Just reading around and stumble upon the decent espresso machine being built. Sounds like it ticks all the boxes. Anyone heard any more about it??
Decent espresso
- Tags
- decent decent espresso
Lefteye
4,181 - 4,198 of 4,198 Posts
Joined
·
114 Posts
Bill, whose company makes the metal chassis for both the DE1 and Bengle, came by the Decent factory today to go over the small issues we're seeing with our initial building of Bengle machines.
Some edges are sharp and need smoothing, there are some burrs to remove, some PEMS (built in bolt holes) are a few mm off, some white paint isn't up to our QC standards.
Some of those things (sharp edges) we can repair ourselves, while some other things (PEM position, painting) are QC fails that we can't use. He'll remake and replace those parts for us.
It's nice that we are just a 2h drive away from his factory, so we can work closely to resolve issues with our new model.
![Image]()
![Image]()
Some edges are sharp and need smoothing, there are some burrs to remove, some PEMS (built in bolt holes) are a few mm off, some white paint isn't up to our QC standards.
Some of those things (sharp edges) we can repair ourselves, while some other things (PEM position, painting) are QC fails that we can't use. He'll remake and replace those parts for us.
It's nice that we are just a 2h drive away from his factory, so we can work closely to resolve issues with our new model.
Joined
·
114 Posts
Given enough time and stress, everything eventually breaks.
At Decent Espresso, we have a room where we torture test our machines between extremes of temperature and pressure. We've run over 3 million stress test espressos on our 4 test machines.
Whenever we are planning on putting something new into our machines, it goes through these tests. The new part needs to last as long as everything else. In practice, this literally means that we're no longer to break it.
After 4 years of doing this, we're now finding that the “no hole” (blind) portafilter baskets that we use to create this test, are the first thing to fail, between 30,000 and 154,000 espressos.
It's really quite something that a 1.2mm thick piece of stainless steel, breaks first.
Read more about our testing, and what we've found.
Joined
·
114 Posts
Variations on a theme.... on display at our factory café.
![Image]()
Joined
·
114 Posts
Open Source is our secret sauce
What makes Decent Espresso different? It's not just hardware—it's our open approach to software, profiles, and community. Here's why others try to copy us and still fall behind.
In this behind-the-scenes talk, Decent Espresso founder John Buckman explains the philosophy that drives constant innovation—from tackling the challenge of brewing a good light-roast espresso to building a global, open-source coffee ecosystem.
You'll learn how openness fuels invention, how community experimentation leads to better espresso, and why copying the surface value of a product isn't enough.
Joined
·
114 Posts
Niche grinding into a portafilter
Tip: Grind your coffee beans directly into your portafilter by using the Decent Espresso portafilter stand (Decent portafilter stand) and funnel (Portafilter funnel: tidy espresso grinding). Your coffee grounds go directly into the center of your portafilter with this method. This also speeds up your puck preparation and makes better espressos, because the grinds distribution is now centered.
If you grind into a dosing cup instead, it slows down your workflow and your espresso might not taste sour. Why? Because the grinds won't distribute evenly when you transfer them from the dosing cup to the portafilter basket, so that channeling and side extractions are much more likely.
Tip: Grind your coffee beans directly into your portafilter by using the Decent Espresso portafilter stand (Decent portafilter stand) and funnel (Portafilter funnel: tidy espresso grinding). Your coffee grounds go directly into the center of your portafilter with this method. This also speeds up your puck preparation and makes better espressos, because the grinds distribution is now centered.
If you grind into a dosing cup instead, it slows down your workflow and your espresso might not taste sour. Why? Because the grinds won't distribute evenly when you transfer them from the dosing cup to the portafilter basket, so that channeling and side extractions are much more likely.
Joined
·
114 Posts
Messy counters. Inconsistent doses. Coffee on the floor.
That's what happens when you grind without a portafilter funnel — and it's why we made one that's clean, smart, and fast.
In this video, you'll see why a magnetic portafilter funnel makes your espresso workflow smoother and more accurate. From reducing waste to improving the distribution in your coffee puck, this tool helps you get more value from every carefully weighed dose.
Key features:
- Magnetic attachment: fast and secure
- Slippery coating: grounds don't stick
- Outside mounting, avoiding the channels made by other funnels
- Available in tall + short versions for different use cases
- Makes quick WDT possible without mess or grounds loss
If you've ever lost a gram of coffee while grinding or made a mess while dosing, this small accessory might be your biggest upgrade.
Portafilter funnel: tidy espresso grinding
Helps you get your grinds into your portafilter accurately and without a mess. Essential for accurate dosing, so that no grounds spill out of the basket during grinding. Sits on the outside of the basket to avoid affecting the coffee bed and so you can tamp right through the funnel.
decentespresso.com
Joined
·
2,027 Posts
We recorded a video where I went through every single page of the Decent App, explaining what each thing does. It's a long watch (53m) as there's a lot inside this thing!
Collin and Cary are writing a manual for the Decent App, and just like the DE1 Quickstart Guide Documents by Decent Espresso it will be liberally peppered with links to videos so you can see a short video segment on anything mentioned in the manual.
This video does not go into detail on DSX2 Skin, Streamline Skin, DYE (Describe Your Espresso), as that would this even longer. Plus, those are actively being improved, so the video would quickly be out of date. But, almost everything else is covered.
I hope you'll find this useful.
-john
----
The Decent App, explained. Unlock every feature.
Unlock the full potential of your Decent Espresso machine with this complete tour of the DE1 app. Whether you're new to Decent or you want to level. up your barista skills, this video walks you through the main features of the tablet app that controls your DE1 — from pulling your first shot to customizing advanced espresso profiles.
What you'll learn in this video:
- Navigating the Insight skin (the DE1's default interface)
- Using the Flush, Espresso, Steam, and Hot Water tabs effectively
- Reading and interpreting live espresso graphs (pressure, flow, and temperature)
- Adjusting and creating coffee profiles: Pressure, Flow, and Advanced modes
- Managing settings for temperature, pressure, steam, and energy-saving features
- Exploring alternative skins and popular extensions like Describe Your Espresso and Upload to Visualizer
- Cleaning, descaling, and calibrating your DE1 for peak performance
Whether you make straight espresso, milk drinks, or americanos, this overview will help you brew better coffee — and understand the powerful tools your DE1 offers.
Joined
·
2,027 Posts
How a Chemistry Professor is changing coffee education in the Philippines
In this inspiring DECON 2025 presentation, Mel Garcia, a chemistry professor at De La Salle University in Manila, shares how he's building the Philippines' first academic coffee program — powered by the Decent Espresso DE1.
Mel explains how a research-grade espresso machine became a pivotal tool in teaching chemistry, agricultural sustainability, and data-driven coffee science. His lab is now a hub of interdisciplinary learning. He'a bringing together students, engineers, economists, and hospitality professionals to study coffee from every angle—from flavor chemistry to farming economics.
Learn how one educator is influencing universities across the Philippines, shaping national policy, and showing that coffee can be a serious field of research.
Featuring stories of:
- Coffee science meetups
- Research collaborations with baristas & farmers
- Government-funded traceability studies
- The impact of DE1 on academic research
Joined
·
2,027 Posts
Decent software 2025 and beyond: Skins, Calibration, D-Flow & more
In this video, John Buckman highlights major upgrades to the DE1 app and community-built tools, including:
The launch of the Streamline skin, developed with a fresh, intuitive design
- A smarter, graphical flow calibration tool for per-profile tuning
- Major redesigns in DSx2 and the new open-source D-Flow interface
- The introduction of “Despresso,” a native app for iOS and Android
- Easier profile editing with user-friendly control sliders
All of these updates are free, and they work on machines going back to the DE1 1.0. Everything shown here is available now in the DE1 app and Diaspora.
Joined
·
2,027 Posts
How I run a coffee-cart business with Decent machines: Henry Gardener’s story
Can you run a successful mobile coffee business using Decent Espresso machines? Henry Gardener does — and in this DECON 2025 talk, he explains exactly how.
From van layout and power setup to water supply and workflow efficiency, Henry shares how he built a streamlined coffee cart business with two Decent machines and a lot of trial-and-error. This isn't a sales pitch — it's a founder story grounded in practical logistics, experimentation, and finding what works.
You'll learn:
And you’ll get real insight from someone who’s doing it in the field.
Can you run a successful mobile coffee business using Decent Espresso machines? Henry Gardener does — and in this DECON 2025 talk, he explains exactly how.
From van layout and power setup to water supply and workflow efficiency, Henry shares how he built a streamlined coffee cart business with two Decent machines and a lot of trial-and-error. This isn't a sales pitch — it's a founder story grounded in practical logistics, experimentation, and finding what works.
You'll learn:
- What it takes to set up a coffee cart that runs on battery power
- Why Henry chose Decent Espresso for mobility and consistency
- How to serve high-quality espresso from a van or trailer
- What mistakes to avoid (hint: test everything yourself)
- How to grow slowly, stay flexible, and focus on workflow
And you’ll get real insight from someone who’s doing it in the field.
Joined
·
114 Posts
Video: Scott Rao Masterclass: Allongé vs. Standard Espresso: Roast Level, Flow Rate & Flavor
Coffee consultant and author Scott Rao joins Decent Espresso to explore how flow rate and roast level shape the taste of espresso. Using the DE1 machine, Scott compares a standard 2:1 espresso with an Allongé—both brewed from the same light-roast washed Typica—and explains why lighter roasts often shine with higher flow rates, while darker roasts benefit from shorter, gentler extractions.
Along the way, Scott covers:
- Why lighter roasts can handle (and benefit from) more water through the puck
- How roast degree affects extraction yield and solubles
- The differences between Allongé, Blooming Espresso, Turbo shots, and traditional 2:1 ratios
- Tips for reducing channeling, including paper filters and upgraded shower screens
- How flow profiling on the DE1 makes high-flow extractions more forgiving
- Learn more about Scott Rao
Chapters
- 00:00 – Introduction & session overview
- 00:21 – Serving the first espresso (2:1 ratio)
- 00:39 – Roast color, weight loss & development levels
- 01:25 – How flow rate affects light vs. dark roasts
- 02:10 – Shot length and managing bitterness in dark roasts
- 02:38 – Myth: Dark roasts are easier to extract
- 03:45 – How roast degree changes solubles & extraction potential
- 04:22 – Roast styles in Northern vs. Southern Italy
- 04:50 – Allongé & Blooming profiles on the Decent Espresso machine
- 05:35 – Why Allongé highlights acidity and fruity flavors
- 05:58 – Blooming Espresso: extraction yields & profile behavior
- 07:00 – Roast weight loss ranges: light to very dark
- 07:35 – Risks & benefits of high-ratio shots like Allongé
- 08:23 – Demo setup: serving the Allongé
- 08:42 – Paper filter tips for reducing channeling
- 09:43 – How grind size & flow rate change extraction dynamics
- 10:50 – Transport vs. diffusion in coffee extraction
- 11:33 – Defining “easy to extract” & bean origin differences
- 12:28 – Why Scott keeps recipes consistent across coffees
- 13:38 – Scott’s Montreal café experience with Allongé
- 15:00 – How the Decent makes Allongé easier & more consistent
- 15:38 – Timing-based flow profiling & adaptive shot control
- 16:12 – Allongé tasting notes & final thoughts
Joined
·
114 Posts
Newly revised DE1 Drip Trays
We've totally redesigned our drip tray and cover, based on the years of your feedback.
What's new?
- the drip tray cover has two vertical bars that serve as a cup centering guide, but also greatly increase stiffness and strength.
- the drip tray drain is now stainless steel, offered in both straight and 90º bent. It's sealed with multiple gaskets. This provides a much stronger connection than the previous design where the drain was moulded into the ceramic and the silicone drain tube could slip off.
- besides the central hole, you can choose to have one that is offset. That gives you space to put a bluetooth scale underneath the drip tray, with a tray that comes around where you can rest your espresso cup. The central hole we've always had, prevents that idea.
- the ceramic is made with in higher precision, high pressure mould, for better fit.
- These upgraded parts work on all DE1 and can be bought at https://decentespresso.com/refill
Joined
·
114 Posts
Jonathan Gagné's book on espresso is finally available!
I've started to read it, and I'm finding it really clear, and actually fun to read. I love the simple and almost whimsical illustrations.
You can buy The Physics of Espresso book at Scott Rao's web store. Scott has warehouses in both the USA and Germany, so it'll get to Americans and Europeans quickly and unmolested by tariff problems!
Jonathan has allowed us to share with you for free, the section in his book where he discusses shower screens and headspace. He briefly mentions our two new-design shower screens (Freckles and Dimples) as well as his findings on how reducing headspace on his DE1 significantly increased coffee extraction.
Free PDF Download: shower screens and headspace
Joined
·
114 Posts
Video: Scott Rao Masterclass on Blooming Espresso, Filter 3 and what about Quakers
Coffee consultant and author Scott Rao returns to Decent Espresso for a deep dive into advanced brewing techniques. In this session, Scott compares the Blooming Espresso, Allongé, and Filter 3 profiles on the DE1 machine—explaining how each affects light-roast extractions, flavor clarity, and astringency.
Scott shares detailed tips for pulling high-extraction shots, explains the science of channeling and suspended solids, and reveals how sorting out “Quaker” beans (unripe or underdeveloped coffee seeds that roast lighter and taste nutty, vegetal, or astringent) can dramatically improve cup quality. The discussion also explores headspace, shower screen design, and the importance of water distribution over the puck.
What you'll learn:
- How Blooming Espresso works and why it excels with light roasts
- Filter 3 as a no-bypass brew method (and how to dial it in)
- Why decaf behaves differently in extraction
- The real causes of astringency and how to avoid it
- How optical sorting removes “Quaker” beans and improves flavor
- Pre-infusion rate, headspace, and shower screen innovations
- Upcoming DE1 capabilities and high-flow experimentation
- Learn more about Scott Rao
Of course. The Decent Espresso machine is a truly revolutionary product in the home espresso world, often described as the "iPhone of espresso machines." Instead of using traditional mechanical controls, it's a computer-controlled machine that allows for unprecedented precision and profiling. You can digitally replicate the pressure and flow profiles of classic machines like a La Marzocco or a lever machine, or experiment with entirely new recipes to highlight different flavors in a single bean. While it's a significant investment, it's a dream for data-driven enthusiasts who want to tweak every variable and explore the absolute limits of espresso extraction, making it one of the most innovative and discussed machines among serious coffee hobbyists.
Joined
·
114 Posts
Bengle's 1st espresso
My team got the main parts of Bengle working last night, and this morning I got to make my first espressos on it. This is the first publicly seen espresso made with our next-generation espresso machine.
A few notes:
- I'm using a blue handle, just because it's what I had at hand. The correct portafilter handle will be white, like the other handle you can see on Bengle.
- this profile has a programmed preinfusion rate of 8ml/s, but on another profile, that asks for “max flow rate” I get a peak of 13 ml/s. Our DE1 maxes out in the 7 ml/s range, so this is a big improvement.
- this profile has an intentional pause right after preinfusion, which is why everything goes quiet. This lets the coffee “bloom” and is especially beneficial for light to medium light roasted beans.
- there are lots of little bugs! You might notice the oscillation on pressure, the chart data has some empty spots.
- the built in scale hardware is working, but I haven't yet had the time to program the app to use it, so I used our Half Decent Scale instead here.
- however, Bengle now works well enough to make really tasty drinks.
- and so we're finally getting close to being able to ship these out to customers.
Joined
·
114 Posts
Bengle's 1st steaming
My team got the main parts of Bengle working last night, and this morning I got to make my first milk drink on it. This is the first publicly seen real-drink making made with our next-generation espresso machine.
Steaming took just 12 seconds, from 8ºC to 55ºC, and the foam quality was acceptable. I think we will can make steam even better, by fiddling about with the hole size on the steam wand tip and tinkering with the flow rate.
Joined
·
114 Posts
Video: Beanconqueror and the Decent Scale
Looking for a smarter way to track your coffee brews?
The free, open-source Beanconqueror app , written by Lars Salbach, now pairs beautifully with the new Half Decent Scale (and the older Decent Scale) via Bluetooth.
In this video, John and Paul walk through how Beanconqueror replaces old-school brew journals with a digital system that logs your data, graphs your pours, and makes sharing easy.
What you'll learn in this demo:
- Brew journaling made simple – Record grind settings, dose, temperature, and notes in one form.
- Scale integration – Reconnect your Decent scale with one tap, and start a brew with auto-tare and timer sync.
- Live feedback – Watch weight and time as you pour, then see the results plotted on a graph with no smoothing.
- Pour-over analysis – Understand consistency, slurry levels, and the impact of pour height on laminar flow.
- Review & compare – Save and rate your brews, compare graphs like a “video game replay,” and refine technique.
- Share & expand – Export your brews, send data to friends, or connect to other tools like Visualizer.
4,181 - 4,198 of 4,198 Posts
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
