Aldi's Absurdly Cheap Single Cup Brewer

I heard about the Aldi Ambiano single cup brewer for £16.99 and had to see if it is a bargain, or a waste of money.
The Aldi Ambiano Coffee To Go brewer: www.aldi.co.uk/ambiano-coffee...
My review of Aldi's £299 espresso machine from 2020: • The £299 Aldi Espresso...
My comparison review of six home batch brewers: • The Best Home Coffee B...
Why cheap coffee makers suck and how to fix them: • Why Cheap Coffee Maker...
My Ultimate V60 Technique: • The Ultimate V60 Techn...
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[@jameshoffmann]

Just a quick note/correction: This machine actually comes with a 3-year warranty, which I should have included in the video when talking about longevity.

[@timetravellingtoaster976]

I bought one of these last week as my first coffee maker and it simply wouldn't turn on, so your concerns about longevity are definitely justified

[@oli0808]

@@timetravellingtoaster976 Did you plug it in?

[@johanneslaudi6184]

@@oli0808 😂😂

[@iquintani]

Very interesting review. Aldi was also selling a more expensive coffee brewer with a spinning/swirling shower head... I was really curious to know it performed compared to the others

[@cosmodoc]

does your kettle have timer on it so it can brew by itself as well? No? So the Aldi one is still the better value

[@TripleDDDD]

I imagine the whole Aldi Product Management team watching this video with the intensity of the NASA ground team during Apollo 11. Then he says “It’s OK” and they all cheer, pop champagne and order new Porsches.

[@AbslomRob]

Well...maybe new Jetta's. Same company, practically the same car right?

[@TripleDDDD]

@@AbslomRob Good one! Yet Porsche is now owned by Volkswagen

[@ninamarie177]

@@AbslomRob well, the Aldi heirs are among the top 10 richest people in Germany, so Porsche it is.

[@CaMaMorro]

@@ninamarie177 but they aren't in the product management business, they are in the 'being an heir on the board of directors' business. So, definitely no Jettas for them 😁

[@sabero5668]

@@CaMaMorro Yeah, might as well go Audi or Lamborghini in that case

[@micropenny6056]

Oh yes James, you will try the Espresso Martini flavored cheese

[@JamCrashes]

Please James

[@namansharma1355]

I second this

[@jackearl8520]

Try the cheese James, people want it 😂😂

[@zachsimsphoto5344]

He never posts shorts.

[@Kieran0]

@@zachsimsphoto5344 It doesn't have to be short... we want him to eat the whole package... we'll wait as long as it takes.

[@cassieoz1702]

I had a Breville Brew'n Go many years ago that did the same thing. Very well. I used it for years then my son took it to Uni with him, his girlfriend purloined it when they split and her mother gave it to a local charity shop when she went overseas and ... I bought it back. Still working now. 25 years later

[@georgio2]

The best comment I’ve ever seen on a video. Had to share with my wife.❤

[@user-bv7mk8id5t]

😮😂

[@michaeltb1358]

I had a similar machine from Russell Hobbs, which included a double walled stainless steel cup. It was abandoned when I bought a bean to cup machine, but I still have the cup.

[@ellenmcaleese7004]

Yes, I had old breville products and they lasted close to 20 yrs. Not sure about the new stuff though.

[@alejandrodelcastillo1975]

How fake do you want it? - Yes

[@sinocte]

This seems like an ideal dorm room coffee maker. Cheap, with a travel cup, brews a decent bit of caffeinated love, and at 17 pounds, if you're roomie knocks it off the shelf and breaks it, you don't have to declare vendetta on them.

[@CatnamedMittens]

I wouldn't use that plastic cup. Imagine all the particles that form over time

[@SheWolfiie]

This sounds this a personal experience, my condolences for your deceased coffee machine

[@matthewcalifana488]

@@CatnamedMittens You can,t wash plastic ? it,s not paper or foam .

[@Daniel-dj7fh]

Yes but also, the cheaper setup advertised in the video is even cheaper, if it breaks you feel even less sad, its easier to clean and wouldn't cause ewaste. And the price of being 3min more manual work. I'd honestly go with the filterpaper and mug route

[@Daniel-dj7fh]

@@matthewcalifana488 After time the material degrades and gets weaker meaning more particles will then be released off into the drink. But, If you're buying things which are approved by the EU or some other health check organisation, chances that you'll get sick sick from it is not so high. I mean many people smoke, many people drink alcohol, those are things which harm the body way worse.

[@andrewehyang]

2:35 the most James thing ever: using the $3500 weber eg1 grinder for a £16.99 Aldi brewer

[@brunonjezic6208]

I saw that and laught. I love it

[@peterpan-nr1to]

Had a laugh at that too. Just the metal cup from the EG-1 is almost 3x more expensive than the Aldi brewer xD

[@Frostbitten.]

Actually it's the $4,195 (before shipping) Onyx edition EG-1.

[@stefanox8908]

That basket alone is worth more than the coffe machine

[@Bangpath247]

well if you going to spend grown up money on one thing it'd be the grinder.

[@dan110024]

I think non-weird coffee people might struggle to make consistent pour overs as James can. So I think the aldi thing might be better for them. It’s cool that it’s not bad! It’s totally Aldi’s jam

[@haphazard1342]

Biggest difference: making a good pour-over requires your attention and time commitment. This thing, just throw in ground coffee and hit "Go". If coffee isn't a ritual for you, and you just want the result, this is a very not bad (but not very good) solution for brewing fresh grind.

[@Lunarsight]

I think the other wildcard is preparation time. The pour over method requires more active attention by the person making the coffee. Whereas the Aldi brewer can be pre-programmed to do it for you on a timer. I could see people paying slightly more for that convenience, even if you might lose slight points on the flavor.

[@efafe4972]

you're probably right but even if a total noob just dumped water in as a stream and swirled it a little for 1 pour that would still prob be better than the Aldi thing

[@engineeredlifeform]

If this encourages people to drink real coffee, instead of instant, it's worth every penny.

[@KindredBrujah]

That was also my thinking. I reckon the convenience of it making your coffee for you in the morning without you having to do anything at all is worth the extra fiver.

[@MarkWadsworthYPP]

£5 extra for a timer seems excellent value to me. Nothing like waking up the sound and smell!

[@jussikankinen9409]

Dont u pee first

[@hjx01]

​@@jussikankinen9409 I would guess they wake up before they pee. Hope this helps!

[@efa666]

So for the price of a digital alarm clock, you can get a digital alarm clock that brews coffee? That's worth it alone just for nightstand use.

[@Taka.1011]

Lmao

[@halu959986]

Who needs the barisieur at £300+

[@ashvinvaidyanathan7239]

Bro imagine waking up to a cup of coffee in winter

[@tyronejohnson409]

@@ashvinvaidyanathan7239

[@user-lv7ph7hs7l]

@Maxx B. This would probably work with tea.

[@LeReVaQ]

The fact that you said "It's ok" for a product that only costs 17£ is actually amazing. I expected nothing less than horrible tasting coffee from that price point. Genuinely surprised me

[@sebaba001]

to a certain point, an 'ok' pour over is very simple if you got the right ratio and good coffee and good water... just pour on top gently and won't be awful

[@feedbackzaloop]

Just shows how 17£ is underrated in the West where it is spent compared to 17£ in the East where it is earned via this brewer

[@user-dd9dh9kw5c]

Its literally a coffee filter machine. If it makes a cup of coffee itll be the same as all the other ones. its just water dripping through a filter....

[@sebaba001]

@@user-dd9dh9kw5c By that logic all pour-overs would taste the same... temperature (and its stability) changes taste, flow rate and distribution changes taste, blooming (and how you bloom) changes taste, doing other stuff like swirling also changes taste. So no, it will be different to all other ones, actually.

[@doublevendetta]

@@user-dd9dh9kw5c big swing, bigger miss

[@clymtc]

Just to let you know that I have had one of these for about a year now, bought it because of the price, very pleased with it - not a problem (so far). The program function is brilliant, I take the dogs out in the morning and come home to the nice aroma of a fresh coffee waiting. Having watched a few of your videos now I think that I will have to upgrade as I didn't realise that coffee could be so "complicated" (I have been an instant coffee drinker all my life) but, now that I have dipped my toe into the water, I am going to have to take the plunge.

[@0x6772]

You posted that a couple weeks ago, so this response may come after your first upgrade purchase, and you didn't actually *ask* for any advice, so I apologize for butting in, but: maybe consider spending capital-M Money on a good grinder first? (You'll probably want to play with a variety of brewing apparatus, each of which costs Money if they're good, but they all depend on consistently-ground coffee.)

[@chris9650]

How you getting on with the journey??

[@clymtc]

@@chris9650 thank you for your interest. I haven't gone the "whole hog" and splashed out on a separate grinder (as someone suggested earlier) - money is something I have to be careful with - but I have bought a machine which has a built in grinder. Amazed at the difference in flavour so, for me, the journey is going well - I haven't had instant coffee for almost 2 years now - thank you again.

[@chris9650]

@@clymtc small steps and of it works for you then that's all that matters. Preground to fresh ground is an amazing step. Good luck and keep enjoying.

[@insightphoto]

when you say you are going to take "the plunge" do you mean you're going for a French press?

[@falloncj]

I watched this last week and was saying to my wife that the timer feature is something I had on an old dripper and really missed for morning when I was commuting. Well, it was my birthday today and my toddler kids apparently picked me up this Aldi brewer. I've just had my first cup and honestly, really enjoyed it. I think if you have a reasonable grinder, this is a really handy device to have and at this price (€20), it's a gift I'm definitely happy with. 3 year warranty is a great feature, to be fair too.

[@jnattress]

“It’s ok!” Instantly sold out in Aldi. Also, next week will be £60 after The Hoff review.

[@sonnguyen-iv7gv]

"It's fine" - Gamers nexus. Stock is cleared after they put their video on. "It's ok" - James. Out of stock and someone actually resell for higher price on ebay

[@alangarde2928]

@@sonnguyen-iv7gv A new comparison, is this brewer 'Better than a Dell'?

[@aarorasilainen]

@@alangarde2928 It does seem the Dell gets even hotter.

[@ItsRossinator]

@@sonnguyen-iv7gv honestly did not expect to see a Steve reference here. Was just thinking the other day that James is the Steve of coffee. Lol

[@LasstUnsSpielen]

It’s going to be V60£.

[@macehead]

Is it just me or did that slurp hit different today. Slurp tone: 10/10

[@HandsomePuggg]

That phenomenon is called ASMR (Autonomous slurpy meridian response)

[@ashvinvaidyanathan7239]

@@HandsomePuggg no

[@HandsomePuggg]

@@ashvinvaidyanathan7239 slurp

[@adamede9316]

@@ashvinvaidyanathan7239 slurp

[@BeniRoseMusic]

100% was a new slurp sensation!

[@ulipeterson6112]

ALDI will market this brewer now with the badge "approved by James Hoffmann".

[@MNGermann]

Or “not disapproved by”

[@ChristineSK]

"James Hoffmann thinks it's ok."

[@cpome7]

"James Hoffman was not too sarcastic about this."

[@billtotman]

As Seen on KZbin™

[@islandercirce2]

While I've had no experience with this particular coffee maker from Aldi, I did purchase a different one from them back in 2006. It cost the grand total or $15 (Australian). It was cheap looking with flimsy plastic...and it lasted 10 years. It actually still functioned but there was a leak from the base; some part of the plastic tubing had come adrift and I couldn't work out how to fix it. I replaced it with a name brand brewer which was twice the size, made crap coffee and died after 3 years. I'm now happily using a Clever Dripper. I'm a lazy & fairly undemanding coffee maker. I prefer the drinking part. Hope they make it available in Oz.

[@moremustard]

I had never heard of the Clever Dripper until this comment, and I googled. Freaking brilliant!! Thanks!

[@TheBigExclusive]

3 years on a name brand? Sounds about right. A lot of people don't realize that even expensive or name brand components are not "built for a lifetime" either. Those days are over. Even Modern name brand equipment has cheap components. It may not look like it from the outside, but they find ways to cheap out on the interior. Either the motors, electronics, tubing, or something else will be cheaply made. Companies don't want to make products that last a lifetime. They want repeat customers. So these products are designed to fail after a certain amount of years.

[@timotheatae]

​@@TheBigExclusive My Lidl own brand blender lasted years and died when I, of my own ignorance, broke the jug..

[@ninal5027]

James, Jamie Oliver needs your help - he's on the loose making weird coffee cocktails. One has 'espresso' in its name, but our lad uses 'cold brew'. The other one is quasi Negroni where he brews randomly ground coffee with liquors. James, it's urgent, we're losing him 😑

[@gemmacruz8529]

I'm not surprised at all after he used chorizo in a paella 🥘.

[@nukiesduke6868]

Every time i hear that guy's name it's always a huge example of a fail after it. I fail to see how he become one of the richest chefs in the world (has a net worth double that of Gordan Ramsey) :/

[@ninal5027]

@@gemmacruz8529 let's hope he won't go on further stuffing that chorizo with coffee (or soaking the former in the latter).

[@k19widow]

Not like this..... not like this....

[@liivansh]

@@nukiesduke6868 Didn't he also end up ripping off small cookbook authors for his recipes?

[@vesk4000]

This is probably the 20th video of yours that I have watched in the past week and what's a bit weird is I have never actually tasted coffee in my life. I come from Tom Scott's channel, and I can say you have definitely inspired me to try coffee when I have some time. I had no idea it was such an interesting and complicated topic.

[@user-lv7ph7hs7l]

Filter coffee and a nice hand grinder is probably the cheapest way you'll get some really high quality brews. Depends on the coffee of course.

[@BillPeschel]

You'll learn how sensitive your taste buds are. To my wife, all coffee tastes the same, while my daughter can detect specific notes. I'm somewhere in the middle. James' video on using the french press correctly inspired me to try his method and I definitely got a better cup of ground decaf.

[@skeetsmcgrew3282]

I will warn you, almost nobody likes coffee first try. Just like almost nobody likes their first IPA beer.

[@PaulLemars01]

The fact that it's the number one psychotropic drug in the world should tell you something. As a kid I was brought up on tea and then a coffee roasting shop came to my town of Southend on Sea. They used to vent the roastery straight through the top of the front window. Tea consumption fell off in the 70s and now you can't move for specialty coffee shops. The Arabs may have banned alcohol and other drugs from their religion but they would never ban coffee. Learn to love it. It's a passion for life.

[@FeatherWait]

Treat yourself to a nice trip to a cafe, somewhere with filter coffee since that's the gentlest kind. Careful now, as you can see it's quite a dangerous rabbit hole if you fall in.

[@georgiabrazier]

I've had one of these for two years (I think it's one of those things they do seasonally and keep bringing back) and it liked in a student house and has moved with me three times over the pandemic and still works as new out of the box, no problems at all. I personally just wanted something cheap with that time programming function because it means I'm more likely to make myself a cup of coffee before I leave the house if I've got one half ready (rather than leaving without eating or drinking anything at all). This video has definitely made me want to try using it with filter papers in future though

[@longline]

I'd like to see an episode of hacks for this brewer. Perfect beans, perfect grind for the problematic temperature, perfect water. What's the best coffee that you can force out of this thing?

[@Cimlite]

Great review, I just wish he had mentioned the price.

[@howrupal]

If you are referring to the brewer, it is £16.99.

[@CodyRockLee13]

@@howrupal He was joking, friend.

[@HSammyE]

I think it's £16.99 before shipping.

[@LasstUnsSpielen]

16,99£ for the coffee brewer in the video.

[@rarra]

I believe it’s £16.99 but I can’t be too sure.

[@ahmedhamam4197]

Love the content James. Honestly, you're the reason why I got into coffee, especially during this pandemic!

[@ramonj7113]

Me too!

[@callummcfadyen240]

Me three 😄

[@chakadyazdani3229]

Same here

[@be5952]

@Ahmed Hamam --- I would like to 'get into' many and varied interests / hobbies / pasttimes to a bit of a deeper level. What has always stopped me is the snobbery, condescension and _'my way or the highway'_ type of narrow thinking of those who are experts in their fields. James Hoffman has a way of presenting his knowledge that is at once understandable, interesting and _so importantly_ *inviting.* It's as if he is our instructor in a '101' level class _[edit=very basic, introductory level in highschools in Canada]_ with the attendant humility that shows eagerness for others to actually learn and become a bit empowered on his topic. I don't know if it's his intention, but his style actually makes learning and 'doing coffee' more fun. Would that more 'afficionados' would adopt this attitude. * _sigh_ * _[Completely off topic P.S. _*_Not_*_ a misspelling of "aficionado" above. I've spelled it this way since I was a kid, and used to be a champion speller. Now, I looked it up, and 90% of sources are spelling it with the one "f". What the heck??]_

[@amusliminusa]

Same here too!

[@rlwalker2]

Most video clips I see from coffee "experts" promote fairly or very expensive grinders and espresso / coffee makers. This video was a breath of fresh air. You could have more videos like this from time to time. I especially liked pitting the machine against the manual process ... both very inexpensive. We have many inexpensive machines over here. Walmart has its Mainstays coffee maker at less than $10US. Using a French Press in this category would be another good comparison. Enjoyed this clip. Thanks.

[@Zveebo]

I mean, he did use a £3000 grinder in the video as a bit of a flex, so…

[@Chef_PC]

I used one of the Melitta (US) versions of this, for well over five years. I loved it, and its convenience was the best part about it. In fact, it didn’t even die. I just moved on to pour over in a chemex once I got a good kettle. I still occasionally used it just for water boiling for tea.

[@CaptainFabulous84]

I had a $10 Walmart drip coffee maker that lasted almost 10 years. Sometimes cheap does last a very long time.

[@user-lv7ph7hs7l]

Well these electronics are as simple as an alarm clock and they easily last 10 years.

[@d.aardent9382]

Yeah my parents only buy cheapo "mister coffee" drip coffee makers and pay hardly anything for them yet they last for at least ten years, maybe little less, the heating element typically goes out early on some. On one the water pump quit, but was only after years. They bought some fancy Bunn with programming and had a Kcup thing built into the side and the piece of crap broke down in less than a year.

[@BrassMaster84]

Simple + cheap can last as long as you take care of it. It's when people try to cram all of the features of a $1000 machine into a $100 machine that things go screwy.

[@CaptainFabulous84]

@@BrassMaster84 Exactly. Drip coffee makers are pretty simple. Heating coil, pump, hot plate, and some simple electronics.

[@tilmanahr]

I’ve seen several ultra-cheap (10-20€) drip coffee makers last for years, even decades. What usually breaks first are the glass carafes, and for the off-brand machines, it tends to be practically impossible to get a replacement that fits well. For less than a new machine would be, at least… I mean, they don’ŧ have any moving parts (apart from a sort of hinge or two, alright), and the “electronics” are extremely simple. Not too much to go wrong, really.

[@toddc4437]

"Are You done? Are you finished?" LOL. Thanks for the morning laugh.

[@burgerbeatz6293]

Yeah, its very meme-worthy

[@ohshitnotanotherknob]

Glad I'm not the only one. Suffered a horrible brain montage for 3 or 4 secs.

[@d.aardent9382]

Yah, made me laugh because our coffee maker sounds like a steam engine when its pumping water and its huffing and gurgling and hissing and im sometimes in another part of the house and dont know the coffee maker was started and im trying to figure out what the heck the weird sounds are coming from outside and im looking out the windows and then go upstairs and realize its the coffee maker making some ridiculous dramatic squishy roaring noises. And ours does that "just one more big gurgle blast" after ya think its already done and its puffing steam. Melodramatic coffee maker.

[@TGAAL-sx9rm]

@@d.aardent9382 Get a LIFE

[@pencil845]

I was gifted this machine last year and had a similar reaction. The timer function has proven to be the reason I've kept it. For a quick coffee on a busy morning. It's held up okay.

[@classicrockonly]

I appreciate your comment at the end about longevity and waste. It’s funny, I’ll talk with people who lived through the 60s or 70s and they’ll talk today about how reliable a lot of their appliances were, or they were at least serviceable by the average joe. My grandma just replaced her FIRST microwave. It’s over 40 years old. Still works. Can’t find anything like that anymore

[@Aamiller312]

That’s called survivorship bias. They had just as much cheap crap 40 years ago as we do today, but all of the cheap crap has since broken and is sitting in a landfill. The quality goods from 40 years ago are still around, leading to the impression that older manufacturing was of universally higher quality. There are still quality, reliable goods to be had these days.

[@classicrockonly]

@@Aamiller312 Depends on where you go. Lots of the mainstream stuff breaks or has issues really fast. You might be referring more to the cheap countertop appliances? I'm pretty happy bc the home I moved into has a 15 year old washer/dryer set that is simple as a potato so I'm not concerned about weird "fancy" technologies that will fail and ruin a perfectly good washer or dryer...my dishwasher is from 1983 too and still works...but boy is it not water efficient! So I stopped using it

[@ritwikjs]

i think you should've tried this with pre ground supermarket coffee, or even whole bean coffee that you've ground in the store (if that's a thing in the uk). The person who'll buy this machine wont really be the kind of person who could afford a grinder. The kalita filter was a great idea!

[@lizcademy4809]

That person might also not be able to taste the difference between James' "that's ok!" and good coffee. Heck, they might even find k-cups to taste "ok". Theoretically, making a batch brewer should not be hard. Heat water to a precise temperature, spray it over the grounds, collect the coffee. The problems come in getting the assembly line to hit those marks for every machine in the production run.

[@ttjoseph1]

You don't want the coffee itself to be a limiting factor. If the coffee is shit how will we be able to tell whether the machine is any good?

[@ritwikjs]

@@ttjoseph1 there is plenty of supermarket coffee that is great, especially at a place where you can grind it in the store. James is using $17-18 per pound coffee.

[@cullly]

@@ritwikjs Because this is a test of the machine, not the coffee. There is no reason to use pre-ground supermarket coffee as it'll be different in different countries.

[@khirek5335]

I think end result would have been an easier victory for V60 as pre-ground super market coffee tends to taste very roasty if brewed with high temperature water and that's a factor you can work around when brewing manually

[@wolfsmouth2239]

Aldi's coffee products have been getting me through university. Glad to see you reviewing more of them!

[@DeLorean4]

The cheapest coffee maker I ever bought was for around 9 or 12$ Canadian in 2012; a Black and Decker "Brew 'N Go" with a travel mug. It's properly impressive how they engineered it to keep the number of components down. They've since updated it to have a useless stainless steel faceplate, and jacked up the price to 35$ US. The original was so good for the insanely low price that I bought a second one for when I moved out from my parents. They both still work.

[@MrBlazerdog]

Wow! I never thought anyone else had on of these beauties! I bought a Black & Decker "Brew & Go" in 1995 for $10.00 Canadian. I still use it every day and it is my favorite brewer. I estimate that it's made between 8,000 and 10,000 cups of coffee so far! It is a very simple machine and brews nice and hot! Never a problem. The only thing is that they have ruined them and charge much more for the new models which don't work as well. Anyway, it's closing in on 30 years and I would buy another one if I could find one!

[@ianjardine7324]

I've bought quotes few devices from both Aldi and Lidle over the years and despite their low prices I've never had one fail yet. The best was a variable power vacume cleaner where the power was adjusted by a remote control on the handle of the hose. The 1600w beast worked flawlessly for over a decade before I lent it to my sister who regularly destroys appliances 10x more expensive in under a year. She smashed a wheel tore and patched the hose and lost the battery cover for the remote. Until she gave it away and bought a dyson....... Which lasted 18 months. Yes she's a monster.

[@flying_horse]

So that big feature that the Barisieur had , the ability to set it to make coffee at a certain time , the thing that made it worth 350 $ Aldi just threw it in for 16$ . That's value right there !!

[@BenJamin-en3jb]

Haha yeah, you can upgrade an old school coffee maker (the kind that you can switch on while unplugged, and will start making coffee once plugged in) with a timer switch for 5 bucks. I'm pretty sure integrating that timer into any appliance costs cents. But don't tell anyone :D

[@segamble1679]

I wonder if he knew he was going to be making this video when he made the Bariseur video. Either way, the timing is perfect.

[@SkorpioVenom]

I don't know why this feature isn't included on all coffee makers. If it has a clock it literally just takes a small controller and some code to deal with it... you can do it yourself for a few bucks so they can definitely do it cheaper.

[@BenJamin-en3jb]

@@SkorpioVenom I would assume all modern kitchen appliances are controlled by a microcontroller of some sort. And all of those should have an internal clock. The biggest hurdle is propably the human interface to set the clock and the timer...

[@jonathanshaw6784]

@@BenJamin-en3jb Simple microprocessors do have a clock but it's usually not very precise, being out by 1% or even 10% isn't really noticeable for most kitchen stuff but people wouldn't be happy if their alarm clock varied by 15 minutes. A clock isn't hard to add but as you said, it needs some sort of user interface which either means enough buttons and a display to make it intuitive, or an outside control (wifi, bluetooth etc.), or you ignore some features and have a delay timer.

[@jenblower]

I have one similar to this, I use it when I'm away with a bunch of kids on a residential. It means I can leave my coffee going, get on with stuff, and not rush to clean up after, all whilst being more stable than a V60. It also means I can set it ready the night before. I don't use it at home though, the V60 is my go to, but I have more time and less pre-teens to attend to!

[@charlym328]

I fully agree. I also have a similar one since many years. I am always in a rush in the morning and this machine prepares my coffee-to-go while I am getting ready for work. Love it On weekends I do handbrew my coffee as I do like the process of coffee brewing

[@iainburgess8577]

As an unemployable chronic pain/fatigue sufferer, this might be the cheapest, "ok" coffee setup I could afford & use daily. I'll keep that in mind. A s/h grinder, maybe, then the final hurdle is budgeting for beans.

[@robhh218]

As it happens, Aldi does some beans that are OK too. IIRC £2.75 a bag for Kenyan or Colombian. I definitely prefer beans from my local specialty coffee shop but, if I’m on the road and there’s not an obvious alternative, they’re, well, OK. And certainly better than not using beans :-)

[@iainburgess8577]

Thanks. I'm in Australia, so I might have time to figure it all out before opportunity strikes. The condition is relatively new, still learning & adjusting.

[@jvallas]

@@iainburgess8577 wishing you well in your new life.

[@maireadnic8280]

@@robhh218 I really like Lidl’s Colombian beans (the ones in the buff coloured bag, they also do a Kenyan and another single origin in the same range). They’re a medium roast and mix well with other beans.

[@maireadnic8280]

@@iainburgess8577 I don’t know about Aus, but Aldi Ireland, do supply more local roasters too, so it might be worth keeping an eye out. Chronic fatigue is an absolute mare, and unless you’ve lived it everyone is dismissive. All you can do is live as well as you can, manage your expectations, and hopefully a treatment/management plan will help a lot. Wishing you the best of luck!

[@twigblack22]

This is something I wish I had when I was in college in the dorms rather than my Keurig that I had at the time. I could see this as a great cheap way for students to save money on a decent cup of coffee rather than going out and buying some every morning!

[@lilyhopkins5044]

I've had an identical machine from another German brand for about 3 years now, it still works fairly well but isn't the easiest device to clean. Love the video!

[@dorianblue4229]

Hi, I've never had any of these, can you adjust the water/coffee ratio, to have a rather diluited drink like an americano? Or instead is it like the more water, then the more grounds you must add, to have am effectively good-tasting brew? Cheers :)

[@MaddieFrankX]

Well, when it comes that time when it needs deep cleaning I just throw it away and buy a new one.

[@riskyb250]

"I feel like they're trolling me sometimes" lmao

[@quieranpatricio]

"As is tradition, there will be one slurp," reminded me of the monty python record where they say: "Before the next joke there will be a short raspberry."

[@MrAumbra]

‘I feel like they are trolling me sometimes”, lmao. Absolutely hilarious!

[@lelandbatey]

James, thanks for all the coffee content! I bought an espresso machine without knowing what espresso is or how it's made, and I've only been able recover from that unwise decision through your instructional videos and "theory of espresso". Now every morning I make espresso for me and my girlfriend and it's lovely. Couldn't have done it without you!

[@rarra]

That’s almost exactly what happened to me as well! Bought a df64 and sage dual boiler, having never had a espresso in my life. Just knew it will be good 😂

[@prochiy]

Great review! I only have one issue with it... I think the target audience would for this brewer will probably not mess around with buying good beans, and using good quality grinder to grind them. Most of them would use the supermarket pre-ground coffee, darker roast ... Even if it wouldn't be a pleasant experience for you, I would love to see how the two setups would compare on "bad quality" coffee...

[@twotgfltandahalf]

They'd both be bad, tbh. I'd wager that the pour-over would win even more though, as you could compensate for the bad beans with a little cooler coffee. But bad beans won't produce good coffee, ever.

[@tsuchan]

I have to say, I represent that remark! I would buy it, and I would buy Aldi's very best coffee to go with it. (Obviously pre-ground coffee, otherwise it's inconsistent with the coffee machine's attributes: affordability and convenience.)

[@marcushoward6560]

This thing is ideal for people like me, and millions more, who don't like "the best quality" coffee. I find the coffee James would probably make to be undrinkable swill, as I'm sure he would find mine to be undrinkable swill. I could be wrong, but I've never enjoyed coffee from a real coffee shop that does all the specialty stuff, fresh roast/fresh ground beans, etc. I rarely do not like a cup of cheap gas station coffee.

[@tsuchan]

@@marcushoward6560 I drink instant coffee all the time. But I really like and appreciate a quality cup of coffee. I just cannot justify the price of one in the UK.

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

James, love your videos. You mention coffee infused food items often and have made videos on them. What are you thoughts on good coffee stouts and porters? 73!

[@dompercy]

BrewDog Roaster Coaster is a journey

[@benperham]

Another vote for BrewDog vs Evil Twin - Roaster Coaster. Great taste and is absolute rocket fuel at 9%.

[@Riknos]

@@dompercy that's like the Tesco value of a Porter, loads better out there

[@dompercy]

@@Riknos Yeah I really didn’t like it, I meant journey in a bad sense haha

[@markwduns]

When I was teaching, I kept a small ("4 cup"), inexpensive coffee maker in my classroom. It was similar to that but with a tiny carafe, and it was perfect for what I needed--a quick way to make a cup or two while I got ready for that first class. This would be perfect for that type of situation.

[@JS-ji5fl]

An interesting comparison would have been a Melitta vs this machine. Incredibly similar brewing styles, more so compared to a V60, and cost to cost it would be very close too (likely cheaper with a Melitta cone).

[@PraetorianCuber]

at a quick glance i thought i had left this comment, similar avatars

[@alalalala57]

@@PraetorianCuber Its alright. Different timelines, mate.

[@jamiecullen9075]

I got one when they came out. If you’re on a budget, it does me fine for my daily walk to college and have an on the go coffee. As a student I rate it 7/10

[@jlilly4]

I bought a similar Walmart brand device years ago and it's honestly my daily driver. I grind as fine as my crappy hand grinder (The 1...cough cough.....2 that you reviewed the lowest in another video lol) with fresh locally roasted beans and it makes the best coffee I've ever had. Granted I don't live in a very coffee cultured region of the states, it does exactly what I need it to do. I love the nylon basket because I don't have to worry about filter paper any more. I had been waiting, but never expecting, you to do a review on a product like this. Thank you!

[@adecree]

In the past year I switched to using a ceramic Hario v60 with a Mueller gooseneck. This was after 2 Keurig's failed on me within 2 years which prompted me to find your channel. Thanks for the information and tips they've really helped me on my journey to good coffee!

[@pmsurve]

James Hoffman vs 16 Pound coffee machine. Talk about unbalanced fights.

[@marley7145]

I don't have this, but I do have a few Aldi kitchen appliances. They range in performance from quite acceptable (an induction hob) to terrible (a mini food processor). They've all held up surprisingly well over time, including the food processor, which I tried and failed to kill. I finally had to give it away. That doesn't mean that this brewer will last for years, but I also wouldn't assume it will be dead in a year. And as a person on a limited budget, I really appreciate Aldi for making things like this available at this price point.

[@segamble1679]

Your voice is so valuable in the discussion of disposable electronics. Yes, things are made cheaply and designed not to have longevity, but it is also of great benefit to so many people that they don't have to break the bank to get basic appliances and electronics, or be forced to go without. It is the privilege of the wealthy to demand better quality electronics (and indirectly, higher prices). The travesty is in higher priced items that still are made cheaply and break in the same amount of time as the inexpensive alternative. All the added cost goes into asthetics, using up more resources to make everything brushed stainless steel, but not giving a rip about whether that will end up in a landfill in 2 years. Large appliances are the worst offenders of this I feel like. Modern fridges and washer/dryers seem to need replacing every 5 years, which is ridiculous!

[@marley7145]

@@segamble1679 the problem here is that there's too much money to be made by forcing people to repair or replace appliances regularly. Why sell refrigerators that will last for 25 years when you can design them to fail after five or ten years? As long as our economic systems make this kind of manufacturing more profitable, nothing will change.

[@ryanburtch9315]

Phenomenal editing. The subtle transitions and audio layering is amazing

[@flapjackboy]

I've had this exact model for about 5-6 years now, still working fine. Perfect for making a quick cup of real coffee before you head out the door.

[@EtruskenRaider]

Very interesting! I know for some people, the time saved by the automatic brewer may be worth the 20-25% trade off in coffee. I’m also observing that the basket of the Aldi brewer is comparatively narrow which might help the shower get a more even distribution of water. Basket width in brewers might be an interesting element to look at. Especially when it comes to comparing evenness of extraction.

[@harrywalbyoff]

I think this would be great to see a student on a tight budget through a couple of years in university, perfect to grab for a morning lecture when you're hungover

[@JonnyDavidC]

Yes, it sounds good for that, less effort in the morning than the V60, for the convenience of the timer, I could forgo a step in quality.

[@christiankolinski1563]

I've actually had something like this during my days at uni. Also was form a discounter, but don't know if Aldi or Lidl...must have been more than 15 years ago. Used it just like you described. Woke up, filled it with water and ground coffee, start it, jump into the shower, and grab the travel cup on the way out to catch the bus. Worked fine for years then got lost during a move. Worked better than just brewing a single cup in a large coffee maker. And was way cheaper than the Senso machines which just became popular around that time.

[@georgio2]

As usual your reviews are totally absorbing and great to watch. Wish you would do a few music videos. You’d be a great teacher.

[@danielleanderson6371]

There's something to be said, though, for a machine that can get you a cup of coffee in the morning that only costs seventeen pounds. I still think you'd be better off spending a little more on an Aeropress that'll give you better results and be easier to clean, but if you absolutely cannot be bothered to have remotely good technique at five in the morning or whenever you wake up, this could be a real lifesaver. I can certainly imagine college students loving this, especially since it comes with a travel mug they can take to class.

[@patavinity1262]

You really have no excuse for not having done a video tasting of the espresso martini cheese yet.

[@chelsey8737]

Hes going to regret mentioning this 😂

[@paulieplayspoorly]

I think the name of it is enough to put me off.

[@a1white]

I have one, bought for me by my sister, that is almost identical, but without the timer function and branded Salter instead (so I guess they make it for Aldi). I’ve had it a couple of years now and use it a few times a week and it works well. Filled up it gives 2 small cups of coffee (and the cheap container keeps it warm). It all still functions well, I guess it is quite simple and there is little to break. I didn’t think I’d use much, but I like the convenience and speed of it (makes a coffee in the same time as a kettle boils) and it just percolates what you need so there is less waste.

[@kasuha]

I can't help it. I'm not even a coffee enthusiast but I love watching your videos. It's always like finding a sunny meadow in the depth of dark forest. Thank you for all the sun you're giving out.

[@stevebutler6811]

The first coffee ‘machine’ I bought was an Aldi one (not this one) that allowed the options of using nespresso (original) pods, Nescafé dolce gusto pods or even fresh ground coffee, just by sliding in a different adapter. I haven’t used it for years but I’m tempted to have a go now at comparing the three different options with other more traditional methods, be interesting to see if my palate is more developed and discerning!

[@stritlit]

Sweet comparison! I do have something similar and just as inexpensive. It is a Philips electric brewer. I let it do it's thing when I'm feeling lazy, and when I want to enjoy my coffee then I do the pour over technique with a kettle. I think of it as a 2 in 1!

[@barryevans7181]

I purchased something very similar a few years ago, same price range. I had never used ground coffee before, I ended up trying different brands and regions etc. I then brought an aeropress, then a knock grinder, then a v60 set, then it's spirals into a coffee rabbit hole money pit. Strangley, it introduced me to coffee which I can't thank it enough for.

[@LtLemontwist]

Honestly, that brewer will probably last a good long while. Those kinds of machines are dead simple with no moving parts. Only weak points will be the soldering of wires and buttons.

[@dominicsanchez2972]

This is the exact brewer I have at home. In all reality, freshly grinding my beans every morning, it makes a pretty decent cup of coffee. *Two things: Mine came with a stainless steel in and out, but I just use my mug. Secondly, I don't use the mesh, I bought disposable ones cause it's a finer filter with the paper.

[@ceralor]

It's neat to hear positives about something like this. I definitely didn't expect it to do better than a proper pour over, and it's always nice to be able to show that cheap brew setups can still yield excellent coffee. I think the price here ends up being more for the convenience, the ability to set it to wake you up with the smell of brewing coffee in the morning. I know that certainly helped me when I used to use a programmable brewer instead of my aeropresss.

[@benanderson89]

Plus, bonus feature, use it as your alarm clock on the bedside table. Leave a little sweetener in the bottom of the cup and enjoy what is essentially a tall teasmaid.

[@notapplicable7292]

lol to be the patreon supporter who wins this instead of the 1000+ pound machines.

[@jameshoffmann]

I'll sweeten the deal. Also, winning one competition doesn't technically exclude you from others.

[@notapplicable7292]

@@jameshoffmann ik, just thought it was kinda funny. I just hope it doesn't endup in landfill because since i can't see many of your patreon supporters having much need for a $16 coffee machine :)

[@BigHenFor]

@@notapplicable7292 Never look à gift horse in the mouth. Christmas is coming and someone might appreciate it.

[@anitaholmes8201]

Gift-giver: "Happy [whatever the occasion]! I hope you enjoy this. It's the same Aldi coffeemaker James Hoffmann used in his KZbin." Recipient (underwhelmed, wonders whether to regift or donate to a thrift shop): "Oh. Nice." Gift-giver: "No, I mean this is the very one he weighed coffee for and..." Recipient (awe; wonders where to best place the coffee shrine):

[@jvallas]

@@notapplicable7292 good holiday gift for the less coffee-astute.

[@Azeria]

Woah, I had one of those with another brand on the front... Broke within a year, wasn't great, basket was falling apart by the end anyway.

[@Azeria]

All of the controls were in German on my version. I am not German.

[@dnmr]

@@Azeria how would you rate not being German? Any regrets or personal feelings in general?

[@Azeria]

@@dnmr eh nicht gut

[@Yupppi]

@@dnmr This is why I occasionally read youtube comments.

[@gerryhouska2859]

With a three year warranty, it shouldn't matter.

[@marshmellow377]

When I lived with my parents I had one of these by my bedside table. It was honestly the best thing I ever bought. (pre coffee snob days). It made a nice hot cup of coffee ready for me for when my alarm went off. I could not fault it! :) I moved out and now it has been handed down to my brother who still uses it to this day (coming on for 5 years now)

[@lindapro1287]

I have an Aldi Ambiano coffee machine for over two years and it works great. The price was great! The only exception is when I put coffee grounds in the mesh container, I kept getting a lot of the grounds in my cup that I have to spoon out. I use a filter and that helps, but I prefer to use it for K-Cup purposes. Lately, I've been using my French press and I love it! Thanks you for the video!

[@PugAshen]

James can read me bedtime stories any time. Love his voice, right on par with Tom. Keep doing what you so mister. We love you for it. AND with your recent collaboration with Tom I'm very intrigued in trying coffee for the very first time in my life. ♥️♥️👍

[@Django45]

I have come across James because of Tom Scott's video, too. I drink coffee out of necessity because my sleeping habits are poor and i need to be awake at work but at my new job I started enjoying the coffee more, maybe it is because I can control what I get a bit. (intensity, amount of water, etc) I may even try a cappucino from that same coffeemaker in the cafeteria. And I am seriously considering going to a few coffee shops to try different things and maybe start making my own coffee from coffee beans and not store bought ground coffee. All because of Tom Scott's collab with James. His videos are fun and informative. I have been binging them.

[@RuthieOnTheMobile]

I have a similar machine that I bought on Amazon. It has the same spout but makes up to twelve cups and uses a similar paper filter (except bigger obviously) that I put inside the plastic mesh filter. The timer feature is great as I have fresh coffee ready for me when I have limited time in a morning.

[@LeilaLamb]

Oh James, you are lovely! Your videos just make me smile. On a less light note, you’re right about the ‘disposability’ of a product like that.

[@sophie____]

I thought the little porcelain coffee pot was a gravy boat, fully anticapating James would use it as a "budget" pouring kettle 😂

[@dylanbeschoner]

Me too

[@Jeh110]

Omg! That was so funny. Good one. (with James, you never know)😝

[@cav007]

Very excited to win this £20 brewer and spend £50 shipping and a 220 volt converter.

[@thehandyman83]

My first coffee maker was a Black & Decker "Brew and Go" which was just like this and at the time I loved it it. Preground coffee, crappy included mugs (2) and I was off on my coffee adventure. I would almost argue it did better with small volumes of coffee than my current Technivorm.

[@mooretuba]

I don’t use my Moccamaster for anything less than 4 cups. If I want to make a quick single cup, I’ll make an Aeropress, using the Moccamaster to heat 2 cups of water only, since it is much faster than my kettle. Really fast way to make a single cup.

[@AllinWhenPlaying]

Speaking as an absolute coffee brewing noobcake - this video inspired me. In my quest of getting some decent home brew I abandoned my failed attempts at using cafetiere (always came out... disappointing) or shelling a pirate treasure out for an automatic brewer I decided to go as simple as I could and I got a decent pour-over pot (watch out for the ones with plastic baskets, ugh) and good filters and, without measuring, I got a great, amazingly coloured, clear and vibrant brew with quite a lot of enjoyment of manual brewing added. Yes, you need to babysit the process but it is well worth the effect and savings. Also, when you think about the time saved cleaning the machine vs the time spent manually brewing then I'm not even sure if it actually takes longer overall. So, thanks for the inspiration James!

[@nikki3879]

You deciding that Aldi are trolling you specifically with espresso martini flavoured cheese, made me laugh way more than it should have, James. 😂

[@Bigrignohio]

"It's OK". High praise for such a device.

[@MarkCup70]

Mr Hoffmann, thank you. Not just for this video, but for everything thus far. The last 24 months has been a steep learning curve for me but I'm loving life with my Flair, Knock Aergrind, my V60s (01 & 02) and what my somewhat uneducated taste buds tell me is half decent coffee that I regularly buy from a local roaster. Without fail your videos pop up on my feed and they get watched from beginning to end, I can't say that for any other 'channel'. Keep it up and thanks again.

[@BokBarber]

I could see this being good as a second coffee brewer for your desk at work, home office, wood shop, glamping, dorm room, etc. It's unpretentious, convenient, compact and brews a decent cuppa.

[@MiggyManMike]

As a man who's made his own coffee bacon I feel it deserves a fair chance :p

[@AuthenTech]

hey my aldi espresso machine that only cost around $35, lasted for years and years!

[@toriladybird511]

I have had a similar model and it certainly lasts as long as its looked after. I used mine at work. It was my treat on arrival after a 2 hour commute walking, waiting 2 bus transfers and another walk .. Loved my machine.

[@artofficialflute]

I had something very similar in college freshman year. No timer, but single travel-mug brewer by Black & Decker. I kept it at the foot of my bed next to my alarm clock. I’d prep the unit before bed, and when the alarm went off, start the brewer and hit snooze. When the alarm went off again, coffee ready.

[@breauxp]

I’ve loved coffee for years and love it even more since I discovered this channel and it’s brilliant host!

[@TristanCunhasprofile]

I think the little aluminum tumbler that you used to dose your ground coffee into the basket cost more than the entire coffee machine?

[@Klmrc]

everyday i check James Hoffman's channel just to see if there is a new upload that my bell notifiction missed. His coffee videos are therapy to me.

[@andrewlangshanks2407]

I have a Vario grinder, a Rancillio Silvia for home use, an aeropress for camping and for work, and the Aldi Ambiano brews my 'late for work' coffee and it doesn't do too bad a job. Mind you, it does brew straight into a travel cup that cost as much as the machine. It's been running reliably well for over three years

[@Brew78]

For the record, I still have and use a very old Black & Decker single cup coffee maker. It's at least double digit years old. Based on image search, it might be (or at least be similar to) model DCM7. This isn't to say that the Aldi coffee maker will have a long life span, but rather that just because it's cheap doesn't necessarily mean it's disposable.

[@skeetsmcgrew3282]

Yo I got the same brewer. For the price and convenience, cant complain.

[@Brew78]

@@skeetsmcgrew3282 Yeah, and if I want to more tightly control water temp, bloom time, soak time etc, it's not a bad pourover setup. And #2 filters fit nicely if you don't want to use the reusable basket filter.

[@dwirandypradhika6752]

We have watched and will watch you review literally anything James... Just do the espresso martini cheese!

[@benson8686]

I had a coffee maker that was very similar those for years, and my parents did as well. It makes a surprisingly good cup of coffee. I should add the similarly cheap brewer we had lasted over 10 years, and still worked. We just started using different machines.

[@tommiller1315]

Almost forgot to say "Thank You James" for keeping me entertained and inspired to get more out of my once daily cup.

[@hughsandoe7459]

Plot twist- James buys 1,500 of these for a massive Patreon supporter givaway.

[@KNURKonesur]

Don't tempt him! Or tempt him more! :D

[@KuehlesBier]

I would guess that 99,9% of his Patreon supporters have (much) better equipment and do not need this.

[@tobymarol7329]

imagine you're one of his patreons and while someone wins the weber you get this :D

[@tdogg6148]

I would say that anyone buying it for that price isn’t too concerned about the coffee experience it gives. They are just looking for a quick and easy way of getting some caffeine.

[@skeetsmcgrew3282]

Poor people cant like things that taste good?

[@CrookedNose2131]

@@skeetsmcgrew3282 You missed the point completely. Not everyone is a coffee nerd who want to faff about with brew ratio and grind. They just want a cup of coffee, hence the popularity of instant and the obscurity of the Hario.

[@tejash21]

I'm a coffee nerd. I'm looking for a deal on a brewer that gets me most of the way to a solid cup. Prevents me from going out and buying a cup on a busy morning

[@jamesstevens2145]

Hey James, I don't care anything like as much about coffee as you do - to me its "instant" or "real", but your videos are so engaging I enjoy them enormously & I love that you do care so much - it's what makes them, so maybe one day I will accidentally end up "better educated".

[@Order4627]

Just brought a glass v60 from TEMU for £4.06. Wanted one for months. It’s Christmas time December 2023. The silicon fold down one I previously purchased was fine. Today I am trying the Melitta Look Timer coffee drip machine.

[@EtwasMartin]

I just rewatched your Aldi Espresso Machine video for the 64993th time and then i see this...thank you James.

[@schissgring]

Why? The Aldi will always be shitty :-D

[@EtwasMartin]

@@schissgring Because it's an enjoyable video to watch?

[@flyer152]

Hi James, I have one of these. I have has it some time, like well over a year. I find, for what it is, it's fantastic. When I work an early shift it's always used, basically because of the timer. I have had zero issues with this, never faltered once. Although I'm more worried about the filter could degrade soon. What filer papers did you use? As I see what you used during a test, I could see that as a great alternative. Thanks.

[@islandercirce2]

Someone else commented that it was a Kalita filter.

[@flyer152]

@@islandercirce2 ah yes, but what size?

[@KT-xo4bn]

I think the appeal for me is simply the fact you can have it set up to brew coffee automatically. I have a coffee set up in my bedroom to make an aeropress in the morning - but the concept of not being able to get out of bed sounds blissful. The only negative is that I would need to pre grind the coffee the night prior and leave it out in the open which would significantly effect the flavour.

[@GamingHole]

I had this model for a few years and have been happy with it. The filter did get discoloured, but the taste didn't change, at least that I've noticed. I rinsed the machine once in a while and never had any issues with it. The clock on it does reset if you unpluck the machine which was annoying, but aside from that, it lasted me quite a while and still would, but I recently got a new machine. For the cheap price it's excellent imo. If you are on a budget then this is a good alternative since you also don't need to buy filters, which is an ongoing cost.