Breville Smart Grinder Pro Review: Still the Best Value?
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Breville Smart Grinder Pro review: 60 settings and timed dosing for espresso and filter coffee, plus its limits and alternatives.
In this Breville Smart Grinder Pro review, the short answer is that it remains one of the best value grinders for anyone who makes both espresso and filter coffee at home. It combines 60 grind settings, programmable timed dosing and portafilter cradles in one machine, which is why it so often sits next to Breville Bambino and Barista espresso machines.
It is not the most precise espresso grinder you can buy, and there are quieter options for drip coffee alone. Below we cover the key specs, what it does well, its limitations, who should buy it, how to set it up and clean it, and which alternatives make more sense for specific needs.
Breville Smart Grinder Pro Review: Key Specs
The Smart Grinder Pro (model BCG820) is a conical burr grinder with an LCD screen and timer based dosing. The figures below come from the Amazon listing.
| Feature | Breville Smart Grinder Pro |
|---|---|
| Burr type | Conical burr |
| Grind settings | 60, from espresso to French press |
| Dosing | Dosing IQ timer, adjustable in 0.2 second steps |
| Display | LCD showing grind setting, time and shots or cups |
| Grind into | Portafilter, airtight container, gold tone filter basket or paper filter |
| Included | Small (50 to 54 mm) and large (58 mm) portafilter cradles, grounds container with sealing cap, conical burr, cleaning brush |
| Price | Around $160 |
What the Smart Grinder Pro Does Well
Covers Espresso and Filter Coffee
With 60 settings, the Smart Grinder Pro reaches fine espresso grinds at one end and coarse French press grinds at the other. That range means a household with an espresso machine and a drip brewer or French press can use one grinder for everything, instead of buying two.
Repeatable Timed Doses
Dosing IQ lets you set grind time in 0.2 second steps and save the amount of coffee you want for one or two shots, or for a number of cups. Once you find the time that gives your target dose, the grinder repeats it at the press of a button. Weighing the grounds now and then keeps it accurate as beans change.
Grinds Straight Into the Portafilter
The included cradles hold small (50 to 54 millimeter) and large (58 millimeter) portafilters, so you can grind directly into the basket hands-free. That covers Breville's 54 millimeter machines, many De'Longhi models and most 58 millimeter espresso machines.
Easy to Read and Use
The LCD screen shows the grind setting, the time and how many shots or cups you selected. The controls are straightforward, which helps beginners learn the link between grind size, dose and taste.
How It Handles Each Brew Method
Espresso
Espresso is where the Smart Grinder Pro earns most of its fans. Ground straight into a 54 millimeter Breville portafilter, it produces a fluffy, fairly even bed that pairs well with pressurized and standard baskets. Medium and dark roasts are easy to dial in. Very light roasts may need the finer range unlocked through the upper burr adjustment described in the manual.
Pour Over and AeroPress
For pour over, the middle of the range works well with cone drippers and AeroPress. The grind is consistent enough for balanced cups, although specialist pour over grinders with larger burrs can produce fewer fines. Most home brewers will be happy with the results.
Drip Coffee Makers
Choosing the number of cups on the screen and grinding into the sealed container makes batch brewing simple. Grind just before brewing for the freshest flavor, and adjust a few steps coarser if a full pot tastes bitter.
French Press and Cold Brew
The coarsest settings suit French press and cold brew. Expect a few more fines than you would get from a grinder designed only for coarse grinding, so a slightly longer pause before plunging, or a paper filter for cold brew concentrate, can help produce a cleaner cup.
Limitations to Know
The main limitation is resolution at the espresso end. Each step is larger than on stepless or micro adjustable espresso grinders, so with some light roasts you may find one setting runs too fast and the next too slow. Breville's manual describes an adjustable upper burr that lets owners shift the whole range finer, which helps, but dedicated espresso grinders still offer finer control.
Retention and static are other points. Like many hopper grinders, some grounds stay in the chute between doses, and fine grounds can cling on dry days. Tapping the grounds container and purging a little coffee after big setting changes keeps doses fresh. It is also louder than slow speed grinders such as the Capresso Infinity, which matters in small homes.
Finally, it is a plastic bodied grinder. That keeps the price reasonable but means it does not feel as solid as metal espresso grinders that cost much more.
Who Should Buy It
The Smart Grinder Pro suits people who own or plan to buy an entry level espresso machine and still want to brew pour over, drip or French press. It is an excellent match for the Breville Bambino, Bambino Plus and similar machines with pressurized or standard baskets, and for anyone upgrading from a blade grinder.
Skip it if you drink only drip coffee, since a simpler burr grinder costs less. Skip it too if you are a dedicated espresso hobbyist who changes light roasts often; a stepless grinder will save time and coffee while dialing in. Our guide to the best coffee grinder for espresso compares those options.
Setup and Dialing In
Start by washing the hopper and container, fitting the hopper and setting the grind to the middle of the espresso range for your first shots. For espresso, a common starting recipe is about 18 grams of coffee in a double basket for roughly 36 grams of espresso in 25 to 30 seconds. Set the grind time to reach 18 grams, then weigh to confirm.
If the shot runs fast and tastes sour, move a few settings finer. If it runs slow and tastes bitter, move coarser. Change one thing at a time and taste each shot. For drip coffee, begin near the middle of the filter range; for French press, move toward the coarse end. Write down the settings that work for each bean.
Cleaning and Care
Empty the hopper and brush out the burr area and chute regularly, at least every week or two with daily use. The included brush reaches the burr chamber. Every month or two, remove the upper burr following the manual and clean both burrs to remove oils that can turn stale. Grinder cleaning tablets made for burr grinders are an option if the manual approves them.
Do not wash the burrs or motor housing with water, and keep the hopper dry before refilling. Very oily dark roasts clog burrs faster, so clean more often if you use them. Regular cleaning keeps doses consistent and coffee tasting fresh.
Breville Smart Grinder Pro Alternatives
The product table lists several alternatives. Here is how the main ones compare.
Baratza Encore
The Encore is simpler and repairable, with 40 settings and conical burrs, and it shines at drip, pour over and French press. It lacks timed dosing and fine espresso control, so choose it if you rarely make espresso. See our best coffee grinder guide for more.
Eureka Mignon Notte
The Notte is an espresso focused grinder with 50 millimeter burrs and stepless adjustment. It doses manually and is not ideal for coarse grinds, but it gives finer espresso control. Choose it if espresso is your main drink.
SHARDOR Conical Burr Espresso Grinder 2.0
This budget grinder offers 51 settings, a 0.1 second timer and a portafilter cradle at a much lower price. It is a good starting point for pressurized baskets, though less consistent at the fine end.
Other options in the table include the Baratza Sette 270 for precise programmable espresso dosing, the Baratza Virtuoso+ for filter coffee with a digital timer, and the OXO Brew Conical Burr Grinder for drip households. If you also want a machine that grinds and brews in one, see the best coffee maker with burr grinder guide, and browse more models in electric coffee grinders.
Smart Grinder Pro vs Baratza Encore at a Glance
| Feature | Smart Grinder Pro | Baratza Encore |
|---|---|---|
| Grind settings | 60 | 40 |
| Timed dosing | Yes, 0.2 second steps | No, on and off switch plus pulse |
| Portafilter cradles | Included for 50 to 58 mm | Not included |
| Best at | Espresso plus filter coffee | Drip, pour over, French press |
| Price | Around $160 | Around $150 |
The Encore is the simpler grinder for filter brewing, while the Smart Grinder Pro adds the features espresso users need. If you might buy an espresso machine within the next year, the Breville is the safer choice.
Getting the Most From Your Grinder
Buy beans roasted within the last few weeks and store them in an airtight container away from light and heat rather than leaving large amounts in the hopper. Keep only a few days of beans in the hopper at a time. When you switch to a new bag, purge a small amount of coffee and re-check your grind time, since different beans can grind and flow differently.
How We Evaluated It
This review is based on research rather than in-person trials. We studied the Amazon listing and included accessories, compared its specifications with competing grinders, and considered how widely it is bought and how owners describe long-term use. We did not run our own measurements of grind size or noise.
FAQs
Is the Breville Smart Grinder Pro good for espresso?
Yes, for most home espresso machines, especially Breville's 54 millimeter models. Demanding light roast espresso is easier with a stepless grinder.
How many grind settings does it have?
It has 60 grind settings, ranging from fine espresso to coarse French press.
Can it grind for French press and cold brew?
Yes. The coarse end of the range suits French press and cold brew, so one grinder covers espresso and immersion brewing.
Does it fit my portafilter?
It includes cradles for 50 to 54 millimeter and 58 millimeter portafilters, which covers most home espresso machines.
How do I make the grind finer than setting one?
The manual explains how to adjust the upper burr to shift the range finer. Follow those instructions carefully and only adjust as described.
Is the Smart Grinder Pro loud?
It is about as loud as most hopper burr grinders, louder than slow speed models such as the Capresso Infinity. Grinding takes only seconds per dose, so the noise is brief.
Final Verdict
Our Breville Smart Grinder Pro review verdict: it is the best all-round value for homes that make espresso and filter coffee, thanks to 60 settings, timed dosing and portafilter cradles. Espresso perfectionists may outgrow its step size, and drip only households can spend less, but for most people starting with home espresso, the Breville Smart Grinder Pro review comes down to a simple recommendation.