Cafelat Robot: True Espresso On A Budget
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- Опубликовано: 20 янв 2021
- Make real espresso for a fraction of the price. No tricks, no compromises: this is TRUE espresso at home, on a budget, thanks to the #Cafelat Robot, a fully manual #espresso coffee maker that stands up to any semi-auto dream machine.
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Хобби
Your'e easily more knowledgeable than most coffee yotubers with millions of views, keep at it!
Thanks for the encouragement. I plan to keep on posting for a while, despite how quiet it is around here :)
I was going to make the same statement
Agree my man
For sure, 100% agree
@@wiredgourmet
Thank you very much for making these excellent videos!
Although there maybe not that many, I’m sure the quality of your viewers is as high as that of your videos 😁 (and I’m the exception of course).
After considering way too many option across a very wide budget range and consuming grossly excessive hours of RUclips content, you have convinced me to get the Robot as my first espresso machine!
Arrives in a couple of days🎉
And how do you rate your experience now after a month?
Still trudging up that leaning curve, but I figured out the simplest hack for the pressure gauge issue: turn the Robot away from you, then it’s super easy to check the gauge upside-down from the top when you’re putting your weight on it.
Otherwise, my grinder was also new so likely still too many unstable variables on top of my lack of experience with espresso in general.
I have gone through about 5kg of various beans so far, and only getting decent cups about half of the time. Very difficult to maintain consistency in the pressure profile every time. Easier with medium and dark, but very sensitive to and reflective of every nuance of the brewing process for lighter roasts. Small errors definitely show up 😂
I am loving the small footprint, ease of cleaning, and simple workflow with no maintenance needs.
@AK27AK: Would you buy it again?
And the last. Its the endgame espresso machine
I found it amusing how this small, almost obscure channel gets referenced by vastly bigger channels, but it's obviously for a reason.
Welcome to the community :)
The scotch tape idea is genius. I've been using a bullseye leveler, but this seems way more consistent.
Thanks. I'd go so far as to call it foolproof :)
Just ordered the £60 tamper🤦
I keep coming back here to this video every once in a while. My favourite robot video. Thank you!
Best vdo I’ve seen yet on the Robot! Makes a lot of sense
Thanks for taking the time to produce this video.
It was a pleasure, actually.
“It’s like a miracle” . Keep coming back to your great reviews.
Thank you :)
Great video with very valuable information. I appreciate the balanced opinion you expressed. Keep up the good work.
Thanks, I intend to.
Thank you thankyou THAAAANKYOU. You have just given me the last bit of confidence I needed to go through with buying this over the flair. God bless and thanks for the well made video it was a pleasure to watch. I have subbed cant wait to see you at 100k
You made the right call. Much smoother workflow without needing a pre-heat, and sturdier overall too. Enjoy your bot.
Great advice and great shot.
Thanks for that. I can't take too much credit because the Specialita grinder and Robot coffee maker are a great combination.
Thanks for this great video! It made some really amazing points and it convinced me to get my cafelat. Tomorrow morning I will start trying it out
Glad it was helpful. Good luck with it.
I just bought one and the shots blew my mind compared to my gaggia classic. I'm hooked on lever espresso. I use this with a breville milk frother if I want a milk drink. Super easy and delicious.
You are a hidden gem in the world of Coffee at RUclips. Thanks for your video's keep it up
Thank you, and welcome to the community :)
Very useful and digestible video that provide you the honest feedback and information
Glad you liked it :)
And I was going to buy a Gaggia Classic Pro tomorrow,….timing is everything! Thank you!
Do keep in mind the temperature limitations of the Bot as you decide. The 9Barista is also good, btw.
Very nice video, so practical! Thanks.
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for your review. I was on the fence about the purchase, and after watching the video I know what I am going to do! 😏
Glad it was helpful!
seems hard to beat this little robot! ordered one
Absolutely beautiful shots. Great video, this is making me consider a robot over the flair
Thanks. If you look through the comments here, there's a clear consensus in favor of the Bot.
If you haven't taken the leap yet I can definitely testify to the marvel that is the Cafelat Robot. Easy workflow, a pleasure to work with and fantastic shots of espresso.
And if you're into milky coffees you can easily froth your plant milk with a French Press. I'm more of a dark coffee lover myself, but my wife really likes oat and rice milk.
Just bought one. I got the one with the gauge because I'm very new at this. I'm really excited though. I love the design. Between this and the flair, this one just seemed to be easier. Easier cleanup. Fewer parts. Just, it looks so easy even a first-timer can do it. And it's so playful. Santa is bringing me a pink Fellow Stagg for Christmas this year and I have a Commandante on the way. Hoping all three can make up for my new commute taking me in the opposite direction of my favorite coffee spot. Really enjoyed the flow to your editing by the way. I have a retro gaming channel myself and this was so direct and to the point and genuine. Appreciate it.
@@Orion-redx7 It doesn’t require much force unless you accidentally grind too fine. The arms are a little narrow which can maybe hurt the hands a little bit; but they sell “mittens” separately that make it more comfortable to push down on
Yo, just found your chan. Working my way through it. I know this is older, but it u put some spare time at the end, I have more time to hit like before next video plays
I have a manual frother that works very well and can control if I want a bit of light foam, medium foam or very thick foam. Works with hot milk or cold milk when doing an iced coffee.
It takes only 29 seconds
Thank you!
INVALUABLE ....addition... to the daily Order Of Good Cheer !!!!
Your channel is nothing short of AMAZING. I loved the Vario teardown video and same with the Niche.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I’ve subscribed, you deserve at least 500k subs, I know you can do it 🙏🏽
Sold!!! Ordering one now.
Great. Let us know how it works out.
Hot diggity those are some nice looking shots and the close ups of the extraction have my mouth practically watering like a cartoon dog looking at sausages.
Your video definitely helped me convince myself to order one, it should be arriving tomorrow with any luck.
Excellent. Get acquainted with it and let us know what you think.
I was worried there for quite a few shots. I used the same grind I do for my (admittedly cheap) semi-automatic machine and I was hardly getting any pressure, with the shots running through very fast.
I took the grind far finer than I have had to before and hit an amazingly beautiful cup with mottling/tiger striping throughout which I hadn't had the pleasure of making before.
The taste was something of a revelation to me, far better than any espresso I had made before, with a balance that I didn't actually realise was possible.
I assumed a good coffee was always a little on the bitter side, but my goodness this was smooth in the mouth with all the flavours of the bean front and centre. Extremely happy.
@@ToucanSamich There is a bit of a learning curve, but once you get on top of it, there's no way to make better espresso no matter how much you spend. Glad it worked out for you.
Best video on the robot in all of RUclips 🙏🏻
Thanks. One does one's best :)
@@wiredgourmet certainly felt that ;)
And I agreed 👍 after 2 years of usage.
I just want to thank you, I found this review about a year ago and decided to pull the trigger on the Robot. I bought the Barista version. You are 100% correct! This machine makes AWESOME espresso!!! I am soooooooooo happy with it. I did upgrade to the better tamper. I also bought the robot mittens, just because I like the look. I absolutely LOVE the machine, the process and the espresso. Thanks again and would recommend everyone who wants a great espresso machine to get one.
Really glad it worked out for you :)
Yes I just got the same combo, after a few shots they are perfect now, awesome little machine, better than my huge plumbed machines of the past...
This guy is genius
Awww... :)
You've just saved me a lot of money. Thank you so much. More, I mean much more, people should watch this insightful vdo. It worth hundreds of dollar. Literally.
Btw, I bought Nanofoamer and it can produce latte art quality milk. I can do all kinds of arts just like the professional machine. Have a try, it's a steal.
Thanks, I will & enjoy your Bot.
IMO, this is one of the better reviews of the Cafelat Robot.
I have a new Robot. I've gone through about a pound and a half of various fresh beans so far, but have not come close to that good of a shot so far. But I will keep trying, having been through the hassle of owning a prosumer machine in the past, and not wanting to return to all that. The things we do for a good shot at home!
Stick with it :) There is a learning curve, but once you get it dialed in, the Bot is awesome.
Thank you very much for making this video, it’s really helpful! 🙂 I got my Robot yesterday and so far, haven‘t been able to pull decent shots because my grinder - you can’t actually call it that, it’s only a lousy Porlex Mini - just isn’t good enough, even at the smallest grind setting. I ordered one of the last Orphan Espresso Pharos hand grinders and am hoping to have it in a couple of days. That should do the trick. I just improved the tamper with your Scotch tape method - bloody genius! 😀👍🏻
Thanks. There's a bit of a learning curve with the Bot, but a good grinder is most of the battle, so I hope it arrives soon :)
@@wiredgourmet Finally got my Pharos this Thursday and I’m still on that learning curve. Think I’ve dialed it in for my beans (Monsooned Malabar), but I’m still struggling with distribution; need to improve my WDT probably and maybe try some other beans.
@@candlebuddha Try nutating your tamp after WDT.
So, would I need to upgrade my Hario Mini Slim too?
I would love to see you make a comparison between the robot and a rok gc with the new screen and a comparison between the niche and the rok gc grinder
Great video, thanks, seems though that the cafelat price is going up and up..... actually right now some places more expensive that a Gaggia Classic Pro..... maybe not fair to compare, but you can now actually get a fairly decent machine at same or cheaper price..... but the cafelat is of course much more fun to use :-)
Great video. The paper on top helps with channelling. I wouldn't say the operation is silent when doing a triple, since a person has to push through all that coffee. Though at 6AM it might be considered exercising. :)
Good point!
Hey, thanks for your video. Use a cork in the tamper for more grip!
A good idea; thanks for the tip.
I have been looking at investing into an espresso machine this year. I’ve spent the last year learning about coffee, enjoying my french press and V60 pour overs. Constant experimentation, but since I enjoy milk drinks like a latte or a sidecar, espresso has been the end goal. I love simplicity. I was looking at the spring lever machines, and was even considering a Pavoni. However, after discovering the Robot, I believe I’ll start with the robot. Refine my technique, and enjoy the process. Maybe have some money left over to get that Weber HG-1 grinder to pair with it 😉!
The Robot's simplicity is great for helping you to understand the process and master it. And your grinder budget, yeah. Just one caveat: the work flow is such that you can pull successive shots easily, but you can't steam or otherwise froth milk *while* pulling a shot. So if you're really into milk drinks, that's something to think about.
I have a manual Frother that works very well within 20 seconds with hot or cold milk and does not cost much. Cold froth comes in handy when you make an Iced cappucchino !
Coming back to this video some (years) later to re-watch, having just picked up a Robot! I started first with getting a grinder. I went with the Weber HG-1(1st gen). I have been enjoying the manual grinding process for my pour over coffee the past year since acquiring it secondhand. Now onto espresso! Will need to get another grinder for pour over coffee use, to save settings on each one. Thanks again for your tutelage and informative videos. "It's a miracle": lets make coffee great again ;-) !@@wiredgourmet
Can’t wait for mine to arrive. Was ready to buy a Lelit Bianca but after watching all these videos on the Robot I couldn’t justify a $2400 premium on something that likely can’t make better espresso. Also hated the idea of having a machine that takes at least 30 minutes to warm up and has a host of maintenance and other setup issues with well water with a tds of over 400.
You're gonna like it, unless you're really into milk drinks. But for espresso alone, the Bot rules :) There's a bit of a learning curve, but once you get the feel, it's as good as anything. Enjoy.
I already have a moderate espresso machine but the way of your price/performance notion is absolutely charming. Now I'm thinking of getting a one for myself. In the video you mentioned of steaming milk with a cheap french press in the near future but couldn't find it on your channel. Will you upload even a short one? Thank you and keep up the great work.
I will be doing one with various kinds of milk and heating options, looking for real microfoam. I already did a video on bulletproof coffee, using butter, cream and milk. The idea is the same, and it shows how to mod your FP, but of course milk is a lot better, and I will get to it.
I'm really enjoying my Robot. (Lido E grinder)
Great little piece of kit, isn't it :)
One week with the Robot, my Ponte Vecchio Lusso is going to the basement. Amazing machine, really. OMG had I seen your tamper guide mod with Scotch tape I would have never paid $70 for the OEM guided tamper. I use the spout for preheating, with a generic Primeswift Aeropress end gasket seal plugging the top and a "nose-ring" through the holes with a Pawfly 4" wire keychain cable. Once I preheat the basket PF assembly I remove the basket and refill 1/4 screwing it on and letting the arms drop to heat the piston head while I tamp the coffee. Yemen Matari home roasted and ground on a LW HG-1 single dose grinder tastes amazing.
Interesting. Do you always preheat, or just for larger doses? I've found that under 18 g, temp hasn't been an issue. Over 18 g, I do preheat. Anyway, good to meet another convert :)
@@wiredgourmet Yes, I always preheat. Same here, nice to realize great espresso does not need complex machines and the headaches associated with their upkeep.
@@wiredgourmet The Stagg EKG PID temp hold kettle made it even better, and yes I always preheat.
That’s amazing that you find the robot better than the Ponte vecchio lusso! I’ve always wanted one of those machines. Makes me feel better that I have “settled” for a robot ( on its way)
@@paskoh Still running strong one gasket later, no more closed boiler machines for me. Focusing on perfecting my Yemeni roasts now.
You da man
Thanks :)
Ive just bought the Robot - no thanks to your channel! :) im joking, I absolutely love it, and sincerely thank you for your video.
I love coffee milk drinks, so ive paired this with the Dualit Milk frother which is £55 at the moment.
I'm loving my coffee with this setup, even though currently using an old Hario Skerton grinder. If I do get ONE electric grinder, would you recommend Niche Zero or something else (Eureka brand maybe?) Many thanks
I think a lot of people overlook gunk buildup and cleaning of machines. The best shots come from when the machine is new, over time the insides become a disgusting mess and the shot quality goes down unless you invest a lot of time in cleaning. The robot just doesn't have those issues
Any ideas if they will produce a single-shot basket (or a modified basket for this purpose)? Great video!!!
3d printed tamper add-ons are even better
this is great haha
Why thank you :)
Two setups im considering and looking for some feedback.
1) lelit Anna 2 and p64 grinder
2) Ascaso uno or duo with df64p grinder
I prefer Americanos, espresso shots, and cortados.
Nice video man! Love those flow shots with the Robot!
Which grinder do you use?
Thanks. I use the Eureka Mignon Specialita.
I have the Bezzera BZ13, it costs €1,000 and it heats up in 5 minutes, yes 5 minutes! I don’t descale because I use a water softener and so a quick back flush every 2 weeks is all over the maintenance required. I prefer it manual machines because I love silky textured milk drinks that you CANNOT get with a french press and a microwave. and the milk take 20 seconds to texture and heat up. making back to back drinks is much quicker, cleaner and smoother workflow than the Robot. It has a PID and a very accurate temp control. The only mod I am considering is adding a dimmer switch for flown control… I think it is worth double the money of the Robot
You are overlooking the main advantages of the machines: consistency and speed. Good luck trying to serve multiple espresso drinks in minutes to several people. Plus, machines aside, your results are more determined by your grinder than the machine.
Agree totally about the grinder's importance; I should emphasize it in a future vid. But consistency and speed, not so much. (Yes, I know you said drinks, not shots; bear with me.) For espresso shots, fully-manual gives constant tactile feedback; the kit is simple and therefore as consistent as the operator. I doubt any machine can offer more consistency than a sensitive operator who understands the process. As for speed, a single group is a single group. The work flow is slightly different, but if you organize your station right, the Robot absolutely can keep up. Knock, wipe, grind, tamp [add hot water], insert PF, pull 30-sec shot ==> knock, wipe, etc... There's like an extra 5 seconds per shot for pouring the water. The only advantages from a prosumer machine are, as I said, water-temp control and steam. If you're entertaining guests and making milk drinks without an assistant, then the Robot would be a conversation piece.
Maryland you are comparing apples and oranges. I can serve multi drinks with my Robot, at speed, with a reasonable level of consistency but also get a level of satisfaction not associated with my expensive duel boiler rotary pump machine. The Robot manufacturers are not asserting that it can replace a commercial machine, just deliver a good product with acceptable caveats of delivering on small scale.
one more draw back of this design is that the top screen always put pressure on the puck, and prevent it to swell when fully wet, so you will only get very syrup like espresso, the extraction rate will be a bit lower too, but if that's one's after then that's a pro I guess
Hypothetically, but not really. Because it's manual, you can eliminate that problem with a gentle pre-infusion of around 10 secs. The weight of the screen is negligible. The only real issue is temperature versatility; it's pretty much always 90 C going in. But workflow and performance? Absolutely humiliating to prosumer machines costing 5-10x as much :)
Crazy a single shot isn’t possible.
Yes it is, just put less coffee and water into the basket and voila...
Since this video they now sell a tamper upgrade, well worth the extra money.
❤️
My Flair 58 hits 93º when I use water straight off the boil. That said, it has a bigger footprint, is less portable, requires a power outlet, and costs more than the Robot.
Nice...
Thanks
@@wiredgourmet looking forward for your milk frothing video using french press..ahaha..i hope u can create content for flair pro 2 also..🙈🙈🙈
@@ahmadimanimustafa1556 For the milk frothing, I show the technique in my video called "Café-Style Keto Coffee," where I used milk, cream, and melted butter to improve bulletproof coffee. If you want to try the same hack with milk, that video shows the basic method. I will do another one later with various types of milk, but that video should get you started.
I’m debating between buying the Cafelat and a Flair. This machine is absolutely adorable and I love that it doesn’t need to be preheated like the flair’s brew chamber, but I do think the flair products win out because of the design of their base being big enough for different kinds of scales. The cafelat is too narrow for even the more expensive acaia scales to sit, which means you’ve gotta go entirely by feel with this machine.
I've got Flair 58 and it's great. But this Robot is also very nice :-) Levers are good, because once you feel the 9 bars pressure you realize how strong it is xD
After I watched this video, finally I made a decision and next minutes I will order this CAFELAT espresso machine...I will choice this one instead Flair PRO. I hope I made a good decision.
I will pair it with a Kinu M47 classic grinder, and I hope everything will be okay.
Thank you for helping me.
Did you do it? What is your experience?
@@runebrodersen4324, yes, I bought it and now I know I made best choice that moment...
Coffee taste amazing good, mentenance is absolutely easy to do it...
Because my Cafelat together with a well chosen specialty coffee, made me appreciate coffee at the other level, and now I can barely find a good coffee to drink it in my town 😁.
@@AndreiandyandSimo What kind of beans and roast levels are you using? THX
Hello...
I use only Coffe from my favorite Coffe shop on my country. The roasting level is medium and the grinder setup is between 1.2 - 1.9, depending what coffee I use.
6 seconds preinfusion, 40 seconds extraction. This is my favorite setup.
Awesome review. Where did you get it for under $400 inclusive of tax and shipping to the US I suppose?
Thank you so much for your videos @The Wired Gourmet
I have made some of the best moka pot coffee EVER with your tips and method. I literally had moka pot coffee taste like Cracker Jacks :)
I bought the Cafelat Robot, but with the same beans as I used for my moka pot, I'm not getting the same depth of flavor. It's tasting rather single dimensional. I'm thinking that it's probably my grinder ( I have the Lido 3 grinder). It definitely works for grinding fine enough but it's hard to make fine adjustments at the "fine" end. I'm using about 15-16g of coffee to 25ml of water. I'm getting nice crema but the flavor isn't there. I'm seeing about 6 - 8 bars on pressure. The water temp is about 90 C. Can you think of why my coffee isn't as complex or flavorful than when made in the moka pot?
I'm really pleased to hear about the Moka pot. One suggestion for the robot is to try to raise your water temp by pre-heating and see if it helps. Also, if your grinder is to coarse at this position, and too fine at the next, you can adjust your dose up or down slightly to tune the shot time. But, ultimately, I think it comes down to personal taste: I actually prefer Moka pot coffee to espresso :)
@@wiredgourmet Thank you so much for the suggestion :) I got the Lido ET for good measure as well!
This is hands down the best vid on this product I've seen. You should be getting a kickback from this company, because you're selling a lot of these.
I started out looking at the flare, but the simplicity of the Robot has sold me.
But I can't find the Barista version with the gauge. It's out of stock. I've got it in my head that I need a gauge to stay consistent, but maybe I'm wrong. The regular version is available.. Will I be missing the gauge and wishing I had waited, or is the non-gauge version just as capable with human error incorporated?. Also, is the gauge something that can be added later to the same degree of quality as pre-installed?
Ty
Hey! It’s been 8 months- what did you do? -I recommend the gauge. It’s not a must but it def helps particularly in the beginning then you’ll have some muscle memory but still I think it’s worth the price increase. This way you can profile and be more accurate and dial in better because you can be more consistent.
Very nice looking extractions. With Italian-style coffees I struggle with channeling. I still haven't seen (I use a mirror) shots looking as even as yours. I always fill water up to the top, because I like having that immediate feedback from the levers, but will give it a couple of more tries. I usually wait after boiling the water for it to cool just a bit - for Italian-style coffees (by that I mean southern part of Italy). My aim is to get as even as possible extractions - learn how to do that and then I will tweak by ratio and temp. Maybe you have a few pointers for me.Thanks :)
A paper filter under the shower screen might help. Are you sure you're tamping evenly? Check your grind, obviously. I never fill with water all the way; maybe try using around 50-60 ml and see if that helps. Good luck.
@@wiredgourmet I distribute with WDT 0.3mm needles. Tamp lightly and evenly. Tried with less water, same result, maybe tastier because the coffee is very dark. Anyway I can't seem to get the feel of how to press in order to avoid channeling. It seems that the way (not only the pressure but also how fast etc.) you press makes a big difference in how the stream looks like. I'm clueless...
@@VladGiurgiu7 I wish I could give you an easy answer. But don't give up; the Robot is a really capable espresso maker. You'll develop a feel for it with experience.
@@wiredgourmet I don't doubt the quality of the machine. I doubt my skill. It is indeed a machine which gets out of your way and gives you exactly what you ask of it.
@@wiredgourmet I'm coming back to this comment after 8 months to say: Thank you! Indeed a paper filter under the screen works magic and I suspect it's because it seals the gap between the filter and the basket. This way the water flows through the correct holes and does not create channeling. Is it just me or do you also think that the design of the Robot is lacking here? I'm trying to make a rubber seal for that gap, but it's hard --- will update on this. Just wanted to know your thoughts.
I have a Robot and have had issues dialing it in. I have a Baratza Sette 270 and can’t seem to find the right grind setting.
Can you share your ratios? Do you use the exact amount of water you need for the shot and push it all through or do you use extra water and stop pushing when you’ve reached your desired output?
Thanks so much - great video!
Thank you for your wonderful and knowledgeable videos!
This video really helped me to understand that manual machine might be the way to go. If I don't have a serious grinder, does pre-ground coffee (Lavazza or others) is suitable for manual machines like the Robot or the Flair?
Thanks. The Flair is less expensive, lighter, easier to store and travel with; but it has to be pre-heated, the work flow is more awkward than the Robot, and I don't know if they make a pressurized basket that lets you use pre-ground coffee. There is a pressurized basket available for the Robot; I think you have to order it separately, though. Also, there are some quality hand grinders good enough for espresso that don't cost a fortune: ruclips.net/video/PXU2NXT1mlg/видео.html
BTW - the porta-filter-brew basket is = 57.5 mmm (EXACTLY!) :-)
How the heck do you get a shot looking that caramel colour?! Mousse, is it? My grind not fine enough? Different bean?
Most of the things you like about the Robot seem true of the Flair options too. Do you have a strong suggestion between the two? The Rok as well I guess.
Also looking for thoughts on a most affordable and worthwhile grinder. Again the Flair Royal and the Rok seem good, but please share your suggestions.
I do like the Robot but cannot find it for much under $500 yet.
The Robot has the best build quality, smoothest workflow, and doesn't need preheating. I think it's the best manual device so far.
Hi, thanks- may I know what coffee beans u are using?
Sorry, that was about a year ago. I forget.
I decided to get one after I watched ur video but I get struggling with the grind size, can you gimme some tips for more excellent espresso. Thanks bro btw 👍
I have some general suggestions here: ruclips.net/video/qLPPVg9RjxA/видео.html For Robot specific ones, I'd say the sweet spot for dose is 16 - 18 g with the standard basket. I like to grind for a 45 sec shot with 18 g, but shot time depends on the coffee and the grinder as much as the coffee machine. Temperature control is a challenge; some folks pre-heat their robot piston and PF. There are several videos you can find about that. Don't give up; the learning curve is steep but you can make great coffee with it.
Nice, but I'll keep my Profitec thank you.
A perfectly sound gadget too, imho.
First of all, thank you for the awesome video : ) In the video you mentioned 35 seconds for a 21g triple, how many ml is that? Will you be able to get 60ml of espresso out of one pull? Thank you.
You're welcome. You could get 60 ml out; it holds enough water, but the basket is only going to hold 20-22g of coffee comfortably, giving a ratio of 1:3. The sweet spot is between 16 g and 20 g.
@@wiredgourmet got it, appreciate it 👍🏻
I am fascinated by this machine...went to the Cafelatstore to see the product line...they offer a regular and a barista model but they do not offer ( at least I didn't see any ) explanation between the two...can you elaborate the difference, is there a benefit to order one model over another and which machine is the one you have used/would recommend?
The pressure gauge is good if you're new to this. If you've been making espresso for a while, and understand the process, you might not need it. Check out my 9barista video, coming out in less than a week's time, before deciding.
Review the flair 58!
I will, as soon as it becomes available outside the USA.
I received my Robot today! Unfortunately I am struggling to lock in the portafilter with the basket. I can easily get the portafilter locked in without the basket but for some reason it's very hard to get it in with the basket. Any tips?
Aside from the obvious, making sure the arms are up all the way, I would look at how the basket fits in the PF. If it doesn't seat fully, or squarely, that might make it hard to mount. Good luck with it.
May pay more to get this over a flair as this doesn't seem to need a pre heat.
I would. The Robot does not need preheating and its workflow appears to be a lot smoother than the Flair's when you're making several shots.
You're getting a very even preinfusion look from the bottom of your basket! I'm not quiet as good as that with a few holes left in the screen, the stream will generally combine into a single one in a few seconds of full pressure being applied though. It looks like you may be holding your preinfusion longer than me, I'm normally starting to press when I get my first drips into the cup so perhaps that's what's giving you a more even spread? Are you doing anything in terms of distribution / declumping at the start? I'm from dublin but based in canada for now so went full manual with this and a kinu m47 so I wouldn't have any issues with voltage bringing a setup home, the kinu goes incredibly fine and I'm declumping a little bit with a small balloon whisk with the ends cut off, have you got any extra prep routine or do you find whatever grinder model you're using works without this effort (The eureka mignon I'm guessing?)
Great to see your notes on dublin water and your scotch tape idea is genius, I'll buy a fresh one soon and get sanding!
I'm dosing from the Specialita and not doing anything to distribute except a sideways knock or two. You might find that the Bot is dose sensitive, with a sweet spot somewhere between 16 and 20 g. You might try a slightly coarser grind with a slightly heavier dose and see how that works, and if it looks worse, take it the other direction :) And yes, I preinfuse with light force for about 5 seconds. Good luck.
@@wiredgourmet Interesting! I'm on a slightly longer preinfuse and must be going a lot finer on my grind, I'm not getting as much through within that short space of time. I'm on a 18.5g dos, about 38 out with a 10 or 15 second pre-infuse, about 40 seconds total
@@joconnell You're in the ballpark. Maybe try a slightly coarser grind, ramp-up sooner, and shoot for 35 g in 35 secs with peak pressure around 6-7 bar. I think it will look a bit more even then.
@@wiredgourmet will give this a go tomorrow! I'm off for some espresso training soon to improve my palette so will hopefully have a much better sense of which way to tune also. Looking forward to your french press video also, I've been at that for a few weeks and getting a little closer!
Not that I ever want less than a triple shot, but... could you make a donut of stainless that fits the bottom of the regular basket, and has a donut hole large enough for 7g of coffee? You'd need to juggle the size of the hole with the thickness of the ring so that the puck wasn't a soup in a too-deep hole, but other than that, it should be straight-forward to use. OR... just a thin ring that was big enough to keep water from going around it, with a small donut hole for water to get through -- still a thin puck, but limited escape route.
I'll certainly give it some thought; it would make for a nice hack.
Thomas, after watching this I bought a robot. What’s the secret for pulling low pressure 60 seconds shots? Anything I pull over 35 seconds including 10 second preinfusion, ends up bitter.
Well, that could be down to personal taste. I actually prefer the more sweet, bitter end of the scale. Not everyone likes that old-school flavor though :) But to be clear, it's a bit lower pressure, like 4-5 bar and a fine-ish grind. To compensate for the slightly lower temperature of the Robot. But if a faster shot time works for you, well you know my motto: if it tastes good, it IS good.
@@wiredgourmet that makes sense. Thank you!
What was the reasoning for going with the Cafelat over a Flare or Rok? They seem to achieve a similar result for a fraction of the cost.
Easy: build quality and work flow; no preheating required. On multiple shots, the Bot is nearly as quick and convenient as a semi-auto machine once you get used to it.
Have you had the chance to compare to a flair 58?
Not yet. Getting a review unit here in the EU has been an issue.
I put an angled mirror next to the robot so I can see the pull
You kinda sound like Bill from kill bill
Another great video! Do you see "tiger striing" on the top of the crema?
Isn't 90 degrees celsius slightly too low for a good "third wave" modern light roast specialty bean?
Is it as good as the new Flair 58?
Yes, the surface looks great. And yes, the lack of temperature versatility is its only weakness. Have not used the 58 yet, but I am getting a 9Barista soon, so keep in touch.
@@wiredgourmet Thank you kindly for answering. You really upped my Moka Pot game in the meantime, too!
Do the thin two arms and those round metal "hands" hurt when pulling down an 8-9 bar shot? Does that get "old" and annoying?
How about rok espresso maker?
I haven't tried it; perhaps other viewers might have some experiences to share.
I wonder how it compares with the Flair. Has anyone tried both machines?
I haven't tried the Flair, but based on watching people use it on YT, it appears to have a longer and fussier workflow than the Robot. OTOH, it costs less and is lighter and good for travel.
I sold my flair to a mate for a song, and bought a robot barista. The flair is good, the flexibility in dosing provided by the robot (along with the high build quality) was enough to make me switch.
Hey ! You said the Cafelat robot's basket doesn't handle singleshots, have yu tried ? if so what happenned ?
With a small amount of coffee in a tapered basket, it's impossible to fit the shower screen deep enough in it to work properly.
@@wiredgourmet But I guess it would become possible if for some reason cafelat were to release a new deeper tapered basket. In the meantime how low of a dose do you think I can get away with in the regular doubleshot filter ?
@@biribiri9457 On my Bot, the sweet spot is 16 g to 18 g, while 14 g feels like a minimum. Your mileage may vary.
@@wiredgourmet I see thanks :D
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Unfortunately i heard the Flair has massive quality issues and poor customer service. Therefore im now more interested in the robot. Do you think it s good quality? Built to last? :) ☮️
I've used my Robot for about 18 months with no hint of mechanical problems.
What is the brand od your robot? Thanks
Cafelat
I want one but I’m 5’ tall and 97 lbs. Do you think that I would be able to apply enough pressure? Thanks in advance.
It might be difficult at shoulder height, but if you can place it lower and lean into it, use your weight a bit, I think it would be OK. Hope this helps.
@@wiredgourmet Thanks
interesting! HOW would you make STEAMED MILK in this case?
Obviously, you need a separate device.
The bellman steamer is one option I know of. It's a stovetop steam boiler with a valve and wand.
I've heard of similar electric steamers too.
he has a video on it here : ruclips.net/video/ySN0jLTEfZY/видео.html
I just got the Robot yesterday and using it with a Comandante hand grinder... I'm still waiting for my mini scale that would fit between the legs though. I'm finding the shots to be watery and don't have as much crema like your shots. I use a filter below the shower screen and fill to near the top of the chamber with straight off boil water. I'm doing 1:2 ratio with 13 grams. I think I'll try your method with adding less water in the chamber? I typically preinfuse for about 10s and ramp to 6 bars until the end. Is there anyway to get thicker, creamier shots? Thanks for your video and insight!
IIRC, the Comandante has stepped adjustment, so you might be in that place where a click finer is too slow, and a click coarser is too fast. If that's so, simply adjust your dose up one gram at a time until the extraction slows down to around 30 sec at, say, 6 or 7 bar.
@@wiredgourmet that's really helpful... Yeah it is clicked but I can buy a mod to make it double the amount of clicks so I get to dial in more accurately. I will try to use your dose increase method first before deciding if I need to buy the mod. Thanks again for your help!
More coffee required.Robot works best at 17g.
@@Edfireman1 I agree; it's just not designed for small doses. Maybe it's hackable, but as is, 16-19g seems to be where you'll find your sweet spot.
@@Edfireman1 I will increase the dose! Thanks for the insight Ed!
I had both Robot and newly bought Flair 58. Robot is fine if you like great dark roast espresso, but really bad in pulling consistent shots of good light/medium roast espresso. Of course you can improve it by pre-heat the chamber first, but that's a lot of work/time. My problem is solved with Flair 58. Light roast? No problem. Medium roast? No Problem. Hotel? Trivago.
Why can't you do single shots?
The basket tapers at the bottom, and the shower screen is to big to lie on top of such a small dose.