EM5300S Coffee Grinder: A Full Breakdown
If you've landed here wondering whether the EM5300S is worth buying, here's the short version: it's a solid midrange burr grinder from Breville that handles drip, pour-over, and even espresso better than most grinders at its price. The stepped grind settings are precise enough for most home brewers, and the build quality is noticeably better than cheaper competitors.
I'll cover what the grinder actually does well, where the limits are, how to get the most out of it, and how it compares to a few alternatives. Whether you're upgrading from a blade grinder or shopping between a handful of similar options, this should give you a clear picture.
What the EM5300S Is
The Breville Smart Grinder Pro EM5300S (called the BCG820 in some markets) is a stepped conical burr grinder with 60 grind settings. It uses 40mm hardened stainless steel conical burrs and includes a built-in LCD timer that lets you program the grind by time or by the number of shots.
This is not an entry-level grinder. It's positioned for people who want repeatable results across multiple brew methods without spending $300+. The 60-setting range is wide enough to go from coarse cold brew to fine espresso with real precision in between.
Specs Worth Knowing
- Burr size: 40mm hardened stainless steel conical
- Grind settings: 60 (from espresso to French press)
- Hopper capacity: 12 oz (340g)
- Timer: LCD timer with shot and time programming
- Portafilter attachment: yes, fits 54mm and 58mm portafilters
- Dimensions: approximately 6 x 4.7 x 15.8 inches
- Weight: around 7.5 lbs
The portafilter attachment is genuinely useful. You can grind directly into your portafilter rather than using a separate dosing cup, which reduces mess and grounds loss.
The LCD Timer
The timer is one of the standout features. You set a time (in 0.2-second increments) or a number of shots, and the grinder runs for that duration each time. Once you dial in your dose weight, you don't need a scale for every shot. The grinder remembers your last setting when you power it back on.
This isn't perfect because bean density affects how much coffee comes out per second, but for day-to-day consistency with the same bag of beans, it works well.
Grind Performance by Brew Method
Espresso
This is where the EM5300S earns its price. The 60-setting range gives you enough resolution to properly dial in espresso, including on non-pressurized portafilters. You can make fine adjustments between settings 1 and 15 without jumping too far each time.
The grind is consistent enough to produce good shots on midrange prosumer machines. I wouldn't call it on par with a dedicated espresso grinder at twice the price, but for home use on machines under $1000, it performs well.
One thing to note: the EM5300S generates heat faster than grinders with slower RPM motors. For large batch grinding, take breaks to avoid heating the beans unnecessarily. For single or double shots, it's not an issue.
Pour-Over and Drip
Settings 25-40 cover the medium grind range well. For V60, I land around 30-32. For Chemex, 35-38. Drip machines are happy anywhere from 28-38 depending on the machine.
Particle consistency at these settings is good. You'll have some fines, which is normal for conical burrs, but not so many that extraction becomes uneven.
French Press and Cold Brew
Coarse settings (45-60) produce an open, chunky grind that works perfectly for immersion methods. No complaints here.
Setting Up and Dialing In
Getting your first dialed-in setting takes a few grams of coffee, but the process is methodical.
For Espresso
Start at setting 10 and pull a shot. If it runs too fast (under 25 seconds), go finer (lower number). If it's too slow or doesn't run (over 35 seconds), go coarser. Move in increments of 2-3 until you're in the target range, then fine-tune one click at a time.
Write down your setting when you find it. The grinder holds its position between uses, but knowing your number saves time when you swap beans.
For Filter Methods
Start in the middle of your target range and brew a cup. Too bitter = too fine, go coarser. Too weak or sour = too coarse, go finer. The EM5300S has enough settings that you'll find your spot within two or three adjustments.
Grind Retention
The EM5300S retains about 1-2 grams in the grinding path. When you switch beans or dial in a new recipe, purge a small amount first. This is normal behavior for most grinders in this category and not a sign of a problem.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Regular Cleaning (Weekly)
The upper burr comes out with a quarter-turn twist. Brush both burrs and the grinding chamber weekly, more often if you're grinding oily dark roasts. Oily beans leave residue faster and the buildup affects grind consistency.
Breville includes a cleaning brush. Use it.
Grinder Tablets (Monthly)
Once a month, run 10-15 grams of Urnex Grindz through on a medium setting. This absorbs oils and clears built-up residue. Follow with a small amount of cheap coffee to clear tablet residue before your next good bag.
Portafilter Gasket
The rubber portafilter holder can accumulate grounds around the seal. Wipe it down whenever you clean the burrs. Letting it build up makes grounds fall outside the portafilter rather than into it.
Hopper
The hopper removes with a quarter turn. Wash it with warm soapy water and dry it completely before reattaching. Coffee oils leave a film that goes rancid and affects flavor. Monthly washing is enough for most home use.
How It Compares to Other Grinders
EM5300S vs. Baratza Encore
The Encore has 40 settings to the EM5300S's 60. The Encore is a solid grinder for filter coffee, but it's not designed for espresso. If you want one grinder that handles both espresso and filter coffee, the EM5300S is the better choice.
The Encore has a strong reputation for long-term reliability and Baratza's parts support is excellent. For pure filter coffee with a tight budget, the Encore is worth considering.
EM5300S vs. Baratza Virtuoso+
The Virtuoso+ has 40 settings but includes a timed dosing feature (similar to the EM5300S's timer). Its DC motor is faster and the grind quality for filter methods is excellent. However, like the Encore, it's not really designed for espresso.
If you never plan to pull shots, the Virtuoso+ is worth comparing directly. If espresso is on the table at all, the EM5300S's portafilter attachment and finer setting range give it the edge.
EM5300S vs. Breville Dose Control Pro
The Dose Control Pro (BCG600) is Breville's lower-tier grinder with 25 settings. It's cheaper but gives you less precision and lacks the portafilter holder. If you want the Breville quality at a lower price and only need filter coffee, it's an option. But the EM5300S's broader range justifies the price difference for most people.
Our best coffee grinder guide covers a wider range of options if you want to compare across more categories.
Common Issues
Static
Like most electric grinders, the EM5300S produces static. The Ross Droplet Technique (one drop of water on the beans before grinding) cuts static significantly without affecting the grind or the equipment.
Grinding Too Fine at Low Settings
At settings below 5, the grind can sometimes pack and stall. This happens more with older or lighter roasts that are harder and denser. If the motor sounds strained, go one or two steps coarser.
Hopper Seal Issues
After a while, the hopper seal may loosen slightly, allowing beans to sit in the bottom of the hopper rather than feeding cleanly. This isn't structural damage, just normal wear. You can buy replacement seals or use the included bean tray to grind smaller batches directly from the bean tray without the hopper.
If you're shopping for a grinder specifically for espresso, have a look at the options in our top coffee grinder roundup for side-by-side comparisons.
FAQ
Is the EM5300S good for espresso? Yes. It's one of the better home grinders for espresso in its price range. The 60-setting range and portafilter holder make it a practical choice for pulling shots on home espresso machines.
How many grind settings does the EM5300S have? 60 settings, spread from espresso (finest) to French press (coarsest). Each click changes the grind by a small, consistent amount.
Does the EM5300S have a built-in scale? No. It has a timer that controls grind duration. You program the time in 0.2-second increments. It doesn't weigh the output, but once you dial in a time that produces your target dose weight, it's repeatable enough for daily use.
What's the difference between EM5300S and BCG820? They're the same grinder sold under different model numbers in different markets. The EM5300S designation is used primarily in Australia and some UK markets, while BCG820 is more common in the US.
The Bottom Line
The EM5300S is a versatile, well-built grinder that handles the full range of brew methods from French press down to espresso. The 60-setting dial and LCD timer separate it from simpler grinders and give you enough control to get consistently good results.
If your budget stretches to it, it's a genuinely good buy. The portafilter holder alone saves time and mess for espresso users, and the precision at fine settings is better than most grinders in its class. Keep up with regular cleaning and it'll hold those results long-term.