Decent Espresso Machines (DE1) - Any thoughts?

[>decentespresso]

Coffee Shin TV

Shin from Decent Espresso Korea has started creating "Coffee Shin TV" episodes. They're far, far more fun than my videos, and better shot and more informational.

Damn!

Here's his video, on how to convert the DE1PRO model into a DE1XL, along with how to countersink it.

[>decentespresso]

New usb cables 4 u

We’ve now received 100pcs of a new USB cable, that we hope fixes the reliability issues that have plagued us.

Here is what it looks like.



I am contacting our customers to see if they’re willing to test this new cable, to help us determine if it’s really reliable, so we can finally “put this problem to bed” !

My intention is to eventually have a “v1.1 and v1.0 update pack” that will include a new stainless steel drip tray covers, and a new USB cable. That will be sent to all existing clients who would like these. That will happen in about 2 months.


THE SAGA OF OUR USB CABLE HELL

Our v1.0 USB cables would occasionally melt.



and sometimes the USB-A side would fit too tightly:



Those were replaced in January 2019 with a new vendor, and while cables never melted (progress!) they did occasionally fail for some people: perhaps about 20% of clients. Worse yet, these cables all worked perfectly for in Hong Kong, and we were never able to devise a test that correctly forecasted whether that cable would be reliable or not. We *think* the problem was due to a USB-A pin being a bit bent inside the connector. Our test gear didn’t mind this, but apparently some of our espresso machines did.

So…. now with our 3rd attempt to solve the reliability issues with this part. I decided to stay with major brands only, and ordered a bunch of off the shelf cables first. We took them apart, measured the electrical resistance, the wire thickness, and in peeling back the plastic cases, checked out the overall design and engineering. The cable we liked the most from an electrical perspective happened to also be the most attractive.

We're sending free cables out to owners now, who have a bad v1.1 cable, to see if this cable works reliably for them.

It's sad, really. A multi-thousand dollar machine, made unreliable by a $2 part.

[Dimal]

The new one certainly looks to be robustly manufactured at least, so that's a very good start mate...

Mal.

[>decentespresso]

The new one certainly looks to be robustly manufactured at least, so that's a very good start mate...

Closeup.

[>decentespresso]

Bigger BROR !



Bigger BROR !

I’ve made a 2nd coffee cart for myself, using the slightly longer (110cm vs 80cm) BROR table from IKEA https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30333286/ combined with the legs that have roller wheels, from the shorter, cheaper BROR table which happens to be compatible https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60333850/

The extra 30cm is a lot of space, and lets me choose between having “room to play” or putting two DE1XL machines on one cart.

As Colin Harmon https://www.instagram.com/colinharmon/ writes in his book about running cafes, 2 groups is the “sweet spot”, with only a 17% increase in output when you add a 3rd group. Hence, my interest in making a compact little two group coffee cart, for USD$250 worth of furniture from IKEA, and the rest coming from Decent Espresso.

As I’m going to use this cart for making “how to” videos for customers, I’m going to stick with 1 DE1XL. That way, too, the camera can see me better (I’m not hidden behind a lot of gear).
In the image above, I show two possible configurations for the cart. Which do you prefer?

-john

[StaticBlue]

Which do you prefer?

The one with everything on the left looks neater.

[gunda]

The one with everything on the left looks neater.

I'd have thought that the one that gives a smoother workflow would be preferable to neatness.

[>decentespresso]

Two new espresso baskets



Today we sent off to our basket manufacturer, two new products:

• After a year of R&D with Scott Rao and 5 iterations, we're finally happy with our "pour over basket" for espresso machines. This converts your espresso machine into a pour-over shower head, with each hole spaced and calibrated so that the entire coffee bed is evenly turbulent. Naturally, this works best of our espresso machine, where you can control flow and pressure, but this basket can also be used on traditional machines, which follow the 58mm standard.
• We have made dozens of these Puck Simulator baskets for our own use over the past 4 years. We use them in testing, burning in machines, and calibration. There's a single hole at 0.3mm, which gives a similar flow rate to espresso, at 9 bar of pressure.

Both these items will be shipping in a few months, but are available for pre-order now. You can find them on our NEW page, off our home page. https://decentespresso.com/new

-john

[>decentespresso]

They said it couldn't be done....
.... and they were right?

The first casts of our stainless steel drip tray cover have come out. The other casting vendors said our design couldn't be done. But one company said their lost-wax casting process could do it.

The upper photo is the unpolished part. You can ignore the finish (it would polish up shiny) but the non-straight wires, are a big problem. They're going to try again, with a cooler metal cast, but they aren't optimistic.

So... the solution here is to reinforce the design to prevent the warpage.

Years ago, we tried a grid of wires on the top, but I didn't like how it looked from above.

Now, I'm suggesting going back to the grid idea, but putting the 90º rotated wires below the main level, so that they'll be much less visible. These intersections will cause coffee to catch and be a bit hard to clean, but I think it'll not be too bad (should rinse off, usually).

Thankfully, our customers have enthusiastically responded to my idea and have sent in about 5 weeks worth of unused drip tray covers. That gives us a bit of time to solve this problem, and still keep shipping machines.

More news on this pressing topic, as the situation evolves.

-john

[>decentespresso]

panorama of various machines

Interesting panorama of various machines, so you can compare:⁣
- the Linea Mini⁣
- the Slayer 1 group
- several E61 machines⁣
- the Decent Espresso DE1PRO⁣

⁣and see how they all look, in comparison to each other.⁣

Thanks to https://www.instagram.com/talkcoffee/ for the video footage.

[>decentespresso]

Other approaches to the drip tray cover



Since our recent setback in stainless steel molding our drip tray cover design, we're trying two other designs, while we try to debug the original approach.

Both new approach to this part retain the main advantage of using rounded wires to avoid water retention.

The main difference here is that we're building up the drip tray cover by welding wire together, and this is is a well known technology.

We're having the prototypes made now, should have them in hand within 2 weeks.

-john

[>decentespresso]

Ben has drawn up a few different alternative drip tray design ideas. The first two could be done with the existing molding technology we are trying, while the last one could be stamped or molded.

[338]

John, I wonder if the top right design may retain more liquid than your present and alternative designs? It wasn't till Luca commented on how good your drip tray was I realised the dissatisfaction I had with the one on my machine. Small feature, but one you notice every day and nice to see the effort you are putting into it.

[swevictor]

Just chiming in! Regarding the drip trays I really like the design you landed on earlier, so I would strongly prefer the bottom design of the three showed as a good compromise.

If going with the welded option, the Alex Duetto design is not that bad as a starting point IMO. Could probably be niciefied a bit to mach the DE1

/Victor

[SanderP]

Just chiming in! Regarding the drip trays I really like the design you landed on earlier, so I would strongly prefer the bottom design of the three showed as a good compromise.

If going with the welded option, the Alex Duetto design is not that bad as a starting point IMO. Could probably be niciefied a bit to mach the DE1

/Victor

I always thought that the welded trays looked too much like a cheap oven tray.

Personal preference I suppose

Cheers