Breville coffee grinder BCG820BSS

Highlights

For making coffee at home, it helps to match the grind to the brewing method rather than settle for one setting. The Breville BCG820BSS Smart Grinder Pro uses stainless steel conical burrs and offers 60 grind settings, ranging from fine espresso grinds to coarse French press grinds. That range makes it worth considering if you switch between brewing styles.

A precision electronic timer adjusts in 0.2-second increments, giving you control over grinding time. You can grind into a portafilter, the included grinds container, a gold-tone filter basket or a paper filter.

The bean hopper holds 18 ounces and has a locking system for removal, storage and transfer. The grinder is rated at 165 watts and 110–120 volts.

Best use cases

This is aimed at coffee drinkers who want to move between espresso and coarser brews without changing grinders. For example, you could set a finer grind for a portafilter in the morning, then choose a coarser one when preparing French press coffee later. The range is useful, though the listing does not specify how much space the grinder takes up, keep that in mind if your counter is already crowded.

You may be interested if you value adjustable grind size and want the option to grind straight into different brewing destinations. If you mainly make one style of coffee and don't need multiple settings, a more basic grinder may cover your routine with less adjustment.

Tips for day-to-day use

Choose a setting that suits your brewing method, then use the timer to adjust the grinding duration in small increments. The timer offers control over grind time, it does not, by itself, tell you which setting or duration will suit your beans and brewing setup, so expect to find your preferred combination through use.

The locking hopper is designed to make removal and transfer easier. That can be handy when you want to take the hopper off for storage rather than leave the beans in place. You can also direct the grounds to the destination that fits your setup, whether that is a portafilter or a filter basket.

Three specific questions

Can it grind for French press as well as espresso? Yes. The listed 60 settings span from the finest espresso grind to the coarsest French press grind.

Where can the grounds go? The grinder can dispense into a portafilter, grinds container, gold-tone filter basket or paper filter.

Can you adjust grinding time precisely? The electronic timer adjusts in 0.2-second increments. The listing does not provide a recommended time for each brewing method.

Is it worth it?

The case for this grinder is flexibility: its range of settings, timer adjustments and several grinding destinations suit a routine that includes more than one brewing method. The stainless steel conical burrs are designed to minimize grinding heat and protect the beans’ essential oils, but the available details do not establish dimensions or noise level. It won't suit you if you want a simple, space-saving choice and have no use for fine control over grind settings. If you do switch between espresso and French press, the BCG820BSS offers a way to handle both with one grinder.