, it cannot be stressed enough about the maintenance issues. If you are a DIY type of person, then the link Lance indicated is quite valuable and you will almost certainly encounter many of these issues within a year or two (which is unfortunate). However, some of the replacement tasks are quite hard to do and require quite a bit of dexterity with the tiny parts. The other issue regarding maintenance is that most espresso machine repair places won't touch Brevilles. I live in Seattle, which is a coffee mecca town with lots of cafes as well as espresso repair places. There is only one place (Seattle Coffee Gear) I'm aware of that touches Brevilles and they're not cheap. You can certainly send in your machine to Breville but that will be costly as well. Anyways, I love my DB and just hope it survives until something equivalent with better durability and maintenance simplicity comes along.
Hey there, I just got my BDB, and out of the box, the hot water knob on the side of the machine does not rotate/turn in either direction, and I'm afraid to "force it" since I don't want to break it...any thoughts?
This is my favourite video so far. I think you've already hinted yourself at what you could cover next with the drip coffee from an espresso machine and the super fast shots.
I bet breville/sage are delighted with this!
Haha! I hope they are delighted enough to work with me on making these mods on a machine and do a limited Lance run haha!
I think that demonstrating some basic maintenance would be helpful as us BDB owners are navigating those aspects for the first time.
Absolutely. Great idea. Might do that for all the Breville line.
Thanks Lance, after watching your review I ordered BDB, currently I am using a Lelit Kate. Matching it with Baratza 270. ✌️
Thanks for this video Lance. Really appreciate it. Always wondered about the longevity of these but as you say everyone has different experiences. Having owned various Italian made machines over the last 10 years and had parts on them fail I'm at the point of wanting the features that have been in the BDB for ages. It certainly helps to be able to self repair whatever machine you own but having a community of modders and support around with information is a massive plus. Breville launched the BES900 back in 2011 and some in the coffee forum community said at the time it was too good to be true. Well 10 years later Breville have improved on that base and still have features that outperform other manufacturers. 💪💖
I bought a refurbished bes900xl BDB in early 2015 for around 700.00 Brand new cost was 1299.00, Now brand new is around 1600-1800.00 It came in pristine condition and with even MORE extras and accessories than the norm. I only used it on average of once a day for a year, made a big move from one state to another,.. got really sick, never unpacked it for 5 years. Just recently dug it out, did all the back flushing, ordered more new cleaning tabs and water filters. It is up and running like brand new. It still has years of use ahead. Since then they launched the 920 which gives you the ability to descale the machine on your own, the 900xl doesnt have that. I figured when and if I get to the point of it needing to be sent to manufacture for any repairs, as I have seen from other posts that instead of repairing the old machine and the time and costs, they just send you a replacement of the newer model. I have to say, this BDB IS an AWESOME machine!
Love this thread you started. I'm glad you come from Italian made machines, too. I love the looks and quality of them, but just not a fan of the e61 platform.
BDB is on another level for the price. Sure, it isn't gorgeous and sure, the materials for the shell aren't stainless steel, but if you, as Pete Russell says, practice preventative maintenance, it'll last a long time!
because of this video, I bought BDB last week. haha. thanks Lance. I learn alot from you.
just got a secondhand one and after first test day i love it so far
3:40: not only does higher flow rate at the end potentially induce channeling, but it also amplifies the bitters. Whereas with flow control, you can gradually back off the flow (pressure will fall) as the shot progresses. Then simply end the shot when you start seeing ‘blonding’.
Lance, thank you so much for sharing your experience!
These E61 grouphead espresso machines are getting all the craze these days but really, they're considerably much more expensive and less functional than the Breville dual boiler. An equivalent dual boiler, PID and flow control machine would cost atleast 3000$!
I know! It's insane. People complain about longevity on breville, but at half the cost, you can make any fix necessary and still come out way on top and finance a much nicer grinder haha!
Got information that it is difficult to get spare parts in Europe,especially electronics.
You just convinced me to pull the trigger on an open box BDB for $699 after taxes and shipping! I'll be pairing it with a eureka mingion specialita grinder. I really love the traditional italian style e61 machines but I feel like this will be a great first setup and hard to beat for the price ($1400 all in).
Oh heck yeah! Fantaatic. And the temp stability on this far outweighs e61. You'll love it
I have this machine. After 8 months of 2-4 shots a day, the steam boiler started leaking steam. I contacted Breville, they sent me pre paid label to ship them the machine. I lost the machine about 2 weeks and got it back working perfect with absolutely no charge. I m very happy with the purchase. Thinking about the mods …. Maybe I ll try the Slayer one even though I have doubts about the taste of a 50 sec shot .
Oh you haven't tasted espresso until you hit them 50sec shots! Lol
Definitely don’t knock it before you’ve tried it. Although it mostly works on Nordic style roast
Even James Hoffman in his comparison of 5 sub £1500 machines narrowed it down to the BDB and the Profitec 500… when it’s on sale in Australia it’s like 1,200 AUD. That’s like 850 USD.
Yeah! Though, to be fair, James looks at machines as they are and goes into his preferential fodder with work flow. I try to show machines in as much depth as possible. I'd rather have terrible workflow and insane temp control and pressure stability than vice versa, tbh.
But yeah! James is a big sage fan.
I've had the DB for a year and I love it - will definitely consider some mods when it's out of warranty. I was lucky to get it half-price in the UK so bought a Niche Zero too.
Oh nice! Good combo there lol
Yeah, I had a Breville Dual Boiler about 6 - 7 years old and it started not being able to hold pressure and some other issues. Called Breville to see if they could repair it and they told me my model was no longer serviceable. Called a local shop to see if they could repair it and they told me they have stopped repairing Breville Espresso Machines because getting parts was extremely difficult. At this point I had a $1,200 paper weight that we ended up giving to someone to try and part out. Bought an ecm synchronika, granted they are much more expensive but will last much longer and easier to repair. As far as toaster ovens go I love Breville but I feel pretty burned on the Breville Dual Boiler.
Not much help now, but should check out the links in bio. Some brilliant people have made step by step guides on fixing most things in a BDB
@@LanceHedrickThank you for the response and I have appreciated your videos very much.
No problem! And again, sorry for your bad experience!
Lance, Great vid! I've had my BDB for several years now and I got lucky as my machine is quite capable of flow profiling right out of the box. I understand this is not true with every BDB, but my water valve allows quite a bit of profiling before disabling the group flow. I can go from 9 bar to 3 bar with no mods at all. Again, Great vid. I very much enjoy your channel!
That rocks! I hadn't heard of that before. Very cool! It's an incredible machine and sadly underrated
Mine seems to do the same thing. I was wondering why the Slayer mod was even necessary.
I just watch this video again and I think it is one of the best video's on the Dual Boiler, so much great info :)
Thank you! More to come on the BDB in the future...
Breville is so approachable. My first espresso machine was a Barista Express with the integrated grinder and until you lived with a machine it's often hard to understand why some features matter. I hestiated hard between the Breville Dual Boiler and a Profitec and only landed on the latter because the accessories are not as easy to find online (outside the US) and I had the budget for it. Yes the Dual boiler is technically a 58mm group head but you can't just purchase any cool looking 58mm portafilter for it.
But just for the fact you can do your own descaling at home, front access to the reservoir (we don't all have a beautiful kitchen), it's a great GREAT machine. Endgame is a strong word because once you get into the rabbit hole, like you said the Decent becomes an option, but for the majority of people this will be the best machine they ever had.
I say end game with the caveat of budget end game. It can out perform machines 3 times it's price regarding flow control, heat stability, and pressure accuracy due to the location of the reading. It's just a freaking beast. Put in the kill switch and you have a JV Decent
I've had two of these second hand and both have lasted over 5 years with no issues.
Just did the slayer mod as well, jesus I can't believe people pay 10 x the amount for a machine that can flow profile. This thing is awesome for what you pay.
I got a BDB too, 920 XL, paired with a Baratza 270WI. What a great combo. The Breville is an impressive machine for the price, very serviceable and moddable. Great review, my friend :)
Thank you! Appreciate the time you took to write a comment! Cheers
I’ve had mine over 2 years. With a few mods like flow profiling, it can make excellent coffee… consistently.
What? That was 19 minutes? They literally flew by. Such an entertaining video. I'm a huge fan! These reviews are awesome, Lance. Keep em coming!!
Haha! Incredible! Thank you so much for the support
Bought a second hand BDB for $550 (less than 100 shot on the clock) and just done the slayer mod. It’s absolutely amazing!
Years back when I was looking for the best machine to learn on and keep years, I chose the little sister, The Infuser (not called Breville in France) and boy for the price it's an awesome machine. I don't have it anymore but it still working wonders with the actual owner after 4 years.
Yeah, I wish it was a bit less plasticy but for that price can't argue. I like the aesthetics too. The pitcher was actually good too. Plus the Breville grinder and you can be that snob espresso / latte art enthusiast who all your friends will hate and all that without breaking the bank.
Exactly! And the grinder, if you align it a bit better, is actually solid. Burrs made by etzinger, who make baratza burrs
@@LanceHedrick Oh I didn't know about the burrs. Thanks for the info. Yeah truly solid grinder like almost all Breville coffee stuff. It's a very solid entry gate for those who want to discover coffee at low price.
What attracted me in Breville is the modern aesthetics, I'm not a fan of Italian chrome, I'm a bit of a maniac and a scratch on the chrome and the machine and I have a free trip from the window 😂
With Breville "sanded" aluminum parts, you can just wipe them from time to time with vinegar then water and it's like new.
Exactly. I should've mentioned that. I love the cleanability (if that's a word)
Yeah my first mod was day 1 on the drip tray. I didn’t realize the metal drip tray edge was fake metal and tried to tamp on it and put a dent that glares at me until this day lol 😝 10yo BDB
10 yr! Yes. I have people on the thread swearing they break at 5yrs. 🤦🏻♂️
Thanks for the comment
Lance, is this still your recommendation for any machine under $3,000 given that it has been a year since you published this video? Thank you
I honestly won't be surprised if you hit 100k subs in the next 2 months or less.
Great video Lance, really enjoying your content !
I'd cry if that happened haha! I had good growth to begin but it has slowed aggressively. All good, though! Here to help first and foremost. Glad you're enjoying
@@LanceHedrick it'll grow! Don't pay too much attention to it and keep doing whats comfortable for you. I really enjoy your videos!
Appreciate that! And will do.
@@LanceHedrick came back to this video as I want to replace my flair 58. You're at 255k subs now, I'm really happy for you! Keep em videos coming!
Really nice to see this review as I am saving for this machine for almost 1 year. Did not know all the mod :)
So many. Just make sure to reference this video for the caption alone. Those links are literal gold
Thanks for sharing all this information. I have enjoyed soaking up your wisdom and I have learned a ton.
My big question is when do you think they will do another refresh on the BDB? I don’t want to buy too soon and then they switch things up on me.
Easily the most technical and informative videos (I've seen several on your channel). One machine I had hoped you had already reviewed is the Slayer Single Group. I would very much like to know your opinion of that machine, thanks!!
Lol you’re sarcastic but funny. Thanks for the review. It’s nice to hear someone support breville. Which was my 1st and 2nd machines “cheaper pressurized” types. Now I am ready to move up to a better machine and considering the Breville infuser vs duo dual vs rancillo Silvia vs solis perfetta. Would love to see those head to head. Always a question of how manual I want and counter size unfortunately.
Had my dual boiler for 3 years and it never skipped a beat. Upgraded it this year to a decent espresso machine. The decent was the only machine I was prepared to replace my dual boiler with.
Exactly. I have a decent as well and it is the only thing I would've upgraded to
I think the decent is highway robbery imo. I’m looking to Bianca next 🥰
Ive been looking at this machine for a while now, would people recommend buying the dynamic duo package? Does the Smart grinder match the capability of this machine?
The more I'm learning about the dual boiler the higher it's getting on the chart of my considered machine upgrades from my BBE in a couple years.
It is seriously a great machine. Also make sure to reference those links in caption
@@LanceHedrick oh trust me, I've seen all the things this sweet baby can do on Reddit. Thanks for always providing that amazing content boss. Keep it up and glad to see that you're getting more popular!
For sure! Reddit has solid threads. Those home-barista threads are the greatest, though
A little late to the party here - possibly buying a BDB soon!!! - but can the Slayer mod replicate the pump kill switch if you just cut the flow using the knob? I'm trying to figure out why you'd need the switch if you've already done the Slayer stuff. (Also, Lance, if you see this - any competitors to the BDB at its current price point?)
The Breville Dual Boiler is on my wish list. Very informative video. Thanks.
Absolutely! Glad you have it on your list haha!
I've had the BDB and Niche combo for almost a year now. Heard of the Slayer mod before but I'm still struggling with other aspects of espresso making so want to master that before moving on. I especially like the idea that you can install a rotary pump too! Keep up the good work!
Absolutely! Nail down basics before moving to flow control. I will do vids on it tho! Hopefully that'll help catalyze the mastery!
I just got my BDB, and out of the box the hot water knob on the side doesn't seem to rotate/turn in either direction, and I don't want to "force it"...am I missing something?
@@wtortoriello That's a bummer. I can't recall having to do anything special with it .. it should just rotate freely out of the box. Not sure if opening up the machine to fix it yourself would void any warranty if you're inclined to try and fix it yourself. Might be best to let the vendor know about it - they should accept a return/swap.
If there’s a flow meter hooked up to a PID controller which controls the needle valve, it will work the same. But you will need a small actuator to control the needle valve.
I bought this machine as new for 600€ few years ago. I think it has been a serious bang for buck. Now about to enter to the world of modifications with this 😄
We ordered the BDB earlier this month. Unfortunately, it was DOA. Called Breville support... power it off, unplug it, wait a minute, plug it back in, power it on again. Nothing. Returned it to the local retail store. After intense cross examination by the store manager, he agreed to process the return. The experience caused me to question Breville and the appliance approach to espresso. I'll continue with our cheap Capresso for now and upgrade to something better down the road.
Hi Lance: first of all congrats on the entire channel which is excellent. I, too, have a Sage(Breville)Dual Boiler having started with a Barista Express. I totally agree the BDB is THE most under-rated machine. Even in standard form its a performance bargain. Someone needs to champion this machine and who better than you? Yes please work your way thru all the mods, in detail, one by one - and show us how to get the best from each. Its noteworthy that both James Hoffman and John Buckman also highly rate this machine. Thanks and please keep doing what you're doing! Graham
Thanks, Graham! Yes- I know John and James both enjoy it- particularly the former.
I know James has some issues with it, but overall enjoys it.
I'm a huge fan, although I know lifespan has been an issue for some.
Anyway, I'll certainly champion it as a budget "end game" when concerning quality and adaptability.
Thanks for the kind words!
Lance, with your Breville connections, could you please implore them to get more black BDB in stock??? 🙏🏼
I would really love to get this machine but unfortunately the black version is never back in stock and the wife would not allow the SS color anywhere near the kitchen where I have my coffee bar setup.
Just purchased this based on your review, wish me luck!!!!
No luck needed! Incredible machine. Make sure to use those links in the caption and immerse yourself in the online BDB community. Quite a cultish following. And don't descale! You'll read all this at those links. Use good water.
Another great video, thanks Lance. What were the scales you were using please? I couldn't quite hear the name you said.
Just voided my warranty because of this video, you wonderful man.
From experience with Breville customer service, they don't give a shit.
Haha! The slayer mod is completely reversible. Wouldn't even be able to tell you'd opened the machine if you put it back lol
@@LanceHedrick yes but I would know, Lance. *I WOULD KNOW*
We'll all turn a blind eye to your comment
Haha!
I for one love our new algorithm overlords
Great video as always!
Haha! Thank you so much!
Awesome content as always! Where did you get those mugs from?
Have you reviewed the Lelit Elisabeth? Wonder how it compares? Cheers
Wow! Love the mod for flow control. Breville has so many modern features like a timer to turn on, the heated group, reminders to clean, preinfusion, many of the retro machines can't keep up. I also like the Decent but this combo is very compelling.
It's incredible and a fraction of the price. I'm in love
@@LanceHedrick After thinking about it, I am wondering if it has pressure and flow control simultaneously which is why the manometer in the group is showing the pressure dropping as the flow is decreased. If so, this is superior to the decent which can have the pressure go too high, ie 11 bar, as the flow is decreased. Not sure I understand the mechanics fully.
This is certainly something to use those links in the caption for!
@@LanceHedrick Awesome, thanks so much.
Have you thought about making a video on how to properly clean an espresso machine?
That's a fantastic idea
TY so much for this video. I’ve been looking to get back into espresso now that I have more time and despite the size being bigger than I want, I think the modifications you mention might make this my machine. Thanks a bunch!!
This machine is awesome. Glad you enjoyed the video!
Can't wait for more mods! Imagine a 3d printed servo motor / bracket mounted onto the valve knob where people can share temperature and flow profiles and upload it to their brevilles for kicks :)
Oh absolutely. I'm sure people are already doing it lol
I beat the Breville service guy a bit when they wanted $85 for the top burr on an Express model, and they ended up sending one for free. I use them for my appliances now, and they've been great.
Thank you for reviewing this machine. I have wanted to know how it performed as I am looking to set up my own coffee station at home. 😘
My BDB started leaking and was tripping the GFCI. It’s well out of warranty so I decided to upgrade to a more prosumer machine. However, after seeing this, I’m going to fix it and put it back to work.
Superb summary, Lance! Bravo! Another cool thing about it, that admittedly does not make better espresso however, is the stainless steel boilers and solid stainless portafilter, as compared to copper and brass, which are soft and and easier to work, but more reactive. It's a nerdy detail but some of us are nerds ;) In fairness I should say that I am not bothered by copper and brass espresso machines... In fact I have three of them (in addition to my BDB). Just that I think stainless is cool.
Yes, Peter! Thanks for adding that. Also, at some point in eaf, I need to shoot you an exciting update...
Can you do these mods without voiding the warranty? Can you even adjust the opv without voiding warranty?
I really like breville’s ergonomics and design but sadly my father and I together both had longevity issues on 3 different machines, usually after 2-4 years… I think the idea to move to gear pump in the LH edition should be spread across the bdb line… Hell, the LH edition should replace the bdb line entirely.
Whats the LH edition?
@@UsmanDar92 Lance Hedrick edition - prototype
Hey again
Are slayer shots more suited to lighter roast beans or any? I enjoy dark.
Also have you uprated the shower screen or puck like a VST on your DB
Slayer shots, imo, just don't do a great job for any coffee and here is why- the slow fill of the puck means the bottom will be wetted way after the top, so you'll have a temperature gradient with low efficacy water near the bottom. It's a weird style. I prefer quick filling the puck for preinfusion.
And of course I've updated the basket and screen, tho the stock ones are shockingly good. They aim to have similar precision to VST when making screens and baskets
@@LanceHedrick OK, which manufacturer did you use to replace them, any links
Basket is any ole 58mm basket. They all fit. Go straight to VST or IMS for those. The screen you can get on Amazon no problem. Just type in ims breville dual boiler screen
Great question.
Wow great video & wealth of information, Lance! You didn't mention too much about the steaming capabilities. On point as well?
Oh for sure. My thoughts on steaming is simple- if it is a wand, it will make good foam haha! But yeah- it does super well
@@LanceHedrick yeah I just want it to steam _faster_ than my BB express.
Oh yes. Much much faster
This video has me second guessing. After owning a BDB for 8 years (and having replaced gaskets, the solenoid, and having done the brass OPV mod) the steam wand started leaking and then the boiler stopped working due to thermocouple corrosion. I tried fixing it but accessibility to the boiler is major surgery. I threw in the towel, called it a good run, and am getting an Italian E61 PID Heat Exchanger. But maybe I should stick with the BDB for all its cool features. Damn you Lance for having me second guess myself! Great videos by the way 👍.
Haha! Thank you! If you haven't yet, check out the resources in the caption! Lots of incredible ones for the bdb community.
Hi Lance, I was wondering about d) in the description. I can't find any more info about this and would love the opportunity to get finer control when using the slayer mod. Is there any chance you could point me in the right direction? Love the video - it led me to finally take the plunge and get a BDB!!
As you work with Breville, i'd love to see you talk about tips for the Barista Pro
Sure! I have one. Will do something in the future.
@@LanceHedrick great stuff! Really enjoying the content as well!
Is it really worth the extra cost compared to the infuser or barista express?
Would you pick duo boiler over lelit bianca?
Lance what is the ideal pressure at the group head. Is it 8 bar accounting for the losses from the pump, assuming it’s pumping at 9 bar? These machines can be purchased née for around $600 usd on sale.
One thing people say about it is that it fails on the descale setting. When descaling some part of it overheats and fails.
It's a 15 bar pump. Ideally the OPV would be set such that you get 9 bar at the grouphead.
@@Cyb3rGlitch the recent video from
James Hoffman using his scace device on the
The lower the pressure = less chance of channeling, 8 bars at the group is pretty ideal.
Hey! It is relative. Hendon and co wrote a paper showing 6 bar might be ideal. You can change the OPV to what you want. Or you can mod it for profiling. And that cheap?! You must be in Australia!
This is #1 on my list, my legit end game espresso machine!
Heck yes! And for good reason.
@@LanceHedrick Also have you tried the Acaia Brewmaster app? That's what I've been using with my lunar, it also has a brew log function with flow graph, auto start function, etc. If you have, what do you like better about the SE Profiler app?
I default to the SEP app because it also links to my pressure unit on my flair. I think it is a bit more thorough.
@@LanceHedrick ah ok, fair enough.
Hi Lance, love you videos! Just wondering if you'd recommend BSB over simonelli Oscar 2?
Huh. Wondering what to get for my first real espresso machine. Currently I have my eyes set on an ascaso steel duo pid. This does.sound tempting though and is cheaper.
Breville is Sage in Europe right?
Any comments on the steam boiler dying after descaling? This happened to me, had to ship the machine for an expensive repair. No explanation from Breville Canada at all. My water is soft so it wasn't caused by hard water...
most likely the thermal fuse is blown, could be from over heating or old o-ring leaking water onto the fuse. it's a $2 part but 1 hour fix
I have the breville bambino,
I focus on what I can control with my budget.
1. Good grinder
2. Good coffee beans
3. Good tamping consolidation tools
4. Good milks
5. Scale
That's great!
I love my dual boiler. For the price it actually has some incredible features that only commercial espresso machines have. I just wish they would make one fully out of proper stainless steel not the foil wrapped plastic.
Also I have no many issues with the “de scale me” icon never disappearing.
I also wish they made a model with a rotary pump belt in, and you plumbed it, instead of using the reservoir
I found a 900XL for $350 on a local listing. Was a local couple who bought it and basically used it 3 times. I've never been as lucky about a purchase before or since. Other than descale access I'm not really sure what the difference is, but it's still heats up really quick and makes fantastic espresso!
Heck yeah! Only real issue is breville doesn't take it for repairs, but that's ok! Those links in the caption will help you fix it yourself
@@LanceHedrick I very much appreciate it! I've always been curious how easy or not the mods would be since most people have the 920, but seems pretty dang simple. As always, thanks for the great content!
Super simple! I love them
Hey Lance, i was wondering if you were going to explore/ explain more in depth the flow profiling aspects of this and other machines. what your looking for and what not. I recently upgraded from a Gaggia classic pro to a BDB and I'm very interested in the flow profiling. Love the video's, my favorite channel for espresso so far. Keep up the great content.
Hey Marc. I'm considering that same Gaggia Classic to BDB upgrade. How have you found it?
I am new to all this espresso stuff, but it fascinates me now that I have been searching for espresso machines. I’m thinking a pout getting the Gaggia Classic Pro (Prestige), Since the BDB looks like too much to learn on and don’t know if I should spend this kind of money when I know nothing much as of yet about making espresso. Can you tell me if spending the money on a Gaggia Classic Pro to start would a wise choice, or should I just splurge out of the gate and get the DBD which is the one I really want, but spending an additional $1000 (once I add a good grinder) would be advantageous at this beginners stage ?
What if you had the choice between this and the Lelit Bianca? 🤔
Hi Lance, I like your video. What's the your dual boiler temperature setting for the steam wand in advanced menu? Thanks.
Hi Lance, nice review, I am planing to buy a dual boiler and a grinder. Is Breville DB as good as the more expensive espresso machines? What grinder matches with it? Thanks.
Hello again
Thank you for a very informative video.
I thought breville had only thermocoils ?
And not boilers..
I only drink espressos, no milk
If it is a "boiler" which is better,
Is there an equivalent single boiler ???
Thanks😊
No. Only some machines have thermoblocks. This one has two boilers. I believe the express has a single boiler
Hi could you please review the Rancilio Silva pro X would be keen to hear your thoughts.. love the channel!
Hi Lance! I was inspired to buy the dual boiler by your and James Hoffmann’s video. However, I’m getting 10.5bars at the group, rather than the expected max 9Bars - as also advertised on their product page.
Do you see this as a problem? And should I contact Breville to get this issue resolved? Thanks!
You can adjust the opv by opening the lid and adjusting it with a flat head screw driver, but really you want to control the pressure with the grind better to hit the max 9 bar regardless
I would say yes. But the rancilio dual is excellent also.
It is solid! Also worth noting I never confirmed this was the best haha. It is incredible, though.
I have never had a Breville, but if I were starting my coffee journey over again with limited funds I would go this route. I can't wait to see you do some Decent Espresso videos... Keep up the amazing videos. Even tho I don't have a Breville, or plan on getting one, your style and delivery of material makes me watch anyway. Don't change a thing.
Between this unit and a decent grinder, you’re looking at $2000. Dunno about you, but for the average homeowner that’s a serious chunk of change. You can get a used car for that kinda money. “Limited funds” IMO puts you under $300 for an espresso machine…. and frankly, with a little care in your choice and a bit of homework, you can pull good shots from a lot of those inexpensive thermoblock devices.
Lance question please
if you disable hot water the. how can you descale the machine? because descaling the machine requires to empty the boiler?