I like how deep you dive and also for pointing out that indeed it is not only the machine you are using that makes for a great shot.And thanks for the word on certifications, would not have thought about that! I would be super interested in that pour-over decent video too.
Thanks for your video! I was on the fence between the DE1Pro and the new Linea Micra. Even though the Micra is better suited for home use, I still find your review helpful on my decision. Ultimately, I couldn't help but appreciate the Decent's unique features and decided on it over the La Marzocco.
Great review. I was debating between the two, was close to choosing the Decent, went back to the Mini, and put down the cash. It arrives in a few weeks. I’ve had a Livia 90 heat exchanger for about a decade. Thinking about what I want to change, it’s adjustable temp, stable temp, and better steam. Sometimes, we have family gatherings and I need to crank out 5-10 milk drinks. The Linea Mini solves all of this. I’ve demo’d a Mini. Made great steamed milk easily. My Livia 90 steams quickly, so it wasn’t a challenge on the Mini. But it’s so much drier and doesn’t fall off with a large latte. Don’t fear strong steam power. The attraction of the Decent is that it’s matured from a science experiment. Just pick a preset and try it for a while. Try some others and choose some favorites. Cheaper than the Mini. Lighter. Transportable. Dry steam. Great for a single person in a small place - where you aren’t hosting Thanksgiving dinner. Neither is cheap. Both have excellent qualities. The LMLM might have a longer life, but the Decent might get cool upgrades. But for me, it’s the Mini that removes the friction I experience with my current machine. BTW, I enjoy steaming while pulling a shot. It’s easy to keep an eye on the Lunar scale when steaming, so the Linea can be much, much faster. And with the new app, I can preheat the machine in the morning, so the time to the first pull can be almost immediate. I’m confident that I chose well for me, but for others, the Decent could be the dream machine.
I had a Rocket heat exchanger machine I had was too fast and powerful for me to steam well with default steam tip like 10 seconds for 4oz! Switched to a smaller hole steam tip and it made a huge difference. Slowed it down a lot and made it easier to get better results for me anyway. More power isn't always better but I think the tip makes an even bigger difference than the steam pressure.
This is a random question, but how can one get this counter you have that the LMLM and decent is sitting on for home? I notice it has some nice features with plumbing in..
I like simple classic looking machines, I like the simplicity of on and off and profiling isn't a huge concern of mine, as cool as the decent is the Mini wins in my book for what machine I will get next.
Why not a dual boiler like ECM Synchronika? Half the price, all the features and more, PID, flow control is possible inculding preinfusion, looks extremely beautiful, same heat up time, made in Germany quality and design, easy to access and maintain, better temp stability, comparable steam power etc... The Mini like Brian says is a good Cafe machine. At home it's honestly dreadful how little it offers, how cumbersome the PID is and what it costs. It's supposed to be ammortized by generating profit. If the machine is not making profit it offers very little other than capability that you will never use unless you host a wedding or something, which a Dual Boiler can absolutely match. Why not spend the 2k you`d have left over on one or multiple excellent grinder, that is what will actually change your espresso. Owning a Linnea is a status symbol. Like a Rolex. If you just want a beautifully Swiss made century lasting watch, Breitling or Omega will offer you a much better deal for your money, like ECM for espresso machines. And I think the Synchronika is better looking too, also has quiet rotary pump etc...
I'm battling this decision now and glad I found this video. Although since this we now have the mini r and at least one probably two revisions of the decent. The LM is a grand more expensive in the UK but so much prettier, features are limited though for the money. Argh such a hard choice
Hi Brian, I know this machine would not even be considered in the same category to compare with the Linea Mini, but what do you think compared to the Rancilio Silvia Pro X? The Pro X is really new with little to no reviews. But would you suggest the Pro X or Linea Mini?
I love technology, but for me personally I feel more alive and passionate for the art of coffee making behind the controls of the Mini. I want to control everything mechanically. I feel more in control as strange as that may sound.
Hi Thanks for the video 👍 …I’m using an Orchestrale Nota, but quality of espresso decreased with the time and I had some issues with the pump that was replaced already once. I’m looking for something new as I don’t think my Nota will perform well again. I’m very interested in the Londinium but also took a look at the Decent. What would be your recommendation? Thanks a lot! Best Marco
@brian quan, can you also review what espresso machine is the best espresso machine to have at home? (Good quality machine; espresso comparable to la marzocco)
You mention there are better machines than the Linea Mini for the money can you say which ones you’d recommend? I am looking to upgrade from a quick mill and mostly do espresso
The Línea Mini has the app that you control múltiple functions including scheduling the time you want the machine to turn on and off automatically. I have a Linea Mini and love it. The steaming is insanely fast. I love it! I have been considering buying Decent but I would never give up my Linea mini.
Same scenario here. Decent might be something to play with on weekends but the Linea is my reliable steady workhorse that shoots exactly what i want every morning without too much fuss to think and linger about. Mini is Built like a tank too all the manual knobs, unlike touch screens, feels sturdy and would probably last for decades.
I have owned several home espresso machines. Reliability is king. Service is everything. The Lamarzocco has independent service agents just about everywhere.
Exactly, I feel the decent you'd need a computer wizard to figure it out. I feel if you are want to try different profiling with espresso there are other lever machines for the same or less money that you can profile with and easily make just as good of or better of a shot. The decent looks cheaply made especially compared to others in the price class.
you can't really do the exact same, repeatable profiling on manual level. There is also no computer wizard needed to do anything with decent, its actually a pretty simple machine to use.
I'll add... You need it for the LM... I have spent 1000 on standard maintenance over 7 years. If I had to ship it... Forget it... Not bashing as I've owned it for 7 years and use it daily. I wish I had more options available to me when experimenting....
My biggest concern with the Decent is the long term reliability. I think they need a few more years to see how 5-10 year old machines are holding up. LM has a large network of people that can repair them and I've had great service from Chris at LM. Decent has definitely found a market for profiling capabilities. You can see that the upcoming Synesso es.1 has taken a lot from Decent design.
The founder of Decent said in a video that they went to Seattle to see an espresso machine repair shop, and they found that most failures came from boilers. The boilerless design of Decent basically eliminates such failures.
@@yangluo yeah well this huaqiao didn’t learn everything he needed because the issues that lead to boiler corrosion are even more fatal in the decent set up.
Yeah I watched the deep dive into the internals of the DE1 and it's honestly insane and probably overkill. There's no boilers, it doesn't use a flow meter and uses PTFE hoses, multiple pumps. They've upgraded a few components since the original one was released though. It'll be interesting to see how it goes in the future but for me, after having fixed quite a few espresso machines in the past, I thought it was really good but so freaking expensive!
Brian. Excellent video! Thanks. One question tho. Where did you get the shot timer on your Linea Mini? I have seen the same shot timer couple of times and I am dying to get it. Thanks
Linea min is a flat profile espresso machines like most of others in the market, the more we dive into the world of espresso and the more that we wanna to explore espresso, then that's where are the bottle neck of flat profile machines at.
The LMLM is a beautiful industrial design object that incidentally makes coffee. The decent is an amazing coffee machine that looks ok if you like the minimal scifi esthetic.
It is an unfortunate thing that home espresso enthusiasts are more interested in a pretty looking machine than asking for more features from the manufacturers. The Decent blows LMLM out of the water in terms of what you can do with different coffee beans. LMLM should do more at that price point, but as long as people keep buying it, La Marzocco won't change a thing. Hopefully, there will be more competition to Decent. Synesso ES1 looks like an interesting alternative. La Marzocco is the Gucci of the espresso world. Light on features, but people go "oh look pretty" rather than "is this going to give me more control over the extraction".
@@maheshprabhu I think you make fair points, but the linea mini isn’t just a “shiny” thing. It’s a hand-crafted, commercial-quality machine with proven technology and track record for excellent espresso and milk steaming. As a professional barista, I’m intrigued by the decent, but I would probably go with the mini for reliability and quality
What's is the best alternative with profiling capabilities to Decent? I like light roast, and usually enjoy untraditional shots 1:4. I was debating between Decent and Meticulous or even Flair. The only concern about Flair was that size of water reservoir and that cannot make 18:72 gr shots due to the size. I dont care much about the steaming at this point
I don't think anyone 'prefers' a vibratory pump. Some people don't mind them and they're cheaper but for Decent the weird thing is the vibratory pump noise how it cycles on and off at random intervals to create the precise flow / pressure you program in which is super cool but surprising when you first hear it apparently it's not as loud in real life as in most videos ?
@Jon Woo sure but does anyone prefer a louder cheaper vibratory pump over a rotary pump? Never had a vibe pump fail on me but supposedly rotary lasts longer (also more expensive to replace though!) But if cost wasn't a factor most people would want the rotary especially if it means they have the option of plumbing in or using the water reservoir with it. They do ramp up to pressure differently so I'd imagine that may make a difference in taste ?
I don't find the Decent vibratory pump loud. For some reason it's nothing like the pump on, say at Gaggia. My last 2 machines were rotary and I don't find the Decent much louder or offensive.
I just got a hx machine with a e61 group and lever and for some reason the lever is so satisfying vs the button on my old machine. And also the joystick button for the steam wand.
Can you do a comparison between the Crem One Profiler & the Decent? The Profiler does profilng, stores profiles and plays them back. Up to 5. Strong steamer < 5 sec, NSF certified, rotary pump. Imported in USA by Whole Latte Love.
If someone could send me one or if I could get access to one I'd love to. Unfortunately I don't have access to any crem machines nearby me at the moment
Hey Brian, at the beginning of the video you mentioned that many ppl would most likely not want to spend on the mini because of the price explaining that there are other machines just as good as the mini but for much less... Could you share with us or me, what machines those are? Thank you
At that price the Mini should besides manual have pre-set volumetric options. Helps a lot in commercial use and even at home. My Spaziale Vivaldi does everything the Mini does plus programmable volumetric and killer steam, dual boiler with adjustable brew temp, smaller footprint, direct plumb, commercial feel all for 1/2 price of the mini. Surprised the Decent does not a silent vibe pump.
@Jon Woo I learned on manual machines, saeco, gaggia home and commercial, Simonelli, Olympia lever nothing wrong with them. Spaziale also has manual if I want and use sometimes. The big Linea Classic has auto also; as semi-automatic (EE), standard mechanical paddle (MP), or automatic (AV) and not exactly a newbie machine.
so wait a second, steam on the Decent is drier than the Linea mini? Please can others confirm this as well? This would be the main reason for me to choose the Decent over the Linea Mini.
Hi Brian, you mentioned in the video that there are other machines that will pull a shot equal to the LM for a lot less. What standard DB machines do you favor?
The 220V version of the DE1XL, XXL is better than the standard DE1PRO or plus or whatever; in steaming power and heat-up time. It still cannot steam and brew at the same time so for a commercial setting the LMLM would be better. 9 bar extraction is easier to dial in everyday. Add to that maintenance and support from wholesale. For a home setting, the DE1 is better than any dual boiler machine. Way more choice of profiles and fantastic temperature consistency, a lot more detail on each shot and easy DYI maintenance and repair with direct contact from Decent.
This was an interesting comparison. I'm in a bit of a similar situation. I don't have a Linea Mini, but I do have an ACS Vesuvius which is a huge and advanced machine that costs almost as much as the LMLM. I'm not doing very much espresso nowadays though, I mainly drink pour-over, so having a huge machine which is on a timer and turns on every morning feels unnecessary (especially with current electricity prices here in Europe). When I do make an espresso, I'm usually making a very special style of espresso. I'm using very light roasted specialty coffee ground very finely with flat SSP Unimodal burrs (Lagom P64), and I've got a very gentle and slow pressure profile that peaks at around 7 bars. This gives a very intense, sweet, fruity, acidic espresso which is really cool to taste. So the Decent feels like a very reasonable choice to me. I can just turn it on when I want an espresso and make it, and it should have no problem doing the same kind of profiling I'm doing on the Vesuvius (and even more advanced stuff). I think the Decent makes a horrible racket compared to the smooth gear pump of the Vesuvius but I think I can learn to live with that. So thanks for a helpful comparison!
I'd honestly say the Decent is one of the easiest machines to learn on. Sometimes super simple machines like the Gaggia Classic can provide a frustrating experience for beginners. This can be said the same about the Linea Mini (in its stock form) which is very punishing to beginners due to the high flow rate. I'd opt for a machine with preinfusion and flowrate adustments to make puck prep not as punishing.
Please do indept Linea MininI and Indept Decent, I'm about to buy 1st espresso machinr and would like to place good money on it. LINEA Mini does look nice and industrial standards , I was leaning to that when you mention it does less than Decent, but the feels of Decent aren't comparable to Mini
@@hennessylieu not wanting to speak for Brian, but my take on his reasoning is that they are two very different machines, which solve two different sets of problems. You may want simplicity and tradition, in which case get the Linea, or you may want bleeding edge and a continually-evolving machine, in which case get the Decent. I don’t think you are likely to know which of these two camps you fall into unless you have spent some time making espresso to see which one you value more. It may not be the one you originally think.
Did you notice a difference in the taste of the steamed milk between the two machines? The milk steamed by a La Marzocco, including the mini, always taste dryer and more velvety, compared to most other machines. Is that your experience as well?
The decent creates even drier milk than an lmlm, gs3, or really anything out there. It’s definitely slower, however. Even slower when including that it can’t simultaneously steam and pull a shot.
Lamarzocco rules the industry my friend probably every single cafe or shop has them. They are the rulers of espresso. I admit fir 5K it’s a lot. But it will pull a fantastic shot every time and last forever. Now for profiling Decent. But laMar. Rises above all others.
Hmmm. They are not really comparable are they? I have an LM recently acquired, and have no interest in owning a Decent. I never thought that the two were competitive to me. They are for different people with different interests. I think the video is good, will certainly help those who cannot decide which one for them. But I think the owners of the two are worlds apart.
As someone that owned a GS3, I think they’re comparable. For the home user, a decent may be better for power consumption alone (my electric bill dropped significantly even with keeping the same 12 hour on/off schedule). For someone that hosts parties or does pop ups, a LMLM or GS3 is the better choice unless they’re willing to purchase numerous decents or aren’t worried about the wait. The breadth of shot options for a decent doesn’t really apply if a person isn’t interested. They can pick a shot they want and stick with it, ignoring the rest. I experimented very little, mostly using a lever shot, with changes in temp for a particular bean(something I did with the GS3 but is basically instantaneous on a decent). I’ve occasionally used allonge and turbo shots, the latter of which I did on the GS3 and found it much easier to dial in on a decent due to the graph. That said, all 3 machines are powerhouses. Pros and cons to them all.
I'm struggling on purchasing a machine for my coffee cart that I will be using on weekends at the farmers market. I will have to carry it around from location to location. Any advice?
Hey Brittany, I saw your other comment. What types of drinks are you making? Also, keep in mind the decent is not NSF certified. However the advantage is it's transportability and it's power draw is much more efficient than other machines. So if you're building a cart for a farmers market it might be a great choice.
Could you help me out with some buying advice? Today I own a Lelit Bianca, Niche grinder for espresso and an older Compak K3 Touch for pour overs. I’m considering getting a high end grinder or a Decent espresso machine. Im not sure a more expensive flat burr grinder would get me a considerable better cup though. What do you think? I’m mainly going to use it for pour over but if it works for espresso that would be nice to. Perhaps Weber EG-1. I like my Bianca but Id like the repeatability of profiles I think. Price about the same as the EG-1. What do you think the best upgrade would be? If I like espresso and pour over about the same.
I'd get a grinder. Your bianca can do all the same shots as the DE1 with less accuracy so you're already close enough. If you're looking at getting a pour-over only setup an Ode with 64mm SSP MP burrs will do an amazing job and it gets you many of the properties you'd want out of a larger burrset for WAY less. I personally really enjoy the Dititng Lab Sweet for both espresso and pour-over if you wanted both. I'd also take a look at 98mm burrsets like the SSP HU that you can put in many grinders. Look at the Lagom P100/Max/Ultra. If you want a more optimized pour-over setup you can take a look at the Shuriken Coarse you can put in the MAX. If you get a max you can always put espresso burrs in as well. I also will say you can get an Ode with SSP MP burrs and see how you like it for pour overs. That setup blows the Niche out of the water for Pour Overs and its worth keeping around even with higher end grinders. Try that out first while you wait for the other grinders to restock?
@@BrianQuan thanks for your input! Do you think the ODE would be that much better then the Compak K3 Touch, with 58 mm flat burrs, that I already have?
@@Agathorn I haven't tried a K3 before. In my experience the 64mm SSP MP burrs are super high clarity and it's something that you may prefer in filter brews if you've never had something like that before. You can also take the burrs and put them in a DF64 or Lagom P64 for espresso.
So to summarize the Linea mini is fun and cute and the decent is a tesla that can do anything. As far as espresso quality and options goes it sounds like decent is king?
I was looking at both and went with Decent, mainly because LMLM does not even have real pre-infusion, which is essential for even extraction. I could make Slayer-style espresso on my previous BDB with its long, programable pre-infusion, but not on LMLM.
Is linea mini overpriced? Perhaps. Is it worth it? That's subjective but perhaps it is worth it because for what it is, the design and look, you can't get it any other price. Can you buy something equal to it or better in making coffee? Definitely yes.
@@halimsahlan yes but I honestly ask. I own breville barista touch and now saving some money so by the end of the year I can upgrade. I want to make a big jump in upgrade and the only high end coffee machines I’m aware of are LMLM and decent, if you can suggest something better in similar price range I’ll do more research. Thanks.
No. It uses a water heater, similar in concept to an on-demand hot water heater, combined with a cold/hot water mixing manifold to maintain your desired temperature at the basket. Steam uses a separate but similar heater with controllable temperature and wetness. Very definitely not a thermoblock as found in inexpensive machines!
I think Decent can not make espresso and steam milk ‘at the same time’. So If I want to make a latte, I have to wait until espresso is done and then I can start steaming milk after. Is that correct?
Or vice versa.... It does seem like a bit of a fly in the "one minute pre infusion slayer profile, then long declining pressure curve" ointment, not to be able to prep milk while it's doing all that...... But for general home use: Half to one dozen drinks a day spaced hours apart: Unless you live in Alaska, having the big boiler heaters on something like a LMLM fight your air conditioning all day long, just seems insanely wasteful. Makes sense in a high use setting. But for just sitting on the counter for hours, an on demand heated machine just makes more sense to me. At least when it's as well regulated and tuned temp wise as the Decent. I do wonder if the latest, 2200 watt, Decent, could be modded to allow low flow steam; say suitable for a macchiato or even cappuccino; simultaneously with brewing. Traditional single (7 grams into say 21+-, half to one ounce of milk) shot macchiatoish drinks are really complicated to get right. And don't really benefit from neither milk nor coffee standing around waiting for the other to get done. While at the same time, less than an ounce of milk doesn't need much steam power. The LMLM would just evaporate the milk in an instant........ While still far from the magazined heat of a big, high pressure boiler; once you have 2200 watts to play with, you're starting to get some playroom. At least in a home setting. Just saying.......
I like how deep you dive and also for pointing out that indeed it is not only the machine you are using that makes for a great shot.And thanks for the word on certifications, would not have thought about that! I would be super interested in that pour-over decent video too.
Great video! These are two of the machines i'd been considering upgrading to recently, so it's great to see them side by side!
Same here!
Amazing video! Currently trying to decide between the two. I love the real world comparison.
Dude thank you so much for such an informative video. This helped making a decision much more easier.
Oh wow, the comparison I didn’t realise I wanted to see!
Thank you, Brain. 🙏
Thanks for such a in depth comparison. it helped me decide in which one to go for.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks for your video! I was on the fence between the DE1Pro and the new Linea Micra. Even though the Micra is better suited for home use, I still find your review helpful on my decision. Ultimately, I couldn't help but appreciate the Decent's unique features and decided on it over the La Marzocco.
How's it going with the de?
Great video Brian!
very good comparison. I like it.
Great review. I was debating between the two, was close to choosing the Decent, went back to the Mini, and put down the cash. It arrives in a few weeks.
I’ve had a Livia 90 heat exchanger for about a decade. Thinking about what I want to change, it’s adjustable temp, stable temp, and better steam. Sometimes, we have family gatherings and I need to crank out 5-10 milk drinks. The Linea Mini solves all of this.
I’ve demo’d a Mini. Made great steamed milk easily. My Livia 90 steams quickly, so it wasn’t a challenge on the Mini. But it’s so much drier and doesn’t fall off with a large latte. Don’t fear strong steam power.
The attraction of the Decent is that it’s matured from a science experiment. Just pick a preset and try it for a while. Try some others and choose some favorites. Cheaper than the Mini. Lighter. Transportable. Dry steam. Great for a single person in a small place - where you aren’t hosting Thanksgiving dinner.
Neither is cheap. Both have excellent qualities. The LMLM might have a longer life, but the Decent might get cool upgrades.
But for me, it’s the Mini that removes the friction I experience with my current machine. BTW, I enjoy steaming while pulling a shot. It’s easy to keep an eye on the Lunar scale when steaming, so the Linea can be much, much faster. And with the new app, I can preheat the machine in the morning, so the time to the first pull can be almost immediate.
I’m confident that I chose well for me, but for others, the Decent could be the dream machine.
Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts. And congratulations for owning the Linea Mini. It's a great home use machine.
I had a Rocket heat exchanger machine I had was too fast and powerful for me to steam well with default steam tip like 10 seconds for 4oz! Switched to a smaller hole steam tip and it made a huge difference. Slowed it down a lot and made it easier to get better results for me anyway. More power isn't always better but I think the tip makes an even bigger difference than the steam pressure.
I struggled with the single hole wand on the rancilio silvia and found using my new machine with twin hole wand so much easier to manage.
I'll get the xxl someday right now learning on a gaggia classic
This is a random question, but how can one get this counter you have that the LMLM and decent is sitting on for home? I notice it has some nice features with plumbing in..
I like simple classic looking machines, I like the simplicity of on and off and profiling isn't a huge concern of mine, as cool as the decent is the Mini wins in my book for what machine I will get next.
Why not a dual boiler like ECM Synchronika? Half the price, all the features and more, PID, flow control is possible inculding preinfusion, looks extremely beautiful, same heat up time, made in Germany quality and design, easy to access and maintain, better temp stability, comparable steam power etc... The Mini like Brian says is a good Cafe machine. At home it's honestly dreadful how little it offers, how cumbersome the PID is and what it costs. It's supposed to be ammortized by generating profit. If the machine is not making profit it offers very little other than capability that you will never use unless you host a wedding or something, which a Dual Boiler can absolutely match. Why not spend the 2k you`d have left over on one or multiple excellent grinder, that is what will actually change your espresso. Owning a Linnea is a status symbol. Like a Rolex. If you just want a beautifully Swiss made century lasting watch, Breitling or Omega will offer you a much better deal for your money, like ECM for espresso machines. And I think the Synchronika is better looking too, also has quiet rotary pump etc...
I'm battling this decision now and glad I found this video. Although since this we now have the mini r and at least one probably two revisions of the decent. The LM is a grand more expensive in the UK but so much prettier, features are limited though for the money. Argh such a hard choice
Fantastic video.
Great video!!!
Hi Brian, I know this machine would not even be considered in the same category to compare with the Linea Mini, but what do you think compared to the Rancilio Silvia Pro X? The Pro X is really new with little to no reviews. But would you suggest the Pro X or Linea Mini?
I love technology, but for me personally I feel more alive and passionate for the art of coffee making behind the controls of the Mini. I want to control everything mechanically. I feel more in control as strange as that may sound.
Thank you for the video, super informative but is this a pop up garage cafe like a garage sale but for coffee?
Great video. Really enjoyed that. Thanks. Still debating against the 2, mini might edge it 😀 …
Hi
Thanks for the video 👍 …I’m using an Orchestrale Nota, but quality of espresso decreased with the time and I had some issues with the pump that was replaced already once. I’m looking for something new as I don’t think my Nota will perform well again. I’m very interested in the Londinium but also took a look at the Decent. What would be your recommendation? Thanks a lot! Best Marco
This is the content that the world needed. But didn’t have . . . . Until now.
@brian quan, can you also review what espresso machine is the best espresso machine to have at home? (Good quality machine; espresso comparable to la marzocco)
You have raised some pertinent and salient issues in this review; most informative and practically useful.
What other better alternatives to Linda mini, for better value?
You mention there are better machines than the Linea Mini for the money can you say which ones you’d recommend? I am looking to upgrade from a quick mill and mostly do espresso
bought a de1pro a week ago. my household has pulled... 140 shots so far.
Thanks for the great video! Argh - I want both! AND a Londinium! :)
The Línea Mini has the app that you control múltiple functions including scheduling the time you want the machine to turn on and off automatically.
I have a Linea Mini and love it. The steaming is insanely fast. I love it!
I have been considering buying Decent but I would never give up my Linea mini.
Same scenario here. Decent might be something to play with on weekends but the Linea is my reliable steady workhorse that shoots exactly what i want every morning without too much fuss to think and linger about. Mini is Built like a tank too all the manual knobs, unlike touch screens, feels sturdy and would probably last for decades.
I have owned several home espresso machines. Reliability is king. Service is everything. The Lamarzocco has independent service agents just about everywhere.
Exactly, I feel the decent you'd need a computer wizard to figure it out. I feel if you are want to try different profiling with espresso there are other lever machines for the same or less money that you can profile with and easily make just as good of or better of a shot. The decent looks cheaply made especially compared to others in the price class.
you can't really do the exact same, repeatable profiling on manual level. There is also no computer wizard needed to do anything with decent, its actually a pretty simple machine to use.
I'll add... You need it for the LM... I have spent 1000 on standard maintenance over 7 years. If I had to ship it... Forget it... Not bashing as I've owned it for 7 years and use it daily. I wish I had more options available to me when experimenting....
Heating time sold me, thank you for reviewing whats important
my linea starts within 15 mins max and i have been using it for a year now
ooh v interested in this!
My biggest concern with the Decent is the long term reliability. I think they need a few more years to see how 5-10 year old machines are holding up. LM has a large network of people that can repair them and I've had great service from Chris at LM. Decent has definitely found a market for profiling capabilities. You can see that the upcoming Synesso es.1 has taken a lot from Decent design.
The founder of Decent said in a video that they went to Seattle to see an espresso machine repair shop, and they found that most failures came from boilers. The boilerless design of Decent basically eliminates such failures.
@@yangluo yeah well this huaqiao didn’t learn everything he needed because the issues that lead to boiler corrosion are even more fatal in the decent set up.
Yeah I watched the deep dive into the internals of the DE1 and it's honestly insane and probably overkill. There's no boilers, it doesn't use a flow meter and uses PTFE hoses, multiple pumps. They've upgraded a few components since the original one was released though. It'll be interesting to see how it goes in the future but for me, after having fixed quite a few espresso machines in the past, I thought it was really good but so freaking expensive!
Chris is tha gawd tho 🔥 👌
Brian. Excellent video! Thanks.
One question tho. Where did you get the shot timer on your Linea Mini? I have seen the same shot timer couple of times and I am dying to get it. Thanks
I think it's the ACE Shot Timer. It's listed on Alcorn Cafe Engineering's website for $160 USD.
Started this video thinking I'll be saving for a Mini; now I'm saving for a Decent.
Linea min is a flat profile espresso machines like most of others in the market, the more we dive into the world of espresso and the more that we wanna to explore espresso, then that's where are the bottle neck of flat profile machines at.
The LMLM is a beautiful industrial design object that incidentally makes coffee.
The decent is an amazing coffee machine that looks ok if you like the minimal scifi esthetic.
The author clearly has a preference. The title should have been "Why I think the DE1 is better."
It is an unfortunate thing that home espresso enthusiasts are more interested in a pretty looking machine than asking for more features from the manufacturers.
The Decent blows LMLM out of the water in terms of what you can do with different coffee beans. LMLM should do more at that price point, but as long as people keep buying it, La Marzocco won't change a thing. Hopefully, there will be more competition to Decent. Synesso ES1 looks like an interesting alternative.
La Marzocco is the Gucci of the espresso world. Light on features, but people go "oh look pretty" rather than "is this going to give me more control over the extraction".
@@maheshprabhu I think you make fair points, but the linea mini isn’t just a “shiny” thing. It’s a hand-crafted, commercial-quality machine with proven technology and track record for excellent espresso and milk steaming. As a professional barista, I’m intrigued by the decent, but I would probably go with the mini for reliability and quality
What's is the best alternative with profiling capabilities to Decent? I like light roast, and usually enjoy untraditional shots 1:4. I was debating between Decent and Meticulous or even Flair. The only concern about Flair was that size of water reservoir and that cannot make 18:72 gr shots due to the size. I dont care much about the steaming at this point
I don't think anyone 'prefers' a vibratory pump. Some people don't mind them and they're cheaper but for Decent the weird thing is the vibratory pump noise how it cycles on and off at random intervals to create the precise flow / pressure you program in which is super cool but surprising when you first hear it apparently it's not as loud in real life as in most videos ?
@Jon Woo sure but does anyone prefer a louder cheaper vibratory pump over a rotary pump? Never had a vibe pump fail on me but supposedly rotary lasts longer (also more expensive to replace though!) But if cost wasn't a factor most people would want the rotary especially if it means they have the option of plumbing in or using the water reservoir with it.
They do ramp up to pressure differently so I'd imagine that may make a difference in taste ?
Yeah it’s not loud and for some reason I’ve grown to like it
Not true,
Some actually prefer vibratory pumps, because of a 'softer' pressure ramp up.
@@TheOlesb yep and there are ways to lower the noise. Profitec mounts it on a rubber holder.
I don't find the Decent vibratory pump loud. For some reason it's nothing like the pump on, say at Gaggia. My last 2 machines were rotary and I don't find the Decent much louder or offensive.
Funny the ECM Synchronika is actually heavier than the Linea machine. I guess it is larger though. It's like 80lbs!
I just got a hx machine with a e61 group and lever and for some reason the lever is so satisfying vs the button on my old machine. And also the joystick button for the steam wand.
I love the look and function of an e61 group but my problem is the 30 minute warm up similar to the LMLM
@@donfitz69 not 100 percent sure but bazerra might do a machine with an e61 look but with a electronically heated group which takes 10 minutes.
So weird I always thought the lever was for flow profiling. Lol
GS3 is the one that has that feature
Did I see an Olympia Cremina in part of your video? Is a review coming?
Good eye! Yes a Cremina video is on the way.
Can you do a comparison between the Crem One Profiler & the Decent?
The Profiler does profilng, stores profiles and plays them back. Up to 5.
Strong steamer < 5 sec, NSF certified, rotary pump.
Imported in USA by Whole Latte Love.
If someone could send me one or if I could get access to one I'd love to. Unfortunately I don't have access to any crem machines nearby me at the moment
Does The LMLM hold value well?
fantastic reviews. thanks.
Thank you Douglas!
Hey Brian, at the beginning of the video you mentioned that many ppl would most likely not want to spend on the mini because of the price explaining that there are other machines just as good as the mini but for much less... Could you share with us or me, what machines those are? Thank you
I’d love to know as well
Me too
Breville Barista Express
Lelit Bianca, VBM Domobar Super Electronic, Vesuvius, Dalla Corte Mina
I bet most of us cannot differentiate the taste from either one of them. 🤣🤣🤣
At that price the Mini should besides manual have pre-set volumetric options. Helps a lot in commercial use and even at home. My Spaziale Vivaldi does everything the Mini does plus programmable volumetric and killer steam, dual boiler with adjustable brew temp, smaller footprint, direct plumb, commercial feel all for 1/2 price of the mini. Surprised the Decent does not a silent vibe pump.
@Jon Woo I also have manual extraction.
@Jon Woo I learned on manual machines, saeco, gaggia home and commercial, Simonelli, Olympia lever nothing wrong with them. Spaziale also has manual if I want and use sometimes. The big Linea Classic has auto also; as semi-automatic (EE), standard mechanical paddle (MP), or automatic (AV) and not exactly a newbie machine.
If they didn't make it with a 53mm portafilter I'd buy a La Spaziale but it drives me nuts that they couldn't just use a standard sized portafilter.
@@donfitz69 53mm is really a non issue.
If the paddle on the Linea Mini could be used for pre-infusion, it would be unbeatable.
you wont tell the difference in taste. Pre infusion is just BS created by broke baristas trying to be rich engineers.
@@alialexander8098 🤣
8:41 your 2d pronunciation of diaspora is the correct one
Do you want to hear clicks or sustained noise? To be honest I mostly heard the water dripping when the Linea was on. So damn quiet!!
you could have touched on the XL and XXL
OK, at the end . . . I personally choosed the Olympia Cremina.
so wait a second, steam on the Decent is drier than the Linea mini? Please can others confirm this as well? This would be the main reason for me to choose the Decent over the Linea Mini.
Confirmed 👌🏻 it's incredible! And the XXL has very powerful steam.
Hi Brian. Where did you get the shot timer for the lines mini ?
ACE Shot Timer sold by Alcorn Cafe Engineering
@@markmccann520 thanks. I see they have a volumetric upgrade for the linea mini as well. This is the ideal upgrade
Hi Brian, you mentioned in the video that there are other machines that will pull a shot equal to the LM for a lot less. What standard DB machines do you favor?
Breville Dual Boiler and the Lelit Bianca are my recommendations!
@@BrianQuan what about the Rancilio Silvia Pro x?
Cost of one versus the other?
Do you think the Linea Mini would still outperform or be a better fit for a commercial setting than the 220V version of the DE1XL or XXL?
The 220V version of the DE1XL, XXL is better than the standard DE1PRO or plus or whatever; in steaming power and heat-up time.
It still cannot steam and brew at the same time so for a commercial setting the LMLM would be better. 9 bar extraction is easier to dial in everyday. Add to that maintenance and support from wholesale.
For a home setting, the DE1 is better than any dual boiler machine. Way more choice of profiles and fantastic temperature consistency, a lot more detail on each shot and easy DYI maintenance and repair with direct contact from Decent.
@@Abbbk35 Oh, wow. I appreciate you pointing this out. I just learned that it's not a dual boiler machine.
This was an interesting comparison. I'm in a bit of a similar situation. I don't have a Linea Mini, but I do have an ACS Vesuvius which is a huge and advanced machine that costs almost as much as the LMLM. I'm not doing very much espresso nowadays though, I mainly drink pour-over, so having a huge machine which is on a timer and turns on every morning feels unnecessary (especially with current electricity prices here in Europe).
When I do make an espresso, I'm usually making a very special style of espresso. I'm using very light roasted specialty coffee ground very finely with flat SSP Unimodal burrs (Lagom P64), and I've got a very gentle and slow pressure profile that peaks at around 7 bars. This gives a very intense, sweet, fruity, acidic espresso which is really cool to taste.
So the Decent feels like a very reasonable choice to me. I can just turn it on when I want an espresso and make it, and it should have no problem doing the same kind of profiling I'm doing on the Vesuvius (and even more advanced stuff). I think the Decent makes a horrible racket compared to the smooth gear pump of the Vesuvius but I think I can learn to live with that.
So thanks for a helpful comparison!
30mins for Linea Mini? I make an espresso after 10mins when the light stops blinking. My machine is 10 years old.
the pedal is just on and off (boring) but it's a fun machine?
Thanks, great review! I have heard that beginners might fare well with a more “simple” machine. What are your thoughts on that?
I'd honestly say the Decent is one of the easiest machines to learn on. Sometimes super simple machines like the Gaggia Classic can provide a frustrating experience for beginners. This can be said the same about the Linea Mini (in its stock form) which is very punishing to beginners due to the high flow rate. I'd opt for a machine with preinfusion and flowrate adustments to make puck prep not as punishing.
Please do indept Linea MininI and Indept Decent, I'm about to buy 1st espresso machinr and would like to place good money on it. LINEA Mini does look nice and industrial standards , I was leaning to that when you mention it does less than Decent, but the feels of Decent aren't comparable to Mini
I probably wouldn't buy either of these if it's your first machine...
@@BrianQuan how so base on your experience, since I want to invest a good small pro machine since I'm serious about coffee making
@@hennessylieu not wanting to speak for Brian, but my take on his reasoning is that they are two very different machines, which solve two different sets of problems. You may want simplicity and tradition, in which case get the Linea, or you may want bleeding edge and a continually-evolving machine, in which case get the Decent. I don’t think you are likely to know which of these two camps you fall into unless you have spent some time making espresso to see which one you value more. It may not be the one you originally think.
It’s been 3 months since this video. Do you have any updates on how you like the linea mini?
Note that where I come from the LM is significantly more expensive.
Correction: My Linea Mini heats up in 6min mate.
@brian quan, what are these other machines that can do the same as the linea mini (double boiler) at a lesser price in a home set up?
Breville Dual Boiler, Lelit Bianca, ECM Synchronika, Londinium R24, ACS Vesuvius, etc.
Did you notice a difference in the taste of the steamed milk between the two machines? The milk steamed by a La Marzocco, including the mini, always taste dryer and more velvety, compared to most other machines. Is that your experience as well?
The decent creates even drier milk than an lmlm, gs3, or really anything out there. It’s definitely slower, however. Even slower when including that it can’t simultaneously steam and pull a shot.
Really eloquently put.
I would stay away from vibration pump
Mini has hot water too.
Lamarzocco rules the industry my friend probably every single cafe or shop has them. They are the rulers of espresso. I admit fir 5K it’s a lot. But it will pull a fantastic shot every time and last forever. Now for profiling Decent. But laMar. Rises above all others.
This is pretty much a digital vs analog argument.
Great video! Have you considered the lelit bianca?
Hmmm. They are not really comparable are they? I have an LM recently acquired, and have no interest in owning a Decent. I never thought that the two were competitive to me. They are for different people with different interests. I think the video is good, will certainly help those who cannot decide which one for them. But I think the owners of the two are worlds apart.
As someone that owned a GS3, I think they’re comparable. For the home user, a decent may be better for power consumption alone (my electric bill dropped significantly even with keeping the same 12 hour on/off schedule). For someone that hosts parties or does pop ups, a LMLM or GS3 is the better choice unless they’re willing to purchase numerous decents or aren’t worried about the wait. The breadth of shot options for a decent doesn’t really apply if a person isn’t interested. They can pick a shot they want and stick with it, ignoring the rest. I experimented very little, mostly using a lever shot, with changes in temp for a particular bean(something I did with the GS3 but is basically instantaneous on a decent). I’ve occasionally used allonge and turbo shots, the latter of which I did on the GS3 and found it much easier to dial in on a decent due to the graph. That said, all 3 machines are powerhouses. Pros and cons to them all.
I'm struggling on purchasing a machine for my coffee cart that I will be using on weekends at the farmers market. I will have to carry it around from location to location. Any advice?
Hey Brittany,
I saw your other comment. What types of drinks are you making? Also, keep in mind the decent is not NSF certified. However the advantage is it's transportability and it's power draw is much more efficient than other machines. So if you're building a cart for a farmers market it might be a great choice.
Hey dude! Can you point me to where you bought your shot timer on the LMLM? 😍
pretty sure it's the ace dotshot
Could you help me out with some buying advice? Today I own a Lelit Bianca, Niche grinder for espresso and an older Compak K3 Touch for pour overs. I’m considering getting a high end grinder or a Decent espresso machine. Im not sure a more expensive flat burr grinder would get me a considerable better cup though. What do you think? I’m mainly going to use it for pour over but if it works for espresso that would be nice to. Perhaps Weber EG-1. I like my Bianca but Id like the repeatability of profiles I think. Price about the same as the EG-1. What do you think the best upgrade would be? If I like espresso and pour over about the same.
I'd get a grinder. Your bianca can do all the same shots as the DE1 with less accuracy so you're already close enough. If you're looking at getting a pour-over only setup an Ode with 64mm SSP MP burrs will do an amazing job and it gets you many of the properties you'd want out of a larger burrset for WAY less. I personally really enjoy the Dititng Lab Sweet for both espresso and pour-over if you wanted both. I'd also take a look at 98mm burrsets like the SSP HU that you can put in many grinders. Look at the Lagom P100/Max/Ultra. If you want a more optimized pour-over setup you can take a look at the Shuriken Coarse you can put in the MAX. If you get a max you can always put espresso burrs in as well.
I also will say you can get an Ode with SSP MP burrs and see how you like it for pour overs. That setup blows the Niche out of the water for Pour Overs and its worth keeping around even with higher end grinders. Try that out first while you wait for the other grinders to restock?
@@BrianQuan thanks for your input! Do you think the ODE would be that much better then the Compak K3 Touch, with 58 mm flat burrs, that I already have?
@@Agathorn I haven't tried a K3 before. In my experience the 64mm SSP MP burrs are super high clarity and it's something that you may prefer in filter brews if you've never had something like that before. You can also take the burrs and put them in a DF64 or Lagom P64 for espresso.
The Decent looks like something that could be bought at Best Buy.
So to summarize the Linea mini is fun and cute and the decent is a tesla that can do anything. As far as espresso quality and options goes it sounds like decent is king?
After all that, I expected to see you compare a couple of shots 😞
Porsche vs. Tesla. One is beautifully designed and the other has all the gadgets. Still undecided though.
More like Apple Watch vs Rolex Sub
@@inevahdie thats an easy one , your rolex will get up in price as time go while you apple watch will go to garbage when the new model arrive ..
good comparison
😁
Who in god name decided to put the cable off to the side and connect in the front of the Decent?
I was looking at both and went with Decent, mainly because LMLM does not even have real pre-infusion, which is essential for even extraction. I could make Slayer-style espresso on my previous BDB with its long, programable pre-infusion, but not on LMLM.
It has, if you connect it to the water mains.
There is also something called pre brewing which i don‘t like.
@@sp3llb connecting to water lines will only give you E61-style, very low pressure wetting, which isn't very useful.
one is ugly, and the other is a fine coffee maker
Is linea mini overpriced? Perhaps. Is it worth it? That's subjective but perhaps it is worth it because for what it is, the design and look, you can't get it any other price. Can you buy something equal to it or better in making coffee? Definitely yes.
Can you give some examples?
@@pawelgedyk1762 there's quite a number of machine that can do pressure profiling...and cheaper than the mini
@@halimsahlan yes but I honestly ask. I own breville barista touch and now saving some money so by the end of the year I can upgrade. I want to make a big jump in upgrade and the only high end coffee machines I’m aware of are LMLM and decent, if you can suggest something better in similar price range I’ll do more research. Thanks.
@@pawelgedyk1762 you can check out the lelit Bianca or londinoum...
Bianca trumps LMLM for value.
Tesla Vs Mercedes C class.
is decent proprietary Thermoblock?
No it’s a dual thermocoil
But it is proprietary
No. It uses a water heater, similar in concept to an on-demand hot water heater, combined with a cold/hot water mixing manifold to maintain your desired temperature at the basket. Steam uses a separate but similar heater with controllable temperature and wetness. Very definitely not a thermoblock as found in inexpensive machines!
I think Decent can not make espresso and steam milk ‘at the same time’.
So If I want to make a latte, I have to wait until espresso is done and then I can start steaming milk after.
Is that correct?
Or vice versa....
It does seem like a bit of a fly in the "one minute pre infusion slayer profile, then long declining pressure curve" ointment, not to be able to prep milk while it's doing all that......
But for general home use: Half to one dozen drinks a day spaced hours apart: Unless you live in Alaska, having the big boiler heaters on something like a LMLM fight your air conditioning all day long, just seems insanely wasteful. Makes sense in a high use setting. But for just sitting on the counter for hours, an on demand heated machine just makes more sense to me. At least when it's as well regulated and tuned temp wise as the Decent.
I do wonder if the latest, 2200 watt, Decent, could be modded to allow low flow steam; say suitable for a macchiato or even cappuccino; simultaneously with brewing. Traditional single (7 grams into say 21+-, half to one ounce of milk) shot macchiatoish drinks are really complicated to get right. And don't really benefit from neither milk nor coffee standing around waiting for the other to get done. While at the same time, less than an ounce of milk doesn't need much steam power. The LMLM would just evaporate the milk in an instant........
While still far from the magazined heat of a big, high pressure boiler; once you have 2200 watts to play with, you're starting to get some playroom. At least in a home setting. Just saying.......
@@paulnorman8274 Thanks for your opinion :) 👍
Im never going to buy one of either and the decent seems like the obvious one if I ever did, but the sound is horrifying.
I don't think I want the relaxing, enjoyable act of making an espresso turned into a a science project.
Lol the Decent sounds terrible when operating. I would never get over that sound.
1000th like lol
but where commercial lever
at your dungeon
the decent is so loud wtf... big nono for that price tag lol