Bezzera BZ10 Review - 6yrs Later

After 6 years with the Bezzera BZ10 Espress Machine, I finally had to make a repair. I needed to replace the head gasket. It seemed like a good time to talk about my experience with the machine after 6 years. Watch my mini review here.
Gasket:
www.wholelatte...
Shower Screen:
www.wholelatte...

[@antigonooo]

Just waiting for mine to be delivered today. I can’t wait

[@freightdawg6762]

I just bought a BZ-13 Special Edition 2 months ago i absolutely love it, glad to see the how reliable yours has been so good

[@DanielBaird]

Enjoy!

[@Geetee60]

Still available in Australia. I’ve had mine for a year now and love it. Great to see yours required no maintenance for six years! Thanks for the review.

[@sper8446]

Where did you get yours from? Been looking at getting one myself!

[@gregrutter7497]

Srinath. Appliances Online.

[@sper8446]

@@gregrutter7497 great thanks!

[@LesliesDemos]

Thanks for this video. I have the same machine and went through the same type of experience. The BZ10 was designed for higher pressure use. Luca Bezzera said this himself in an interview. The so-called 9 bar "ideal" range is mostly for commercial machines with rotary pumps. IMHO it's best to leave it as is. I brew my shots at 12-13 bar. It's not a problem and I get perfect 30-second shots of pure crema. Also, it's not necessary to remove the three hex screws to change the gasket. The gasket simply pulls down with the use of a screwdriver or other prying tool, but removing the head screws does give you better access. The "o-ring" style gasket is much better than the square edged one you used because the portafilter makes a better seal with a lot less effort. I'm going to hold off on the shower screen until IMS makes one with a proper countersunk hole. Thanks again for posting.

[@triod371]

A review from a long time user, one that is capable of breaking into the machine and fixing/adjusting things himself, is many times more useful and info rich than a vendor's review. Thank you for the video. I'm considering getting a BZ10, and wonder if it takes standard E61 portafilter. Also when you had it open to tweak the OP valve, did you happen to notice where it would dump the exhaust water, to the drip tray or back to the water tank?

[@DanielBaird]

It's is not a standard E61. Bezzera has their own design that uses a heating element and not the boiler water to heat the heat. I found a bottomless portafilter that fits pretty easily on Google. As for the exhaust water, it goes back to the tank. You don't have to open the chassis to see that part...the water tank is easily removable, and the exhaust tube is right there when you open the top to remove the tank.

[@Bowser558]

Can you share the link to the portafilter please

[@MrArdytube]

Thanks. Interesting to see it in place to get an idea of the size

[@AgelessOn]

Thank you for the amazing review! I am going to get it soon 💗🙏

[@DanielBaird]

Enjoy your machine!

[@CCozart]

Nice review--enough detail

[@KIRIAKOOUTDOORS]

Great video! ...I see that your shower screen screw seems to sit flush (like the factory screen) .... I just got that exact same IMS shower screen for my Bezzera BZ machine, but the screen I was sent is completely flat in the middle, there is now divet/inset for the screw to sit in. Did yours come like this too? did you tighten the screw to bend the metal? or did your screen come with an inset allready?

[@DanielBaird]

I just tightened the screw and the screen molded to shape. I was careful not to over tighten.

[@lmhkt]

I've had mine for a little more than 3 years Dan. Had to change group gasket after 2 years though. Mine was made after 2014 so it came fitted with the round o-ring. That one makes it really easy to lock in the pf holder. It lasted for 2 years. My second o-ring has been a conical one and after about 15 months it seems it needs to be replaced. Not only did it not last, but it's also a lot more difficult to lock the pf holder. Just ordered a round one again. I also set the brew pressure to 9 bars, but my boiler pressure had a range from about 1.2-1.5. I cranked the pressurestat down and it now idles at 1.2. Might do a foam cup test with a thermocouple to see what brew temp I am getting. Are you sure yours idles at 1 bar when fully warmed up? Thanks.

[@DanielBaird]

Yeah...it idles almost exactly at 1. But, I always do a little flush before pulling a shot, and it's exactly at 1 when I do that.

[@vires-et-honore]

Thanks for the video. Question please? Did turning down the brew pressure to 9.5 improve the taste of your espresso? Thanks again.

[@DanielBaird]

Yes it did. But, in all fairness, it think there are multiple factors. The lowered pressure forced me to really dial in my grind setting. Recently I have added WDT and a top paper filter to my puck prep as well. The shots are smooth and sweet.

[@superrmang]

Are you using an aftermarket grouphead gasket? My BZ10 is about 3 years old and I replaced the original gasket with a similar looking orange one last year. I'm now getting some leaking problems and sometimes the portafilter falls out during extraction. I suspect this is due to poor fit with the aftermarket gasket; wondering if you had the same issue

[@DanielBaird]

Yes I am using an aftermarket gasket. I have had no issues with it at all. I am using the Caffewerks Silicone Group Gasket - 73 x 57 x 8mm × 1. I got it from Whole Latte Love.

[@Nat-uk2gi]

Hi Daniel I enjoyed watching your video. Also how do you back flush your bezzera bz10? Thanks Nat

[@DanielBaird]

I use the stock portafilter with a blind basket and Caffiza.

[@brianbuday8639]

Nice! But I will stick with my old ECM Giotto thirteen years two services no major work needed It is a solid little home unit. 👍🍮

[@RXAR1234]

You still have the DeLonghi???

[@Raskolnikovvvvvv]

It is either this or appartamento for me

[@mz67]

Hey thank you for the clear explanation that helped alot:) . Do you know what original basket size is. Ik its 58mm but I'm gonna buy tamper i want to know if its exactly 58.00mm or its 58.4mm or something? I couldn't find the exact size in websites Tnx:)

[@DanielBaird]

It is not exactly 58mm....I have a 58mm tamper and it wiggles around in there. But, I don't know the exact size. My guess is that it's 58.3.

[@mz67]

@@DanielBaird tnx!

[@mz67]

@@DanielBaird hello again Daniel ^^ I'm planning on getting new basket i wonder if the 21> grams basket fit inside the stock Portafilter handle or the height can be issued

[@DanielBaird]

@@mz67 the height is a problem. My bottomless portafilter came with a 21gr basket and it does not fit in the stock portafilter.

[@mz67]

@@DanielBaird so the maximum size for stock Portafilter is 18gram basket?

[@david029014]

Is this good buy in the used market? How hard is it to source parts?

[@blizzbee]

I guess that would be different by area, depends on your local dealer performance.

[@soanonso]

@Daniel Thanks for the video. I read some comments from BZ10 owners that the pressure relief valve that dumps into the drip tray makes a mess or is hard to get situation when removing and re-installing the drip tray. How has this been for you?

[@DanielBaird]

I have no issue with mine. I can see how, if you didn't push the drip tray all the way in after removing it, there could be an issue...but it's never been a problem for me.

[@hirprimate941]

Do you use water softener?

[@DanielBaird]

I use reverse osmosis water from an installed system under my sink

[@soanonso]

Would love to know where to get one for $1300

[@baldheadracing]

@patience I think around $1600 is the current price. Given previous years, you should be able to get one for about $1300 online with black Friday 2020 sales.

[@lloix]

Why did you take the group head off before replacing the gasket and shower screen? I'm trying to get the shower screen off, but the screw is on so tight I cannot loosen it. I'm wondering if taking the group head off first like you did helps?

[@CrazyCuber187]

I'm having the same issue it's impossible to loosen the screw, the screwdriver ended up eating through the head of the screw and still didn't loosen. Do you have any updates?

[@lloix]

@@CrazyCuber187 I ended up sacrificing the stock shower screen, which wasn't a terrible loss because the reason I wanted to remove the screw was to replace it with an IMS shower screen. But it helped immensely to remove the grouphead first like Daniel did so I could concentrate on the shower screen. I might have had an easier time loosening the screw if I had tried it with a new machine, as it may have been the coffee fines that were basically binding the shower screen and the diffuser. www.home-barista.com/espresso-machines/shower-screen-screw-stuck-help-t8382.html

[@CrazyCuber187]

@@lloix Appreciate the response, I had the same thought so I bought a replacement screw and bezzera screen (in case I had issues with the IMS screen) and decided to postpone the change until I got those. I'm going to try prying it out the same way as you did knowing I can sacrifice the screw and screen if all goes wrong and I won't be left without espresso lol

[@lloix]

@@CrazyCuber187 Oh, I didn't know you could also get a replacement screw, but you seem all set! Best of luck with the retuning. It really is a fabulous little machine. I love it!

[@DanielBaird]

Taking the group head off makes it super simple to work on. And the screw is then easily accessible with a normal size screw driver. I had no issues getting mine out

[@bpencil1]

Hey hi, i just saw that you replaced ims shower screen. Can you say more about it because I am considering to change shower screen like you. And maybe can you give me also model number of ims screen? Thank you in advance

[@DanielBaird]

I got the shower screen as a recommendation from Whole Latte Love when I asked them about the head gasket. This is the item. www.wholelattelove.com/products/ims-nanotech-bezzera-rancilio-shower-screen I decided that since I was replacing the gasket, I may as well do the shower screen as well. So far, I'm very happy with the shots. The flow with the new screen is very even and a bit faster. I am still dialing things in. I have noticed that the puck is more wet after the shot.

[@bpencil1]

@@DanielBaird Hey Daniel thx very much. i am gonna buy also shower screen and test it.

[@mz67]

@@DanielBaird Hey daniel. I got the ra200nt screen recently and I'm just disappointed... Because of no countersink on this screen and my screw doesn't fit even like my original screen and it destroys my coffee puck consistency and I'm scared to screwing hard to make countersink on the screen should i do it? So sad... But! i saw you managed to create countersink on your screen and it looks CLEAN! please tell me how can i make that countersink on my screen as clean as you did Tnx

[@DanielBaird]

@@mz67 Just screw it in...that's it. The metal will adjust and countersink as you tighten it.

[@mz67]

@@DanielBaird in coffee geek someone said because the shower holder is made of brass and the Screw and ims shower is made of steel or something harder than brass you can damage the grooves on the brass shower holder if you push and screw hard to make countersink on shower. Is it true?

[@chrisbaltazar]

Where did you get the gasket?

[@DanielBaird]

www.wholelattelove.com/collections/caffewerks/products/caffewerks-silicone-group-gasket-73-x-57-x-8mm

[@LootLakenet]

Hi Daniel. Getting my BZ10 tomorrow, exciting! Do you recommend getting a specific filter basket? Or are you using the stock one? Some people in the HomeBarista forum recommended getting a bigger basket and underdosing it.

[@DanielBaird]

18g VST basket. Works great. I don't like the "triple" size that came with the portafilter

[@KingMinosxxvi]

it's huge

[@DanielBaird]

Not really. It is actually very compact compared to other machines in this class. When you open up the chassis, it's pretty packed, so it would be hard to make it smaller.