[mcrmfc]

Robots are now on sale in the cafelat store. Just ordered my polished barista model.

 

[mcrmfc]

He's landed.....had a quick peek and the quality is pretty astounding. Thank you Mr Pratt!!! Will report back when I get him going...anybody other UK folk running a Robot yet?

 

[edpirie]

Not yet but close to ordering so looking forward to your report.

 

[PCJAnt]

He's landed.....had a quick peek and the quality is pretty astounding. Thank you Mr Pratt!!! Will report back when I get him going...anybody other UK folk running a Robot yet?

Congrats! I am also considering getting one. I liked the aluminum polished one, but the new pastel blue looks beautiful.

How much has been the import duty?

Thanks.

 

[mcrmfc]

Unfortunatley life has got in the way of me getting quality time with the Robot...but for now I just look lovingly at it in the evening on the side board. To be frank it was worth the money as an ornament alone.

 

[mcrmfc]

Just thought I would post a pic of the happy couple....

I will try at some point to formulate some erudite words of wisdom but for now just some very early impressions.

Not quite as simple to dial in as those on a certain other forum might have you believe...also the fact it's a manual lever is about the only similarity with the flair.

I found the transition a tad tricky...about 8 sink shots tricky...was starting to lose my way a bit to be honest. Makes me realise how unique (and clever) the Flair really is...but that's a conversation for another day.

Back to the Robot I finally realised I was just not being confident enough to go fine and really ramp up the pressure to 8-9 bar after PI..with a little decline at the end. I have achieved some pleasing shots on both the Atkinsons LSOL and for contrast a Union Gajah Mountain (as dark as I would ever venture).

Taste is really shining through really nice balance no signs of cringy acidity on the light or bitter on the dark...mouth feel and crema are ok at the moment but reckon I still have some way to go to really nail that aspect.

It wasn't cheap but despite the tough intro and the fact I haven't hit gold as yet...I don't regret a single penny.

Will try and update again in a few weeks with some pics of actual coffee.

 

[pj.walczak]

Thanks for the feedback.

I also find it pretty difficult to use, especially comparing to LR.

I took the basic version, so I can't check the pressure, and still looking for decent shoot

 

[mcrmfc]

Yeah had a couple of really great shots with the Gajah this afternoon much better crema and mouth feel also. 9 bar seems to get in the zone for me.

As you don't have the guage my advise would be go too fine and then work back...you need a fair whack of force to generate 9 bar on this thing.

Terrible photos...but I promise it tasted ace.

 

[pj.walczak]

So the first stage is pre-infussion. Usually this is the easiest part to get the grind settings right. So I assume you start with preinfussion, gentle pressure and the Robot arms are at this stage parallel to the ground? How long it takes to see coffee drops at the bottom of the PF? 5-7 seconds?

And the you push with full force down? So getting close to the 7-9 bars, how hard it is. Like pushing your whole body down on the poor Robot? Maybe I am too gentle for him?

 

[mcrmfc]

So the first stage is pre-infussion. Usually this is the easiest part to get the grind settings right. So I assume you start with preinfussion, gentle pressure and the Robot arms are at this stage parallel to the ground? How long it takes to see coffee drops at the bottom of the PF? 5-7 seconds?

And the you push with full force down? So getting close to the 7-9 bars, how hard it is. Like pushing your whole body down on the poor Robot? Maybe I am too gentle for him?

10s till drips appear with hands just resting. Then get right over and push down and yep you need to be reasonably strong and above the machine....I went really fine and the arms started to flex a little....that was probably about 12 bar...so don't go that far...but it's not so far back from there.

 

[mcrmfc]

Best shot so far tonight, it has taken longer than I thought but the rewards are there...and .3g off my target by eye!

Ignore the time...was about 50s inc PI

 

[edpirie]

Thanks for the detailed feedback on your experience, please keep it coming if you have the time. I was thinking of getting one to replace my Cremina to simplify shot making first thing in the morning, but it's just so easy to get good crema and thick mouthfeel with the Cremina. According to HB comments the Robot makes perfect espresso with practically no effort, so it's good to have a reality check!

 

[mcrmfc]

Thanks for the detailed feedback on your experience, please keep it coming if you have the time. I was thinking of getting one to replace my Cremina to simplify shot making first thing in the morning, but it's just so easy to get good crema and thick mouthfeel with the Cremina. According to HB comments the Robot makes perfect espresso with practically no effort, so it's good to have a reality check!

No probs at all...with that darker roast I am now getting the thickness and more gloupy mouth feel.

Going to try some lighter roasts into the weekend so will update then.

Will keep posting pics...I just know it really helped me to see what's possible.

My Flair (still love it...and now want the new pressure guage!) is in the cupboard for the time being [emoji6]

 

[mcrmfc]

Thanks for the detailed feedback on your experience, please keep it coming if you have the time. I was thinking of getting one to replace my Cremina to simplify shot making first thing in the morning, but it's just so easy to get good crema and thick mouthfeel with the Cremina. According to HB comments the Robot makes perfect espresso with practically no effort, so it's good to have a reality check!

@edpirie - where are u based..if you are anywhere near South London/Kent you are welcome to come and try.

 

[hifimacianer]

Thanks for the detailed feedback on your experience, please keep it coming if you have the time. I was thinking of getting one to replace my Cremina to simplify shot making first thing in the morning, but it's just so easy to get good crema and thick mouthfeel with the Cremina. According to HB comments the Robot makes perfect espresso with practically no effort, so it's good to have a reality check!

Reality check:

I received my Robot yesterday, and only had a short time to play with it.

I did 4 shots in total, while I also had to adjust my hand grinder to fine espresso setting (only used for filter before).

The first two shots where for the sink (too coarse grind), the third was already drinkable, and the fourth was spot on!

Thick crema, full mouthfeel, tasted like chocolate, perfect.

Shot preperation was easy, and while it should not be needed to preheat the filterholder with darker roasts, I did because the Robot was cold as ice coming from delivery.

Built quality is outstanding.

 

[mcrmfc]

Right...leaving the dark stuff behind and turning now to the medium side.

The E1 and EQ blends from Clifton are ones I always return to in this category.

Just pulled this little beauty...pre heat portafilter/screen/basket in a cappucino mug (best use for such a thing)...pull out dry, dose, wdt, level, tamp, boiling water in....pre infuse at 1-2 bar 10s...then 9 -10 bar declining for last 10s...total time 50s ish.

Result - heaven! Sweet, sticky but with that bitter hint.

Shots seem a lot more balanced taste wise than the Flair. I think due to that small deep puck in the Flair you can get great looking shots (people can get crema for days with a porlex) fairly easily but if you are not super careful over and under extraction is common. I have no science for this...pure hunch/wild speculation.

Loving the Robot more and more every day. Credit should go to Paul Pratt as I learned a lot more this week about the blood sweat and tears he has had to go through to bring this to market.

Hope more UK folk take the plunge.

 

[mcrmfc]

Apologies my phone is dire and my photographic ability even worse...but just to give an idea of the Robot in action.

 

[mokapoka]

Shots looks very nice. How is cleanup? Do the arms stay up or do you need to hold them when inserting the basket?

 

[mcrmfc]

Shots looks very nice. How is cleanup? Do the arms stay up or do you need to hold them when inserting the basket?

Cleanup is super easy...

1. Lift up arms as in video at end

2. Spare cup under

3. Flush excess water to dry puck

4. Arms up and remove portafilter assembly

5. Knock out puck then rinse components

Re the arms staying up of their own accord - Paul offers no assurance of that, he tries to assemble with enough friction but it seems it can loosen up a bit and loose that ability. If it did I don't think it would be the end of the world you would just have to support it with one hand whilst inserting and removing pf.

 

[Power Freak]

Reality check:

I received my Robot yesterday, and only had a short time to play with it.

I did 4 shots in total, while I also had to adjust my hand grinder to fine espresso setting (only used for filter before).

The first two shots where for the sink (too coarse grind), the third was already drinkable, and the fourth was spot on!

Thick crema, full mouthfeel, tasted like chocolate, perfect.

Shot preperation was easy, and while it should not be needed to preheat the filterholder with darker roasts, I did because the Robot was cold as ice coming from delivery.

Built quality is outstanding.

This was basically my experience too, first shot too coarse and was a sink job. 2nd shot slightly too coarse and was a lungo but drinkable, 3rd was good and have been better since.

I tend to drink light-ish roasts (not super light scandi-style in an espresso typically though) and the pre-heat thing is easy to do. I leave the portafilter in a cup of off boil water as I grind the beans, wipe down with a kitchen towel chuck in beans, tamp and go. The temperature seems to hold enough to get nice sweet shots out the other side.

I've seen people say that a longer pre-infuse and around 6 bar tastes best with this machine but I seem to prefer 8-10bar and a shorter pre-infuse. About 5-10s pre-infuse then a 30s pull with around a 1.85:1 ratio seems to be the sweet spot for me.

I don't have my proper espresso grinder back yet so that might just be dialing in to a rather dull burr.

Build quality is fantastic though I agree.