Breville Dual Boiler Dead. Next Coffee Machine?

JengT89 on 15/01/2025 - 17:24

My ~5 year old Breville Dual Boiler has been inspected and I've been told it'll be over $1000 to repair. Obviously uneconomical given the price of a new one.

I'm thinking it may be time to consider a step up in coffee machines. I love the coffee making process, and I make probably 2-3 each day on average. I'm happy to spend a bit more than the BDB is going for now. Budget is maybe 4k-ish.

I've seen a few names pop-up that seem super reliable and should stand the test of time. These are Rocket and ECM. I'm happy to consider any machine though given the specs being good and the price being right.

Can anyone recommend me something based on the above?

Electrical & Electronics Breville Coffee Machine

Comments

  • gregeeh on 15/01/2025 - 17:51

    I'm also after a replacement for my BDB. Looking at this:

    https://www.profitec-espresso.com/en/products/move

    • EightImmortals on 15/01/2025 - 18:13

      Looks good, so far right on 4K. :)

      What are the two meters for? Bottom one is the pressure meter but not sure about the top one?

    • mick619 on 17/01/2025 - 09:56

      This is a great choice - its also my next upgrade. I'm waiting on a stainless steel version before pulling the trigger.

    • tunzafun001 on 17/01/2025 - 22:51

      If anyone is turfing a BDB in SA, shoot me a PM.

  • freefall101 on 15/01/2025 - 17:53
    +5

    Did you try the ACCC route with Breville? 5 years is pretty poor for a coffee machine IMO, even if you do get a lot of use out of it.

    Profitec is the other name I'd look at, they make great machines. Biggest issue is how much time you're going to sink into getting better coffee though and how much higher your budget goes, the BDB is a lot of machine for the price.

    • jv on 15/01/2025 - 18:06
      -4

      Did you try the ACCC route with Breville? 5 years is pretty poor for a coffee machine IMO

      How long do ACCC say a coffee machine should last?

      • Dollar General on 15/01/2025 - 18:17
        +19

        4 years 11 months

        • shiprekt on 15/01/2025 - 18:20
          +1

          I laughed but 100% accurate

    • JIMB0 on 16/01/2025 - 09:05
      +1

      It will be the South Australian water that shortened it's life. The same thing happens to hot water services.

      • Assburg on 16/01/2025 - 18:22

        If OP wants to fork out 4k for a machine I hope he or she was reducing their water hardness by mixing in pureau water…

      • Buckshot on 20/01/2025 - 13:38

        Invest in a whole house filtration system with water softener.
        Your house hot water system, taps, glass and appliances will thank you for it.

    • SirCH on 17/01/2025 - 14:38

      Is it bad?
      <$1 a day to own a fairly good coffee machine?
      ACL is too vague IMO. I'd say that, for most consumer small kitchen appliances, 5 years is reasonable.

      Example
      Lara buys a high-end washing machine for $1250. Jessica buys a washing machine with
      similar features for $400. The primary reasons for the price difference between the two
      machines are the materials and manufacturing processes. Both Lara and Jessica use their
      washing machine around two times per week.
      After eight years, both washing machines break down. As Lara’s washing machine is a topof-the-range good, a reasonable consumer is likely to expect it would last for more than eight
      years and that therefore, Lara could claim her washing machine did not meet the acceptable
      quality consumer guarantee. However, as Jessica’s washing machine is a lower quality,
      budget version, a reasonable consumer may only expect it to last eight years and Jessica
      would be unable to claim her washing machine was not of acceptable quality
      https://consultation.accc.gov.au/compliance-enforcement/cons…

      • freefall101 on 17/01/2025 - 16:27

        Worth a shot to reach out to them, say it should last longer. Worst they can do is say no.

        My $150 delonghi lasted longer than 5 years, I don’t think it’s unreasonable for a $1000+ machine to last quite a whille.

        OP mentioned a hole in the boiler. IMO that suggests a manufacturing defect. The thing is made of metal. Replacement o ring, steamer, electronics I would understand, but not a hole in metal

    • SerialExperience on 17/01/2025 - 15:24

      Yes I would keep pushing. Include the following:

      "The Australian Consumer Law (ACL) creates a basic set of guarantees (or rights) for consumers who acquire goods. One of these guarantees is that the goods will be of “acceptable quality”. This guarantee includes that goods will be durable as a reasonable consumer would regard as acceptable. A good purchased
      is expected to be durable enough to perform its intended function(s) for a reasonable amount of time. Consumer guarantees under the ACL apply for a reasonable time and in addition to any warranties that manufacturers and/or suppliers provide for a good. This means consumer guarantees may continue to apply during the period of those warranties and after those warranties expire."

  • NotSureIfSerious on 15/01/2025 - 17:53
    +2

    wow 4k budget will get you pretty much anything

    I just got a new one and found Youtube pretty helpful to go over features you may use (or not use) and ended up condensing my list of 20+ machines down to 3.

    Once you have a list of machines that have everything you want its almost purely aesthetic, which will look great in your kitchen ect. Probably also a good idea to see one in real life before committing. Tons of machines have E61 group heads which can take a long time to get up to temperature, so if you want a coffee in 5-10 minutes you're out of luck.

    Couple of shortlisted dual boiler machines that come up frequently, Lelit Bianca, ECM Mechanika and Profitec Pro 500/600

  • Nitrollparty on 15/01/2025 - 17:57

    just picked up a jura EN8 @david jones was the cheapest

  • sumyungguy on 15/01/2025 - 18:19

    Sanremo Absolute CUBE

  • original15 on 15/01/2025 - 19:40

    What died/cause of the issue in current?

    • JengT89 on 15/01/2025 - 20:14
      +4

      Initially it was a leaky steam wand which I was going to fix myself, however almost straight after an internal hissing sound started which had something to do with the steam boiler. Apparently had a hole in it! Anyway that was the most expensive thing. Here's the full list https://imgur.com/a/RN4fxjS

      • original15 on 15/01/2025 - 21:25
        +1

        Sheesh, thanks for sharing/transparency
        Condolences
        If you didn’t enjoy making coffee/weren’t great at it, my BiL just got the oracle jet, has no idea how to make coffee manually but even a child could use that machine 😂

      • hmac on 16/01/2025 - 09:10
        +3

        I did a lot of research into Dual Boilers and my findings were the below

        • Orings leak like crazy all over the machine, they should be changed frequently, every 1-2 years
        • Triac board placement is one of the worst. Placed directly above the steam boiler, which leaks
        • Triac board is often damaged by the steam leaks resulting in many issues, including overheating, underheating, and potentially blowing fuses.
        • Faulty Triac board causes the machine to overheat even when the machine is turned off, but still connected to mains
        • Steam wand leaking is also common and a easy fix too

        If you haven't blown a fuse, your machine is very repairable and should not cost you much to fix.

        There is also a service menu you can enter that will help you diagnose the fault

      • mhz on 16/01/2025 - 09:52
        +4

        I've been told that hole in the boiler is the most common issue with the Breville machines and has steered me well clear of ever wanting to buy one.
        A friend told me he took his one to a repairer and he said "I will put it with all the others in my Breville graveyard" He opened the door to a room full of broken Breville coffee machines, all had holes in the boilers, apparently, they use really cheap steel for them.

      • Zondor on 17/01/2025 - 12:21

        IDK about test and tag if this is a private use machine. I'd get another quote.

      • Vent89 on 17/01/2025 - 21:55

        Common issue with the boiler orings going. The new model Breville Dual Boilers use much better compression fittings on the boilers. Honestly when mine goes I will probably just buy another Breville dual boiler, its such a good machine for the price and the latest made ones are even more reliable than before.

        If you really want to spend on an upgrade look for used Linea mini's :)

      • eltito on 29/01/2025 - 14:12

        oooh, with this internal hissing sound - was it coming from the machine itself or the steam wand?

        I've had the leaky steam wand for about 1.5-2 years now (it doesn't leak a lot), and admittingly I've been too lazy to fix (supposedly a change of the o ring fixes the issue), HOWEVER in I'd say 30% of times the machine is on, I do hear an internal hissing sound, which I presume comes from the steam wand - and of which I usually sort out by turning on the steam wand and letting it run - but after reading your issue - I'm a tad paranoid. Were there any other symptoms apart from the internal hissing sound?

  • rbrownja23 on 15/01/2025 - 19:50
    +4

    People ignoring the real question first I feel.

    What grinder are you currently using?

    • JengT89 on 15/01/2025 - 20:10
      +2

      Breville smart grinder pro. Feel like it's done a pretty good job so far

      • TEER3X on 15/01/2025 - 21:25
        +1

        Much better grinders out there.

        Try to get something back from Breville if you have your receipt, go the ACL route.

        BDB is easily the best bang for the buck, they need maintenance/services, minor repairs…. should last longer than just 5 years.

      • rbrownja23 on 15/01/2025 - 22:12
        +5

        If you're looking to spend up to $4K then a grinder should definitely be part of that. It's often overlooked but is as or more important than the machine

        I like the idea of something like the Rancilio SIlvia X Pro and DF83 Grinder as a good value proposition

      • miicah on 16/01/2025 - 18:01

        That is not a very good grinder. Niche zero would probably be your starting point for research.

  • robbyjones on 15/01/2025 - 19:56
    +5

    I went through 3 Breville dual boilers. Gave them away 4.5 years ago and bought a Profitec Pro 600 and Profitec T64 grinder, total price was around $5k. Best decision I ever made,

  • 7ekn00 on 15/01/2025 - 20:30
    -3

    Try upping the budget to $10k, you might get 5 years out of it …

  • nubix on 15/01/2025 - 20:46
    +6

    The best espresso machine you can get for 4k is getting a negotiated offer on a Lelit Bianca V3 or importing it from espressocoffeeshop. If you want to optimise for best coffee, just get another BDB and spend the 3k on a grinder.

    • rbrownja23 on 15/01/2025 - 22:15
      +1

      This

      OP stated still using a smart grinder when I asked and with 4k, I'd be definitely using some budget to the grinder

      I feel a bit out on the best but I'd probably be looking Rancilio SIlvia X Pro and DF83 Grinder to have a workhorse machine and a damn good but not endgame grinder maybe

    • pencilhead on 16/01/2025 - 07:58
      +2

      I got a Lelit Elizabeth after my BDB died. The BDB is miles better.
      Build quaility and features are very poor compared to the breville.
      +1 for getting a good grinder.

    • mauricem on 16/01/2025 - 17:33

      Decent saving buying offshore, have you had experience importing and if GST will apply?

      • nubix on 17/01/2025 - 11:12
        +1

        I ended up getting a very good deal locally when I replaced the BDB so didn't bother with importing. There are some comments in the ECS deals here that suggests you might get away with not paying GST but there's always the risk of getting the ~15% hit.

  • afayd on 15/01/2025 - 21:26
    +6

    Were you happy with the BDB? If you were, just go for another one. Think about it this way, if each lasts for about 5 years, 4k will cover you for 20 years. The new revision is much more reliable. Mine hasn't skipped a beat, but if it were to die, I'd go for another one. Very happy with my BDB+Eureka Specialita setup.

  • ddhar on 15/01/2025 - 22:54

    wow 4k budget will get you pretty much anything

    https://au.lamarzoccohome.com/product-category/espresso-mach…

  • TurboTortoise on 16/01/2025 - 00:38

    Went through the same process after my BDB died after about 5000 shots. Eventually upgraded to eureka grinder ans another BDB. Happy with the decision.

  • dbdave303 on 16/01/2025 - 08:55

    Lelit Bianca v3 and a df64 is the answer
    They go on sale somewhat regularly for 3700 - grinder will be 500 odd, again wait for sales

    I’m in a similar boat, I have a la Scala butterfly (hx) that I’m waiting to upgrade (it’s about 15 years old, still makes cracking shots but hx is a pain in the anoos)

    Prolific from above is a good machine but it’s big - also very self-serviceable. Rokit

    Lelit Bianca v3 is the winner imho as it’s pid, dual boiler, reasonably compact and has flow control (something you would add to those e61s as your coffee nerdism increases)

  • Mick4DChess on 16/01/2025 - 09:06
    +1

    https://www.coffee-a-roma.com.au/store/p83/Expobar_Office_Le…

    I bought this in 2020. Has been a fantastic machine if fully manual is what you're after. Only maintenance was the switch which was 30 bucks for a new one and the group had seal which i replaced myself. Obviously you'll need to buy a grinder as well so will put the overall price around 25-2600 depending on the grinder you want to buy.

    • r3dfusi0n on 17/01/2025 - 14:16

      I have the upgraded Expobar Barista Minore IV also from Coffee-A-Roma and can highly rate it (purchased 2022); this model improves on the Office Leva machine by adding a second boiler. I reckon it's worth it to spend the extra money in my experience; I've pulled back to back coffees with steamed milk for half an hour and the temperature barely moves.
      With a good grinder (in my case, Eureka Mignon Silenzio) you can make a fantastic coffee every time.
      I've also had to replace the main power switch (which melted) and a power coupling underneath the water tank. Both were trivial fixes as the machine is very easy to maintain.

  • ForkSnorter on 16/01/2025 - 10:00

    You should get this Hello Kitty Coffee Maker. Costs about $100-$200 on eBay. It's better than the Dual Boiler. All the top baristas around the world are using it now.

    • 2025 on 17/01/2025 - 18:45

      You’re not wrong, it’s rated 4.5/5 on Amazon, and the BDB is rated at 3.9.

  • Brick Tamland on 16/01/2025 - 10:13

    Stepping up in to the 'prosumer' machines definitely gets you more reliable machines. Brevilles are good but I've found that they have a short life-span and are generally not economic to fix. A 'prosumer' machine may still have issues but are more fixable and less disposable.

    Probably the best next step machine is a Rancilio Silvia and a good grinder (the Breville is fine but it will hold you back when going to a better machine). Look at something like the Macap M2M Grinder for $500 ish.

    Personally, I went from a Breville to Rocket Appartamento paired with that Macap grinder. The Rocket is a great machine, I've had it for about 8 years. The ECM is a great alternative too.

    • Nebargains on 17/01/2025 - 18:58
      +1

      I have the Macap M2M and have done so for 5 years, or is it 6 I forget, anyway it has its pros and cons that's for sure but I definitely regret not spending a little bit more and getting something better.

      On the pros, it allows micro adjustments to the grind so you can basically fine tune any bean, it's tall and narrow so small footprint but definitely bigger than some.

      For the cons. It's loud AF, such a noisy grinder IMO. The collar with numbers on it is basically pointless, it says which way makes it coarser and which way is finer but the numbers are meaningless as you'll find the 0 point is somewhere random and as it doesn't have meaningful numbers on it, it's hard to note down the perfect spot for various beans you might buy (as opposed to say an electronic one where you can just note down the numbers somewhere).

      I suppose it's a bit nitpicky and after a while I've just gotten used to knowing roughly where I need to set it for various beans and it does do a good job, but it's certainly not beginner friendly.

      • Brick Tamland on 17/01/2025 - 19:50

        Agree 100%

        I almost threw it through my window at the start, it’s a massive learning curve from the breville smart grinder. Once you realise the numbers are meaningless, get the range dialled in, it’s alright. I’d actually forgotten my early struggles with it. Thanks for the comment, that was important info.

  • loropy9 on 16/01/2025 - 10:18

    I came here to check out snob talk about coffee machines. Amateurs.

    https://dipacci.com.au/products/kees-van-der-westen-spirit?v…

  • justincarter on 16/01/2025 - 11:58

    I've had a few machines on my radar, though my BDB is still going strong after 5 and a bit years so I'm still waiting to make a decision… Meanwhile I went from the Smart Grinder Pro to a Baratza Sette 270wi for the stepless adjustment and grind by weight (it's loud, but I still love it).

    Machines I was watching in no particular order:
    - Lelit Bianca V3
    - Profitec Pro 600
    - Bezzera Matrix or Duo (DE versions)
    - various models from Rocket or ECM

    I like the idea of the manual options on the Bianca, but I'm also drawn to the programmability and volumetric dosing on the DE Bezzera machines with the BZ group heads (while perhaps keeping it easy for the family to still make coffee).

    • theguyrules on 16/01/2025 - 17:24

      That grinder looks awesome

  • SanguinarySeraph on 16/01/2025 - 18:56

    I went through this recently, ended up replacing with another BDB for the time being, but may look at a Linea Mini R if one comes up at a decent (ish) price.

    My conclusion was that price vs lifetime, the BDB is still very strong in the market. There are more reliable machines out there, but they will ALL need maintenance, which may or may not be expensive (the La Marzocco servicing if you pay for a technician is more expensive than just churning a BDB every few years), and you're still looking at 10-20 years tops which doesn't necessarily balance out vs just buying multiple BDBs.

    The other issue is if you're accustomed to the BDB's feature set and workflow, you need to REALLY jump up to match it across the board. Of particular note, basically all of the E61 HX machines which are the go to recommendations, have woeful heat up times. Similarly you're into premium territory for Dual boilers, PIDs etc.

    As others have mentioned, to improve the actual coffee quality, invest in the grinder. Coffee quality doesn't go up that much from the BDB.

  • bryce007 on 16/01/2025 - 19:17

    I'm still using my BDB I got off facebook marketplace 5 years ago for $120… Its the original model (2011 manufacture date). Its pretty hard to actuall kill these things. Internal hissing is the Orings failing on the steam boiler. About every 2years I have to replace them. Costs $40 for a kit off ebay. If you leave them go too long it will corrode the wiring on the boiler…. which Im guessing has happend in your case. If you are creative you can reattach them without needing a new assembly :). When I last serviced my machine was up to 6200 coffees brewed.. Only other failure I've had is the water pump which again was a $60 part off ebay..

    My father has been through 2x Lelit machines in the time ive had my BDB.. Availability and cheapness of parts makes the BDB hard to toss in the bin…

  • Powershopz on 17/01/2025 - 00:49

    This thread has me very worried. My BDB (almost 3 year old with ~2.5K shots) is definitely leaking steam internally. Has been for about the past 3 months. I'm yet to ever have it serviced but really need to.

    Any recommendations for a good service place in Melbourne?

    • Dose Pipe Sutututu on 17/01/2025 - 01:16

      FWIW, mine is about 8 years old. Would have easily clocked close to 15K shots (most of it would have been in the past 4 years).

      Only things replaced (DIY of course):
      - all probe seals
      - group head seal
      - solenoid valve
      - water pump

      Current issues (minor issues):
      - steam wand weeping (cheapish fix, been lazy)
      - solenoid valve about to die again, starting to buzz again

      Parts are cheap enough, if you're keen on DIY.

    • nubix on 17/01/2025 - 11:05
      +1

      Get this fixed ASAP! Parents ignored this too long on an Oracle and eventually the brew buttons released water out of the spout instead of the grouphead. The repair came out to be $400 and was told most of the cost is due to the damage from the steam rather than what would have been a very basic repair

    • hmac on 20/01/2025 - 09:17

      Fix this before your triac board is damaged and potentially blow a fuse down the line. The triac board is directly above the steam boiler

  • drprox on 17/01/2025 - 06:48

    We grabbed the ECM Syn 2 recently to replace our DB and no regrets. Buy it once was our thought process this upgrade!

    Edit - we considered a Rocket, Profitec 700 and LM Mini.

  • Nkl on 17/01/2025 - 09:36

    We had the Oracle Touch for over 3 years now and its been great. With built in grinder and smart enough to froth the milk but you can still do things manually. I know there are better espresso machines out there but I don't see it being worth more for our household.

    • drprox on 17/01/2025 - 10:37
      +1

      That machine basically is a Breville DB but more expensive :)

      • Nkl on 20/01/2025 - 13:45

        Yeah we upgraded from the Bambino + smart grinder to this and it's been the best decision, don't see ourselves upgrading to anything better or bigger when this one dies.

  • david6509 on 17/01/2025 - 11:32
    +1

    I recently upgraded from a breville dual boiler to a lelit bianca. The coffee doesnt taste 4 x better for 4 x the price but boy does it look good on the bench lol

  • RADICALIST on 17/01/2025 - 14:23

    Rancilio Silvia Pro X for $3k. Dual boiler, PID and soft pre-infusion. Built like a tank and repairable

  • TEER3X on 17/01/2025 - 15:28

    Saw a basically new oracle touch with the new baratza burrs grinder on marketplace for $1500. Mrs didn't give me the green light.

    Came with a receipt as well, but I learned that most warranties lie with the original purchaser only.

    Needless to say, it was gone pretty quickly.

  • jaimex2 on 17/01/2025 - 21:16

    I got a Gaggia Classic Pro and modded it.

    That thing should outlive me.

  • tenpercent on 18/01/2025 - 16:22
    -1

    I've been using this kettle with this teaspoon to scoop the Blend 43.
    Kettle has been going 6+ years. Teaspoons are practically indestructible, although the Blend 43 is strong.
    If you're from Melbourne or something you can add sugar or milk.

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