New Barista Express Pressure Gauge Not Working - Send Back or Not?

ForkSnorter on 10/12/2024 - 17:02
Last edited 10/12/2024 - 17:04

I bought a Breville Barista Express with the Black Friday deals. Happy with the price I paid, but the pressure gauge is clearly not working as does not move at all.

It's a bit annoying, as this is the 2nd Breville machine I've bought this year with a problem. It annoys me that they seem to keep trying to get rid of their faulty products.

On the other hand, I don't need the pressure gauge at all, and I know it's mainly for show. Plus sending the machine back is such a hassle.

I assume the machine is working properly otherwise. I have had a few watery coffees, although that could be user error. I never got watery coffees from my Delonghi though. Also made a decaf just now (from beans I ground a few days ago), and there was no crema whatsoever, it came out perfectly black. Also possibly user error, I guess. I know it's decaf, but I think I have always got crema from any beans I used in the past.

Food & Grocery Breville Coffee Machine

Comments

  • EightImmortals on 10/12/2024 - 17:15

    Faulty product, I'd return it. I find the pressure gauge handy as it gives me some assurance that things are working the way they should.

    • sumyungguy on 10/12/2024 - 18:39
      +1

      Faulty anything also kills OP's resale value

  • Duckie2hh on 10/12/2024 - 17:18

    On the other hand, I don't need the pressure gauge at all

    So why are we here?

  • pformag on 10/12/2024 - 17:26

    Try a tighter grind setting. I'm using an Oracle. With fresh beans, my grind setting is 11, and with Aldi Beans, my grid setting is 13.

    • ForkSnorter on 10/12/2024 - 17:27

      I've been using grind settings between 3 and 6.

      • pformag on 10/12/2024 - 17:33

        I might need to tamper a bit heavier. Have you weighed a shot?

        In: 21g / Out: 42g / Time: 28sec or something close. Most brands will have some sort of info along these lines.

        • ForkSnorter on 10/12/2024 - 17:36

          I don't have anything to weigh my shots. The shots were finishing really soon like 5-10 seconds. I'm going to try to pack more grounds in, although I thought I had packed a lot in because it was hard to insert the portafilter.

          • pformag on 10/12/2024 - 17:40

            @ForkSnorter: Get a small scale. https://www.amazon.com.au/Digital-Kitchen-Function-Stainless…

            Weigh your portafilter, zero it. Grind your beans. Weight is again, should be 19-21g.
            Then put your scale under the cup, zero it and then pull a shot, shot weight should be around 42g. It should take around 28-30secs.

            Play around with tampering hard, smaller grind setting etc.

            • ForkSnorter on 11/12/2024 - 07:55

              @pformag: Thanks for the tips. I used grind size 1 or 2, tampered it harder, and managed to get the pressure gauge to work (nearly into the espresso range). But the shot time is still only around 10 seconds (counting from when the liquid starts to come out). From when I press the button, it's about 15 seconds.

  • Protractor on 10/12/2024 - 18:23
    +1

    How did Breville get this good 'gadget' brand reputation anyway? I remember years ago it was entry level at best

  • Gunnar on 10/12/2024 - 18:31
    +1

    I’d try the grind setting first. I’d hazard a guess and say your grind setting is too coarse before saying the machine is faulty

    When you have a new machine/grinder, buy the cheapest beans you can get and play around till you get something coming out at roughly 20 grams of coffee that is extracted over 30 seconds. It’s a trial and error process to get the settings approximately where they need to be at

    • ForkSnorter on 11/12/2024 - 07:56

      Thanks I changed the grind size to 1 or 2, filled the basket a little higher, tampered it harder, and managed to get the pressure gauge to work (nearly into the espresso range). But the shot time is still only around 10 seconds (counting from when the liquid starts to come out).

      • Gunnar on 11/12/2024 - 09:43

        Grind finer would what I’d do. Keep the same amount of coffee but grind finer

        From what you’ve said I’d be surprised if the issue was anything other than your grind settings

        • ForkSnorter on 11/12/2024 - 09:58

          Thanks. Yeah, I'm getting a bit of pressure with my Airjo beans now. But when I grind my supermarket beans at the same grind size (2), the shot goes straight through it in about 3 seconds, comes out watery without any crema whatsoever. Does this machine only work with freshly roasted beans?

  • resisting the urge on 10/12/2024 - 21:23
    +1

    The pressure gauges are so reliable I've never seen a broken one. That said, they can fail… and they are sold as a spare part, but, given there seem to be two in a row faulty and you're unsure about the grind, try timing and weighing a finer grind to verify the correct dose.

    You can use a set of kitchen scales and aim for around 18g, tamped lightly it'll get you close. But I use a dueal Boiler, and I remember my Express seemed to have less volume in the portafilter. So perhaps 18g will be too much- best get advice from someone who uses a machine like yours.

    Also beware the 'Dual wall' filters… the single walls fit more coffee grinds, so the grind and time to draw the shot may be less for a dual wall one. (If they are still a thing… )

  • bargaino on 10/12/2024 - 22:33
    +1

    I don't need the pressure gauge at all, … I have had a few watery coffees, although that could be user error.

    Hmmm … How fast is the water flowing? It should be a very slow trickle. Pressure is inversely related to flow.

    Breville has local service agents. But they don't pay the agent for warranty if it is user error.
    Breville will tell you can take the machine to the agent, who may ask for a substantial fee for diagnosis. If a manufacturing fault is found, you will be refunded. They often keep the money.

    You could show us a video of the machine in operation.

  • Quasi Human on 11/12/2024 - 23:01

    Crema is an indicator on how fresh your beans are. When you grind your beans you speed up the oxidation process and your beans go from fresh to stale insanely quickly. If you want crema use freshly ground beans.

    As for your gauge, return the machine, it could have other issues you don’t know about

    • ForkSnorter on 12/12/2024 - 07:34

      It's working now. I had no idea the Barista Express was so finicky about the dose. Has to be the right amount, has to be tamped properly, has to be freshly roasted, freshly ground, and then I have to use the razor to make the grounds completely flat. Then the pressure gauge moves, and I'm getting a tasty, strong shot. Otherwise the gauge doesn't move, and it comes out watery. I'm happy with the kind of coffee I can make with this machine. Just not sure in the long run how long I will be able to put up with the strict and slightly time-consuming preparation process. The Delonghi Dedica was much more forgiving and flexible with regard to the dose, even if it may have less potential to make delicious coffee.

      • Quasi Human on 12/12/2024 - 11:33

        Sounds like you’re using pressurised baskets on the dedica and non pressurised baskets on the BES.

        Non pressurised will yield greater results, but beans need to be fresher and you need more skill. After a while it’s second nature though.

        After a bit of practice you’ll be fine :)

        • Quasi Human on 12/12/2024 - 11:34

          Also if you want good shots. Throw the single shot basket into the bin.

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