Given there are an increasing number of owners of this machine I thought we could compile a list of recommended accessories and where to find them - e.g dosing cups, tampers, bins for coffee grounds, scales, beans for beginners etc.
One consistent bit of advice I see in each thread is to purchase the official bottomless portafilter from Breville to help diagnose problems: https://www.breville.com/us/en/parts-accessories/accessories…
Are you sure you're referring to the BES920? The BES920 doesn't have inbuilt grinder. My BES920 is very consistent
Can't figure out what's going on..
I see this as well on my BES980, I've put it down to the temperature of the machine.
When metal is hot it expands ever so slightly and I think this is what is happening in the grinder, the machine gets hot and the grinder expands a bit changing the grind setting.
I even controlled the amount of beans in the hopper to be fairly consistent to avoid "popcorn effect" but one shot can be 40mls while the one immediately afterwards could be 60+mls!
Hmmm ok well yours might not be temp related then. Sounds like something isn't correct with the pressure sensor on the tamper.
I've had me BES980 for a long time now and it honestly is a great machine when it works, but to be honest its a pile of crap for the $3k they ask for it these days, always breaking down. Breville has some cheap arse parts in this machine.
Literally had this issue this morning, filled half of the glasses. Normally I just go straight to do another shot, and pour this one down the drain. Thought it was because I didn’t tamper it well, thank you for the input. Good to know I’m not the only one.
I upgraded to the BES920 during lockdown given and I've been eying a bunch of accessories…
I'm waiting for international shipping delays before jumping in on a good grinder… although I may be tempted if a deal on the Smart Grinder Pro pops up.
I've been checking out options for a bottomless/naked portafilter.
I got myself a tamping mat and a tamper as soon as I got the machine. Both are VERY useful, I don't really use the tamper which came with the machine anymore.
Just a few days ago I've also got a dosing cup and a funnel, didn't have a chance to use these much, but so far measuring a shot with that dosing cup is much more convenient.
Not quite an accessory, but still useful - cleaning tables
The next item I am considering is better scales (if there are any suggestions - I am all ears). I have an Aldi one, but it's not precise enough. And maybe a measuring cup
I was thinking about a bottomless portafilter, but maybe a bit later, after I learn how to get the amount, the grind and the tamping right.
Great stuff - thanks for posting!
Also keen to hear from others re: the scales.
How are you getting on andrek?
Can anyone recommend a cheap set of scales? I see the TIMEMORE recommended on AliExpress/Amazon but that’s up in the $80+ range
Looking for something that is near enough to accurate. The kitchen scales I’m currently using don’t register anything until there’s about 5 beans on the scale - so useless.
I was using some cheap scales I had from Coles but they were inconsistent with such a small weight. I got these last week of eBay and they have been working great. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/0-01-500g-Jewellery-Kitchen-Food…
I got this one. Will share if it works well. https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0826Z37X8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i…
Acia Luna Scales
A couple of VST Pro baskets - 18-20g and 22g
Bottomless portafilter - easy of emptying no need to even knock most of the time.
I put up with the horrid Breville Pro grinder. If you can afford a better grinder, get one.
My list. You can decide yourself if having these accessories do you anything.
Good grinder (one that you can't buy from JB, Domayne, etc.). Should cost $700-$1000.
WDT tool - to declump ground coffee. Use with a shot collar to make it easier.
Levelling tamper - a good one is the Normcore V4.
Bottomless portafilter - to view your extraction and fix mistakes.
Good baskets. E.g. IMS/VST.
Scale with fast refresh rate - to stop your shots once you hit the desired ratio. Acacia are highly recommended but are pricy. I still got it but, because FOMO.
A few nice cups. Acme are nice and don't break the bank. As silly as it sounds it does make the experience of drinking flat whites more enjoyable.
Bean jars - I got some 12 or so small little amber glass ones from eBay for $40. I weigh 20g of beans and fill each one up. Saves me from doing so while half asleep in the morning.
A 1kg tub of espresso cleaner, should last years.
Some bean canisters. E.g. Airscape. I got 3x 250gm ones and I freeze them, and defrost them when I need to refill.
Thanks for posting. What basket do you recommend specifically to replace the stock double shot Breville basket that comes with the machine?
The stock Brevilles are really good, the holes are uniform and nicely punched. The only reason I got IMS/VST ones is because the weren't that expensive and I wanted to know the weight of grounds that could be put in them (I wasn't sure what the Breville ones were). You can't go wrong with either the IMS or VST.
Do you freeze the Airscape container? Any problems with moisture build up? I've been thinking about splitting the beans in 250gm portions and freeze them till I need it.
Yep. No issues. I let it defrost overnight. Just keep it closed
my biggest problem with this machine is the consistency in yields. Despite using the same beans on the same day (and given that it controls the tamp pressure and dose) and yet the yield between shots can vary tremendously. So you end up with one shot being over extracted while the shot before it was at the correct volume.
I even controlled the amount of beans in the hopper to be fairly consistent to avoid "popcorn effect" but one shot can be 40mls while the one immediately afterwards could be 60+mls!
Can't figure out what's going on..