This live stream from Kaffeemacher addresses viewers' coffee questions. The hosts discuss new espresso machines and grinders launched at the SCA Expo in the US, the SCA's takeover of the Q Grader system, and answer various audience questions about coffee brewing and equipment.
The hosts' top three single-dosing grinder recommendations are:
DF83V: Praised for its speed and ability to produce high-quality coffee. Its size is noted as suitable for a home coffee bar.
Mazzer Mini: Highlighted for its overall quality, though deemed expensive. The hosts prefer it over the Option OG due to ease of cleaning.
DF64 Gen 2: Recommended for its excellent price-performance ratio. The standard DF64 (without variable RPM) is considered exceptionally good value. The hosts mention they wouldn't necessarily buy a new one but would continue using their existing one.
The Fellow ESP1 espresso machine features include a boosted boiler heating system, a patented and individually controlled temperature system, adaptive pressure control, an integrated scale for better brew ratio control, a temperature-controlled steam wand, a 58mm group head, and app control via a 4.3-inch touchscreen (although the hosts express preference for app control over using the touchscreen). The hosts find the most intriguing aspect to be the heating system's approach, suggesting it uses a smaller boiler supplemented by a high-speed heating element (likely a thick-film heater) to rapidly achieve and maintain the desired water temperature for brewing, minimizing temperature fluctuations. They are curious about the exact workings of the system, specifically whether it utilizes a heat exchanger (HX) or simply fills the boiler with already-heated water.
