Meraki Espresso Machine - How Good Is It and Should You Back It On Kickstarter?

[@thomascee]

Man, that looks FANTASTIC. $1,200 for a dual boiler AND rotary pump? Is there anything that's even close to that? I think I'm in love...

[@oOJampisOo]

Thank you so much for taking the time to make this review!

[@nickscoffeestudio]

Thanks for the comment, glad you enjoyed the video!

[@homecafecharlie]

Dropping he beans at the start, we've all been there 🤣 Love those corner lights on the right. Very cool setup 😉

[@nickscoffeestudio]

@@homecafecharlie haha it was too good to edit it out 😂 cheers Charlie. Loved your video on the machine. If you’re ever in Ireland or I’m in the UK let’s link up 😊

[@albertoc.3792]

When he spills the beans... priceless! Been there, done that!

[@sheiladlm]

Great work! Really informative, this machine looks interesting

[@NickAlbano253]

How awesome would it be if they came out with a second model that actually had a built-in grinder that had flat burrs?

[@WitNer-gq8kd]

What do you think about not-compatible portafilter in this machine to any other from the market - it's big disadvantages in your opinion, maybe you get some additional information from company that they would change that in next release? Do you think for this price (1200$ us dolars) it is possible to find something better for first professional home espresso set, if yes, then what is your recommendation?

[@nickscoffeestudio]

The non-universal portable doesn’t bother me. You can switch out baskets no problem, and even change out handles now. The portages itself is quite nice, especially with the detachable spouts. For the price, I think it’s very good. There are all-in-one alternatives, but none that I know of have a grinder as good, are as easy to use, or have a rotary pump. The other option is to get a grinder and espresso machine separately.

[@WitNer-gq8kd]

​@@nickscoffeestudio I'm still thinking about Nouva simonelli oscar 22 (version with cool touch steam and opv inside and sirai mode to get better extraction and longevity + Eureka mignon specialita grinder vs Meraki (very similar price, because oscar 22 + eureka is 1280$ vs 1175 $ Meraki (on early bird kickstarter) and really i don't know. Meraki looks fantastic with all this features, but still it can be one huge unknown product for the future, but oscar 22 have its drawbacks (heat exchanger, no programmable volumetric buttons (only programmable for time), it needs 25-35min to heat up, no temperature control for group, no water shower (it's small con but still) and other disadvantages.

[@Artur19760512]

What do You think about grouphead and portafilter heating only to 50⁰C by default, which is way too low for proper espresso extraction?

[@nickscoffeestudio]

So far it hasn’t been a huge issue, yes it would be ideal if it got a bit hotter, but it hasn’t stopped me from getting very good results. I do preheat the portafilter by letting some water run through it first. Not all espresso machines heat the group either so for me getting to around 50° is better than not at all.

[@Artur19760512]

@@nickscoffeestudio yes of course it's better than nothing at all like cheap machines but I thought they want it positioned like higer end machines from what I see they implement in it and it's PID controlled so it shouldn't be difficult, why stop short and not let the user decide and let him adjust to his liking, it might make a bigger difference when brewing lighter roasts.

[@VietNghi]

How does the grinder work for non-espresso use?

[@nickscoffeestudio]

It’s just for espresso, so the adjustments don’t go coarse enough for something like french press realistically. That’s not how it’s designed

[@LoveGod16]

Is the water tank removable?

[@nickscoffeestudio]

Yes the water tank is removable

[@niekl.7156]

Does it have pre infusion now?

[@nickscoffeestudio]

Not in this particular model, but I’m told they’re working on it for future

[@niekl.7156]

@@nickscoffeestudioThank you for your fast response. If it has pre infusion, it’s an instant buy!

[@Eastmasters]

@@nickscoffeestudiofuture models or software upgrade for release model?

[@rossyhead69]

Has anyone “backed” it? Considering it but the kickstart campaign is only in $ or HK$ - says approx £860. I’m in the UK

[@nickscoffeestudio]

They say they will take payment in HK$ but will use current exchange rate on payment. It seems a good few people have backed it from the Facebook group! Let me know if you end up doing it!

[@rossyhead69]

@@nickscoffeestudio I doubt I will be able to tbh. Currently in a bambino+ that I love but my wife wants more automated. Was looking at a touch impress as a compromise when this exploded all over my socials 😂 thought I’d look into it and it looks amazing but doubt she’d want all the fiddling

[@laker8birdy]

I have backed it.

[@thomascee]

Can you inform me? I am keeping my eye out for a used Gaggia; price being an issue for me. What makes the espresso better in this machine? Is it the grinder? The portafilter? Is the temp you set this to better than the stock temp in the Gaggia? Still a little up in the air what makes espresso better in these expensive machines. Fantastic video, loved it. Want one of these machines :)

[@nickscoffeestudio]

So here’s my thoughts. The shots you get out of each are pretty similar. The reason I say that this is better than the Gaggia, is because with the Gaggia you have to do a lot of tweaking, changing steam wand, and realistically you’re gonna change OPV valve spring. It took me a few weeks to order parts and get it all how I wanted it… With the Meraki, you just press a button! Aside from that, if you wanna go and do the Gaggiuino mod for the Gaggia to get PID that’s more work. So to answer your question, this machine represents better value for money if you just want something to work right away. If you like to experiment and modify things, then the Gaggia might be the better choice with a good grinder.

[@breake16]

Do you know the people behind it? They don't show the team behind it. Are they legit?

[@breake16]

@homecafecharlie and whats your opinion on that?

[@nickscoffeestudio]

I’ve had a meeting with their marketing team, but I didn’t know them personally prior to that. Based on my experience they seem legit. They posted a behind the scenes video of their production / quality control line for the espresso machine and the lady in that video is the same lady I had the meeting with

[@funeralpker9071]

Why is there 226g coffee in the bag? Weird flex... make is 150 or 250

[@nickscoffeestudio]

Haha, yeah it’s a bit strange, but I think the reason is because in the US, the standard is 8oz which is 227g. I like a 250g bag because it yields almost exactly 14 shots of 18g shots

[@MrKevin920]

Thanks for showing this so called amazing screen

[@michaelijlst1941]

If you are doing a review at least read the latest on their website on price, release date and what they have already said they would change: Hi Meraki fans, 📌We've received a lot of feedback about our product from testers and Facebook group lately, and we'd like to synchronize with you the latest progress of our R&D team. However, we hope you can understand that engineering modifications cannot be rushed. Each change must undergo stages of design proposals, prototype making and validation, and rigorous testing before being approved for our final production units. The following items are currently undergoing engineering evaluation, and we wish to provide you with a glimpse of the direction we are heading. Please be aware that the changes listed below have NOT been confirmed or released for production units yet. 1. Grinder In our initial prototype, our grinder was designed with 30 stepped settings. However, in the upcoming testing batch, we are transitioning to a stepless design. The grinder encoder will still be utilized to display the grind level on the screen. 2. Grinder Spout The grinder spout was originally made of aluminum. However, for our upcoming prototype batch, we will replace it with stainless steel for improved aesthetics. 3. Brew Paddle and Steam Paddle Our brew paddle and steam paddle were initially designed in plastic. They were intentionally made loose in the first batch of prototypes to facilitate easier modification of injection tooling for adding resistance and feedback. While the hard tooling for both paddles have been optimized, we are presently redesigning them using aluminum. 4. Group Head Our group head was originally designed with aluminum. We are currently in the process of designing and testing the group head using stainless steel for improved sealing, reduced resistance, and enhanced aesthetics. 5. Pre-infusion Our first batch of prototypes does not feature low-pressure pre-infusion, primarily serving home espresso enthusiasts looking for consistent high-quality shots with ease. We are currently developing a control algorithm for our rotary pump to enable low-pressure pre-infusion, catering to coffee aficionados seeking greater control over the espresso-making process. 6. Other changes Other engineering modifications such as parts calibration, molding optimization, UI adjustments, and tolerance stack checks are also underway to ensure the quality of the mass production batch. While we continuously welcome feedback and refine our product, it's important to note that the process for testing and approving design changes typically spans weeks to months. We will keep you updated on any confirmed engineering changes in the future. Please stay tuned! 🧡 #Meraki

[@nickscoffeestudio]

These are all things I mentioned in the video, thanks for reiterating!

[@titusnicoara7306]

If you are making a comment, at least watch the video to the end 😂

[@trapdaddy-x5k]

so a paid ad

[@nickscoffeestudio]

Not paid, they did send me the prototype machine to try out but no money involved