Originally Web posted Thursday Juneteenth, 19 June 2025.
Content last modified Thursday Juneteenth, 19 June 2025 .
External links last verified Thursday Juneteenth, 19 June 2025.

Modifications

As of 2025, submitted modifications reached a critical mass where they deserved their own section—especially for mods which change/improve functionality rather than repair or restore the machine.

Some mods will be presented on this page. Others which already exist in other sections of this Breville 800 espresso machine article will be linked to in those sections.

Index

MOSFET Modification: Analysis and modification details for converting the pump drive from the original SCR design to a more robust MOSFET design. Contributed by Doug McNutt in December 2010.
“Hard” Power Switch Modification: Want to avoid all possible problems with the machine running when no one is around, plus reduce power surge damage, plus reduce standby power consumption? Try this. Contributed by Doug McNutt in December 2010.
Reduce Pump Noise: Breville 800 noise annoys? Try these tips from Brennan and Olivier.
Output Pressure Valve Pressure Reduction Mod: Want or need to dial down the pressure? Kyle J. has helpful advice for you.

Output Pressure Valve Pressure Reduction Mod

Too much pressure? (And you’re not playing a 1980 Selecter song or debut album?) Site correspondent and coffee lover Kyle J. can likely help you take it down a few bar:

I was looking over your page and consider it a fantastic resource so I thought I would share my simple OPV mod that helped me adjust the output pressure on my 800 ESXL to sound 9 bar from the stock 15 bar.

This modification is only complicated by the potential need for a specific tool. Luckily I designed and can upload the STL if people have a printer and are interested in printing one. Essentially it’s a 90 degree Alan wrench with a 5mm pentagon head.

However, I did have some success just pressing with my finger against the face of the screw in bit and turning it that way so maybe try that before trying to print the tool.

Anyways the 800esxl has a very simple OPV system. The water leaves the pump and enters the OPV. The spring is calibrated to only release pressure, via releasing water back into the water tank at 15opv. If you simply twist the screw in plastic bit that holds the spring you can reduce the pressure necessary to activate the valve.

You might be wondering, how did I test the pressure? Well I installed a pressure gauge where the steam wand is and used the hot water feature, which pumps at the same rate as the group head, to test the static pressure.

The steam wand has a 16mm fitting, which works with a 3/8" NPT fitting if you use the white plumbing tape. I found the static pressure went down as I twisted the spring screw. I settled at 10 static pressure as that should translate to about 9 or a little less with flow, at least that’s what I saw on a YouTube video. I’m working on an online pressure gauge mod. I’ll keep you updated.

Through trial and error, and lots of unplugging and plugging the machine back in, I got it to where it’s about 10 static, which had the black gasket line up just past the expanded part of the pipe. I tried replacing the spring but couldn’t find one the right size that provided the right pressure range. After trying at least 8 different springs I switched back to the original and decided not to screw it in all the way. Hit 8 bar static so I just screwed it in a bit more until I got the 10.

Kyle sent a couple of brief video clips, which, though efficiently compact for videos, are large enough in file size that i don’t want to host them on this site—but they are available by request (ask me). Here’s a screenshot of a representative video frame, showing the gauge setup:

pressure gauge attached in place of the steam wand, machine set to Wand and Hot Water

Here’s what the adjusted valve looks like:

pressure valve adjusted for lowered pressure

Have any Breville 800ESXL repair tips? Send ’em in! I’ll endeavor to add the seemingly good ones to these pages, at my usual glacial pace. (Please let me know if you want to be credited or remain anonymous. Thanks!)