Automated Pourovers Perfected?: Presented by an Advisor of the Product

[@LanceHedrick]

PLEASE READ: Well, this video has been met with a lot more controversy than I EVER imagined. At the beginning of the video, before getting into anything, where the view retention is at its highest, I disclosed my relationship with the company. I fully admitted bias. The majority of the changes made from the original XBloom (which I reviewed two years ago, mind you, and have not discussed since, as is my policy), were my own ideas from the consulting period over 2 years ago. These include- new mechanical spout, scale in tray, standalone grinder and spout, variable rpm, three axel system for alignment, and more. Some have said this feels like an advertisement. Sure, that is fair. I will add "Not a typical review" in the title for those who feel like this, though I don't include review in the title or thumbnail. Some have asked why I didn't critique it as much. To that, I ask, how good of an advisor would I be if I left low hanging critiques on a machine? I gave critique on the first iteration, where they took some of my suggestions., They immediately began working on this taking into account all of my suggestions. Obviously, them taking my critiques leaves... little to no critique, no? Anyway, I as I did with Pietro, as I did with the gen 1 XBloom, this will change nothing on this channel. If you recall, I never spoke about Pietro (I even used ZP6 in videos following) nor about XBloom following those videos. I would like to think I have garnered more trust than that. This is not an odd thing for a KZbinr to do. Hoffmann reviewed Mylk, which he helped create, as well as the Prima One, which he was heavily involved in. This is not some weird "crossing of the line." I plan to maintain what I have been doing for years. Thanks for reading. Please reach out, respectfully, with any following concerns or questions. Cheers

[@glib4233]

In my opinion: own your bias. If you're going to benefit financially from the video you have to take the bad too, that's just business. Some comments about this being an ad don't a controversy make.

[@Santy_PiquinX]

You are always very clear about your bias, people just always find an excuse to critique.

[@zanzabar7878]

Ignore the haters. Looks fantastic and a great price.

[@needmorebeans]

You're a champion, Lance! And you're helping the entire coffee value chain make leaps and strides (economic, sensory and hedonistic).

[@needmorebeans]

Also, keen for that Breville project you mentioned once 👀

[@toto408]

I'm more than happy with my original xbloom. It's high quality and easy to use, just a couple of things to prep in the morning and then a delicious cup of coffee is brewed while I take care of the kids. So handy!

[@matz4k]

the bellows got me 🤣

[@JohnZ556]

🐷🐽🐽🐽

[@fjlaboratories]

As a fully manual guy, I wasn’t really excited for this just based on the features alone, since I already have a full setup. The moment you mentioned the price though, I’m actually shocked. For what you get I was expecting you to say $700-800 so this feels like a steal!

[@luke9822]

​@robertrobert9227keep in mind you will need to clean all of the parts still, including the machine. It will be more to clean than you do now, which is just a pour-over cup.

[@angeluscarnifex]

​@@luke9822 The machine requires almost ZERO cleaning. I own the Original model (Kickstarter backer), and it is without a doubt the easiest piece of gear I own to clean and maintain. Nothing touches coffee except the pod or the dripper. The only cleanup is rinsing the dripper if you used it, tossing the pod if you used that, and then doing a little dusting of the plate on the exit chute of the grinder. It's insane how easy it is to maintain this machine. Got the Studio arriving later this week, and they actually improved the static buildup on that model, so it should theoretically need even less brushing than the OG. I can't think of any other piece of powered coffee equipment that requires less maintenance, at least not one I've used or had access to. I love a lot of things about the original, but ease of maintenance is arguably one of it's best "lazy person" features. I would put the level of maintenance as essentially even to a V60, and less than any dripper requiring assembly (Aeropress, Pulsar, etc.). So...technically, it's about 3 seconds of brushing more work than a dripper, but it's the most maintenance free coffee device I've ever plugged into an outlet.

[@magnumxlpi]

​@@angeluscarnifex buying my first pour over setup.. would you recommend the studio or a manual setup? Having a hard time deciding

[@xbloomcoffee]

Thank you so much for the thoughtful review and comments! We really value all the great suggestions that you have made-indeed, this is a testament to the commitment that xBloom has to our community. THANK YOU (everyone) for all the support!

[@jadoei13]

I wouldn't call it a review if someone has a conflict of interest like this. More a showcase, still great though, it just shouldn't be considered a review.

[@darylfortney8081]

Actually I would bite on a mini version (half the counter space and 2/3 height) without the grinder. My next brew device is the KuKu

[@skratched]

I backed that with the expectation that it will not be that great or delivered at all, but hoping it's good

[@darylfortney8081]

@@skratched I think it will be good. Unique at least opening up a whole new range of drinks besides simple drip or espresso.

[@deefpurple9688]

Honestly I would just buy the electronic brewer part without the grinder. I have enough and better grinders at home so no need for it

[@linshu-hong855]

I am curious about people’s perception towards the KuKu. Using centrifuges to brew coffee isn’t new. The second gen of Nespresso already uses the same mechanism. Of course, KuKu is an upgrade to Nespresso providing more control as is xBloom to k cup. Yet, xBloom seems to target a broader range of customers. While it allows geeks to be geeky with control over major brewing parameter, it also allows general users enter the realm of specialty coffee with a single tap. On the other hand, KuKu seems to be more involved and focused on coffee geeks.

[@deefpurple9688]

​@@linshu-hong855 yes, but zentrifugal forces you create pressure. It would be turn away from classic pour over. I think you would more go into direction of espresso and for that you use low pressure mods

[@lawrenceredman1366]

Sold! Morning poor overs just got a lot more exciting! GREAT VID!!!!!!

[@7-bs]

I own both machines and i decided on purchasing the og xbloom after watching your first video and i dont regret it .. and owning the xbloom studio already and been using it for a week i honestly agree with every point you made in thos video ! Love you dude keep it up

[@BadDogeU]

This looks incredible. If I wasn't already heavily invested in my current setup I would have bought this in a heartbeat years ago.

[@Mar-sr5uf]

Great Video!! The increased flow for better agitation of the coffee beans was a great idea. Awesome you got to contribute to the making of such a cool machine!

[@informedchoice2249]

...so when you're tracking the brew on your phone... is a phrase that made me realise this is a nerdgasm.

[@DaniilOskolkov]

That is amazing! I can truly feel how it is made with the thought about people! ❤

[@joelcleare]

Now I’m more interested since you had your input into the machine

[@QawiemJamil]

Holy moly it's so unexpectedly versatile.

[@xbloomcoffee]

Indeed our ides concept is when intelligence meets versatility

[@QawiemJamil]

@@xbloomcoffee gaddayum. Doubling down! Haha ok fine I'll go buy it 😜

[@anselmoverissimo7512]

An XBloom without the grinder would be a winner.

[@LanceHedrick]

I agree. Hope they offer it.

[@Ddiakova]

100% agree, hope it's on their mind too :D

[@T100ley]

I like that I will have a dedicated pour over grinder and a dedicated espresso grinder so when I’m dialed in, I’m not having to flip between brewing styles. That said I have the Cafe Sing Orca hand grinder that I can play with when I want to. But for people who abesolutely do not need a grinder I can see the advantage of a grinder less version.

[@Eklektik190]

Wondering if they will release one without the grinder

[@ccarch]

Check out the Aiden from Fellow, that is dropping soon and sounds more like what you are looking for

[@heytchap]

@@ccarchnah. The Aiden is a batch brewer, it’s also bigger and more expensive.

[@ccarch]

@@heytchap nope and nope, it's $365 and does single & batch brews, you just swap out the basket

[@heytchap]

Still not the same thing. This is the better deal.

[@ccarch]

@@heytchap I never said it wasnt or that this is a bad machine, the original comment said they were wondering if they would release one without a grinder all I did was say check out a machine that had a lot of the same features, minus the scale and grinder. Come on now let's use some level of reading comprehension.

[@AdamKlocperk]

The price is INSANE, I was expecting somewhere in the ballpark of 1000€... As others have said, if this was in Europe I would be definitely strongly considering buying one!

[@Kiaulen]

Lance, I always love seeing your passion for coffee, and what a sweet outcome you and the (crazy awesome) engineers, product people, and business people over at xBloom were able to achieve. I wasn't considering one before this video (I'm an espresso guy, have a pourover maybe once a month), but I am now. It's an incredible piece of kit, and I love the repeatability of it. Thanks for all the videos you make for us, and I'm sad to see that so many people have gotten upset that you'd show off your hard work.

[@Thunderbird1337]

Will definitely buy it when it's available in Europe.

[@HoonsCoffee]

Now I need to get one!

[@kmo9790]

Love the layout and design. Separating everything out adds a lot of value to the unit in my mind. Makes it easy to fold this into a complete home setup with an espresso machine and/or drip maker. Since you are advising may I recommend some way to add accents to the unit (silver knobs/tray/cup) so buyers can match the unit more readily to items that would complete their coffee setup in the same price range (ie being able to reasonably match a moccamaster sitting on the same counter).

[@BrianQuan]

Yes part of designing this machine and building the feature set were so that it could integrate into anyone's setup no matter where they are along their coffee journey! There will be people who are running a fully automated xpod setup all the way to people using their own brewers/grinders. Really happy people are recognizing the work we put into the versatility!

[@T100ley]

I bought one, because I’ve been neglecting pour over because of all the nuance that I want to put into them but haven’t prioritized. I am excited to be able to delegate that nuance to a machine so I don’t have to, so I can enjoy more coffee with less time and energy.

[@iamlyam79]

I don't need this but want it. Good job!

[@Pixelements]

I would buy this in Germany in a heartbeat!

[@calebbilti538]

why Germany?

[@Pixelements]

@@calebbilti538 because I live in Germany? For reference only, in case they are thinking about selling the product in other countries

[@calebbilti538]

@@Pixelements I know haha. It was a bad joke

[@Matthew-pg7mu]

I respect this mustache, this is a high quality look. I may need to grow one.

[@joabjoelhernandez2114]

I know lance preached against buyers itch, but I. NEED. THIS.

[@afegargergegerg]

It's coming to Europe in just a couple days!!!

[@bubba_sawyer]

Excellent video…I love mine!!

[@DerekWilson-zk4tg]

I've been considering this versus the aiden and am glad you did this video now.

[@robojimtv]

Aiden can do much bigger batches

[@lizcademy4809]

If I ever need a second coffee setup, especially if non-coffee nerds might be using it, this has jumped to the top of the choices. The non-geeks can easily make the best coffee of their lives. The geeks can have fun with all the adjustments.

[@valondon]

I backed the first iteration of the xbloom after watching your first video on it. Definitely one of my favorite purchases in quite awhile

[@arkarkme]

Thanks for the discount code. As with most youtubers, you've been very clear on your relationships with your products, so I don't see the issue. Anyway, there will always be bias and subjectivity on any consumer item, so in the end it's up to us to decide on what we like, or don't like about the product.

[@Sbailey294]

I really liked this every time I saw it at the Coffee Festival SF. Seems to get better as generations evolve… since I have a whole table dedicate to pour over and Espresso- it will be once I get to FU money (and have a bigger place) then this will be that last toy… and based on tasting the coffee it made I will get one. Features and results say I can’t hate at this point, it’s just money. Kudos to those who get one of these, especially over similarly priced automated espresso machines

[@davidtester863]

Being able to use Grinder, Scale and Water independently is a HUGE selling point. Great work!

[@thedancingsousa]

I'll be interested to see how fellow's coffee brewer competes with this when it arrives.

[@damnfinecoffee224]

i had gen 1 and loved it. tbh i just found myself never using it and going back to my aeropress. i feel like this is perfect for someone who doesn’t already have a nice grinder

[@maa-honey7979]

I have an 078, I could see myself getting one without the integrated grinder. On the flip side, I love ritual of brewing coffee myself in the morning. It’s really nice to help me wake up and focus on a task first thing.

[@vivavibes]

OUCH! Bursts into song, "love me, love me, say that you love me!" I love Lance bursting into random song.

[@7-bs]

My only issue with the both my machines the Og and studio is the fact that i need to use a step down converter inorder to use it (live in dubai amd we use UKs 220v)

[@Jevongen]

Burns himself then asks for the love 😆. That got the 👍 from me.

[@ivanfenenko]

WHEN EUROPE?!!!!!

[@ivanfenenko]

While advising them you forgot about the most important thing!

[@tommihommi1]

they're negotiating with retailers, apparently

[@ivanfenenko]

@@tommihommi1 I am pretty sure he cares about it. But it doesn't hurt to remind them. 🫠

[@Mr_Hoffmann]

+1 on the when Europe. I am ready to drive all the way to Portugal to pick it up

[@chaozzah]

Yeah this thing is SICK. Honestly, I'm worried about the longevity due to all the moving parts, but just... I am lazy, and this is crazy.

[@joelcleare]

Oh oh oh I can’t wait for the ultimate showdown. Xbloom vs Aiden vs your current pour over method. 🔥🔥🔥

[@potchielazaro156]

It would be a good pair with the meticulous espresso haha!

[@zokor7376]

Xbloom is amazing But I want to no grinder xbloom Only pour xbloom is perfect & cheaper

[@Mandragara]

Melitta Epour

[@JimNortonsAlcoholism]

A no grinder xbloom is a kettle

[@jensmertes9864]

@@Mandragara Yeah, I got that one years ago and use it as a sort of pour-over-batch-brewer. Curious how it would compare to the xbloom.

[@drcasper]

Savage 😅​@@JimNortonsAlcoholism

[@EmileeBryant]

THE PIG IS BACK

[@TheBrokenEclipse]

They really did improve every bit of the machine

[@DaniilOskolkov]

And the price is sick!!!!!!!!!😮😮😮😮

[@jonedwards792]

Happy to say I just received my unit and it’s such a blast! Not sure where everyone is sharing recipes and dialing in protocols, if you know would love to know!

[@crawdaddyy]

The video editing is always superb, as usual

[@brentroman]

YT ad that followed this video? Nespresso. Love the singing Lance!

[@TC_Prof]

Looks premium and great but hoping they have one without the grinder for better value option. Also the brewing relaxing ritual for manual PO brewing is priceless as well. 👍👍💥💥☕️☕️

[@nicolasfortin4216]

wow It is actually quite affordable for what it offers, almost unbelievable in this "high inflation" time... How is your feelings towards durability? Where did they cut cost I'm curious. thx for this vid.

[@bcutler23693]

I have the original XBLOOM and I really enjoy it. It's set up in my bathroom so each morning when I wake up, I make a cup of coffee to enjoy while I'm in the shower. I know....I'm weird. The coffee that the XBLOOM produces is incredibly delicious! I just wish the water reservoir was larger! Depending on which pods I use, sometimes I can only get two cups of coffee out of a full reservoir. Wondering if I should upgrade to this new model??

[@michaelrossmaessler200]

You're not weird, you're efficient. 🙂

[@GerNATIoN]

But what about the poop particles in the air… I have my doubts

[@Slaughter0tter]

I would love seeing a video comparing this to a fellow Aiden when you are able to get one of those. It is ~$100 cheaper with no grinder or scale. I already have my own grinder and scale, so $100 and getting the ability to do single cup or batch brew if there is company really pushes me towards the Aiden. Along with my despise for pod machines.

[@0whitestone]

I have to be honest, I was not expecting that price. That's a huge reduction from the OG xBloom. That makes this machine go from something that I would consider to something that could be in my future if I'm ready to automate my morning brew. Thanks for the update video!

[@tamninja]

omg consider how much electronic grinders like niche cost, this beast is cheaper than one can ever expect

[@JimmyNewCakes]

Eeeeyup. I had been wanting a nicer grinder for a while and wasn't sure where my jump-on point was going to be. This machine as a whole for hovering right around my grinder budget, and exceeded expectations by also being able to handle espresso grinds, which will extend the life of an espresso machine I have with an integrated grinder that performs awfully. Not necessarily the perfect use of the grinder money, but the added convenience and functionality added still made this a pretty good choice for me!

[@manofthewild07]

Not to mention stand alone single cup brewers like Moccamaster cost around $250... this streamlines making pour over so much it could replace even batch brewers like the full size Moccamaster or Breville Precision. So simple to make multiple cups in a row. The XBloom is probably the most tempting new gadget I've seen in years.

[@pierrex3226]

And it's pretty too

[@pierrex3226]

And it's pretty too

[@BrianQuan]

Would buy it just for the grinder (no bias btw) lol

[@Sourpusscandy]

Can I have it grind into my Aeropress? Have the water fill it? Then I would stir, brew, and press. Looks really cool!

[@iamjerney]

Love the high pour of coffee

[@siddharthvipul]

last week I was in Madrid and saw xbloom in a coffee shop (geisha coffee). They were using the original xbloom and it made a great great cup of coffee. should out to them!! (had a mixed heirloom from 90+ farm panama)

[@6tuf85dyfu]

Lmao same! Guy mentioned a new one is coming out and led me down this rabbit hole

[@BrianQuan]

We're gradually working Studio into more elevated coffee experiences so be on the look out for that

[@sjackson5407]

I might be one of the weird ones who liked the idea of the magnets controlling the water direction. Was the original design to reduce the amount of moving parts/failure points? Also I know you aren't really big on the head-to-head, but is this more exciting than the Fellow Aiden from an automatic pour-over perspective (if we ignore the built in grinder)?

[@inuitviking]

Funnily enough, it's still the Odyssey that appeared here that I'm more stoked about. Don't get me wrong, the xBloom? Pretty awesome; I'm just more stoked about the other.

[@CalebSchwarz-et5jr]

Why not both 😏

[@MrDistill]

Argos is amazing

[@ivcfe9918]

Just purchased it

[@Tx2Super]

The price is insane, waiting for Europe release :)

[@missinglink_eth]

I’d buy that without the integrated grinder. I’m never buying another system that has a grinder built in.

[@JimNortonsAlcoholism]

It reduces it's ability to do full automation if you remove the grinder.

[@missinglink_eth]

@@JimNortonsAlcoholism I get that. I just have a grinder I know well and would love a version that is just perfected to do the water side. That said, this is a fantastic “fully automatic” machine.

[@BrianQuan]

Would buy just for the quality of the grinder 😂

[@JonathanSanders458]

​@@BrianQuan crazy! Id like to hear more about the grinder

[@missinglink_eth]

@@JonathanSanders458 he mentioned it would retail from $300-400 so yes it’s nice. That said, many people have better grinders/burrs, want to save space, and want less parts that may break. Maybe I just need to stick to manual pour overs 😂

[@andrewelliott1939]

Will there be an upgrade where it will bring my coffee to my bed with the morning paper? I ask because the butler is beginning to struggle, bless him!

[@jonedwards792]

Unreal. Super value.

[@grantwatson8302]

I have used aeropress along with a blade grinder for years. For the past 2 months I have been looking for a nice grinder to buy but was going back in fourth on what to get. Now I think I might pull the plug on this. However, it would be nice to see more reviews on KZbin of the studio.

[@JonGrundy]

Good video Lance! Any comments on cleaning the machine? Is it easy to get into the grinder for cleaning? Is the tank removable?

[@florenceinthesummer]

yea tank is removable. their first one was also.

[@lostconnectone]

need to offer an aluminum option for more money 🎉

[@jfb112697]

your feedback seems like it was very valuable and resulted in some really neat innovations. i would be very interested in a standalone grinder that you have significant design input on, really great stuff but I'm not too interested in the brewer.

[@bradleymorehouse7462]

I might take a closer at one of these if my Chemex Ottomatic crashes.

[@ThingsIdRatherBeDoing]

Great review! Keep it up. Looks fun.

[@AaronJonesearl]

The 'Equal Coffee Filter,' a coffee filter as perfectly beautiful as Japanese origami, has been gaining some buzz recently among us coffee geeks.

[@elitedeciel]

This machine seems to be targeted at those who don't have the time in the morning to stand in front of their coffee setup. While I love and appreciate the manual pour-over method, where I can measure and calculate for a perfect cup, the reality of getting two kids ready and helping my family get started means it's much easier to just add the beans and press a button. This way, I can use those extra 3-5 minutes to prepare for other things. This machine appears to be impressive, and I would personally love to own one. I plan to use my own purchased beans rather than pods. Unfortunately, I'm not in a financial position to afford this machine at the moment. It's a fantastic machine and the review helped me learn a lot about this machine. Although the video seems quite favorable towards the machine without much criticism, it was informative and I appreciate what I learned about it.

[@strongjrs]

While I would love an iteration without the grinder to save on space (I use the Pietro for my pour overs), I would also love to be able to remove the tank to make refilling easier if the machine is stored on a counter under cabinets. EDIT: Water reservoir is removable! Phew!

[@loosieclocker]

Fellow Aiden review?

[@cheekster777]

Thank you Lance.

[@akshayde]

🎶Wake me up.. When pour over ends🎵

[@nobuyukidu94]

You need to launch this in Japan! I’ll be the first buyer 🤩

[@Armedcor]

Would buy this in a heartbeat if it was available in the EU.

[@linshu-hong855]

I wish all high end hotels see how amazing this is. Time to upgrade from k cups or nespresso!

[@matz4k]

We need a hair and stache tutorial next Lance, looking juicy!

[@varunshetty6810]

This would be great for an office set up with pods. I wouldn't use it for my home pour over because I am so process oriented, but also, not sure if this significantly cuts down on the actual amount of work for a pour over if you're not using pods. I think it is a fantastic product, just that it won't fit at home, but at the office where it will significantly elevate my coffee experience.

[@BBB_025]

I was also thinking this would be very tempting for the office

[@TheBigDean18]

Well hello Lance, didn’t expect to see you so early

[@mattkinel7782]

ScopeX on the bench?!? Can’t wait, mines in preorder. Excited to hear your update!

[@fgmenth]

If you don't already have a grinder and don't like being involved in making your own coffee, you could justify buying one. However, if you already have a grinder I don't see why you wouldn't just use a regular V60 or an aeropress over this. It's a really niche product.

[@JimmyNewCakes]

Convenience and consistency! I'm really excited for this to be my "first cup of the day" machine, plus having it available to compare recipes with other people by eliminating the variations in pour techniques.

[@ryanh8764]

@@JimmyNewCakesyup same with me. If I can drum up $400 I might go for it.

[@michaelrossmaessler200]

Most the time when one needs coffee it's usually when one isn't quite awake to make it. This machine could fill that niche nicely.

[@matt27design]

This as a stand alone brewer (no built in grinder) could be really interesting as auto single serve pour overs in the commercial space…

[@Tharley87]

The price scares me, I really don’t understand how this much has been packed in at that price point. The expression of its too good to be true comes to mind…

[@Douglaskyle9191]

You know coffee nerds are just coffee snobs. You should be proud and support a product you help created. Enjoy some success and support the fruit of your labor being a coffee professional.

[@zmkarakas]

is this available for Europe, if not then why not?

[@Kahva123]

Fastest click in the West ! So excited for this. Already drank my coffee but now it's time to watch some Lance with some nice puer tea🍃

[@hatikagura1325]

even as an aeropress fanboi, not gonna lie i want that. smexy dialing play features with the flow & RPM.

[@clavarojwt]

Can we get a “Fancy Lancy Covfefe” t-shirt shipped with the xbloom?

[@rendez2k]

Do you know if it's coming to the UK? Seems US only?

[@KalidasRadhakrishnan]

Can you compare this and the Aiden? (In terms of coffee taste etc) . I know that the Aiden does not have a built in grinder

[@maycatyuiop]

It feels a little sus how glowing this review is. I wish you gave more feedback about grinding for espresso rather than just raving about how good it is. I mean where does it stack between a ek43 and a encore esp?

[@NevrNewd]

I really like this, but I decided to hold out for the Fellow Aiden instead. I like the ability to make one cup or 10 cups in the same machine with just a small change to the shower head.

[@LanceHedrick]

Makes sense! I'm excited AF for the Aiden.

[@jpk.mp3]

i love lance with his thermocouples 😂

[@bleezal]

Sir Lance, will you be reviewing the new Fellow Aiden brewer any time soon?

[@Emily-hd9sm]

Thinking about the keurig in my office break room that I never use. Wish my office could have one of these instead 😂