Loading...
Breville is an Australian brand known for manufacturing various electric household appliances. You hardly know that the company’s name is a clipped form of 2 words, the names of the brand founders Bill O’Brien and Harry Norville.
Established in 1932, Breville trades now in over 70 countries around the world. The variety of coffee equipment that it makes knows no bounds: coffee makers, milk frothers, espresso machines, etc. This post is the Breville BCG820BSSXL review, an entry-level coffee grinder. You’ll discover which features make this machine special and what motivates customers to acquire it.
Design & Main Parts of Breville BCG820BSSXL
To modernize the model and customize the coffee grinding experience, Breville created the Smart Grinder Pro as a more intuitive and convenient grinder. Let’s have a look at its main features that allow the device to stand out from the old-time favorites.
| Product Feature | Feature Parameters |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (WxDxH) | 6″ x 8.5″ x 15.5″ |
| Wattage/Voltage | 165 W/110-120 V |
| Coffee Bean Capacity | 18 oz./530 ml |
| Number of Grind Settings | 60 |
| Material | Stainless steel, plastic |
| Color | Silver |
| Warranty | 1 year |
Appearance
The housing is brushed stainless steel with some plastic elements, which make the appliance lighter than typical coffee grinders. The steel casing makes the machine steady and keeps it stable during operation.
This model comes in silver, but there are other color options available, such as red, black, blue, etc. It features a trendy and sleek design that pairs well with other classic coffee equipment in any kitchen. The machine is quite slim.
LCD Display
The first thing that catches your eye is its digital interface. This is a nice addition, which is not typical for grinders at this price point. A backlit LCD screen displays grind settings, a number of shots/cups, grind size, and grind time. These settings are operated via 1 front dial and 2 buttons located on the front panel and 1 side-mounted dial in the right part of the machine.
Bean Hopper and Grinds Bin
The grinder has an 18-oz. bean hopper, which is quite spacious. Its lock/unlock mechanism is a convenient feature that allows the hopper to hold a certain quantity of coffee beans by sealing off the bottom portion and ensure that they stay in the reservoir.
The receptacle for ground coffee is made of transparent plastic. It fits tightly under the spout. The markings on the container allow users to see the quantity of grinds for a certain number of coffee cups. The bin is equipped with an airtight lid that preserves coffee aroma.
Motor and Burrs
The machine motor spins at 450 rpm, which helps avoid overheating of beans, and integrates 40 mm conical stainless steel burrs. They allow choosing any of 60 grind settings. These micro-adjustments offer users grinding versatility for various brew styles (French press, percolator/drip, or espresso) if you need coarser or finer grind consistency.
This coffee chart recommended in the manual helps users to select the correct settings.
| Coffee Type | Espresso | Drip Coffee/Percolator | French Press | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grind Setting | 1-30 | 31-48 | 49-54 | 55-60 |
| Used For | Espresso/mocha machines | Drip-coffee machines with a gold-tone filter, percolators with a coarse screen filter | Drip-coffee machines with a paper filter, percolators with a fine screen filter | Plungers |
How to Use Breville BCG820BSSXL Smart Grinder Pro?
The Smart Grinder Pro is packed with a number of functions and offers multiple adjustable options, but it is intuitive to operate even for a beginner. Proving its name, the device is “smart” indeed. Its blue LCD screen shows all the information and displays the chosen settings. Each step can be controlled by dedicated dials and buttons. When you go through this routine a couple of times, you will get used to it.
The machine operation includes several stages:
- plug the appliance in;
- load coffee beans into the bean container;
- select the desired quantity of grinds by pressing the SHOTS/CUPS button;
- use the side-mounted dial to choose the required grind setting;
- select the grind time with the dial under the display.
After the settings are done, place a portafilter or a grinds chamber under the spout. Then, if you use a grinds bin, press the START/PAUSE/CANCEL button to start grinding. If you collect the grinds into a portafilter, first you need to insert a cradle for holding it. The machine will activate a switch automatically after you lock the portafilter in its place. You will hear a click, and the device will start working. The machine will stop after you remove the portafilter. If you need a smaller dose of ground coffee, you can press the START/PAUSE/CANCEL button and remove the portafilter.
How to Clean This Professional Coffee Grinder?
The first thing to do is to empty the beans from the hopper and grind any excess beans. Unplug the machine before cleaning. Unlock the hopper from the top of the grinder and wash it in warm soapy water. Dry it thoroughly. Wash the grinds receptacle in the same way.
Unlock the detachable upper burr. Remove the coffee residue using a cleaning brush that is included in the box. Clean a grinds outlet with the brush. This disassembly doesn’t require lower burr removal.
After clean-up, make alignments and rotate the burr until it clicks in a lock position. Align and place back the bean hopper. Regular cleaning (at least once a month) helps the burrs achieve consistent grinding results.
The machine comes with a magnetic grind tray that catches grinds overflow. It can also be removed for cleaning.
Wipe and polish the steel exterior with a soft wet cloth.
Other Key Features of Breville BCG820BSSXL
This grinder is packed with a number of features to make your morning grind easier. Here are some model’s extra points that should be mentioned:
- The machine arrives with 2 portafilter cradles (50-54 mm and 58 mm), which are extremely helpful if you have portafilters of different diameters. They are removable and lock via magnets. The container for ground coffee with a sealing cap is also included in the box.
- The appliance features the Dosing IQ technology that allows users to program grind time in 0.2-second increments. It gives coffee lovers total control over a perfect grinding dose.
- Thanks to the automatic thermal shut-off feature, the motor is protected from overheating.
- After 5 minutes of non-use, the appliance switches off due to the power-saving feature.
- The grinder has a place for cord storage.
Share your experience and write about other conveniences you’ve noticed in the BCG820BSSXL.
Advantages and Disadvantages
To know what to expect from this grinder, learn about its pros and cons. The list was compiled according to the grinding experience of customers who’ve tried the machine at home.
- Available in a variety of colors
- A steady steel design
- A small footprint
- Arrives with helpful accessories
- Relatively cheap
- Full customization of the grinding process
- Automatic shut-off
- The motor is quite loud
- The grind setting #60 is not coarse enough
- The impeller located underneath the burrs is made of plastic and can wear out over time
- Heats up quickly
- If you collect ground coffee in a paper filter, the grinder leaves a small mess on the counter because coffee particles go everywhere
- The grind settings are not the exact indication of the grind size particles
Breville BCG820BSSXL Troubleshooting Tips
This troubleshooting guide given in the instruction book describes the main cases of malfunction that may occur with the Breville Smart Grinder Pro. Use these tips to solve the problem.
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| The grinder doesn’t start working after the START/PAUSE/CANCEL button is pressed. |
|
| The grinder starts working, but no ground coffee is coming from the outlet. |
|
| The grinder starts working with a loud noise. |
|
| The bean hopper cannot be locked into its position. |
|
| The portafilter overfills. |
|
If these tips don’t help, contact the service center.
Where to Buy Breville BCG820BSSXL Coffee Bean Grinder?
Breville is a renowned manufacturer that sells its household devices, including coffee grinders, online. It owns an impressive website, which offers all models for sale providing professional photos, detailed descriptions of products, and multiple customers’ reviews.
The grinders can also be purchased from other online vendors, such as Amazon, eBay, Walmart, Best Buy, Bed Bath and Beyond, Nordstrom, Target, and others. Usually, these stores can offer customers even discontinued models.
Final Thoughts
Offered at a tempting price tag, the Breville BCG820BSSXL is one of the best grinders on the present market, especially taking into account its features. Its steel design, attractive appearance, overwhelming grind customization, and intuitive operation make the machine an excellent kitchen companion. Thanks to uncomplicated controls, even novices will have no issues with its maintenance.
References
- the Smart Grinder™ Pro Coffee Grinder – Breville – https://www.breville.com/
- BCG820 Instruction Manual – https://www.breville.com/
- Breville – https://en.wikipedia.org/
- Review of the Breville Smart Grinder Pro (Video) – https://www.youtube.com/
- Learn to use the Breville Smart Grinder™ Pro BCG820 (Video) – https://www.youtube.com/
