Normcore Needle Distributor V2 Review

[@vynn86]

This is an underrated channel. I could watch random coffee paraphernalia reviews all day

[@TyTyTy87]

100%! I thought I was the only one.

[@AlternativeBrewing]

Thanks so much 😀

[@shauns_brewbar]

I just bought my needle distributor from alternative brewing. It arrived the other day. Amazing.

[@DaneButler]

Big fan of Normcore tools, WDT, dosing ring and spring tamper complements my Flair 58 work profile, even got their puck screen so I can do two shots back to back for both myself and the Mrs.

[@AlternativeBrewing]

So good!

[@randyreeves5322]

Blimey, it’s a down-under James Hoffmann!

[@AlternativeBrewing]

😂 Ha! Not sure if I should lean in to that, or the Crocodile Hunter for Coffee Reviews more

[@bmathias619]

Just another benefit is cleanliness. You can see in the tools v. no tools comparison all those little sprays are espresso flying in every direction but the cup you're brewing into.

[@wakeawaken430]

Have a nice day my friend, from the other part of the world (Greece) Seems nice for an automated distributor tool

[@shameelali2549]

Hi josh I couldnt wait to get this,i was always pulling amazing shots on my rocket r58,but everyone wants an edge,so i purchased the whole kit,spring tamp,wedge distributor and the needle tool,i found the with the thick needles it caused channeling,i did shots back to back scales and all,same outcome,i then tried the thinner needles and that had much less channeling,so all was ok but still not super happy as i found just the wedge distributor and spring tamp pulled perfect shots,anyways after refitting the needle distributor into the bristle brush housing it bent the skinny needles,theni noticed the brush fibres where lifting and getting stuck on the needles,i spoke to amy at alt brewing and she said its from static,lol wtf,anyways after pulling 15 shots back to back iam not at all happy,the tamp and wedge are awesome tools,just not at all happy with the v2 needle tool,i think we must be testing guinea pigs for the future version 3.

[@AlternativeBrewing]

Hey, nice machine btw! I'm so sorry to hear you haven't enjoyed the Needle Distributor! - I do want to say as far as "testing guinea pigs for a future version 3" it can feel this way - though all the testing at the manufacturer's end won't cover the inevitable variations with end users. The V2 Needle Tool is a good product, but not as good as the WDT tool. With the WDT tool they've provided great replacement needles of different sizes too - I'm not sure why Normcore has not done the same for the needle tool - this is the feedback I'll be sending back to them though. Very surprised to hear "brush fibres were lifting and getting stuck on the needles" .. I've never experienced this myself - though I am aware - the brush is used to clean the needles, but it does not mention you periodically need to clean the brush as well. I would suggest if you're not interested in manually WDTing, then maintaining the workflow you already have will present the best results for consistency, and if you haven't already looked in to it - using specific being water for coffee can be that edge you may be looking for 👌

[@Shadowguy456234]

OK so, they made a less expensive version of DUOMO the eight, with 9 needles instead of 8... as nice as it would be to match the rest of my Normcore stuff, my gold DUOMO which they don't even make anymore is pretty nice ;)

[@ianfebriyanto]

haha, I think you should make reviews about the machine that sitted next to you 😂

[@AlternativeBrewing]

coming soon 👌

[@HaekalAlchatieb]

too much for starting my morning I must say 😁

[@endlessocean1731]

How about manual wdt vs normcore needle distributor, is there any difference?

[@RegrinderAlert]

There should be a big difference in favor of manual tools. The distributor needles just travel on fixed orbits and therefore the benefits are more limited

[@Assenayo]

@@RegrinderAlert yes and the needle distributor is just more simple so it's about what works. I would choose it over the OCD and tools like that. Though I prefer WDT

[@AlternativeBrewing]

There's more benefits in manually WDT'ing over this. The difference being the ability to focus the needles, stir the grounds upwards and mix in vertically as well

[@DigitalicaEG]

I’ve been through two normcore v2 needle distribution tools (54mm) and they all don’t spin freely like the ones in videos on KZbin. I’m tired of sending them back for replacement. It’s quite messy to deal with it when it keeps grinding on the top of the basket.

[@AlternativeBrewing]

Yes - that doesn't sound right - Im sorry you've had this experience. I did notice if I adjusted the needles below a certain height - it did not spin. I would suggest a basket size less than 15-18g, it would not spin freely - as the tool can not accomodate it

[@mgm1037]

Why not just snip the needles slightly to accommodate the shallower basket depth?

[@DigitalicaEG]

@@mgm1037 that’s not the problem , you can adjust the depth without snipping.

[@AlternativeBrewing]

@@mgm1037 you could yes

[@DigitalicaEG]

Also, due to the fact that you can’t control the depth of distribution mid process, when you lift up the tool you clearly see the needle marks in the coffee bed going all the way down to the bottom of the basket. I’m worried that this actually introduces channeling instead of fixing it. With a normal WDT tool I would lift up the needle gradually as I’m working the bed in small circular motions so you don’t get this issue .

[@AlternativeBrewing]

there is a discussion on the fact - you'll basically always have SOME channelling in an espresso shot - and that by being able to dicatet the channelling you're at an advantage of consistency between shots. I find once I collapse the basket after WDT'ing than the holes are not as prevalent. 0.3mm needles are a good size - I would be hesitant to go less than 0.3mm - and more is too big.

[@friendlyghostkinda]

Is the tamp worth it? Arthritis specifically good days no issues Manual but too much strain. Or similar in price range that’s not $$ like force?

[@AlternativeBrewing]

Normcore Tamp is yes 👌

[@jasonfisher9134]

small black residue from holder

[@juancarlosfallas4535]

I have a 20g VST ridged. Will it reach the bottom? I know on amazon some people are saying that even at its deepest it still doesn't go down far enough. Thanks!

[@AlternativeBrewing]

Yes it will - no worries. You don't it scraping of course - but it will reach.

[@natto84]

This looks cool but then the reviews I’ve seen for it are terrible. Not sure what to make of the discrepancy because I really like my Normcore tamper and shower screen. 🤔

[@AlternativeBrewing]

It was the Version 1 you're no doubt referring to. It was a bad design. The new design has much thinner needles, more spread out.

[@natto84]

@@AlternativeBrewing That's very helpful to know, thank yoou!

[@simondebaene1930]

I’ve adjusted the needles to reach the bottom of the basket, but now the needles touch the bottom of the storage basket. The whole weight of the distributor is on the needles instead of the side. Am I missing something?

[@AlternativeBrewing]

No - you'll need to adjust the needles so they just reach above the bottom of the basket - do this by screwing up the silver plate underneath - and tightening it with the outside black ring to lock it in place 👌

[@emil_k]

Sorry, the contact is so limited; if your grinder produces clumps, they will remain. It tends to make a mess and creates a circular hill or other uneven results. Get a regular WDT tool; you can hit all the grinds in no time. Just say no to this tool, I tested one with more needles and it was still no comparison to manual WDT.

[@BlackShadow2009]

I have the exact same concern. Thanks for sharing.

[@jlyt18]

What's the difference to the v1

[@AlternativeBrewing]

V1 had many issues - needles to big, was unadjustable by much - pattern did not work as great for a good spread across the entire basket.

[@BingoJunior]

whats the base called, ur storing the tools :)

[@AlternativeBrewing]

Each Normcore tool comes with an included Base in the box 👌

[@euqifahs]

Will this work with a 24mm height ims basket?

[@AlternativeBrewing]

Yes , possibly not all the way to the bottom though 🤔

[@StephenBoyd21]

Next step? Surely you mean a different step. I don’t think that it is in anyway better than a WDT.

[@juancarlosfallas4535]

I think based on consistency it could be viewed as better. It produces the same result every time. Whereas a handheld wdt may not. Some days a person may not go as deep, or as wide, or do as many trips around the basket etc. Probably not a massive difference but it seems like it would be more repeatable.

[@RegrinderAlert]

@@juancarlosfallas4535 It might be consistent but even a mediocre manual WDT would give better results imo

[@AlternativeBrewing]

It's the next step "for someone who's hesitant in WDT'ing manually". WDTing would still be widely looked at as a practice only for fanatics of it. Whereas something used like a tool similar to a NCD or other distributor / but acting as a WDT could be easily picked up and used by a novice

[@Kaiesis]

These do work great to make an even distribution, but it doesn't affect any of those claims you just made. Plz do not make such absurd claims like that, stick to the mechanics of what it does. If I bought this from you and said I still taste "lifelessness" could I get a return? lol What does coffee full of life and coffee full of lifelessness taste like lol. C'mon where did you come up with this script :) and I bet you'll comment saying you never said any of those effects were a guarantee and you said "may."

[@AlternativeBrewing]

What if I were to amend lifelessness with vibrancy. That's the word that best fit for what I was attempting to achieve in the description. Using the tool adds Vibrancy to the coffee. - for me at least. It may not add vibrancy to your coffee - or it may and you don't taste it. Or the way you drink it isn't the same way i drink it and we'll never see eye to eye. You're right - the mechanics are the most important part in these tools. I'll aim towards framing the tasting as my own experience, independent of any consensus on the product 🫶

[@coffeem8011]

I've got v1 and it SUCKS. Totally unusable, I don't have to nerve to ask for an exchange to v2 though