Who is this machine for? It's for ME! It's absolutely perfect. It's the greatest machine ever made, by a huge margin. There is only one drawback. I don't have the money to buy it! 😂😂😂😂😂😂
Same here. You’ll have to add a proper grinder too, and you end up way above $4K for an espresso setup. At home, this is hardly justifiable, even though I hope I will have earned enough money to just buy one in the future.
@@Krmpfpksthat’s 1 eur a day for 11 years. Totally worth it from this perspective. And you’ll prepare on average more than 1 drink a day. It’s all a matter of perspective😅
@@pedrofigueiredo3660 it depends on your financial situation. Even if you have the money, taking $4K out of your budget now might mean a lot more in 11 years, depending where you are in life.
I have owned a DE1 Pro for over 2 years now. I agree with everything in this review, which is far and away the best review of the machine I have ever seen. Bravo!
Great review. I have owned a DE1 for almost 2 years now. Having owned a GS3/MP, La Spaziale S1, an Isomac Tea, and numerous other machines, I can say that none even come close to the DE1 in terms of consistency and capabilities. If you are buying a machine for aesthetics and not the espresso it produces, you would be better of traditional. If you want the most flexible and consistent output, the DE1 is by far the best machine available. While I understand you comment regarding the cup warming capability, I will gladly trade the warm up time vs having a "space heater" sitting on my counter. The DE1 comes up to temperature in less than 4 minutes vs over 20 for the GS3. While I had to adjust my workflow, I no longer even think about it. What John and the team at Decent have created is absolutely the state of the art in espresso production.
videoing every machine leaving the factory has been an idea I ve had with dealing with problematic shipping/production as a small startup, nice to see someone actually did it
You say it's a tool and a test bench, and I think that's true, but the reason I was an early adopter and the reason why I don't plan on switching any time soon is for what I call, "great walk-up-ability" meaning that I can just walk up to it, pull a shot, and know what I'm going to get. I found a profile that I like, a brew ratio that works for most coffees, and I very rarely deviate from that experience.
This was a very useful review. I was looking at this as an option, but don't think I am ready for it yet. I still love the tactile aspect of making coffee. Fantastic non biased review. Thanks.
I was incredibly excited about this machine, until I saw the price tag. I guess that's what happens, when you want to buy a tool, that really does everything
I've been following Descent for years and just love their philosophy. The fact that when you comment on UA-cam or send an email John himself answers is huge. This machine is not built built for consumers, it's built for a community by an incredible engineer. That is what I find outstanding, they manage to be a profitable company by being open source and staying close to the community. That is just inspiring. I still hope to get one one day to go along with my Descent thermometer and milk jug, yes, I started small by buying those 😂
Decent has been around for like a blink for an eye and manufactures in China. All internals are plastic and yes open source just means clunky. Oh wow I get to use basecamp in my espresso workflow now lmao
Excellent review... Really like the light roast experimental ability. Where the natural coffee flavours come through vs tasting different roast levels...
@@LifestyleLab_ of course, and I did not say anything negative (yet.) from an industrial design perspective the decent is not clean. There a lot of little things that brake the continuity of the design language December is attempting to use. Btw, does the water reservoir not have a lid?
Just one thing. I’ve read repeatedly on the Home-Barista forum that espressos made with Decent lever profiles don’t taste the same as one’s pulled on actual lever machines. Apparently this is because the Decent cannot shower water on the puck initially with the near instantaneous force and volume of a column of water in a lever group. I think the main taste difference has to do with mouthfeel but there may be other parameters.
To properly hit the puck with instant pressure there is a way to properly configure the shot flow deeper into the settings It’s essentially like dumping the clutch on a car, I’ll try to dig into this further, forget where I saw it
I saw an app update video from them recently that shows how they fixed the hot water sputteriness, and an example for heating cups! (Though, not with a dedicated heater as you mentioned.)
Personally as much as I love this machine (cuz it's end game for coffee nerds). I can't get passed the fact that you gotta use electronics, tactile buttons etc in order to use the machine. I prefere the feel of an e61 group or like a LMLM.
If you don't mind the appearance, I'd 100% recommend a bellow the tray solution. With the in tray, you either trust the water resistance of the Acaia, or what I do is I have a purging cup that I always have on the scale when not brewing for drips etc
Just timing how long are your shots, adjusting the grind setting, is enough to alter the expressions of your espresso in many ways. With remarkable impact. More controls from a machine may or may not improve the extraction, but it's likely to add confusion to a novice user. The condition of a coffee is never stagnant but oxidizes all the time, which affects flow rate which in turn affects the taste. A "perfect setting" from both the grinder and espresso machine will never last. On the other hand, the extra electronics, poor serviceability will definitely haunt the user one day when the components start to fail. A simple heat exchanger is still the most ideal for performance, quality, and reliability. That's just IMHO. Am a tech and coffee specialist servicing professional espresso machines for 15 years. :o
Wow! What an AMAZING presentation looks very expensive cause I have not even seen this anywhere. Must be a thing of the future ☆ The UFO 🛸 of Coffee Machines!
Great video, this is very intriguing and a little intimidating coming from an Apartamento 😅 How long does it take to heat up? I’m assuming you can schedule a time for it to turn on as well?
You could, not the most elegant solution, but possible. Could also use the hot water spout. I am nitpicking, but nothing beats just pulling a hot dry cup off the top of a machine
Have been waiting for this review ever since you first impression video. For steaming capability, would you say it produces better microfoam than the top-of-the-range E61 machines?
I would say that the steam dryness is up there with the best I’ve ever used. The flexibility to change flow rate is also very nice depending on if your aiming to serve back to back drinks quickly, or make one drink absolutely perfectly
Thank you for the great video! I'm interested in the machine and just visited the Decent website. It's a train wreck, and I certainly hope it is not representative of the quality of the machine.
@@LifestyleLab_ I guess so. They list the legs as an accessory. Do the legs come with the machine or must they be purchased separately? I couldn't find the drip tray with the built in scale. Did you buy it elsewhere?
Aha, the legs are just service parts, they sell replacement covers, legs, group head covers etc…. They absolutely come with the machine. Drip tray cover was aftermarket, made by Euan Lake I have it linked in the description
@@LifestyleLab_I’ve got the rocket but am looking at the ECM synchronika, I was really hoping to see your view on the rocket with flow control! Totally understand the science/geek side of the decent but making an espresso for me is just as much about the tactile experience and the decent really has no appeal to me in that regard. Thanks for all your work by the way!
The downside of E61 flow control is that it’s not a direct relationship between flow and dial position because the pressure differential across the valve also comes into play, as the pressure builds at the puck, the flow with naturally slow even with the same valve position. However, I do still believe it is a very worthwhile upgrade on an E61. It allows you to pre-infuse better, and taper towards the end of the shot. Just don’t expect to be duplicating any crazy flow profiles with it. Video to come, but that’s the idea behind it in my opinion :)
@@LifestyleLab_ hey, thanks for the quick reply. Does that mean there's no way to get it in the US? Do you know if there's a plan to add it in e future? Or a similar machine?
I’m not sure if they have a plan to bring this to North America. There’s the possibility it could be run off a 240V receptacle like we use for ovens etc… but that would really only be useful for commercial use
I like how you said it’s great for a pro all the way down to a beginner. What beginner has 4200 to spend on a espresso machine when they can buy a cheap breville pro or cheaper. Come on man 4200 is stupid
What’s kind of odd is that it’s actually very useful for beginners because of the “helping” profiles, and the feedback you get from the data. So for beginners with a big bank account, it’s actually a great learning tool, haha
It isn’t officially NSF rated yet (that I’m aware of), but it has been designed and built to surpass NSF requirements and is being used in a lot of specialty cafes worldwide without issue. 200,000 shots over two years is 273 daily.
So not a lot of negative things to say about it huh? What about your front warped legs pointing inwards. What about your group head cover tilting forward and having a bigger gap between it and the front panel at the top versus the bottom. What about the rattling drip tray cover? oh I see you already changed it to something aftermarket better fit for a 4500$ machine. Let's be honest here, everyone is attracted by the features and the talk about espresso behind closed curtains (diaspora forum) but nobody talks or promotes the bad things that should not be there for such an expensive machine.
The tablet is pretty cheap too, and now it's impossible to find an Android tablet manufacturer who makes white tablets, but, even at this price point, everything is a compromise and there are reasons for component selection, Decent are very upfront about the rationale behind their choices..
This is my upfront and honest review, not sure what to say here… Never had rattling with the stock drip tray, and changing to an aftermarket one for a cleaner look was 100% my choice, and almost entirely for aesthetics.
@@deenman60 Yes, I know. Decent's like any other device is not perfect. Is it the 'best' espresso maker on the market? Who cares, it is very good, and very versatile in that it can be used as an appliance, or in a more interactive way to analyse and improve your shots.
Very fair review that perfectly describes the machine. This has been the best coffee experience I've ever encountered and ownership of the machine comes with a high level of company support.
it's like you said, a scientific device. This is the main reason it's not for me. I'd feel detached from the experience if I used a machine like this, it starts to become an automated science project instead of a making coffee experience. I'll stick with manual.
@@Cenot4ph I would say that in the normal week days while you have No time, No mood, or Not enough bean to dial in .... DE is the most reliable machine to provide you the quickest(heating up only takes 4 mins in where I am) and the most consistent cup of espresso. I only play with it when I have extra time in the weekend.
@@tingshanfrancisho7311 i think you hit the nail there on the head. Its all about what fits for your lifestyle. For me coffee is not just the end product, it's also making it
It looks amazing, but tbh, part of what I like about espresso is the manual process. However the inner geek in me is pointing and nodding that it wants one :D It costs 3x my current dual boiler, so I'll pass for now until prices come down or there's a future update that make it irresistible.
Thanks so much for an excellent review! I'm about 3 months behind you in DE1 ownership, and it's been so much fun. Lance compared the DE1 to a Tesla, and I think this is so apt. Most espresso machines will degrade in value and functionality as soon as you get it. The DE1 is unique in that it improves over time, through software updates like a Tesla. The analogy continues with how the DE1 treats efficiency. Boiler machines are inherently more inefficient and radiate a lot of waste heat. This is put to some use in a cup warmer, but it's important to note that it's because there's a large boiler (or two) leaking heat. Compare this to a gas engine that also radiates a lot of waste heat that is then used to heat the cabin for "free", but are actually only 35% efficient. A criticism of electric cars is that their efficiency goes down in cooler weather, but I argue it's opposite and that you're consciously heating your car when you need to and saving that energy when it's warm and you don't. The lack of an active cup warmer on the DE1 follows this same logic. You can also see this with the water tap on boiler machines. As most are connected to the steam boiler, the water is usually way too hot and highly mineralized through the creation of steam (I think the tap is traditionally there just to empty the boiler and wash the portafilter!). The hot water spout on the DE1 isn't perfect and a bit slow, but it's at the right temperature and mineral composition. One note is on manual control. You can actually control flow or pressure in real-time with the GHC by dragging your finger around the dial. While not as tactile and satisfying as a manual lever, this with SEP is how several classic lever machines were modeled, like the Leva. I think this feature is currently overshadowed by all the new profiles available (I swear I'll try Extractamundo one day), but it's there when we need it. Have you tried the tea portafilter yet? I think it's sneakily one of the best accessories for the DE1. You're able to automate a gong fu style tea in 3 minutes. I've modded a few of the profiles to stop on weight (much more precise), and have had excellent results. Any interest in a 3D printed drip tray indicator? I've made one for my setup with the Sheldon drip tray (both the tray and the indicator work great!), and I think I'll extend the design to the stock and Euan trays. Excited to learn the DE1 with your channel!
> You're able to automate a gong fu style tea in 3 minutes. Surely, "automated gongfu" is an oxymoron. > Most espresso machines will degrade in value and functionality as soon as you get it. At this tier? Most at this price level are "heirloom" grade machines, or at least that's the intention. I don't think we're going to see a lot of Linea Minis in landfill (at least until society collapses, anyway). And what do you mean by "degrade in functionality"? A 40 year-old machine that has been maintained/restored has the same functionality it had when new, surely? In fact, my Mara X GAINED functionality when I added a flow profiler to it. And when it comes to "wearing out", the pumps, pipes, tubes, valves etc... the DE1 isn't that different to any other machine in this price range, is it?
@@gospelofrye6881 If we say gong fu tea is tea done with great skill, then I'm more than happy to offload that skill to a computer :) 100% agree with you that a well maintained prosumer machine can operate very well for a very long time. But I was more referencing its functionality eroding against the changing state of coffee. Many machines are engineered to spec and can repeatably meet that spec. When spec changes, like when new brew methods come into fashion, it takes fairly major upgrades to match those methods. In comparison the DE1 is over engineered in anticipation of new brew methods, and meeting those specs is often just a push of software. For example stop on weight, stop on ratio, adaptive pressure and flow profiling (in one shot), long Slayer-style preinfusion, and temperature profiling were not available on release but have since been made available. Whether any of this has value to a user depends, but they are available.
the software is basically still at prototype stage. ie terrible. perhaps decent should hire some programmers rather than rely on users to write the software. but hey if you can socialize the costs and privatise the profits good luck to them.
@@LifestyleLab_the standard tablet is chinese junk, the battery is prone to bloating. bluetooth with a samsung tablet seems to have regular issues. its hardly likely to be the samsung. I have to restart the app about once a week. the software is junk, without the "sklns" its a pain to use. skins should not provide missing functionality. its not obvious when something has saved or not. its not obvious if a profile has saved back to the same name or not. every now and then it gets confused and throws an error. the library management of profiles is shockingly bad, you realise quickly that you are going to get an explosion of names if you keep profiles for every combination of temperature and any other parameter etc. the "skins" typically have only 3 profiles on the main screen. there is no way of parameterising profiles. only dsx allows you to change all the temperatures within a profile in one go. but then it seems to create a bunch of profile with strange names and has functionality its author needs not general use. adding notes like grind setting is an afterthought and only available in the "skins" and not particularly useful. its quicker to just write the grind settings on the coffee packet. moving profiles to and from the machine is a real pain and a security nightmare. the tablet is chinese so who knows what is in the software. the graphs lie, not all the recorded values are actually measured. some are calculated. while they seem nice at first, they don't really tell you a great deal about how the coffee tastes. there is no magic curve that yields the god shot. the machine provides zero feedback on what you should do to improve your shot. there is zero knowledge builtin about coffee. the history functions are virtually useless. there is no effort to develop a database of coffees matched to profiles. there is no way associating coffees to profiles. most of the profiles are useless variations on the same theme. there is no maintenance schedule in the machine, and scant instructions. you have to sit through hours of zoom calls for basic instructions. the final straw for me was when john said he wasnt interested in fixing the software because open source like platform or some such nonsense. up to users to do it. for a $3k machine not acceptable. machine has huge potential as coffee as software. never going to be realised. the e61 group head is not properly built to spec. portafilters have been know to fly off the machine. happened to me twice. the machine trips the mains when it happens. this has been flagged on the forum. no one is interested in fixing the problem. sprang one leak already. but then all the parts are chinese so what can you expect. at least they ship parts out quickly but you wouldn't want to rely on this in a commercial setting. the ceramic water containers develops a biofilm and needs regular cleaning. this also clogs the water inlet pipe which is hard to clean. if the inlet starts to clog with biofilm you still get nice looking graphs but not nice coffee. the machine only holds about a litre of usable water ie bugger all for this price point. adding water is an annoying process that happens too frequently. it's hard to know who this machine is aimed at. certainly not someone who just wants a decent cup of coffee without fuss and steep learning curves.
No matter the coffee machine you still need, Good Coffee Beans, a Good Grinder and the Ability to distribute and tamp your coffee correctly. So if the above is not done correctly the decent will be no better than any other machine.
It’s because of you that I now own a Breville Barista Pro. I know this has nothing to do with this video, but, it’s a testament to how awesome a presenter and teacher you are.
really nice video :) would be cool video, would be happy to see your view for commercial application using Decent 😀 i am very happy as this machine is from Hong Kong my home town 😆
Flow can’t be simultaneously calibrated for fast and slow flow, it depends which profile you’re using. You’ll see many graphs in this video where the lines are properly aligned.
I absolutely love my Decent! Your reviews are extremely helpful, especially the previous DSx skin video, which clued me into all the extra functions it provided. Keep 'em coming Matt, thanks so much!
Would love to hear an update. You haven't shared as much content with your Decent as I thought you might based on this video. How are you getting on with it? How does it compare with some of the other machines? I'm in the market - is it worth the premium vs something like an Ascaso? Have you used the custom profiles as much as you thought you might?
It’s beautiful, but… NO - Sticking with my old-school Gaggia for now. I like the clicky switches. I can take it apart and mod it. And, I like a challenge LOL!
I'm curious what the cleanup and maintenance are like, compared to a more conventional E61 single/double boiler machine. I presume the usual Cafiza for the portafilter, but what about periodic descaling? I presume no caveats there? Any other maintenance that you find you have to do more/less of? Obviously some occasional cleaning of the touchscreen as one would do with any laptop screen, yeah? Guessing it's not Gorilla Glass, since it's not exposed to the same degree of (mis)handling that your cellphone would experience.
Cleaning is all handled very easily through the interface. Cafiza backflushs have their own “profile” that the machine will run. Descaling can be done easily through the menu system :) I find this machine to be far more hands-off than an E61 because the drip tray doesn’t fill up anywhere near as quickly, and things like purging the group head and steam wand can be automated
I use 2 XXLs and 1 XXXL in my coffee shop. I love the de1. I switched from the lunar+drip tray to the decent scale 1.1 where I cut out aluminum trays due to Bluetooth drop issues from the lunar
I’ve heard some complaints about Bluetooth drop, but have yet to experience it so didn’t dig too deep into it. So you find the Decent scale connectivity more stable?
@@LifestyleLab_ most definitely. However, I have mine always plugged into a USB hub under my counter as the battery is poor on them. Acaia batteries are poor for how much I use them in a day as well. I always found that the acaia BT would drop when the scales would get hot from overuse or when water might drop on top of the scale...which can happen quite often during the day
@@LifestyleLab_ i used the Decent scale since the release (first batch collected from the DE factory) but until a few weeks ago, I switch to the Lunar and never go back. The connection on the Decent scales would occasionally drop but one you pair the Lunar, they stuck with each other.
The International System of Units is the modern form of the metric system and the world's most widely used system of measurement. It is the only system of measurement with an official status in nearly every country in the world, employed in science, technology, industry, and everyday commerce.
My main concern right off the bat-how difficult is it to get replacement parts? Repairs? Being such a technical machine, will the average tech be able to troubleshoot and repair?
Nope! The machine definitely needs to be sent back to Decent for major repairs. Minor troubleshooting they're very responsive and will send you instructions / parts as needed. But this is definitely not a machine you can take to any espresso retailer and have fixed like a traditional boiler E61 or something else that a plumber could probably fix.
I don't actually mind the drip tray. Porcelain makes cleaning very easy. But I agree, the open water tank is an issue... shouldn't need to buy an aftermarket cover on a machine this expensive
Excellent review. I love that you waited a long time to release it. I feel that while it can attempt to make a lever machine profile, a 58mm machine cannot reproduce the type of shot that you can get out of a 49mm or 51mm unless you use the 25g triple basket.
@@LifestyleLab_ the wider baskets require a super fine grind, which makes it difficult to get even flow. Even if there isn't visual signs of channeling, typically there will be early blonding. The narrower baskets allow for a coarser ground due to a taller puck height, which will give more even flow. This way you don't have to choose between body and clarity -- you can have both. If you want to try it, get yourself a 25g basket for your decent, grind coarser, pack it full and tamp the hell out of it.
True, even John is now experimenting with baskets that have smaller bottom diameter. These would be sold separately. If a few people confirm that the DE1 can at that time truly replicate the lever profile taste (consensus is on the no side now), I may consider it - but not there yet.
@@LifestyleLab_ if you do test a 25g then I’d be curious about the need to “tamp the hell out of it” in light of what we learned from your previous tamp vs water pressure test suite. I’m still quietly coveting a Decent. But I suspect I’ll need a genuine commercial business case to warrant such investment. Quitting coffee is easy: I do it every other month.
Dear Lifestyle Lab, Having experimented with various espresso machines, and having worked with some pro systems, I was almost breathless listening to your review of this machine. Your "definition" of this device as a piece of scientific equipment was impressive and if true represents a complete change in the more "artistry" driven machines that have existed in the past, where the user had to come to know the machine intimately ( assets and more importantly faults ) and to juggle those qualities to create a quality result, and perhaps us the reason why there is such a reaction to the manner in which this machine presents itself. In all honesty if I was not a poor starving artist, I would purchase the DE1 in a heartbeat.
In my opinion the hot water dispenser is actually one of the best features of the DE1. I think your problem with splashing is due to your using a scale recessed into the drip tray. I use Decent's blue tooth scale (which is quite thick) placed on top of the drip tray and don't have a problem with splashing when I make my americanos. The cup is closer to the dispenser, thus eliminating most splash. And with it's thermocoil system, you are ensured of fresh hot water - compared with stale hot water from most traditional dual boilers. The only issue with making americanos is the relatively small capacity of the water reservoir, which requires refill every fourth americano (about every other day for me.)
@@lfoggy3061 Yes, you can buy both a catering kit, which comes with a pump that you can feed into a larger source of water, or a plumbing kit which allows you to connect it to a water supply. It kicks on to refill the tank at whatever level you ask it to.
Thanks for your deep reviews. Wha do you think about portafilter height is too high for a small cup and may spill coffee.? Can you buy two cups portafilter? Does it have an scale in order to weight the target shoot? Can you give a good quality option for a consumer coffee lover less than 2000 k? Thanks so much
Rinse button would introduce dirty water to the cup, water spout was splashy as discussed. I tried many workflows, and that was simply the one that worked best :)
@@LifestyleLab_ But if you didn't do a flush or 2nd flush - that dirty water just ends up in your coffee. My 12oz Bodum double walls are high enough to contain any splash. From a workflow - you lower the electric bill, get an extra flush, and warm the cup all in one press. But I do admire the purist viewpoint. I just do it while I dose and grind, then toss the extra and brew.
This machine is what I was thinking an espresso machine should be like ? And Kept asking myself why such a machine don’t exist then found out it does and that I can’t afford it so I really hate myself right now 🙁
Really enjoyed watching this, despite me being a year late to the party. What is your workflow when flushing the group, considering the aftermarket drip tray, housing the Lunar?
Personally could never be proud to have something made in China representing as something from Italy or Seattle, but that’s just my patriotism and red scare talking.
Unboxing Video: ua-cam.com/video/NM9E2tBHrGY/v-deo.html
1st Look Video (very detailed): ua-cam.com/video/Ac53ZjGynxU/v-deo.html
Tamping Pressure Video: ua-cam.com/video/i70xWHhiFzI/v-deo.html
DSx Skin Video: ua-cam.com/video/sJ8tP-MS0wM/v-deo.html
Can you share the name the music played in the intro at 0:33 sec? thx
Who is this machine for? It's for ME! It's absolutely perfect. It's the greatest machine ever made, by a huge margin. There is only one drawback. I don't have the money to buy it! 😂😂😂😂😂😂
Same here. You’ll have to add a proper grinder too, and you end up way above $4K for an espresso setup. At home, this is hardly justifiable, even though I hope I will have earned enough money to just buy one in the future.
Same man
@@Krmpfpksthat’s 1 eur a day for 11 years. Totally worth it from this perspective. And you’ll prepare on average more than 1 drink a day. It’s all a matter of perspective😅
@@pedrofigueiredo3660 it depends on your financial situation. Even if you have the money, taking $4K out of your budget now might mean a lot more in 11 years, depending where you are in life.
@@pedrofigueiredo3660 BTW I have a miicoffee apex and a DF64 II now. 😇
I have owned a DE1 Pro for over 2 years now. I agree with everything in this review, which is far and away the best review of the machine I have ever seen. Bravo!
Great review. I have owned a DE1 for almost 2 years now. Having owned a GS3/MP, La Spaziale S1, an Isomac Tea, and numerous other machines, I can say that none even come close to the DE1 in terms of consistency and capabilities. If you are buying a machine for aesthetics and not the espresso it produces, you would be better of traditional. If you want the most flexible and consistent output, the DE1 is by far the best machine available. While I understand you comment regarding the cup warming capability, I will gladly trade the warm up time vs having a "space heater" sitting on my counter. The DE1 comes up to temperature in less than 4 minutes vs over 20 for the GS3. While I had to adjust my workflow, I no longer even think about it. What John and the team at Decent have created is absolutely the state of the art in espresso production.
Hi Barry any way I can message you regarding the options on the machines. Can not decide between Bianca lelit, GS3 , Eagle one and DE1. Please help
videoing every machine leaving the factory has been an idea I ve had with dealing with problematic shipping/production as a small startup, nice to see someone actually did it
Makes total sense if you have the resources to implement!
You say it's a tool and a test bench, and I think that's true, but the reason I was an early adopter and the reason why I don't plan on switching any time soon is for what I call, "great walk-up-ability" meaning that I can just walk up to it, pull a shot, and know what I'm going to get. I found a profile that I like, a brew ratio that works for most coffees, and I very rarely deviate from that experience.
This was a very useful review. I was looking at this as an option, but don't think I am ready for it yet. I still love the tactile aspect of making coffee. Fantastic non biased review. Thanks.
I was incredibly excited about this machine, until I saw the price tag. I guess that's what happens, when you want to buy a tool, that really does everything
Thanks for the video. I'll never get that geeky about the espresso I so enjoy each morning. :)
I really like your conclusion. Very concise and complete.
I've been following Descent for years and just love their philosophy. The fact that when you comment on UA-cam or send an email John himself answers is huge. This machine is not built built for consumers, it's built for a community by an incredible engineer.
That is what I find outstanding, they manage to be a profitable company by being open source and staying close to the community.
That is just inspiring. I still hope to get one one day to go along with my Descent thermometer and milk jug, yes, I started small by buying those 😂
I totally understand. I'm the proud owner of multiple La Marzocco espresso and cappuccino cups from Italy. Hoping to someday own a Linea Mini.
Decent has been around for like a blink for an eye and manufactures in China. All internals are plastic and yes open source just means clunky. Oh wow I get to use basecamp in my espresso workflow now lmao
@@PneumaticTube lol...me too...me too
@@lenovo7999 Linux is open source. I guess it's kinda clunky, but there is no denying its power.
Excellent review... Really like the light roast experimental ability. Where the natural coffee flavours come through vs tasting different roast levels...
Excellent review - thank you! You are quickly becoming the best espresso mind. Beautiful videography as well. Bravo!
I don’t know how people criticize the looks of the Decent! It looks so clean and futuristic.
because it lacks character of traditional espresso machines
The proportions are a bit off, although the white XL machines look nicer IMO.
Decent is far from a clean design. it just looks ok.
It’s as if (now hear me out) people have different design tastes and opinions 🤔
@@LifestyleLab_ of course, and I did not say anything negative (yet.) from an industrial design perspective the decent is not clean. There a lot of little things that brake the continuity of the design language December is attempting to use.
Btw, does the water reservoir not have a lid?
so excited to see this one posted!!! great work
Thanks Joe!
I've had a DE1Pro for almost 2 years now. This I can confidently say: It makes impossible things possible and easy things complicated.
Dude you’re awesome. Epic intro.
Glad you enjoyed!
Great review. Well done!
Just one thing. I’ve read repeatedly on the Home-Barista forum that espressos made with Decent lever profiles don’t taste the same as one’s pulled on actual lever machines. Apparently this is because the Decent cannot shower water on the puck initially with the near instantaneous force and volume of a column of water in a lever group. I think the main taste difference has to do with mouthfeel but there may be other parameters.
To properly hit the puck with instant pressure there is a way to properly configure the shot flow deeper into the settings It’s essentially like dumping the clutch on a car, I’ll try to dig into this further, forget where I saw it
I saw an app update video from them recently that shows how they fixed the hot water sputteriness, and an example for heating cups! (Though, not with a dedicated heater as you mentioned.)
Can’t wait to never have this machine yet still watch videos on it
Loved the intro music… feels like I’m on a journey with you!
Thought I had to put in a little extra due to the 6 month wait for this video, haha
Personally as much as I love this machine (cuz it's end game for coffee nerds). I can't get passed the fact that you gotta use electronics, tactile buttons etc in order to use the machine. I prefere the feel of an e61 group or like a LMLM.
I wonder when they release a DE2 what the improvements would be. I hope they are able to make a cheaper entry friendly version
Very interesting point regarding the water spout, I wonder what Decent has to say about it - it just seems like such an oversight?
Possible hardware fix in future generations, but not necessarily something that can be fixed by software or programming unfortunately
Decent is working on an update to improve the water spout. What I do is pour the water in my cup (for Americanos) then pull my espresso shot in it.
@@benoitgermain6047 yay this is very helpful information! thank you :)
Can you please please review theSolis grind & infuse perfetta
Love your content. Keep it up!
Thanks Alex!
Do you recommend using a "below drip tray" scale solution over the "built in"? Yours looks slick but isnt the scale constantly getting wet?
If you don't mind the appearance, I'd 100% recommend a bellow the tray solution. With the in tray, you either trust the water resistance of the Acaia, or what I do is I have a purging cup that I always have on the scale when not brewing for drips etc
Just timing how long are your shots, adjusting the grind setting, is enough to alter the expressions of your espresso in many ways. With remarkable impact. More controls from a machine may or may not improve the extraction, but it's likely to add confusion to a novice user. The condition of a coffee is never stagnant but oxidizes all the time, which affects flow rate which in turn affects the taste. A "perfect setting" from both the grinder and espresso machine will never last.
On the other hand, the extra electronics, poor serviceability will definitely haunt the user one day when the components start to fail. A simple heat exchanger is still the most ideal for performance, quality, and reliability. That's just IMHO.
Am a tech and coffee specialist servicing professional espresso machines for 15 years. :o
Wow! What an AMAZING presentation looks very expensive cause I have not even seen this anywhere. Must be a thing of the future ☆ The UFO 🛸 of Coffee Machines!
Great video, this is very intriguing and a little intimidating coming from an Apartamento 😅 How long does it take to heat up? I’m assuming you can schedule a time for it to turn on as well?
Heat up is around 1-2 minutes because it’s using thermoblocks, not a traditional boiler
Yes, you can absolutely program it when to turn on :)
Thank you for this. amazing review! one question, can't you use the steam to warm your cup?
You could, not the most elegant solution, but possible. Could also use the hot water spout. I am nitpicking, but nothing beats just pulling a hot dry cup off the top of a machine
@@LifestyleLab_ gotcha, keep it up!
Good review
And at 1ml/s flow it will take a MINUTE to froth a cold milk out of fridge.
You can turn it up higher if speed is your priority :)
Takes me around 45 seconds
Q. Does this machine have a color detector for the roasted coffee grain?at least to identify the required parameter to prepare perfect esspresso.
I’ve never heard of such a system… that would be next to impossible to implement
Have been waiting for this review ever since you first impression video. For steaming capability, would you say it produces better microfoam than the top-of-the-range E61 machines?
I would say that the steam dryness is up there with the best I’ve ever used. The flexibility to change flow rate is also very nice depending on if your aiming to serve back to back drinks quickly, or make one drink absolutely perfectly
@@LifestyleLab_ Did you switch out the steam tip or are you using the default single hole still?
Terminator of coffee machines 😅
I don't see prices listed on their website... just youtube vidoes when I click on the machine which is strange.
decentespresso.com/model?de1xl
Thank you for the great video! I'm interested in the machine and just visited the Decent website. It's a train wreck, and I certainly hope it is not representative of the quality of the machine.
It’s definitely a “smaller company” website
@@LifestyleLab_ I guess so. They list the legs as an accessory. Do the legs come with the machine or must they be purchased separately? I couldn't find the drip tray with the built in scale. Did you buy it elsewhere?
Aha, the legs are just service parts, they sell replacement covers, legs, group head covers etc…. They absolutely come with the machine.
Drip tray cover was aftermarket, made by Euan Lake I have it linked in the description
Have you completely converted to the decent, or does the Rocket still get an outing occasionally?
If I’m honest, unless I’m testing another machine the Decent has been the daily driver exclusively. The Rocket hasn’t been run in a few months
@@LifestyleLab_I’ve got the rocket but am looking at the ECM synchronika, I was really hoping to see your view on the rocket with flow control!
Totally understand the science/geek side of the decent but making an espresso for me is just as much about the tactile experience and the decent really has no appeal to me in that regard. Thanks for all your work by the way!
The downside of E61 flow control is that it’s not a direct relationship between flow and dial position because the pressure differential across the valve also comes into play, as the pressure builds at the puck, the flow with naturally slow even with the same valve position.
However, I do still believe it is a very worthwhile upgrade on an E61. It allows you to pre-infuse better, and taper towards the end of the shot. Just don’t expect to be duplicating any crazy flow profiles with it.
Video to come, but that’s the idea behind it in my opinion :)
How come the DE1XXL is only available in 220v?
Because it requires the higher voltage (and resulting current) to satisfy its power-draw. 120v can’t supply the power needed
@@LifestyleLab_ hey, thanks for the quick reply. Does that mean there's no way to get it in the US? Do you know if there's a plan to add it in e future? Or a similar machine?
I’m not sure if they have a plan to bring this to North America. There’s the possibility it could be run off a 240V receptacle like we use for ovens etc… but that would really only be useful for commercial use
I like how you said it’s great for a pro all the way down to a beginner. What beginner has 4200 to spend on a espresso machine when they can buy a cheap breville pro or cheaper. Come on man 4200 is stupid
Experience with coffee isn’t connected to budget in any way…
i am still a espresso newbie but i feel intimidated by this machine,i am not confident i can do it justice yet.
What’s kind of odd is that it’s actually very useful for beginners because of the “helping” profiles, and the feedback you get from the data. So for beginners with a big bank account, it’s actually a great learning tool, haha
So out of all the machines you’ve tried, which is your favorite?
The Decent for sure thus far
For pure enjoyment of use I still love the Flair 58 and Rocket though
@@LifestyleLab_ The rocket is my dream machine lol I have the barista express rn
Great machine to aspire to, so enjoyable to use 👌
Synesso ES1
Nah, I'm going to go for the Europiccola
I wonder how would this machine stack up against Rocket r91
Decent is far more programmable, far smaller, but would have less steaming power, and less bombproof build quality.
Who makes this machine and what is the price.
It is directly linked in the description and top comment
I swear the graphs look like a PCR program cycle
Ayyy, we have a fellow scientist in the building 👍
2 year warranty is fine but 200k shots? please this isn't NSF rated.
It isn’t officially NSF rated yet (that I’m aware of), but it has been designed and built to surpass NSF requirements and is being used in a lot of specialty cafes worldwide without issue. 200,000 shots over two years is 273 daily.
Decent review.
Thanks 😉
So not a lot of negative things to say about it huh? What about your front warped legs pointing inwards. What about your group head cover tilting forward and having a bigger gap between it and the front panel at the top versus the bottom. What about the rattling drip tray cover? oh I see you already changed it to something aftermarket better fit for a 4500$ machine. Let's be honest here, everyone is attracted by the features and the talk about espresso behind closed curtains (diaspora forum) but nobody talks or promotes the bad things that should not be there for such an expensive machine.
The tablet is pretty cheap too, and now it's impossible to find an Android tablet manufacturer who makes white tablets, but, even at this price point, everything is a compromise and there are reasons for component selection, Decent are very upfront about the rationale behind their choices..
@@bozomedicus5035 I'm familiar with them, I owned one for 1 year.
This is my upfront and honest review, not sure what to say here…
Never had rattling with the stock drip tray, and changing to an aftermarket one for a cleaner look was 100% my choice, and almost entirely for aesthetics.
@@deenman60 Yes, I know. Decent's like any other device is not perfect. Is it the 'best' espresso maker on the market? Who cares, it is very good, and very versatile in that it can be used as an appliance, or in a more interactive way to analyse and improve your shots.
273 shots per day....commercial for sure
This machine is great but extremely expensive
Not enough caffeine to get excited about. Otherwise a posers idea of coffee.
Man, I have had mine for a year now and I can’t agree more. Very good review!
Amazing review!
Very fair review that perfectly describes the machine.
This has been the best coffee experience I've ever encountered and ownership of the machine comes with a high level of company support.
it's like you said, a scientific device. This is the main reason it's not for me. I'd feel detached from the experience if I used a machine like this, it starts to become an automated science project instead of a making coffee experience. I'll stick with manual.
Nothing wrong with that!
@@LifestyleLab_ it's a great machine if you want to experiment or want very consistent coffee. Thanks for the review!
@@Cenot4ph I would say that in the normal week days while you have No time, No mood, or Not enough bean to dial in .... DE is the most reliable machine to provide you the quickest(heating up only takes 4 mins in where I am) and the most consistent cup of espresso.
I only play with it when I have extra time in the weekend.
@@tingshanfrancisho7311 i think you hit the nail there on the head. Its all about what fits for your lifestyle.
For me coffee is not just the end product, it's also making it
It looks amazing, but tbh, part of what I like about espresso is the manual process. However the inner geek in me is pointing and nodding that it wants one :D
It costs 3x my current dual boiler, so I'll pass for now until prices come down or there's a future update that make it irresistible.
Thanks so much for an excellent review! I'm about 3 months behind you in DE1 ownership, and it's been so much fun.
Lance compared the DE1 to a Tesla, and I think this is so apt. Most espresso machines will degrade in value and functionality as soon as you get it. The DE1 is unique in that it improves over time, through software updates like a Tesla.
The analogy continues with how the DE1 treats efficiency. Boiler machines are inherently more inefficient and radiate a lot of waste heat. This is put to some use in a cup warmer, but it's important to note that it's because there's a large boiler (or two) leaking heat. Compare this to a gas engine that also radiates a lot of waste heat that is then used to heat the cabin for "free", but are actually only 35% efficient. A criticism of electric cars is that their efficiency goes down in cooler weather, but I argue it's opposite and that you're consciously heating your car when you need to and saving that energy when it's warm and you don't. The lack of an active cup warmer on the DE1 follows this same logic.
You can also see this with the water tap on boiler machines. As most are connected to the steam boiler, the water is usually way too hot and highly mineralized through the creation of steam (I think the tap is traditionally there just to empty the boiler and wash the portafilter!). The hot water spout on the DE1 isn't perfect and a bit slow, but it's at the right temperature and mineral composition.
One note is on manual control. You can actually control flow or pressure in real-time with the GHC by dragging your finger around the dial. While not as tactile and satisfying as a manual lever, this with SEP is how several classic lever machines were modeled, like the Leva. I think this feature is currently overshadowed by all the new profiles available (I swear I'll try Extractamundo one day), but it's there when we need it.
Have you tried the tea portafilter yet? I think it's sneakily one of the best accessories for the DE1. You're able to automate a gong fu style tea in 3 minutes. I've modded a few of the profiles to stop on weight (much more precise), and have had excellent results.
Any interest in a 3D printed drip tray indicator? I've made one for my setup with the Sheldon drip tray (both the tray and the indicator work great!), and I think I'll extend the design to the stock and Euan trays.
Excited to learn the DE1 with your channel!
> You're able to automate a gong fu style tea in 3 minutes.
Surely, "automated gongfu" is an oxymoron.
> Most espresso machines will degrade in value and functionality as soon as you get it.
At this tier? Most at this price level are "heirloom" grade machines, or at least that's the intention. I don't think we're going to see a lot of Linea Minis in landfill (at least until society collapses, anyway). And what do you mean by "degrade in functionality"? A 40 year-old machine that has been maintained/restored has the same functionality it had when new, surely? In fact, my Mara X GAINED functionality when I added a flow profiler to it. And when it comes to "wearing out", the pumps, pipes, tubes, valves etc... the DE1 isn't that different to any other machine in this price range, is it?
@@gospelofrye6881 If we say gong fu tea is tea done with great skill, then I'm more than happy to offload that skill to a computer :)
100% agree with you that a well maintained prosumer machine can operate very well for a very long time. But I was more referencing its functionality eroding against the changing state of coffee. Many machines are engineered to spec and can repeatably meet that spec. When spec changes, like when new brew methods come into fashion, it takes fairly major upgrades to match those methods. In comparison the DE1 is over engineered in anticipation of new brew methods, and meeting those specs is often just a push of software. For example stop on weight, stop on ratio, adaptive pressure and flow profiling (in one shot), long Slayer-style preinfusion, and temperature profiling were not available on release but have since been made available. Whether any of this has value to a user depends, but they are available.
I run a 6 sec group head flush to warm my cup while grinding. Works for me.
the software is basically still at prototype stage. ie terrible. perhaps decent should hire some programmers rather than rely on users to write the software. but hey if you can socialize the costs and privatise the profits good luck to them.
I have yet to encounter any software issues or bugs… appearance-wise, yes the community has carried the team in that area
@@LifestyleLab_the standard tablet is chinese junk, the battery is prone to bloating. bluetooth with a samsung tablet seems to have regular issues. its hardly likely to be the samsung. I have to restart the app about once a week.
the software is junk, without the "sklns" its a pain to use. skins should not provide missing functionality. its not obvious when something has saved or not. its not obvious if a profile has saved back to the same name or not. every now and then it gets confused and throws an error.
the library management of profiles is shockingly bad, you realise quickly that you are going to get an explosion of names if you keep profiles for every combination of temperature and any other parameter etc. the "skins" typically have only 3 profiles on the main screen.
there is no way of parameterising profiles. only dsx allows you to change all the temperatures within a profile in one go. but then it seems to create a bunch of profile with strange names and has functionality its author needs not general use.
adding notes like grind setting is an afterthought and only available in the "skins" and not particularly useful. its quicker to just write the grind settings on the coffee packet.
moving profiles to and from the machine is a real pain and a security nightmare. the tablet is chinese so who knows what is in the software.
the graphs lie, not all the recorded values are actually measured. some are calculated. while they seem nice at first, they don't really tell you a great deal about how the coffee tastes. there is no magic curve that yields the god shot.
the machine provides zero feedback on what you should do to improve your shot. there is zero knowledge builtin about coffee. the history functions are virtually useless. there is no effort to develop a database of coffees matched to profiles. there is no way associating coffees to profiles.
most of the profiles are useless variations on the same theme.
there is no maintenance schedule in the machine, and scant instructions. you have to sit through hours of zoom calls for basic instructions.
the final straw for me was when john said he wasnt interested in fixing the software because open source like platform or some such nonsense. up to users to do it. for a $3k machine not acceptable.
machine has huge potential as coffee as software. never going to be realised.
the e61 group head is not properly built to spec. portafilters have been know to fly off the machine. happened to me twice. the machine trips the mains when it happens. this has been flagged on the forum. no one is interested in fixing the problem.
sprang one leak already. but then all the parts are chinese so what can you expect. at least they ship parts out quickly but you wouldn't want to rely on this in a commercial setting.
the ceramic water containers develops a biofilm and needs regular cleaning. this also clogs the water inlet pipe which is hard to clean. if the inlet starts to clog with biofilm you still get nice looking graphs but not nice coffee.
the machine only holds about a litre of usable water ie bugger all for this price point. adding water is an annoying process that happens too frequently.
it's hard to know who this machine is aimed at. certainly not someone who just wants a decent cup of coffee without fuss and steep learning curves.
No matter the coffee machine you still need, Good Coffee Beans, a Good Grinder and the Ability to distribute and tamp your coffee correctly. So if the above is not done correctly the decent will be no better than any other machine.
True! Except in the case of the adaptive profiles mentioned
It’s because of you that I now own a Breville Barista Pro. I know this has nothing to do with this video, but, it’s a testament to how awesome a presenter and teacher you are.
That means a lot, thank you so much 🙏
really nice video :) would be cool video, would be happy to see your view for commercial application using Decent 😀
i am very happy as this machine is from Hong Kong my home town 😆
Bro your brown line and blue line is meant to match. Do calibrate it
Flow can’t be simultaneously calibrated for fast and slow flow, it depends which profile you’re using. You’ll see many graphs in this video where the lines are properly aligned.
ngl, that intro is fire
I absolutely love my Decent! Your reviews are extremely helpful, especially the previous DSx skin video, which clued me into all the extra functions it provided. Keep 'em coming Matt, thanks so much!
It looks half decent.
He cute
Let's appreciate how well this kid speaks.
I actallly really like how the machine looks.
Other than the sucktion feet thingys.
Would love to hear an update. You haven't shared as much content with your Decent as I thought you might based on this video. How are you getting on with it? How does it compare with some of the other machines?
I'm in the market - is it worth the premium vs something like an Ascaso? Have you used the custom profiles as much as you thought you might?
Awesome review, thank you!! This is on my wish list once I’m able to afford it
It’s beautiful, but… NO - Sticking with my old-school Gaggia for now. I like the clicky switches. I can take it apart and mod it. And, I like a challenge LOL!
I'm curious what the cleanup and maintenance are like, compared to a more conventional E61 single/double boiler machine. I presume the usual Cafiza for the portafilter, but what about periodic descaling? I presume no caveats there? Any other maintenance that you find you have to do more/less of? Obviously some occasional cleaning of the touchscreen as one would do with any laptop screen, yeah? Guessing it's not Gorilla Glass, since it's not exposed to the same degree of (mis)handling that your cellphone would experience.
Cleaning is all handled very easily through the interface. Cafiza backflushs have their own “profile” that the machine will run. Descaling can be done easily through the menu system :)
I find this machine to be far more hands-off than an E61 because the drip tray doesn’t fill up anywhere near as quickly, and things like purging the group head and steam wand can be automated
@@LifestyleLab_ oh that's great info, thanks!
Please add metric units in future videos. Thank you!
I watched this review a 2x playback speed to get the full caffeine jitters experience
cons: cannot use anywhere that has bugs
Wooo, been waiting for this!
Long time in the making!
I use 2 XXLs and 1 XXXL in my coffee shop. I love the de1. I switched from the lunar+drip tray to the decent scale 1.1 where I cut out aluminum trays due to Bluetooth drop issues from the lunar
I’ve heard some complaints about Bluetooth drop, but have yet to experience it so didn’t dig too deep into it. So you find the Decent scale connectivity more stable?
@@LifestyleLab_ most definitely. However, I have mine always plugged into a USB hub under my counter as the battery is poor on them. Acaia batteries are poor for how much I use them in a day as well.
I always found that the acaia BT would drop when the scales would get hot from overuse or when water might drop on top of the scale...which can happen quite often during the day
@@LifestyleLab_ i used the Decent scale since the release (first batch collected from the DE factory) but until a few weeks ago, I switch to the Lunar and never go back. The connection on the Decent scales would occasionally drop but one you pair the Lunar, they stuck with each other.
@@LifestyleLab_ Decent says they're coming out with a new scale - 1/2 the height of current and strong bluetooth connectivity. by year end.
I don't even drink coffee but this machine is awesome. After seeing this video I got the urge to have a nice cup of tea 😄
It makes some pretty amazing tea too 😉
@@LifestyleLab_ I agree this machine has all that it takes to explore the science of making a fine cup of tea 😃
The International System of Units is the modern form of the metric system and the world's most widely used system of measurement. It is the only system of measurement with an official status in nearly every country in the world, employed in science, technology, industry, and everyday commerce.
Correct
My main concern right off the bat-how difficult is it to get replacement parts? Repairs? Being such a technical machine, will the average tech be able to troubleshoot and repair?
Nope!
The machine definitely needs to be sent back to Decent for major repairs. Minor troubleshooting they're very responsive and will send you instructions / parts as needed. But this is definitely not a machine you can take to any espresso retailer and have fixed like a traditional boiler E61 or something else that a plumber could probably fix.
Water tank and drip tray design is a biggest flaw of this machine.
I don't actually mind the drip tray. Porcelain makes cleaning very easy. But I agree, the open water tank is an issue... shouldn't need to buy an aftermarket cover on a machine this expensive
Tell me more about Decent.... for Beginners. Will I be overwhelmed? Can I use it on "autopilot" until I want to play around?
You won’t be a overwhelmed. Like I said, it’s a bit of a split personality. It has profiles that help beginners, and also tones of data for experts
$200 for the drip tray?
Excellent review. I love that you waited a long time to release it. I feel that while it can attempt to make a lever machine profile, a 58mm machine cannot reproduce the type of shot that you can get out of a 49mm or 51mm unless you use the 25g triple basket.
Interesting! What do you feel the shots are missing due to the wider basket?
@@LifestyleLab_ the wider baskets require a super fine grind, which makes it difficult to get even flow. Even if there isn't visual signs of channeling, typically there will be early blonding. The narrower baskets allow for a coarser ground due to a taller puck height, which will give more even flow. This way you don't have to choose between body and clarity -- you can have both. If you want to try it, get yourself a 25g basket for your decent, grind coarser, pack it full and tamp the hell out of it.
True, even John is now experimenting with baskets that have smaller bottom diameter. These would be sold separately. If a few people confirm that the DE1 can at that time truly replicate the lever profile taste (consensus is on the no side now), I may consider it - but not there yet.
Very interesting discussion!
The finer grind required for 58mm can be a negative in some cases
@@LifestyleLab_ if you do test a 25g then I’d be curious about the need to “tamp the hell out of it” in light of what we learned from your previous tamp vs water pressure test suite.
I’m still quietly coveting a Decent. But I suspect I’ll need a genuine commercial business case to warrant such investment. Quitting coffee is easy: I do it every other month.
Outstanding review! TY for sharing it with the rest of the world. Can't wait for the pour-over and tea capabilities review.
Definitely coming up in future videos!
Dear Lifestyle Lab, Having experimented with various espresso machines, and having worked with some pro systems, I was almost breathless listening to your review of this machine. Your "definition" of this device as a piece of scientific equipment was impressive and if true represents a complete change in the more "artistry" driven machines that have existed in the past, where the user had to come to know the machine intimately ( assets and more importantly faults ) and to juggle those qualities to create a quality result, and perhaps us the reason why there is such a reaction to the manner in which this machine presents itself. In all honesty if I was not a poor starving artist, I would purchase the DE1 in a heartbeat.
In my opinion the hot water dispenser is actually one of the best features of the DE1. I think your problem with splashing is due to your using a scale recessed into the drip tray. I use Decent's blue tooth scale (which is quite thick) placed on top of the drip tray and don't have a problem with splashing when I make my americanos. The cup is closer to the dispenser, thus eliminating most splash. And with it's thermocoil system, you are ensured of fresh hot water - compared with stale hot water from most traditional dual boilers. The only issue with making americanos is the relatively small capacity of the water reservoir, which requires refill every fourth americano (about every other day for me.)
I have the same recessed scale as he has and my solution was to lower the temperature of the water to 175 F and all the splashing ended.
Is it possible to connect the machine to your household water supply?
@@lfoggy3061 Yes, you can buy both a catering kit, which comes with a pump that you can feed into a larger source of water, or a plumbing kit which allows you to connect it to a water supply. It kicks on to refill the tank at whatever level you ask it to.
Thanks for your deep reviews. Wha do you think about portafilter height is too high for a small cup and may spill coffee.? Can you buy two cups portafilter? Does it have an scale in order to weight the target shoot? Can you give a good quality option for a consumer coffee lover less than 2000 k? Thanks so much
Amazing review. I've been certain that this would be my first espresso machine for over a year now and you've only reinforced that for me.
That would be one heck of a first machine! Just make sure you have budget allocated to a grinder that can do it justice
Why warm the cup with a kettle? Just hit the rinse button or just dose water into the cup while you grind.
Rinse button would introduce dirty water to the cup, water spout was splashy as discussed. I tried many workflows, and that was simply the one that worked best :)
@@LifestyleLab_ But if you didn't do a flush or 2nd flush - that dirty water just ends up in your coffee. My 12oz Bodum double walls are high enough to contain any splash. From a workflow - you lower the electric bill, get an extra flush, and warm the cup all in one press. But I do admire the purist viewpoint. I just do it while I dose and grind, then toss the extra and brew.
Your workflow certainly works too :)
Love hearing the differences in the way people use the same machine!
This machine is what I was thinking an espresso machine should be like ? And Kept asking myself why such a machine don’t exist then found out it does and that I can’t afford it so I really hate myself right now 🙁
Really enjoyed watching this, despite me being a year late to the party. What is your workflow when flushing the group, considering the aftermarket drip tray, housing the Lunar?
Personally could never be proud to have something made in China representing as something from Italy or Seattle, but that’s just my patriotism and red scare talking.
Is the Water Spout situation still bad :( ??
Who is this machine for?
> Barista training companies
Definitely good for demonstration purposes and visualizing what’s going on with the shots!