Breville BCG820BSS Smart Grinder Pro Coffee Bean Grinder Review

It isn't always easy to find a great coffee grinder that can deliver on things like consistency, versatility and durability while still being affordable. The Breville BCG820BSS is a mid-range home coffee grinder which doesn't compromise on performance while offering a more budget friendly price tag than the high end grinders in its class.

If you're looking for a powerful and versatile mid-range grinder that offers incredible value for money then this model from Breville is definitely worth considering. It's easy to use, looks great in any kitchen and has the capability to match much higher priced home grinders out there when it comes to delivering consistent results.

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  Breville BCG820BSS Smart Grinder Pro Coffee Bean Grinder, Brushed Stainless Steel
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Description / Features of The Breville BCG820BSS Smart Grinder Pro Coffee Bean Grinder Review

The smart grinder pro has a really sleek and modern design which is very aesthetically pleasing. It's made up of a combination of stainless steel and plastic materials. As with most coffee grinders, it comes with various colours to choose from. So far the reviews are positive, but let's take an in depth look into how well Breville scored on performance, ease of use and other factors to see if it truly should be priced higher than entry level models.

Main Features

• Adjustable grind setting with a range of 18 different settings for optimal results in any brew method.
• Can be used to grind spices, herbs and nuts in addition to coffee beans.
• Grinds directly into a stainless steel conical burr grinding chamber or you can choose to collect ground coffee in an included removable receptacle.
• Comes with a 2 Year Warranty (which is great for home appliances).
• Just like many other grinders in its class, this model also comes with an integrated scale to help you determine how much coffee to use when brewing.
• A dial on the front of the grinder allows you to select whether you're grinding for espresso or anything else and shows when your desired dose has been achieved.
• Will auto stop when the selected amount of coffee has been ground into either compartment.
• This unit also has automatic calibration so that it will always deliver consistent results every time it is used.

Quick Stats of The Breville BCG820BSS

• PRODUCT DIMENSIONS - 6 x 8.2 x 15.5 inches
• PRODUCT WEIGHT - 6 pounds
• SHIPPING WEIGHT - 8.8 pounds
• MODEL NO - BCG800XL
• MANUFACTURER - BREVILLE
• AUTO DOSER - YES
• BEAN HOPPER - YES
• HOPPER CAPACITY - 450 GRAM
• SETTINGS - 25
• COLORS - BLACK, RED AND SILVER
• GRINDING METHOD - STAINLESS STEEL CONICAL BURRS
• WARRANTY - ONE YEAR
• PORTA-FILTER CRADLE - 2 INCLUDED, ONE LARGE ONE SMALL
• GRINDS CATCHER - YES
• NOISY - NO
• GRIND TIME - 22 SECONDS FOR A DOUBLE SHOT
• OUR RATING - 4 STARS OUT OF FIVE

Well known for their reliability in the small kitchen appliance area, the Breville Smart Grinder (BCG800XL) already looks promising. Stylish and neat and designed to draw the eye in, this is a steel grinder with a conical burr set, giving it the edge on some of its competitors in this field.

Boasting "dosing IQ", this grinder will choose the ideal dose to fit the type of grind selected. And there are plenty of options, 25 to be precise. You can make drip coffee, espresso or French Press and anything in between to your heart's content with this little contraption.

But before we go any further, he's a quick video introducing this grinder by Breville themselves.

With stainless steel conical burrs of 58mm diameter and 'dosing IQ' technology, this grinder will adjust the amount of time per the type of grind selected, everything can and will be done for you automatically unless you expressly wish to be in the driving seat. So sit back and let it do all the heavy lifting for you!

The Hopper

Having a party? Wanna be barista trying to impress your friends? Not a problem, the bean hopper can take up to a pound in weight and make enough coffee for all. But if it's just a single cup or mug you're after, then that's not an issue either.

The sealed silicone gasket ensures the freshness of the grinds and has a lock, letting you remove them from the unit without first having to empty out the beans.

With one of the two cradles included (larger and smaller) you can get the machine to do all the dosing for your espressos and also the same applies for a filter coffee maker.

The Looks

This is made from stainless steel with an exterior plastic casing, which is hard wearing but also stylish and will look good while not taking up too much valuable counter space.

It is available in three pretty colors, Cranberry Red, Sesame Black and Silver.

Here below is a video review of the Breville Smart Grinder by Whole Latte Love…

The Control Panel

Yes, we know some grinders have more than you might know what to do with, but for the price, what you get here with the Breville Smart Grinder is more than reasonable. The settings start from 1 (coarse French Press grinds) to an ultra fine 25 for espressos and beyond!

With simple push buttons to adjust the strength, you can also easily select the number of cups or shots. The unit also has a stylish backlight, showing up the options on the Breville Smart Grinder. Operating this grinder is pretty elementary, entry level stuff and not too daunting for the uninitiated.

Automation

On the other hand, if you want total control you can also have it by using the hold/cancel or portafilter activation switch to custom make your grinds. Releasing the button will halt the grinding.

Cleaning

Sometimes, cleaning apparatus can be a chore and generally speaking, taking apart your coffee grinder does not score highly on the list of life's fun stuff to do. So how easy to assemble and put back together is the Breville Smart Grinder?

Well, not too hard. This is one area where the manufacturers have obviously sat down and had a think about making your life a little easier. You do not need a degree to perform this task. It is relatively straightforward, for example, the stainless steel burrs lift out easily enough.

The detachable areas are simply cleaned in washing up liquid in the sink and for the non removable parts (ie the housing) just a wipe with a damp cloth should suffice. Obviously, how often you need to do this depends on the frequency of use, but also the type of beans you put through it. The oilier the beans, the more often it will need cleaning.

As already mentioned, this comes with two portafilter cradles of differing sizes, but also a brush for cleaning (handy for the burr grinders) and an air tight grounds container meant for storing any unused grounds.

Assembling and using Breville BCG820BSS Smart Grinder Pro Coffee Bean Grinder

Some users have reported having issues getting their grinder to work properly when they first receive it, and this problem is often due to the hopper not being well seated. Make sure that you remove all of the protective packaging before trying to use your grinder and then take a look at the underside of the grinder lid where you'll find a small plastic lock. Lower this into position and try grinding some coffee beans again - if there's still an issue check for anything that might be jamming up inside your grinder like pieces of coffee beans or other debris, and make sure that everything is well seated before using it.

For best results you should grind around 16g of coffee beans in one go which will give you enough for two large cups in most cases and this can be done directly into the burr chamber or in a separate receptacle of your choice. Some users have had issues with their coffee beans getting stuck inside of the machine so it might be a good idea to invest in a fine mesh strainer for this grinder since it can be hard to get everything out once ground.

The best method is trying to grind directly into the chamber because it can be difficult to get your beans out of the bin afterwards, but if you are grinding directly into the bin make sure that you tap it on your counter top before opening up the burr grinder otherwise you might end up with small particles all over the floor.

How do I use the Breville BCG820BSS Smart Grinder ?

To start using your Breville BCG820BSS Smart Coffee Grinder, remove all packaging and manuals from the box. Plug your coffee grinder into a standard household power outlet. After powering on, allow your coffee grinder to warm up for 30 seconds before starting to grind. Next lift the bean hopper lid and add the desired amount of whole coffee beans. Replace the bean hopper lid and align it with the rubber gasket to prevent any spillage while grinding. Using the pulse action, grind your coffee by moving your cup or portafilter under the spout while keeping a constant pressure on the Breville BCG820BSS Smart Coffee Grinder's start/stop button.

Press the grind size selector to choose a desired fineness, then press the start/stop button to begin grinding. Pressing stop will allow you to toggle between your chosen grind setting and turn off your coffee grinder. If you wish to use pre-ground beans in your Breville BCG820BSS Smart Coffee Grinder, press the start/stop button and then immediately press and hold down the grind size selector until you achieve desired consistency.

How do I clean the Breville BCG820BSS Smart Grinder ?

To clean your Breville BCG820BSS Smart Coffee Grinder after using it for whole beans, first lift up the bean hopper lid. Pour out any excess coffee beans in the bean hopper and grind chute, then wipe down the exterior with a soft cloth or sponge using warm water. Next lift up the grind collection bin and empty out any excess coffee grounds found inside the grind collection bin. Cleaning tools are not provided by Breville under warranty for this product.

Breville recommends using a soft damp cloth to clean the coffee grinder. Never use soap, solvents or scouring pads as they may discolor the plastic components of your coffee grinder or leave streaks causing permanent damage. If you are not satisfied with the cleaning results on your coffee grinder, it is recommended to instead wipe down your Breville BCG820BSS Smart Coffee Grinder with an espresso machine descaler found in most local grocery stores for this purpose. Let air dry before reassembling your coffee grinder.

What are the pros and cons of using the Breville BCG820BSS Smart Bean Grinder ?

The Breville BCG820BSS Smart Coffee Grinder allows users to customize grind setting which allows for increased versatility between brew methods, producing more consistency in flavor extraction. The design also features an anti-static carbon steel conical burrs that reduces ground coffee dust by almost 60% ensuring that there will be no off tastes or stale coffee left over in your portafilter which would then go into your drink. Because of its larger size and more powerful motor, the Breville BCG820BSS Smart Coffee Grinder is able to grind beans faster than most of its competitors.

The Breville BCG820BSS Smart Coffee Grinder has a long working time that requires it to be unplugged and turned off after every use for safety purposes. This will require you to remember to turn your grinder on before brewing coffee in the morning if it was not used recently. Because of its large size and design flaws such as nooks and crannies where ground coffee can stick and accumulates over time, some customers may find this grinder difficult or inconvenient to clean effectively.

FAQs for The Breville BCG820BSS Smart Coffee Grinder

How much time does my Breville BCG820BSS Smart Coffee Grinder stay warm after grinding?

The grinding chamber of the Breville BCG820BSS Smart Coffee Grinder will maintain a temperature of 185 degrees Fahrenheit (85 degrees Celsius) for up to 20 minutes after the grinding process has stopped. If your brewed coffee is too hot, you can wait approximately 4-8 minutes for it to cool down.

What are the dimensions of my new Breville BCG820BSS Smart Coffee Grinder?

The Breville BCG820BSS Smart Coffee Grinder has a height of 15 inches, width of 8.5 inches, and depth of 8.5 inches. It weighs approximately 14 pounds.

What type of burr grinder is included with my purchase?

The Breville BCG820BSS Smart Coffee Grinder comes equipped with conical burrs made from stainless steel which feature the trademarked "smart grind" technology used by Breville's coffee grinders to provide a more uniform consistency for optimal flavor extraction. The machine also features an LCD display that allows you to set your grind settings as well as adjust them during grinding process for precision control over the coarseness or fineness of ground beans produced from your Breville BCG820BSS Smart Coffee Grinder.

What types of beans can I grind with my new Breville BCG820BSS Smart Coffee Grinder?

The Breville BCG820BSS Smart Coffee Grinder is capable of grinding all coffee and espresso beans, and the smart grind technology ensures that you get a uniform consistency for a better flavor extraction during the brewing process.

Customers' Reviews for The Breville BCG820BSS

Consluion for The Breville BCG820BSS Buyers

All in all, this is a good little grinder. On the positives, it looks smart, the backlight is neat, it doesn't hog all the space on your counter, cleans up pretty well and ultimately delivers a decent consistent grind to your coffee pot.

Additionally, it will not attempt to raise the dead when you're running it and the user manual appears to have been compiled with someone both familiar with the English language and humankind in general, which is always a plus.

So, what is not so great? Issues have been raised about bean jams and also the capability of the grinds of the slightly oilier variety. Then there is the fact that some people will always carp at the lack of 20,000 grind settings (hint - then don't buy one with 'only' 25).

For the price, this is decent coffee grinder and you could do a whole lot worse than purchase this model. Overall it scores 4 out of five stars for quality, style, price and usability.