Automated Pourovers Perfected?: Presented by an Advisor of the Product
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- čas přidán 4. 07. 2024
- I hope you enjoyed the video!
Even though I am AN ADVISOR on this project, I was not paid to make this video.
That being said, I am very picky with what I put my name on and only do so with projects I have direct say and guidance on (only this and one other project currently).
XBloom Studio:
bit.ly/44TAKBs
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TIME CUES:
0:00- Introduction and Disclaimer
1:12- Grinder Chat
5:17- Scale and Temp Testing
10:29- Brewer Compatibility
12:11- Brewing a 121
15:50- Espresso Grind Test
18:09- Pricing and Conclusion - Zábava
PLEASE READ:
Well, this video has been met with a lot more controversy than I EVER imagined.
At the beginning of the video, before getting into anything, where the view retention is at its highest, I disclosed my relationship with the company. I fully admitted bias.
The majority of the changes made from the original XBloom (which I reviewed two years ago, mind you, and have not discussed since, as is my policy), were my own ideas from the consulting period over 2 years ago. These include- new mechanical spout, scale in tray, standalone grinder and spout, variable rpm, three axel system for alignment, and more.
Some have said this feels like an advertisement. Sure, that is fair. I will add "Not a typical review" in the title for those who feel like this, though I don't include review in the title or thumbnail.
Some have asked why I didn't critique it as much. To that, I ask, how good of an advisor would I be if I left low hanging critiques on a machine? I gave critique on the first iteration, where they took some of my suggestions., They immediately began working on this taking into account all of my suggestions. Obviously, them taking my critiques leaves... little to no critique, no?
Anyway, I as I did with Pietro, as I did with the gen 1 XBloom, this will change nothing on this channel. If you recall, I never spoke about Pietro (I even used ZP6 in videos following) nor about XBloom following those videos. I would like to think I have garnered more trust than that. This is not an odd thing for a CZcamsr to do. Hoffmann reviewed Mylk, which he helped create, as well as the Prima One, which he was heavily involved in. This is not some weird "crossing of the line." I plan to maintain what I have been doing for years.
Thanks for reading.
Please reach out, respectfully, with any following concerns or questions. Cheers
In my opinion: own your bias. If you're going to benefit financially from the video you have to take the bad too, that's just business. Some comments about this being an ad don't a controversy make.
You are always very clear about your bias, people just always find an excuse to critique.
Ignore the haters. Looks fantastic and a great price.
You're a champion, Lance! And you're helping the entire coffee value chain make leaps and strides (economic, sensory and hedonistic).
Also, keen for that Breville project you mentioned once 👀
As a fully manual guy, I wasn’t really excited for this just based on the features alone, since I already have a full setup. The moment you mentioned the price though, I’m actually shocked. For what you get I was expecting you to say $700-800 so this feels like a steal!
I also each morning i made my morning pour-over; This will be my personal Barista now. No more hand brewing and cleaning. My stuff will be on EBay soon :)
@@robertrobert9227keep in mind you will need to clean all of the parts still, including the machine. It will be more to clean than you do now, which is just a pour-over cup.
@@luke9822 The machine requires almost ZERO cleaning. I own the Original model (Kickstarter backer), and it is without a doubt the easiest piece of gear I own to clean and maintain. Nothing touches coffee except the pod or the dripper. The only cleanup is rinsing the dripper if you used it, tossing the pod if you used that, and then doing a little dusting of the plate on the exit chute of the grinder. It's insane how easy it is to maintain this machine.
Got the Studio arriving later this week, and they actually improved the static buildup on that model, so it should theoretically need even less brushing than the OG. I can't think of any other piece of powered coffee equipment that requires less maintenance, at least not one I've used or had access to. I love a lot of things about the original, but ease of maintenance is arguably one of it's best "lazy person" features.
I would put the level of maintenance as essentially even to a V60, and less than any dripper requiring assembly (Aeropress, Pulsar, etc.). So...technically, it's about 3 seconds of brushing more work than a dripper, but it's the most maintenance free coffee device I've ever plugged into an outlet.
Actually I would bite on a mini version (half the counter space and 2/3 height) without the grinder. My next brew device is the KuKu
I backed that with the expectation that it will not be that great or delivered at all, but hoping it's good
@@skratched I think it will be good. Unique at least opening up a whole new range of drinks besides simple drip or espresso.
@@skratched The fist batch of Studio machines are being delivered this week
Honestly I would just buy the electronic brewer part without the grinder. I have enough and better grinders at home so no need for it
I am curious about people’s perception towards the KuKu. Using centrifuges to brew coffee isn’t new. The second gen of Nespresso already uses the same mechanism. Of course, KuKu is an upgrade to Nespresso providing more control as is xBloom to k cup. Yet, xBloom seems to target a broader range of customers. While it allows geeks to be geeky with control over major brewing parameter, it also allows general users enter the realm of specialty coffee with a single tap. On the other hand, KuKu seems to be more involved and focused on coffee geeks.
the bellows got me 🤣
🐷🐽🐽🐽
That is amazing! I can truly feel how it is made with the thought about people! ❤
I'm more than happy with my original xbloom. It's high quality and easy to use, just a couple of things to prep in the morning and then a delicious cup of coffee is brewed while I take care of the kids. So handy!
Wondering if they will release one without the grinder
Check out the Aiden from Fellow, that is dropping soon and sounds more like what you are looking for
@@ccarchnah. The Aiden is a batch brewer, it’s also bigger and more expensive.
@@heytchap nope and nope, it's $365 and does single & batch brews, you just swap out the basket
Still not the same thing. This is the better deal.
@@heytchap I never said it wasnt or that this is a bad machine, the original comment said they were wondering if they would release one without a grinder all I did was say check out a machine that had a lot of the same features, minus the scale and grinder. Come on now let's use some level of reading comprehension.
Sold! Morning poor overs just got a lot more exciting! GREAT VID!!!!!!
I've been considering this versus the aiden and am glad you did this video now.
This looks incredible. If I wasn't already heavily invested in my current setup I would have bought this in a heartbeat years ago.
Great Video!! The increased flow for better agitation of the coffee beans was a great idea. Awesome you got to contribute to the making of such a cool machine!
I'll be interested to see how fellow's coffee brewer competes with this when it arrives.
Lance, I always love seeing your passion for coffee, and what a sweet outcome you and the (crazy awesome) engineers, product people, and business people over at xBloom were able to achieve.
I wasn't considering one before this video (I'm an espresso guy, have a pourover maybe once a month), but I am now. It's an incredible piece of kit, and I love the repeatability of it.
Thanks for all the videos you make for us, and I'm sad to see that so many people have gotten upset that you'd show off your hard work.
WHEN EUROPE?!!!!!
While advising them you forgot about the most important thing!
they're negotiating with retailers, apparently
@@tommihommi1 I am pretty sure he cares about it. But it doesn't hurt to remind them. 🫠
+1 on the when Europe. I am ready to drive all the way to Portugal to pick it up
Yeah this thing is SICK. Honestly, I'm worried about the longevity due to all the moving parts, but just... I am lazy, and this is crazy.
I own both machines and i decided on purchasing the og xbloom after watching your first video and i dont regret it .. and owning the xbloom studio already and been using it for a week i honestly agree with every point you made in thos video ! Love you dude keep it up
Xbloom is amazing
But I want to no grinder xbloom
Only pour xbloom is perfect & cheaper
Melitta Epour
A no grinder xbloom is a kettle
@@Mandragara Yeah, I got that one years ago and use it as a sort of pour-over-batch-brewer. Curious how it would compare to the xbloom.
Savage 😅@@JimNortonsAlcoholism
Now I’m more interested since you had your input into the machine
Love the layout and design. Separating everything out adds a lot of value to the unit in my mind. Makes it easy to fold this into a complete home setup with an espresso machine and/or drip maker. Since you are advising may I recommend some way to add accents to the unit (silver knobs/tray/cup) so buyers can match the unit more readily to items that would complete their coffee setup in the same price range (ie being able to reasonably match a moccamaster sitting on the same counter).
Yes part of designing this machine and building the feature set were so that it could integrate into anyone's setup no matter where they are along their coffee journey! There will be people who are running a fully automated xpod setup all the way to people using their own brewers/grinders. Really happy people are recognizing the work we put into the versatility!
I bought one, because I’ve been neglecting pour over because of all the nuance that I want to put into them but haven’t prioritized. I am excited to be able to delegate that nuance to a machine so I don’t have to, so I can enjoy more coffee with less time and energy.
Holy moly it's so unexpectedly versatile.
Indeed our ides concept is when intelligence meets versatility
@@xbloomcoffee gaddayum. Doubling down! Haha ok fine I'll go buy it 😜
The price is INSANE, I was expecting somewhere in the ballpark of 1000€... As others have said, if this was in Europe I would be definitely strongly considering buying one!
Great review! Keep it up. Looks fun.
Thank you so much for the thoughtful review and comments! We really value all the great suggestions that you have made-indeed, this is a testament to the commitment that xBloom has to our community. THANK YOU (everyone) for all the support!
I wouldn't call it a review if someone has a conflict of interest like this. More a showcase, still great though, it just shouldn't be considered a review.
My only issue with the both my machines the Og and studio is the fact that i need to use a step down converter inorder to use it (live in dubai amd we use UKs 220v)
An XBloom without the grinder would be a winner.
I agree. Hope they offer it.
100% agree, hope it's on their mind too :D
I like that I will have a dedicated pour over grinder and a dedicated espresso grinder so when I’m dialed in, I’m not having to flip between brewing styles. That said I have the Cafe Sing Orca hand grinder that I can play with when I want to. But for people who abesolutely do not need a grinder I can see the advantage of a grinder less version.
Fellow Aiden review?
Will there be an upgrade where it will bring my coffee to my bed with the morning paper?
I ask because the butler is beginning to struggle, bless him!
Now I need to get one!
I would love seeing a video comparing this to a fellow Aiden when you are able to get one of those. It is ~$100 cheaper with no grinder or scale. I already have my own grinder and scale, so $100 and getting the ability to do single cup or batch brew if there is company really pushes me towards the Aiden. Along with my despise for pod machines.
I’d buy that without the integrated grinder. I’m never buying another system that has a grinder built in.
It reduces it's ability to do full automation if you remove the grinder.
@@JimNortonsAlcoholism I get that. I just have a grinder I know well and would love a version that is just perfected to do the water side. That said, this is a fantastic “fully automatic” machine.
Would buy just for the quality of the grinder 😂
@@BrianQuan crazy! Id like to hear more about the grinder
@@JonathanSanders458 he mentioned it would retail from $300-400 so yes it’s nice. That said, many people have better grinders/burrs, want to save space, and want less parts that may break. Maybe I just need to stick to manual pour overs 😂
your feedback seems like it was very valuable and resulted in some really neat innovations.
i would be very interested in a standalone grinder that you have significant design input on, really great stuff but I'm not too interested in the brewer.
I might be one of the weird ones who liked the idea of the magnets controlling the water direction. Was the original design to reduce the amount of moving parts/failure points? Also I know you aren't really big on the head-to-head, but is this more exciting than the Fellow Aiden from an automatic pour-over perspective (if we ignore the built in grinder)?
I have the original XBLOOM and I really enjoy it. It's set up in my bathroom so each morning when I wake up, I make a cup of coffee to enjoy while I'm in the shower. I know....I'm weird. The coffee that the XBLOOM produces is incredibly delicious! I just wish the water reservoir was larger! Depending on which pods I use, sometimes I can only get two cups of coffee out of a full reservoir. Wondering if I should upgrade to this new model??
Would something like this be a legitimate upgrade for someone who uses a basic Baratza Encore for pour over grinds and a Breville Barista Express grinder for espresso? Seems like it can do both grinds AND make the pour over instead of spending half the money on just a Baratza ESP.
Thanks for the amazing content, per uszz!
Yep if your taste preferences align this should be a better grinder than all of these for tastier everything.
Does this come with pre-set programs? My wife loves pour-over because it’s a single cup of hot filter coffee. Is this the kind of thing she could just pour her favorite local roast into, press a “go” button, and get a good cup without getting super techy?
wow
It is actually quite affordable for what it offers, almost unbelievable in this "high inflation" time...
How is your feelings towards durability?
Where did they cut cost I'm curious.
thx for this vid.
I really liked this every time I saw it at the Coffee Festival SF. Seems to get better as generations evolve… since I have a whole table dedicate to pour over and Espresso- it will be once I get to FU money (and have a bigger place) then this will be that last toy… and based on tasting the coffee it made I will get one. Features and results say I can’t hate at this point, it’s just money. Kudos to those who get one of these, especially over similarly priced automated espresso machines
Good video Lance!
Any comments on cleaning the machine? Is it easy to get into the grinder for cleaning? Is the tank removable?
yea tank is removable. their first one was also.
Need the A:B vs the fellow one. This is obviously nice if you don’t have a grinder. But fellow doing batch brews I’m leaning towards for my office setup
Will definitely buy it when it's available in Europe.
With future firmware updates, do you foresee a possibility of changing pouring patterns during the brew? For example, starting with a swirl and ending with a center pour in order to mitigate draw down times?
I'm not 100% sure but you might actually be able to do this already.
I think I saw another video showing that you could do that in co-pilot mode. Mid-brew, being able to change the pattern via the front knobs.
You can do two pulses in the app, with a 0 second pause between them, and it will go directly from one pour pattern to the next without stopping.
omg consider how much electronic grinders like niche cost, this beast is cheaper than one can ever expect
Eeeeyup. I had been wanting a nicer grinder for a while and wasn't sure where my jump-on point was going to be. This machine as a whole for hovering right around my grinder budget, and exceeded expectations by also being able to handle espresso grinds, which will extend the life of an espresso machine I have with an integrated grinder that performs awfully. Not necessarily the perfect use of the grinder money, but the added convenience and functionality added still made this a pretty good choice for me!
Not to mention stand alone single cup brewers like Moccamaster cost around $250... this streamlines making pour over so much it could replace even batch brewers like the full size Moccamaster or Breville Precision. So simple to make multiple cups in a row. The XBloom is probably the most tempting new gadget I've seen in years.
And it's pretty too
And it's pretty too
Would buy it just for the grinder (no bias btw) lol
Thanks for the discount code. As with most youtubers, you've been very clear on your relationships with your products, so I don't see the issue. Anyway, there will always be bias and subjectivity on any consumer item, so in the end it's up to us to decide on what we like, or don't like about the product.
I wonder if somebody can make a bean analyser while grinding. Tell you what roast it is and recommend water temperature and or recipes etc.
I have used aeropress along with a blade grinder for years. For the past 2 months I have been looking for a nice grinder to buy but was going back in fourth on what to get. Now I think I might pull the plug on this. However, it would be nice to see more reviews on CZcams of the studio.
Have you tried the Melitta Epour?
Oh oh oh I can’t wait for the ultimate showdown. Xbloom vs Aiden vs your current pour over method. 🔥🔥🔥
ScopeX on the bench?!? Can’t wait, mines in preorder. Excited to hear your update!
I don't need this but want it. Good job!
is this available for Europe, if not then why not?
Do you know if it's coming to the UK? Seems US only?
I backed the first iteration of the xbloom after watching your first video on it. Definitely one of my favorite purchases in quite awhile
If you don't already have a grinder and don't like being involved in making your own coffee, you could justify buying one. However, if you already have a grinder I don't see why you wouldn't just use a regular V60 or an aeropress over this. It's a really niche product.
Convenience and consistency! I'm really excited for this to be my "first cup of the day" machine, plus having it available to compare recipes with other people by eliminating the variations in pour techniques.
@@JimmyNewCakesyup same with me. If I can drum up $400 I might go for it.
I'd totally be interested if it was black anodized aluminum and accepted other brew methods. A generic ring with enough room for a Gino or V60 would be cool.
Great machine, will you compare it to the Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker ?
Can it be controlled entirely using the app? And is the app accessible with voiceover on iOS? Thanks.
If its like the xBloom original, It can be controlled using the app, the new one can also just use ur phone as a screen to show data as well. No siri control tho it seems
I would buy this in Germany in a heartbeat!
why Germany?
@@calebbilti538 because I live in Germany? For reference only, in case they are thinking about selling the product in other countries
@@Pixelements I know haha. It was a bad joke
It would be great to know how DIY and open source it is. Can you disassemble it and clean it? Swap internal moving parts that fail?
The price scares me, I really don’t understand how this much has been packed in at that price point. The expression of its too good to be true comes to mind…
Thinking about the keurig in my office break room that I never use. Wish my office could have one of these instead 😂
i had gen 1 and loved it. tbh i just found myself never using it and going back to my aeropress. i feel like this is perfect for someone who doesn’t already have a nice grinder
Hi Lance. Thanks for your video, super helpful. I just got my studio in the mail and I'm a bit confused how to operate it. Any helpful tips, articles, videos?
I’m new to coffee and have been enjoying your pour over videos. I only have goodwill equipment worth about $70 in total (grinder, stovetop kettle, v60), and have been considering a proper grinder and kettle to dial in my temps. i bought a freshly roasted single origin pound for $19 and realized i might be throwing away bean money without better equipment. I have a feeling that $450 for the grinder and temp precision will be worth it. Plus, I like to tinker and test how different settings can change the taste. If anyone savvy can recommend why I shouldn’t get this or reconsider, let me know!
IF you want an automated setup and this matches your budget it's really hard to imagine what's wrong with this. But if you love manual brewing and/or this seems a little high for your budget I would consider putting the money on a good grinder (Q2, K6, ZP6, Ode 2), it's really the only costly piece that can affect your cup so much. Again I trust Lance that this is a great grinder PLUS a lot of other things included for the price and the automation so it's hard to go wrong if you can afford it and you want the automation. Let me know if that makes sense.
@@mrdisco8616 yes it makes sense. I like the precision repeatability perhaps more than the automation aspect. I like to manually make coffee, but I would also like to explore how different preparation methods/timings/temps affect the cup.
Is it possible to use some sort of reuseable cloth filter in there?
Does it have like a rinse option?
Thank you Lance.
Love the high pour of coffee
did they increase the size of the water tank at all? Also the new reusable cup isn't compatible with gen 1 is it? it looks like the arm is a little wider it attaches to.
By his comments here, it seems that it was a slight increase. Website says the original tank is 23.67 oz, with the new one being 32oz.
Website also says that each of the Omni drippers are only compatible with their respective generation of machine.
Yep as I say in the video, from 2 cups yo 3 cups worth. And plummable
You can get a water regulator for it now to plumb it in!
Would have purchased right now to replace a bunch of my gear at that price if it was available in Australia! Hoping they can do "early bird" pricing when other regions come online.
While I would love an iteration without the grinder to save on space (I use the Pietro for my pour overs), I would also love to be able to remove the tank to make refilling easier if the machine is stored on a counter under cabinets.
EDIT: Water reservoir is removable! Phew!
Funnily enough, it's still the Odyssey that appeared here that I'm more stoked about. Don't get me wrong, the xBloom? Pretty awesome; I'm just more stoked about the other.
Why not both 😏
Argos is amazing
How would this Grinder compare to the Eureka specialita for espresso? Wondering if I could sell my espresso grinder if I got this? Thanks
what are the electric motor specs? watts, torque. direct drive to burr or geared down for torque?
Most grinders never offer the details you’re requesting. Obviously it has enough torque to grind coffee at extremely low speeds. So, yes lots of torque.
Direct Drive,
@@robertrobert9227 because the creator is often very scientifically versant with this stuff i thought he might know. watt rating and geared torque vs direct are known for many other grinders.
Can we get a “Fancy Lancy Covfefe” t-shirt shipped with the xbloom?
This looks cool as hell. Considering I'm likely moving next year and want to pare things down (go from a gaggia to a wacaco and then sell my baratza esp) this seems like it can rid me of my chemex also. And if it pours out hot water then I won't need a kettle either lol.
This would be great for an office set up with pods. I wouldn't use it for my home pour over because I am so process oriented, but also, not sure if this significantly cuts down on the actual amount of work for a pour over if you're not using pods. I think it is a fantastic product, just that it won't fit at home, but at the office where it will significantly elevate my coffee experience.
I was also thinking this would be very tempting for the office
How does the grinder compare to the Lagom mini for both espresso and pour over?
Very similar burrset, but Studio is much better aligned, has more torque, and moves at a much slower RPM. For very dark roasts, Mini might be better, but for 95% of specialty coffee, the studio burr is much better.
And has automatic alignment
Have you tasted both? Because despite the above being true - I have experienced few grinder (especially conicals) that taste better than my mini with moonshine burrs. Would love to hear from someone who has tasted both
I might take a closer at one of these if my Chemex Ottomatic crashes.
How close are the results when you make the same recipe with a V60 and gooseneck kettle side by side with the XBloom Studio? And how does the built in grinder compare to a ZP6 or other grinders?
You have more flexibility with gooseneck. Higher flow rates. And zp6 I prefer slightly to built in. But built in is like a kplus but slightly better
@@LanceHedrick Wow sounds good! Keep your head up Lance!
You need to launch this in Japan! I’ll be the first buyer 🤩
last week I was in Madrid and saw xbloom in a coffee shop (geisha coffee). They were using the original xbloom and it made a great great cup of coffee. should out to them!! (had a mixed heirloom from 90+ farm panama)
Lmao same! Guy mentioned a new one is coming out and led me down this rabbit hole
We're gradually working Studio into more elevated coffee experiences so be on the look out for that
Are the recipes shareable?
Yep!
Unreal.
Super value.
Could you please tell us (just off the top of your head) how this compares to a moccamaster in terms of extraction%? Thank you
Just watched your original version xbloom video and saw a 22% extraction. I’ll assume it’ll be at least as good as this. Thanks
I have an 078, I could see myself getting one without the integrated grinder. On the flip side, I love ritual of brewing coffee myself in the morning. It’s really nice to help me wake up and focus on a task first thing.
When Canada
Wow, I see that ScopeX on your counter. Review incoming?
The pods are made or sugarcane and bamboo? Would it be possible for the pods to sweeten the coffee?
It's greenwashing bullshit. It doesn't degrade easily, and it is almost never composted.
Enjoying the content and received my Studio today.
Did you have suggested recipe for decaf coffee specifically that you could share?
I'm thinking grind coarser, brew cooler, low agitation, but wanted to see what you think.
🎶Wake me up.. When pour over ends🎵
Best pour over if you’re alone, or serve the wife first, and live vicariously for 7 minutes 😂
Hey Lance!! Now that these are arriving en masse to people (mine arrived yesterday) would you mind sharing your "default" go-to recipe for it?
I really like this, but I decided to hold out for the Fellow Aiden instead. I like the ability to make one cup or 10 cups in the same machine with just a small change to the shower head.
Makes sense! I'm excited AF for the Aiden.
If I ever need a second coffee setup, especially if non-coffee nerds might be using it, this has jumped to the top of the choices.
The non-geeks can easily make the best coffee of their lives. The geeks can have fun with all the adjustments.
Can you do large doses if you use a V60 or Kalita? My usual recipe is 25g in, 400g out.
Sir Lance, will you be reviewing the new Fellow Aiden brewer any time soon?
When in Canada??? Impatient! But also amazed at how much work goes into productsblike this so... Respectfully impatient? 🙏
The video editing is always superb, as usual
Do you know if the geometry of the new dripper is the same as the original clear Kickstarter version?
I have the negotiator for the OG, and my Studio should arrive this week, and I'm curious if I need to grab a new negotiator?
I‘d take that without the grinder but with more volume. I’d love a „industry light“ speciality brewer with a 2l brewing capacity