I have a well-earned reputation as a "coffee snob" at work. Co-workers snicker as I don my jacket, preparing to walk eight blocks in subzero temperatures just for a better cup of coffee. After earning this reputation, I'm often asked about coffee, particularly espresso. When asked about options for making espresso at home, I usually respond with another question—do you want a new hobby?
Lately, I've tunneled deeply into the bottomless rabbit hole of coffee. As is my nature, I've taken an intensely data-driven approach to experimenting with flavor and maintaining consistency. Tightly controlling variables and changing one at a time is the only meaningful way to judge the outcome of a change. But, of course, this requires extreme precision, which is where equipment and technique come into play.
Most espresso machines, even those at the high end, fail to provide feedback about the brewing process. Defects manifest themselves clearly through tasting, but the ultimate cause is often unclear. This lack of transparency is frustrating for a person with a deeply analytical personality. Luckily, data-driven coffee nerds now have options.
A monumentally modest company named Decent has become an industry leader in the art of brewing espresso with extreme precision only afforded by an automated, software-driven design. Every variable can be controlled and dissected, from pressure to flow, weight, temperature, and time.
The DE-1 after brewing the second best espresso I’ve ever had.
Decent Espresso Machine
The Decent espresso machine is a game-changer. The machine offers an unprecedented level of control and precision that is unmatched by other espresso makers. This level of precision allows for a level of consistency that is unparalleled. There is no better option for technophile coffee lovers looking to take their espresso brewing game to the next level.
The machine's software allows for an incredible level of customization. Users can create and save their own recipes and profiles, tailoring the brewing process to their exact preferences. The software also provides real-time feedback, making it easy to make adjustments throughout the extraction process.
One of the most impressive features of the Decent machine is its ability to track and display data about each shot. For example, below is a ten-second pre-infusion followed by a standard nine-bar pressure profile compared with a pre-infusion followed by a long "bloom" phase that reduces astringency and bitterness.
The traditional flat nine-bar pressure profile has become the industry standard not because it offers the best extraction, but because it is a good compromise between quality and time—an essential consideration for a busy cafe. Despite decades of incremental improvement, applying modern technology to a century-old brewing process demonstrates that no system, no matter how refined, can transcend the benefits of human creativity mixed with a pinch of technology.