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Until James Hoffman (https://www.youtube.com/@jameshoffmann/videos https://www.youtube.com/@jameshoffmann/videos) has done a video on it, it may as well not exi

Until James Hoffman (https://www.youtube.com/@jameshoffmann/videos https://www.youtube.com/@jameshoffmann/videos) has done a video on it, it may as well not exist ;) Interesting idea, always nice to see new ways to brew coffee. I wonder how easy it is to replicate their process? The article isn't hugely clear. It talks about using a modified off the shelf domestic espresso machine but the picture at the top looks like a custom built device with potential complex machining involved to build. If it's the case you can buy an ultrasonic transducer and bodge it into an espresso machine lots of fun possibilities for coffee geeks (and to my point above someone like James Hoffman will give it a go and build up a bunch of interest in the technique) If it's the case you need a bunch of complex machining and significant technical skills (say those possessed by chemical engineers conducting cutting edge research...) then I imagine this will struggle to go anywhere.

ascorbic 2y ago
The article says they working to commercialise it. That will presumably involve selling a machine.
- c0nsumer 2y ago
  If they sell a reasonably priced machine (say, under US$400) which is easy to clean, doesn't use any sort of pod/cup, doesn't have any subscription malarkey, and is reasonably sized, I'll give it a very serious look. The whole idea sounds like it could be really simple once implemented, and in a world of super complicated coffee brewers with small little crevices that are hard to clean, it'd be very welcome.
  - prpl 2y ago
    That’s comically cheap. The gaggia classic, arguably king of the entry level espresso, is that same price. They could release it at $900 (MSRP of Rancilio Silvia) and easily sell a million if it’s worth it. I’d guess they could easily start at $1200-1500 and drop the price from there after the first couple of production runs.
    - c0nsumer 2y ago
      I dunno... I can get a Moccamaster for that price, or another pretty darn good other drip maker for under $200. If this just has to agitate the brewing area with ultrasound and not much else, there's no reason for it to cost a lot. Something like the Silvia you mention is just a lot more complicated.
- gchadwick 2y ago
  Indeed but I still feel my original point stands. If you can achieve their process half reasonably with a bodged espresso machine there's a reasonable chance it will become popular (assuming of course it does provide unique coffee!). If it's complex precision engineering even if they're directly working on commercialisation it'll be a struggle.
janekm 2y ago
Well, here's "Not James Hoffman" having a go: https://youtu.be/-yB6Fb05QRo?si=PqhwiRsRnz39LOYJ https://youtu.be/-yB6Fb05QRo?si=PqhwiRsRnz39LOYJ

ascorbic 2y ago

The article says they working to commercialise it. That will presumably involve selling a machine.

c0nsumer 2y ago
If they sell a reasonably priced machine (say, under US$400) which is easy to clean, doesn't use any sort of pod/cup, doesn't have any subscription malarkey, and is reasonably sized, I'll give it a very serious look. The whole idea sounds like it could be really simple once implemented, and in a world of super complicated coffee brewers with small little crevices that are hard to clean, it'd be very welcome.
- prpl 2y ago
  That’s comically cheap. The gaggia classic, arguably king of the entry level espresso, is that same price. They could release it at $900 (MSRP of Rancilio Silvia) and easily sell a million if it’s worth it. I’d guess they could easily start at $1200-1500 and drop the price from there after the first couple of production runs.
  - c0nsumer 2y ago
    I dunno... I can get a Moccamaster for that price, or another pretty darn good other drip maker for under $200. If this just has to agitate the brewing area with ultrasound and not much else, there's no reason for it to cost a lot. Something like the Silvia you mention is just a lot more complicated.
gchadwick 2y ago
Indeed but I still feel my original point stands. If you can achieve their process half reasonably with a bodged espresso machine there's a reasonable chance it will become popular (assuming of course it does provide unique coffee!). If it's complex precision engineering even if they're directly working on commercialisation it'll be a struggle.

janekm 2y ago

Well, here's "Not James Hoffman" having a go: https://youtu.be/-yB6Fb05QRo?si=PqhwiRsRnz39LOYJ https://youtu.be/-yB6Fb05QRo?si=PqhwiRsRnz39LOYJ