Decent Espresso Machines (DE1) - Any thoughts?

[>decentespresso]

We’ve started shipping!

We’ve started shipping!

Our beta testers reported only minor problems (some software bugs I need to fix on the tablet, and some improvements on quality control). This upcoming week we’re building 220V machines.


Bugs and I are at the Melbourne (MICE) coffee show all week. We’re guests of Matt Perger, pulling shots on two DE1+ machines at the Barista Hustle/St Ali coffee stand.


When I get back (in about ten days, as there are a few ays off for Easter holidays) we’ll be sending a dozen or so machines out. We can build about 2 machines built per day, at our current speed.


-john

[Bob_Weis]

John,

I have one DE+ part delivered and would like to say hi on Friday. Which stand will you be on?
Looking forward to getting the machine as is my friend Gary Carpenter

[>decentespresso]

stickers everywhere...

In order to exhibit at MICE in Australia, an electrician needs to certify our Decent Espresso machines. I didn’t really know how tough this might be, but we passed and now have ugly-but-necessary “certified” stickers all over our espresso machines and power cables.

-john

[JMcCee]

John,

I have one DE+ part delivered and would like to say hi on Friday. Which stand will you be on?
Looking forward to getting the machine as is my friend Gary Carpenter

.....

.....

Bugs and I are at the Melbourne (MICE) coffee show all week. We’re guests of Matt Perger, pulling shots on two DE1+ machines at the Barista Hustle/St Ali coffee stand

[woodhouse]

In order to exhibit at MICE in Australia, an electrician needs to certify our Decent Espresso machines. I didn’t really know how tough this might be, but we passed and now have ugly-but-necessary “certified” stickers all over our espresso machines and power cables.

-john

it's all good...to tell you the truth, seeing untagged/un-stickered equipment is slightly disconcerting.

[bigdaddy]

Yeah,

It's good to see comercial appliances with cords attached properly tagged and tested...Whilst the tags look daggy, I've gotten used to seeing them and I kind of like to see them they reassure me everything is safe and properly tested.

Cheers.

[JMcCee]

You'd hope so. Some of the blokes i have seen testing appliances would even make a kettle nervous.

[HBexile2]

Yeah,

It's good to see comercial appliances with cords attached properly tagged and tested...Whilst the tags look daggy, I've gotten used to seeing them and I kind of like to see them they reassure me everything is safe and properly tested.

Cheers.

It's quite standard operating procedure for equipment at exhibitions or for shop fit-outs in a mall for the machines to have a megger test before they turn the power on. I'm quite certain the test is primarily for the benefit of the organiser/mall operator as a tripped main box RCD would cut all power to all exhibitors/tenants and be very embarrassing and troublesome.

I guess you could also say that it "certifies" the equipment but I do not think that is why they do it. If a machine fails an earth leakage test then something basic is wrong.

[>decentespresso]

Schedule change:

We're at Five Senses at 8am on Thursday (not wednesday as I mistakenly wrote)

Rao got it right:
https://www.scottrao.com/blog/2018/2/26/decent-mice

---

As to getting into the MICE show, I don't have any insight. Barista Hustle has obtained our passes, that's all I know. Sorry.

Here's the MICE web site:
Melbourne International Coffee Expo (MICE)

[>decentespresso]

DE1+ sighting in Vancouver…

DE1+ sighting in Vancouver…

[>decentespresso]

Beating a previous record

Here's Matt Perger trying different puck preparation techniques, and watching the resulting shot on the DE1+. By making a constant flow show, he can see if different techniques are resulting in a better coffee puck (and thus a better shot). Higher pressure, and more gentle erosion (pressure decrease curve) are the goal.

Big surprise, both Matt and were yesterday finding that nutating (this is a slightly rotated tamping technique) consistently improved the puck

Note: the video contains some rude language.

[simonsk8r]

Here's Matt Perger trying different puck preparation techniques, and watching the resulting shot on the DE1+. By making a constant flow show, he can see if different techniques are resulting in a better coffee puck (and thus a better shot). Higher pressure, and more gentle erosion (pressure decrease curve) are the goal.

Big surprise, both Matt and were yesterday finding that nutating (this is a slightly rotated tamping technique) consistently improved the puck

Note: the video contains some rude language.

Ah wow! Very interesting regarding nutation, in what sense did it produce a better shot (according to the graph), was it just a more even flow through the puck? I know he used it in comps but then later spoke against using it in general..

Might just ask you guys in person tomorrow anyways if i catch you hehe

[>decentespresso]

The start of HB's review



Damian Scisci took this lovely photo of an espresso bouncing off the built in mirror lip on his DE1+ espresso machine.

In separate news, Tom Chips of Home Barista has indicated that he’ll be writing an extensive review in the future, but he’s also posting his impressions as he goes.

As Home Barista is a forum, you’ll find TomC’s posts mixed with a wide variety of user comments (and rambles <smile>)
https://www.home-barista.com/espress...ro-t51565.html

[>decentespresso]

Promoting Transparency



At the MICE trade show in Australia, one of our two espresso machines sported a clear acrylic case. Quite a few people indicated they'd like their Decent machine to be clear too.

At the moment, this was done as a one-off, and the case was quite expensive. I'm looking into whether we can offer this as an option in the future.

For now, it's useful for explaining to people how the machine works.

-john

[ElShauno]

Had the privilege of playing with this machine at MICE and it was one of the highlights for me.

To walk away from the pretentiousness of Rocket’s new prototype pressure profiling machine - which the rep told me would be around $11,000 - and see the $4,000 Decent with its impressive tablet display and real time feedback brought a smile to my face.

I think this is the future, no doubt, and it now feels that coffee can have the same semi-automation as roasting which allows for a more controlled, scientific approach.

My only reservations would be the durability of the machine and that is solely because I’m not a first adopter at $4,000. I expect a solid 10 years of loyal, largely trouble free service, from a circa $2.5k machine so I’d be keen to hear from Decent about the build quality and thoughts on service costs. I like the fact the tablet is separate - if that goes I assume you just replace the tablet, correct?