Breville Grinder Burr Replacement Guide (Barista Express, Barista Pro, Smart Grinder Pro)

Before You Buy New Burrs

Breville's books for the Barista Express (BES870), Barista Pro (BES878) and Smart Grinder Pro (BCG820) don't give a burr lifespan or a "worn burr" symptom. What they do give is the full path to the burrs. The upper burr lifts out on all three, and it's adjustable to extend the grind range. On the Barista Express and Barista Pro, the lower burr also comes out during the books' advanced cleaning, with a 10 mm socket.

So before ordering parts, rule out what the books list as the causes of a grinder that's grinding badly: blocked chamber or chute, moisture, oil build-up on the burrs, a foreign object, and a grind range that needs the upper burr moved. Breville says regular burr cleaning "removes oil build-up on the burrs which can impede performance". If you still want new burrs after that, the removal steps below are the same ones you'd use to fit them. For a grinder that simply won't deliver grounds, start with our Breville grinder not working guide.

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Try This First

• Run the grinder empty and listen. A loud "racket" is a blockage or foreign object, not wear.
• Check the hopper is locked. Barista Express: FILTER SIZE lights flash. Barista Pro: LOCK HOPPER. Smart Grinder Pro: "PLEASE LOCK HOPPER".
• Did you wash any parts recently? Moisture stops grounds coming out, and Breville's cure is drying.
• Look at your grind setting. Shots running fast even at the finest setting point to the upper burr adjustment (Step 3), not a broken burr.

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What the Books Say Is Wrong

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Tools and Parts

⚠️ Safety: unplug the grinder or machine before removing burrs. Breville warns: "Care should be taken as the grinder burrs are extremely sharp." Never put fingers or tools in the hopper while it can run.

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Step 1: Empty the Hopper and Run It Empty

1. Unlock the hopper and hold it over an airtight container.
2. Turn the hopper dial to release the beans into the container.
3. Refit and lock the empty hopper, and run the grinder until it's empty.
4. Unplug it.

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Step 2: Remove and Clean the Upper Burr (All Three)

1. Unlock and lift off the hopper.
2. Unlock the upper burr and lift it out.
3. Brush the upper burr, the lower burr and the grind outlet or chute with the cleaning brush.
4. If parts got wet, let them dry thoroughly. Breville allows a hair dryer, blowing into the grinder chamber (lower burr).
5. Push the upper burr firmly back into place and lock it. Refit and lock the hopper.

Smart Grinder Pro: this is the book's whole burr-cleaning procedure. It shows the lower burr brushed in place, not removed.

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Step 3: Adjust the Upper Burr to Extend the Range

All three books describe the same feature: "Some types of coffee may require a wider grind range... A feature of your [grinder] is the ability to extend this range with an adjustable upper burr. We recommend making only one adjustment at a time."

1. Empty the hopper and run the grinder empty (Step 1).
2. Remove the upper burr.
3. Pull the wire handle out from both sides of the burr.
4. Move the adjustable burr one number finer or coarser. The Smart Grinder Pro's default is 6.
5. Refit the wire handle so the number lines up with the handle opening.
6. Push the burr firmly into place, lock it, refit and lock the hopper.
7. Check your extraction before moving it again.

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Step 4: Remove the Lower Burr (Barista Express and Barista Pro)

The books call this advanced cleaning, "only required if there is a blockage between the grinding burrs and the grinder outlet". It's also the only documented way the lower burr comes out.

1. Remove the hopper. Set GRIND SIZE to 1 (finest).
2. With a 10 mm socket, turn the nut clockwise to loosen it (only the nut).
3. Set GRIND SIZE to the coarsest: 16 on the Barista Express, 30 on the Barista Pro.
4. Unlock and remove the upper burr.
5. Remove the nut, spring washer and flat washer, then carefully lift out the lower burr.
6. Remove the grind fan and washers with long-nose pliers.
7. Clear the exit chute with the brush or a pipe cleaner.

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Step 5: Reassemble and Test

1. Refit the felt washer, metal washer and grind fan, in the order the book shows.
2. Insert the lower burr, lining up its drive pin and cavity. Fit the flat washer and spring washer.
3. Turn the nut counter-clockwise to tighten.
4. Insert and lock the upper burr.
5. Set GRIND SIZE back to 5 (Barista Express) or 15 (Barista Pro). Refit and lock the hopper.
6. Test before you rely on it: grind a dose into the portafilter, then pull a shot. Barista Pro: flow should start at about 8-12 seconds. Barista Express: the gauge should sit in the espresso range, with a shot of about 25-30 seconds.

Time: 20-40 minutes
Cost: Free (plus burrs, if replacing)
Tools: 10 mm socket, long-nose pliers, cleaning brush
Difficulty: Advanced

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Ordering Replacement Burrs

None of the three books lists a burr part number, price or replacement interval. Ask Breville Consumer Support (1-866-BREVILLE / 1-866-273-8455 in the U.S., 1-855-683-3535 in Canada) for the right part for your model. Have your model number ready.

Damage the books do name: grinding unroasted green or under-roasted beans, which "will damage or break burr grinders and even pose a safety risk". Burrs damaged that way, or chipped by a stone in the beans, are worth replacing. A grinder that's simply grinding slowly or unevenly usually needs Steps 2-3 first.

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When DIY Won't Work

Contact Breville if:

• The motor hums but the burrs won't turn after a full clean
• The grinder keeps stopping, even after cooling: BES870/878, unplug 30-60 minutes; BCG820, unplug 20 minutes
• A burr is cracked, or the lower burr nut won't loosen
• Your machine is under warranty. Talk to Breville before opening anything beyond the steps above.

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Keep Your Burrs Grinding Well

• Brush the burrs regularly. Breville says it's "especially important when grinding for espresso coffee".
• Dry everything before refitting after cleaning.
• Use freshly roasted beans 5-20 days after the roast date, and never green beans.
• Don't store beans in the hopper (Smart Grinder Pro book). Return them to an airtight container.
• Change the grind only while the grinder runs if the dial feels tight (Smart Grinder Pro book).

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FAQ

How long do Breville burrs last?

Breville doesn't publish a burr lifespan in the Barista Express, Barista Pro or Smart Grinder Pro books. Their grinding-problem rows are all blockage, moisture, foreign objects or the need to clean. Clean and adjust first, and treat replacement as the last step.

Can I remove the lower burr on a Smart Grinder Pro?

Its book doesn't show it. The BCG820 cleaning steps remove only the upper burr, then brush the lower burr and grind outlet in place. The lower-burr removal with a 10 mm socket appears in the Barista Express and Barista Pro books.

What does the adjustable upper burr do?

It shifts the whole grind range one step finer or coarser, for beans that won't dial in within the normal settings. Move it one number at a time and check your extraction after each move. The Smart Grinder Pro's default position is 6.

Why does my grinder make a loud noise after cleaning?

Breville's books list a blockage or foreign object, and on the Smart Grinder Pro, moisture clogging the grinder. Remove the hopper, check the burrs and clear the chute. If you washed anything, let the burrs dry completely before using it.

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Related Breville Guides

• Breville Grinder Not Working?: hopper lock, chute and drying, by model
• Barista Express Not Working?: every BES870 light and the gauge
• Barista Pro Not Working?: LCD messages and the thermal cut-out
• Breville Error Codes and Lights: every Breville alert

Sources: Breville Barista Express BES870 Instruction Book (USCM V23); Barista Pro BES878 Instruction Book; the Smart Grinder Pro BCG820 Instruction Book (USCM L26).