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.
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.
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
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 😅
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’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
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!
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!
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.
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. 🥲😂
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!
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?
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
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!!
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
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!
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.
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.
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 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 :)
I like the Breville or Sage as we call them in the UK, but I am still super happy with my Rocket Giotto 8 years and going strong,also modded massively 😎
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 :)
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'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.
Thanks again for this video Lance. I believe the BDB is a great machine, not only is it really affordable but as a starting barista it can last one a looooong time. I personally have a machine that cost few multiples of this machine that can’t do all of its features. Yes, it is not the sexiest, yes it is made of plastic, but look at the specs, no discussion there.
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.
@@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!
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 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 😄
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'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
Breville machines are crap. Most repair shops won’t touch them and they DO need repairs often. Leaking water and steam valves do to poor design. Lack of parts availability… I had the dual boiler which pulled excellent shots but in the long run wasn’t worth it. Replaced it with an Alex Duetto.
Agreed ! I don't know if it's just my anecdotal experiences but everyone I know that's had one ended up trashing it no more than 4 yrs after purchase..They work well while working and have awesome features,but not a machine that is designed well for the diy'er..I'd rather deal with a single boiler Silvia or GCP and be able to fix it myself and be able to find parts..It may sound crazy,but I also prefer my Kitchenaid artisan dual boiler over the BDB in that regard..Now as far as usability,Breville is hard to beat..
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’.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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!!
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
Wow that drip tray mod is absolutely mind blowing! Breville should take a note and make that part removable so those who have Acaia scale can utilize it. (Unless they make a built in scale version next)
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.
Could you explain how it is an advertisement? I'm not paid to do it. I don't get money from sales. There is no financial gain from me aside from the marginal ad revenue, which would be substantially higher if I bashed the machine (more views always on extreme negative opinions). Just curious how you define ad since it certainly isn't the traditional way. Thanks
@@LanceHedrick An advertisement does not have to be paid. And there is nothing wrong with it. You had mentioned about some affiliation with Breville and had chosen this machine to discuss how much better it would be after modification. It was not a review. Again, there is nothing dishonest about it. Advertisement is not a dirty word and you obviously know what you're talking about.
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.
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.
Hi Lance, great videos. You're clearly skilled in the art of coffee, and also able to teach to the same standard. I've learnt a lot from your channel. I might add something here regarding the BDB. At least in Australia (Breville is an Australian brand), these things are everywhere on the used market, and are very very affordable. As you suggest, the brand attracts people that just want convenience, and not necessarily coffee hobbyists. Given that, there aren't many people looking to fix broken BDBs, and in Australia you can sometimes find an older one for a few hundred dollars. In my case I was lucky to receive a repairable one for free, thanks to a very generous stranger. Perfect first machine for any nerds willing to fix and mod!
Second time I've watch this video, loved it :) I think it was serval articles I've read lately about the BDB that brought me back, it looks to be a great value for what you get, the easy controls and all the mod's that are available, nice :)
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 .
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.
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!!
Another 🔥 from ma boi shmendrick Been sitting on the fence with this machine for a long time because I don't think you can find this feature set anywhere near this price (especially in Israel, while this one can be imported easily from amazon). The only thing I think is keeping it from being an endgame machine is the vibration pump, you can really see the difference with a naked portafilter. Also I dont understand why they are not embracing these mods as automated features with thier smart electronics, it would cost them almost nothing and they are really not afraid to innovate so 🤷🏻♂️ Anyway, keep killing it! Really happy to see you grow
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 ?
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 👍.
@@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?
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.
Amazing video, great storytelling :) I've been looking around and really not finding a single other machine that would offer similar functionality at this price range. Would you say Rancilio Silvia Pro X has similar value to the BDB now that it also offers programmable pre-infusion, auto on etc?
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?
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.
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
You just saved me about $1.5k.. which I'm going to still spend but on a grinder! Amazing content, better than Hoffman who was too elitest about this machine.
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
Love the content! I would love to hear your thoughts on ratios vs flow profiling. I have always been using ratios and timing. I wasn’t going to use any mods on my dual boiler since I don’t want to void the warranty.
Breville needs to spin off the espresso machine piece of its business and make its own division with a different brand name. After that, make a pro version of the BDB with rotary pump and the needle valve mod and sell it for 2k. Mission Accomplished
I hope they do! I use my dual boiler on my home cafe and it's been a champ so far. I really like the blend of automation and tweakability the dual boiler has but I do know it's not really a commercial machine. I hope Breville makes a 2-group pro unit!!
@@LanceHedrick Oh I hope you convince them! 2-group commercial/pro grade with the "slayer mod" built in! I just did the mod today and it was fairly easy. I thought it won't change the flavor much but damn, I was wrong and I'm happy I was wrong!
This video sells me on the Decent. It reminds me of when I lived in the massive city of Leeds in Yorkshire, England. A god awful place with WW2 bombed out suburbs that were not rebuilt, winter weather like the Arctic, and polluted grey skies obscuring the sun. At parties a Yorkshireman would invariably volunteer that they loved Leeds because it was so easy to get away from. There was a saying that you can always tell a Yorkshireman, but you can't tell them much. Why I am reminded is because this video repeatedly goes on about how great the Breville Dual Boiler is because you can do this mod and that mod.
Yeah but the kicker is, this one doesn't breakndown. I've had my Decent for 8 months. Been usable about 5 or 6. My bdb has been stellar with no issues for 6 years. But fun story.
(Also, if you paid attention instead of planning this verbose comment, you'd realize those mods don't need to be done. Out of the box there is voltage control on the pump on the menu to control pump pressure limits for pre infusion up to 90 sec. Thermal stability is equal to decent. 3 pid controllers, etc. But as you say, you can always tell a yorkshireman but you can't tell them much. Guess I've wasted a smidgeon of my time explaining this. Ugh)
@@LanceHedrick yup, no point in functionality without reliability for coffee. That was my attempt at making humor out of my Leeds experience. I have a local store that services the machines they sell and the service times are really long. Would hate my backup to be the Nespresso machine my wife has for the RV.
And apologies. Your initial comment read very.... tongue in cheek. Thought we were having a little verbal battle ha! Always down for a troll-off. Decent is great but it does have loads of issues. Reliability being at the top
I've had the bdb for 4 years now and I'm on my 3rd machine with warranty.. couldn't care less. What am I going to do? Go to a 5k machine with less features? I'd buy one of these bad boys every year if I had to, still cheaper than buying takeaway coffee. Plus I'm in Australia so this machine only costs about $650 USD here. It's just untouchable for the money, quality be damnned, give me features!!
Great video, thank you! I currently have the Breville Infuser and have been saving for a double boiler. I was looking at e61 machines but your comment about saturated groups being more stable is making me reconsider my position. Would love to hear more about the benefits of saturated groups and maybe see a comparison versus e61 in a future video!
Thanks for curing my upgraditis! BDB owner and I do love using it on the daily. Decent is the dream machine but so far out of budget currently. I have been super intrigued by the slayer mod, would love to do it when the warranty runs out
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!!
![АЛАУДИНОВ у Скабеевой: эти их ВСУ нас НЕ ДОГОНЯТ 😁 [Пародия]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/an0anqU4WGQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Had mine 10 years, used every day, no drama. Surprisingly good.
Pinned this. Thank you
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.
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
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?
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!! :)
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’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%!
Excellent. Anyone that questions your integrity has obviously no knowledge of the legit coffee community. You deserve your positive reputation.
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.
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!
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.
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. 🥲😂
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!
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?
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
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 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
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
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.
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
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
because of this video, I bought BDB last week. haha. thanks Lance. I learn alot from you.
I for one love our new algorithm overlords
Great video as always!
Haha! Thank you so much!
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.
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
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 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 like the Breville or Sage as we call them in the UK, but I am still super happy with my Rocket Giotto 8 years and going strong,also modded massively 😎
For sure! Great machine. No argument. I just prefer BDB!
@@LanceHedrick well it's the SDB over here, I think it looks great in black!
For sure! I think they have some new matte ones (truffle they're called methinks) that look sexy
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
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 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...
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.
Thanks again for this video Lance. I believe the BDB is a great machine, not only is it really affordable but as a starting barista it can last one a looooong time. I personally have a machine that cost few multiples of this machine that can’t do all of its features. Yes, it is not the sexiest, yes it is made of plastic, but look at the specs, no discussion there.
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.
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
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...
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 😄
I’ve had mine over 2 years. With a few mods like flow profiling, it can make excellent coffee… consistently.
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
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 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!
I'm guessing you had a few shots before shooting this XD
The Breville Dual Boiler is on my wish list. Very informative video. Thanks.
Absolutely! Glad you have it on your list haha!
Breville machines are crap. Most repair shops won’t touch them and they DO need repairs often. Leaking water and steam valves do to poor design. Lack of parts availability… I had the dual boiler which pulled excellent shots but in the long run wasn’t worth it. Replaced it with an Alex Duetto.
Agreed ! I don't know if it's just my anecdotal experiences but everyone I know that's had one ended up trashing it no more than 4 yrs after purchase..They work well while working and have awesome features,but not a machine that is designed well for the diy'er..I'd rather deal with a single boiler Silvia or GCP and be able to fix it myself and be able to find parts..It may sound crazy,but I also prefer my Kitchenaid artisan dual boiler over the BDB in that regard..Now as far as usability,Breville is hard to beat..
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’.
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.
Thanks Lance, after watching your review I ordered BDB, currently I am using a Lelit Kate. Matching it with Baratza 270. ✌️
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.
Bit of random history: breville was founded in Sydney Australia 1932
Proud to be Australian :)
Yes it was! Incredible Australian brand
Aussies know their coffee 👌
Haha! This is true
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!
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.
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 🥰
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
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.
just got a secondhand one and after first test day i love it so far
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!
I loved this!
Best informative video on my machine I have seen on UA-cam.
Instant bookmark, and a like and sub👌
Thank you so much!
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
Wow that drip tray mod is absolutely mind blowing! Breville should take a note and make that part removable so those who have Acaia scale can utilize it. (Unless they make a built in scale version next)
I'm trying my best to help them realize the gold they have lol
Bought a second hand BDB for $550 (less than 100 shot on the clock) and just done the slayer mod. It’s absolutely amazing!
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.
It is an advertisement but there is nothing wrong with it. Thanks for the video.
Could you explain how it is an advertisement? I'm not paid to do it. I don't get money from sales. There is no financial gain from me aside from the marginal ad revenue, which would be substantially higher if I bashed the machine (more views always on extreme negative opinions). Just curious how you define ad since it certainly isn't the traditional way. Thanks
@@LanceHedrick An advertisement does not have to be paid. And there is nothing wrong with it. You had mentioned about some affiliation with Breville and had chosen this machine to discuss how much better it would be after modification. It was not a review. Again, there is nothing dishonest about it. Advertisement is not a dirty word and you obviously know what you're talking about.
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.
Shout out to Lindsey for being there on your left arm the whole time. 💪
Always with me. She put it there. Won't let me leave home without it 🤣
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.
Hi Lance, great videos. You're clearly skilled in the art of coffee, and also able to teach to the same standard. I've learnt a lot from your channel.
I might add something here regarding the BDB. At least in Australia (Breville is an Australian brand), these things are everywhere on the used market, and are very very affordable. As you suggest, the brand attracts people that just want convenience, and not necessarily coffee hobbyists. Given that, there aren't many people looking to fix broken BDBs, and in Australia you can sometimes find an older one for a few hundred dollars. In my case I was lucky to receive a repairable one for free, thanks to a very generous stranger. Perfect first machine for any nerds willing to fix and mod!
Holy crap! That's brilliant. I have never looked into the used market. That is such an ingenious idea! Thanks for sharing that
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. 😘
Great video - wasn’t aware the Breville (or Sage as it is here) was this easy to mod!
Yes! Super easy. Especially the slayer mod. Check links in profile!
I'm sold. 😄
Second time I've watch this video, loved it :) I think it was serval articles I've read lately about the BDB that brought me back, it looks to be a great value for what you get, the easy controls and all the mod's that are available, nice :)
Thank you for the support and interest! It is definitely an awesome machine.
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
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!
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!!
Another 🔥 from ma boi shmendrick
Been sitting on the fence with this machine for a long time because I don't think you can find this feature set anywhere near this price (especially in Israel, while this one can be imported easily from amazon).
The only thing I think is keeping it from being an endgame machine is the vibration pump, you can really see the difference with a naked portafilter.
Also I dont understand why they are not embracing these mods as automated features with thier smart electronics, it would cost them almost nothing and they are really not afraid to innovate so 🤷🏻♂️
Anyway, keep killing it! Really happy to see you grow
Yeah, I have listed how to change to a rotary pump in the caption. Worthwhile mod.
And I'm trying my hardest to get them to embrace some!
Love your videos, great review. I was thinking about upgrading my Gaggia Classic to this one for while.
I'd recommend 100%
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 ?
Love the vids! I learn so much about making coffee through them!
Fantastic! Thank you so much for watching
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.
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.
Can you do these mods without voiding the warranty? Can you even adjust the opv without voiding warranty?
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.
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
Measuring tape looks so good i thought it was a part of the manufacturers design lol
Amazing video, great storytelling :) I've been looking around and really not finding a single other machine that would offer similar functionality at this price range. Would you say Rancilio Silvia Pro X has similar value to the BDB now that it also offers programmable pre-infusion, auto on etc?
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?
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
Awesome content as always! Where did you get those mugs from?
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!
You just saved me about $1.5k.. which I'm going to still spend but on a grinder!
Amazing content, better than Hoffman who was too elitest about this machine.
But Hoffman recommended this machine though?
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
Love the content! I would love to hear your thoughts on ratios vs flow profiling. I have always been using ratios and timing. I wasn’t going to use any mods on my dual boiler since I don’t want to void the warranty.
Tbh, you could change it back and no one would ever know. It's seriously the easiest mod that is fully reversible.
And I prefer flow profile
Breville needs to spin off the espresso machine piece of its business and make its own division with a different brand name. After that, make a pro version of the BDB with rotary pump and the needle valve mod and sell it for 2k. Mission Accomplished
Absolutely. I've messaged them about it haha!
I hope they do! I use my dual boiler on my home cafe and it's been a champ so far. I really like the blend of automation and tweakability the dual boiler has but I do know it's not really a commercial machine. I hope Breville makes a 2-group pro unit!!
Oh for sure! I'm trying to convince them to do a Lance model haha
@@LanceHedrick Oh I hope you convince them! 2-group commercial/pro grade with the "slayer mod" built in! I just did the mod today and it was fairly easy. I thought it won't change the flavor much but damn, I was wrong and I'm happy I was wrong!
The change is HUGE! Once you get into flow profiling, there really is no going back.
This video sells me on the Decent.
It reminds me of when I lived in the massive city of Leeds in Yorkshire, England. A god awful place with WW2 bombed out suburbs that were not rebuilt, winter weather like the Arctic, and polluted grey skies obscuring the sun. At parties a Yorkshireman would invariably volunteer that they loved Leeds because it was so easy to get away from. There was a saying that you can always tell a Yorkshireman, but you can't tell them much. Why I am reminded is because this video repeatedly goes on about how great the Breville Dual Boiler is because you can do this mod and that mod.
Yeah but the kicker is, this one doesn't breakndown. I've had my Decent for 8 months. Been usable about 5 or 6. My bdb has been stellar with no issues for 6 years. But fun story.
(Also, if you paid attention instead of planning this verbose comment, you'd realize those mods don't need to be done. Out of the box there is voltage control on the pump on the menu to control pump pressure limits for pre infusion up to 90 sec. Thermal stability is equal to decent. 3 pid controllers, etc.
But as you say, you can always tell a yorkshireman but you can't tell them much. Guess I've wasted a smidgeon of my time explaining this. Ugh)
@@LanceHedrick yup, no point in functionality without reliability for coffee. That was my attempt at making humor out of my Leeds experience. I have a local store that services the machines they sell and the service times are really long. Would hate my backup to be the Nespresso machine my wife has for the RV.
Hahaha! Oh no. Definitely don't want nespresso lol.
And apologies. Your initial comment read very.... tongue in cheek. Thought we were having a little verbal battle ha!
Always down for a troll-off.
Decent is great but it does have loads of issues. Reliability being at the top
I've had the bdb for 4 years now and I'm on my 3rd machine with warranty.. couldn't care less. What am I going to do? Go to a 5k machine with less features? I'd buy one of these bad boys every year if I had to, still cheaper than buying takeaway coffee.
Plus I'm in Australia so this machine only costs about $650 USD here.
It's just untouchable for the money, quality be damnned, give me features!!
Great video, thank you! I currently have the Breville Infuser and have been saving for a double boiler. I was looking at e61 machines but your comment about saturated groups being more stable is making me reconsider my position. Would love to hear more about the benefits of saturated groups and maybe see a comparison versus e61 in a future video!
Sure! Also, check the link in the caption and the further explication there!
Thanks for curing my upgraditis! BDB owner and I do love using it on the daily. Decent is the dream machine but so far out of budget currently. I have been super intrigued by the slayer mod, would love to do it when the warranty runs out
Do it! And check out all the links in the caption.
Same for me , I m eying a Lamarzocco but I can t believe it costs the price of 5 machines like this 😂. I ll keep my dual boiler.
Lol the LM is great, and definitely built like a tank, but isn't gonna pull much better, if any better, shots than the BDB
Another great video, thanks Lance. What were the scales you were using please? I couldn't quite hear the name you said.
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!!