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.
I've been following Descent for years and just love their philosophy. The fact that when you comment on RUclips 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
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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 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.
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!
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_ 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?
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.
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
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?
Excellent review... Really like the light roast experimental ability. Where the natural coffee flavours come through vs tasting different roast levels...
I get all giddy when I see the Decent, just love the machine. Will be a customer as soon as I get more shot pulling experience. Will gladly give up the manual process to have the lovely data and settings present.
You don't need any shot pulling experience to get it. I went from zero experience to a Decent machine and the community and profiles are so great you will be making great espresso in no time.
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 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.)
This is one of the few machines that intrigues me. Over the decades have owned, rebuilt and repaired lots of home and com semi-com pump and lever machines. Never had a commercial lever though, just Olympia, Pavoni, and Faemina. The Decent can be any machine you tell it to be as it can duplicate the profile of such. Minimalist clean design IMO that will do more than a big LM or Slayer for much less cost. I wonder if the ceramic trays were used to add weight to the machine? Lighter thermo machines are easier to move but can also dance on the table if the PF is locked hard. A question, can you set the brew temp to "no heat" as to pull a cold shot?
Love the look because it's just the right size as it will fit in a normal kitchen absolutely. There are great portable espresso machines for camping use too...a whole World worth a review to. Great watch!
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.
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?
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!
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.
Super comprehensive review! Owning a BDB myself, I’d love to know what you meant by at the end of the vid: “it is not the same as a tactile E61 machine”. Do you mean the automation the Decent brings? As opposed to having to manually stand there timing your shot? I am so keen getting a decent for my next machine (and likely end machine), this video has been so informative on every facet and ins and out 🙌🏼
I more mean the tactile experience of moving a metal lever with a cam to start / stop the shots on an E61. Turning a big valve to start / stop steaming. Seeing the water come shooting out of the solenoid when the shot ends… makes you feel like your a train conductor or something, puts on a show for the guests!
Great video. I have had my Decent for about a year now. Love the machine, company, community, etc. However, if I had any nitpicks it would be around the water storage and drip tray material. I have the white version and I find that it stains quite easily and is extremely hard to clean once that occurs. As for the water tank, if I leave the water for a few days, I do see some dust, etc floating on the surface- some people sell covers for the tank for this reason. A simple pyrex style glass or even stainless steel would be easier to clean. Otherwise no complaints 😎👍
@@adammacfarland6415 yeah, I travel quite a bit, and after a few days/week of no use.. the water evaporates/ picks up some particles. And the drip tray becomes quite hard to clean once any coffee dries.
The short burst sound from pump when it's running shots was because it makes higher flow rate as recipes require and without building up the pressure like regular machines, normally pump machine would build up its pressure within 5 to 7seconds up to 9bar, depends on what machines, and that's not good enough to explore espresso nowadays, how do you gonna achieve up to, let's say 7ml/s without the pressure builds up, short burst with two sets of pumps, however, this approach isn't possible for many other machines out there and it requires integration of hardware and software, that's root of other manufacture are lacking, or should I say that's the approach what they are not willing to take, at least my opinions. Oh, if I may, did u try the bloomging+allonge, this recipe would get you more out of your lighter beans(I don't have a Decent, but I now fully understand their approach and tested on my flow control machines with all those recipes).
Yes I mention the Blooming profile specifically in the espresso section of this review. It’s quite incredible and revealing. Allonge has a similar effect, but slightly more toned back than Blooming, and easier to dial in.
@@LifestyleLab_ I was saying that try bloom combine Allongé, after pause blooming was normal pressure profile till the end, but try use Allongé style after pause, it means that grind a little bit cause, let the high flow goes through the puck, say 4:1, 5:1 in the cup, it delivers more than just blooming, and John mentioned it as well in their stream.
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
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
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.
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 😆
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 🙁
Nice informative video, can't afford the machine (maybe one day) But just wanted to ask the make of that black cup you have on the machine please as it looks really nice
Been watching for a while, love the evolutionary journey… I’m not ready for decent me thinks and your video certainly helped me to get to that conclusion. So I’m looking at the plethora of pro(ish)sumer machines. Any thoughts on the Elektra verve?
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
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?
Nice machine and technology. Price is just not majority of coffee loving people can afford. My concern is if the company ever out of business, the online software won’t be available to use. And maybe there will some fees to continue using the software for company needs residual income.
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.
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
They’re constantly being updated over the air, no worries about going out of date :) and the software is completely open source, so even if Decent were to go somewhere, the software will continue to be developed and supported which is pretty cool
Amazing video again! Really useful info! In this video I think I saw a quick glimpse of the Zerowater pitcher? Would be amazing if you could one day make a video about the water you use as well. Currently I’m still buying super market water which isn’t really good for the environment and is quite expensive. I read great things about zerowater, but did read that having no minerals in your water makes your espresso taste not so great either. Love to hear your view on that. Keep up making these great videos 👏🔥
That’s actually a Brita not zero water. You absolutely need some minerals, not only for taste but also for machine safety! My current setup is using a half packet of Perfect Coffee Water mix into 4L of distilled water. This puts the PPM at around 75 which is right in a safe range for espresso machines
Just checked. The water I currently use is about 33PPM. So slightly low. Will have to see how to get the perfect coffee water to the Netherlands since the shipping of one pack is already 40$ 🥲
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!
I hesitated buying this machine because I’ve seen some reviewers talk about steam pressure/steam wand especially as it pertains to achieving great micro foam for latte art. Sounds like you really liked the wand. Maybe I should rethink it.
I think that (with any espresso machine) you can steam quality microfoam or quick microfoam, take your pick, or compromise somewhere in the middle. The Decent allows you to select flow rate and temperature, and it remains stable - I know this because they also supply a real-time steaming graph
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.
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
Do you find that with all the technology it’s because too burdensome and too much of a chore or do you find that it makes pulling shots more efficient and less time consuming?
Any hint of when they might come out with the updated steam wand mentioned @15:28? I'm looking to buy a decent in the next year or so and don't want to miss out on this feature if it is coming out.
Don’t let it stop you from buying! The way they are doing it isn’t something built in to the machine, nor is it proprietary to Decent. When the software update comes out, you’ll be able to buy the hardware you need locally
The idea at least for the DE1 was never a full integration of the temperature probe into the steam wand. Their idea was to use a Bluetooth thermometer that could sync with the machine
@@robertusga I don't think it's something that ever came to fruition unfortunately. They have a new machine on the way, so I'm guessing it's something they will include in that.
Unboxing Video: ruclips.net/video/NM9E2tBHrGY/видео.html
1st Look Video (very detailed): ruclips.net/video/Ac53ZjGynxU/видео.html
Tamping Pressure Video: ruclips.net/video/i70xWHhiFzI/видео.html
DSx Skin Video: ruclips.net/video/sJ8tP-MS0wM/видео.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
I've been following Descent for years and just love their philosophy. The fact that when you comment on RUclips 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.
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!
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.
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
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 🙏
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.
Man, I have had mine for a year now and I can’t agree more. Very good review!
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.
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!
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 run a 6 sec group head flush to warm my cup while grinding. Works for me.
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
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.
Let's appreciate how well this kid speaks.
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.
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 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.
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!
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 😃
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've had a DE1Pro for almost 2 years now. This I can confidently say: It makes impossible things possible and easy things complicated.
Wow. I've got the v1 DE1+ and it's WILD the number of improvements that they've made!
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?
I actallly really like how the machine looks.
Other than the sucktion feet thingys.
Thanks for the video. I'll never get that geeky about the espresso I so enjoy each morning. :)
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.
I really like your conclusion. Very concise and complete.
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
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?
Excellent review... Really like the light roast experimental ability. Where the natural coffee flavours come through vs tasting different roast levels...
ngl, that intro is fire
I get all giddy when I see the Decent, just love the machine. Will be a customer as soon as I get more shot pulling experience. Will gladly give up the manual process to have the lovely data and settings present.
You don't need any shot pulling experience to get it. I went from zero experience to a Decent machine and the community and profiles are so great you will be making great espresso in no time.
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
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!
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!
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.)
Excellent review - thank you! You are quickly becoming the best espresso mind. Beautiful videography as well. Bravo!
This is one of the few machines that intrigues me. Over the decades have owned, rebuilt and repaired lots of home and com semi-com pump and lever machines. Never had a commercial lever though, just Olympia, Pavoni, and Faemina. The Decent can be any machine you tell it to be as it can duplicate the profile of such. Minimalist clean design IMO that will do more than a big LM or Slayer for much less cost. I wonder if the ceramic trays were used to add weight to the machine? Lighter thermo machines are easier to move but can also dance on the table if the PF is locked hard. A question, can you set the brew temp to "no heat" as to pull a cold shot?
Love the look because it's just the right size as it will fit in a normal kitchen absolutely. There are great portable espresso machines for camping use too...a whole World worth a review to. Great watch!
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.
Please add metric units in future videos. Thank you!
Wooo, been waiting for this!
Long time in the making!
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
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?
Can you please please review theSolis grind & infuse perfetta
I wonder when they release a DE2 what the improvements would be. I hope they are able to make a cheaper entry friendly version
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!
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.
Super comprehensive review! Owning a BDB myself, I’d love to know what you meant by at the end of the vid: “it is not the same as a tactile E61 machine”. Do you mean the automation the Decent brings? As opposed to having to manually stand there timing your shot? I am so keen getting a decent for my next machine (and likely end machine), this video has been so informative on every facet and ins and out 🙌🏼
I more mean the tactile experience of moving a metal lever with a cam to start / stop the shots on an E61. Turning a big valve to start / stop steaming. Seeing the water come shooting out of the solenoid when the shot ends… makes you feel like your a train conductor or something, puts on a show for the guests!
so excited to see this one posted!!! great work
Thanks Joe!
I just ordered mine I have the jitters! I haven't been this excited for something in a long time!
Woohoo!
Great review! This is one of those things you save up for a good while, and reward yourself with it.
Awesome review, thank you!! This is on my wish list once I’m able to afford it
Great video. I have had my Decent for about a year now. Love the machine, company, community, etc. However, if I had any nitpicks it would be around the water storage and drip tray material. I have the white version and I find that it stains quite easily and is extremely hard to clean once that occurs. As for the water tank, if I leave the water for a few days, I do see some dust, etc floating on the surface- some people sell covers for the tank for this reason. A simple pyrex style glass or even stainless steel would be easier to clean. Otherwise no complaints 😎👍
The water reservoir design was something that left me scratching my head compared to how ‘controlled’ the rest of the machine is.
@@adammacfarland6415 yeah, I travel quite a bit, and after a few days/week of no use.. the water evaporates/ picks up some particles. And the drip tray becomes quite hard to clean once any coffee dries.
The short burst sound from pump when it's running shots was because it makes higher flow rate as recipes require and without building up the pressure like regular machines, normally pump machine would build up its pressure within 5 to 7seconds up to 9bar, depends on what machines, and that's not good enough to explore espresso nowadays, how do you gonna achieve up to, let's say 7ml/s without the pressure builds up, short burst with two sets of pumps, however, this approach isn't possible for many other machines out there and it requires integration of hardware and software, that's root of other manufacture are lacking, or should I say that's the approach what they are not willing to take, at least my opinions. Oh, if I may, did u try the bloomging+allonge, this recipe would get you more out of your lighter beans(I don't have a Decent, but I now fully understand their approach and tested on my flow control machines with all those recipes).
Yes I mention the Blooming profile specifically in the espresso section of this review. It’s quite incredible and revealing. Allonge has a similar effect, but slightly more toned back than Blooming, and easier to dial in.
@@LifestyleLab_ I was saying that try bloom combine Allongé, after pause blooming was normal pressure profile till the end, but try use Allongé style after pause, it means that grind a little bit cause, let the high flow goes through the puck, say 4:1, 5:1 in the cup, it delivers more than just blooming, and John mentioned it as well in their stream.
How does a espresso taste with this tool vs. Barrista Exp? Which one would you use on daily basis?
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
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’t wait to never have this machine yet still watch videos on it
You can also use the Decent to make tea!!!
Just ordered mine this week, hopefully I don't get completely overwhelmed
You’ll be fine :)
Just start of with the default profile and explore deeper from there when you’re ready
I found that the Classic Lever profile was even more forgiving than the default, and has become my go to for medium roasts.
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
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!
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 😆
Excellent review. Would be great to see you do tastings with the same bean but different profiles. Those B-roll shots are sweet 😏
Very insightful and informative review. Thank you for making the video!
Thank you for watching!
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
Great review. Well done!
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 🙁
Tbh, best video to date! Good job mate!
Thanks Michael, appreciate it!
Nice informative video, can't afford the machine (maybe one day) But just wanted to ask the make of that black cup you have on the machine please as it looks really nice
It is very nice!
7 GREAT Cups for Coffee Lovers
ruclips.net/video/lp6Ap_NpmnM/видео.html
Great review as always, greets from Edmonton!
🇨🇦 🇨🇦 🇨🇦
Been watching for a while, love the evolutionary journey… I’m not ready for decent me thinks and your video certainly helped me to get to that conclusion.
So I’m looking at the plethora of pro(ish)sumer machines.
Any thoughts on the Elektra verve?
I see it go on sale quite often! But otherwise no, I don’t have any direct experience with Elektra that I can draw from
@@LifestyleLab_ appreciate your reply, “..on sale quite often..” :( I’m in Doha Qatar) based on availability looks like a Linea then..?
That said, I liked the pressure and temperature profiling etc just unsure about longevity and quality
Is there any chance they address the lack of cup warming?
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
Can you give us a closer look at the Euan Lake Tray?
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 :)
Nice machine and technology. Price is just not majority of coffee loving people can afford. My concern is if the company ever out of business, the online software won’t be available to use. And maybe there will some fees to continue using the software for company needs residual income.
The software is completely open source! That will never be a risk
@@LifestyleLab_ thank you for your reply. When the price is more affordable, I may consider to buy one.
If it is in $2k range, I will sure grab one.
The price isn’t ever going to drop into that range unfortunately. If it was $2k then it would be on every counter of every coffee lover for sure!
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.
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 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!
4000e for a expresso is a bit too much for me, but nice machine!
Nice review. A nice machine and interesting but long term I would worry about what happens with these things when software goes out of date.
They’re constantly being updated over the air, no worries about going out of date :) and the software is completely open source, so even if Decent were to go somewhere, the software will continue to be developed and supported which is pretty cool
@@LifestyleLab_ fair enough. Nice machine, and I hope it serves you well and meets your needs in espresso making.
Truly exceptional and crystal clear review of a revolutionary machine
Amazing video again! Really useful info!
In this video I think I saw a quick glimpse of the Zerowater pitcher? Would be amazing if you could one day make a video about the water you use as well. Currently I’m still buying super market water which isn’t really good for the environment and is quite expensive. I read great things about zerowater, but did read that having no minerals in your water makes your espresso taste not so great either. Love to hear your view on that.
Keep up making these great videos 👏🔥
That’s actually a Brita not zero water. You absolutely need some minerals, not only for taste but also for machine safety!
My current setup is using a half packet of Perfect Coffee Water mix into 4L of distilled water. This puts the PPM at around 75 which is right in a safe range for espresso machines
@@LifestyleLab_ thanks for your quick reply man! Gonna try out the perfect coffee water mix!
Nice! Just don’t use it at “full strength” otherwise you’ll be a little too hard for espresso machine use (in my opinion)
Just checked. The water I currently use is about 33PPM. So slightly low.
Will have to see how to get the perfect coffee water to the Netherlands since the shipping of one pack is already 40$ 🥲
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!
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
I hesitated buying this machine because I’ve seen some reviewers talk about steam pressure/steam wand especially as it pertains to achieving great micro foam for latte art. Sounds like you really liked the wand. Maybe I should rethink it.
I think the only complaint from older versions was steaming power, which has improved over time with updates. Steam quality-wise it’s stellar
@@LifestyleLab_ thanks! And I know I say this every time, but I love the channel!
Thanks for watching! Really appreciate it
I think that (with any espresso machine) you can steam quality microfoam or quick microfoam, take your pick, or compromise somewhere in the middle. The Decent allows you to select flow rate and temperature, and it remains stable - I know this because they also supply a real-time steaming graph
@@LifestyleLab_ How do you compare it to e.g. a GS3? That is a beast with steam :)
I think we will use these in our shop…. Nice review will subscribe
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
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?
Do you find that with all the technology it’s because too burdensome and too much of a chore or do you find that it makes pulling shots more efficient and less time consuming?
It makes it very consistent and very efficient day to day
But then it can also be very time consuming on the weekend when you have time to “play”
Any hint of when they might come out with the updated steam wand mentioned @15:28? I'm looking to buy a decent in the next year or so and don't want to miss out on this feature if it is coming out.
Don’t let it stop you from buying!
The way they are doing it isn’t something built in to the machine, nor is it proprietary to Decent. When the software update comes out, you’ll be able to buy the hardware you need locally
@@LifestyleLab_ Oh thats cool and also terrible for my wallet because now there isn't an excuse
The best review yet!
Thanks Alan, much appreciated!
Is the Water Spout situation still bad :( ??
A year later, have you heard more about temp probe in steam wand?
The idea at least for the DE1 was never a full integration of the temperature probe into the steam wand. Their idea was to use a Bluetooth thermometer that could sync with the machine
@@LifestyleLab_ is it there?
@@robertusga I don't think it's something that ever came to fruition unfortunately. They have a new machine on the way, so I'm guessing it's something they will include in that.
How do you think this would perform in a coffee cart for small event settings?
Absolutely amazingly. Decent actually sell a cart pre-built for that exact purpose
This review is really well put together.
Thanks :)