FadedFrontiers The thing that really baffles me is that they talk about how each pod is biodegradable yet each one has an individual NFC chip that certainly won’t be. Totally all for smart integration if that’s your thing but making it entirely reliant on an app or single use chip is just really really short sighted.

There’s a few things that immediately tick me off about the pod.

  • It’s Biodegradable because they don’t want you reusing it (the best form of recycling). I’d be pretty sure you would only get one use out of the pod.
  • They want to tie you into to an even more expensive way of enjoying coffee
  • The recognition is via RFD because they again want to tie you to the pod and the roasters (from who they may well take a cut).

How should it have been designed:

  • non biodegradeable pod (you can buy extra ones)
  • Filter paper inserts, like for cupcakes
  • recognise something other than RFD e.g. a barcode etc..
  • Roasters can place on their 250g or 500 bags as a peel off label you can stick on the pod (or simply swipe before a coffee
  • Take a small cut from the roasters

You then get the coffee packaged properly, from any roaster in your country that signs up to them. You are not making and transporting loads of little pods all the time.

@LMSC No, I don’t have one on my counter…“I’m not the reviewer they are looking for”

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      I’m no expert on this side of things but some people were very concerned on discord because who the venture capitalist backers are and what the company is valued at and what that means regarding the margins.

      As has been mentioned, who will suffer the most like always, the producers.

      I’m curious as to how that have managed to “produce” a 100% Biodegradable pod that contains an NFC chip, likely containing a PCB and some form of metal antenna…?

        Del_UK I suspect you have to peel the chip off and dispose of it in the normal waste.

        The one little issue, as with many councils, our recycling rejects the whole batch if there are not recognised recyclables in it e.g. Those pods!

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            DavecUK yea, after a few comments on a a different youtube video, someone ( I can only assume someone who worked on/with it) replied saying it indeed needs to be removed, so definitely not 100% biodegradable…

            I can’t imagine the average person is going to go through the ‘hassle’ of peeling off a tag from their hot damp coffee cup thingy.

            I think there’s the basis of a great product here; imagine an open source version where any roaster could send you a bag of beans, the brew method and grind setting got sent via Wi-Fi to the machine, and you use a simple paper filter to brew incredibly repeatable and accurately made coffee.

                Del_UK I think there’s the basis of a great product here; imagine an open source version where any roaster could send you a bag of beans, the brew method and grind setting got sent via Wi-Fi to the machine, and you use a simple paper filter to brew incredibly repeatable and accurately made coffee.

                Of course, but they are not trying to make a great product, they are trying to make great money. So it will never happen.

                It’s similar to what printer manufacturers did.

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                  I’ve seen it compared to the printer and ink business model.

                  My thoughts exactly, it’s no different to that, only you’re not getting the unit for cheap then paying a lot for the refills in this case, the unit and the refills are expensive. I saw one post saying it’ll be about $2 a pod!

                    Del_UK I guess there will be some who get sucked in as it is allowed to be promoted hard on forums they choose to advertise on and the online influencers of course.

                    It’s not the sort of product I could review (except negatively, which I don’t publish), as I don’t believe in it. The whole thing isn’t right, it feels to me that it’s been done for the love of money, not the love of good coffee.

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                        DavecUK it’s like when every kitchen gadget seemed to be a solution-in-search-of-a-problem, but now its a solution-in-search-of-a-subscription.

                          I haven’t seen any actual testing of this device as yet, am I looking in the wrong places?

                          It does say on the FAQ there will be a reusable dripper avilable for a development program. So there is the possibility of not having to use th biodegradable RFID equipped drippers?

                          No UK roasters appear to be involved, shipping to Canada & US only.

                          Target achieved already, so many concerns seem to be somewhat moot?

                            MWJB no it’s all been promos and demos so far. Safe to say they’ll flood the usual outlets with review units in due course.

                            I’d disagree that concerns are moot now that it’s reached targets given the sheer amount of Kickstarters that go on to fail following the initial funding run. As mentioned elsewhere too it looks like a slick operation with hefty financial backers, so getting things running with the help of several prominent names in coffee wasn’t ever going to be the issue.

                            There may well be some unhappy customers if this then fails to transition to the wider market and as a result support is gradually dropped for things like the coffee pod system and app which were major selling points. Then you’re just stuck with a big machine that has gotten a lot less smart very quickly.

                              Sorry, I meant moot from the aspect of the Kickstarter campaign & reservations (clearly very few by the uptake) and that it probably won’t come to UK/EU anyway.

                              Who are the backers?

                              I can’t imagine why anyone would need an app for a drip brewer other than to turn it off/on.

                                Got to admit it’s all a bit like Greek to me, they have $15,000,000 but need 20 or so people to risk throwing away £400-$800 each? Is there a TL:DR explanation?

                                  MWJB I’d suspect it’s to help build the hype and spread the word, especially given the low funding target and the fact that most of the packages on the Kickstarter aren’t sold out despite it being met.

                                    Every buzzword going, name dropping, repetition and marketing it super hard.

                                    Low on information, tech specs, water temp, different coffee types and proper demo.

                                    I had to force myself to watch it all as I dislike advertorials and it really felt like one.

                                    P.S. Those beans would be well stale by the time you used them!

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                                    13 days later

                                    Seems like the Kickstarter has more information now, also now comes with a reusable filter holder that fits kalita 155 papers. Up to 99c water in the heater and 18.75 micron steps for grind size. The idea could be interesting at the 399$ price, I have had some really great coffee from other automatic pourover machines like the tone touch 03. Not convinced by the big marketing push but the technology could have good applications

                                    Coffee Roaster. Home: Sage Dual Boiler, Niche Zero, Ode v2 (SSP), 1zpresso ZP6 Work: Eagle One Prima EXP, mahlkonig e80s, Mazzer Philos and lots more

                                      a month later

                                      Darn it all. I ummed and ahhed but then I backed it.

                                      Anyone else?

                                      I see @lancehedrick is endorsing it, and Scott Rao too.

                                      I backed it cos I don’t like filter but I do t know if I’m simply not doing it right. I figured this would give me my best shot at doing it right so I can decide if I should give up on filter or persist.

                                      I mean, if this thing has top quality roasted beans and experts adjusting grind, temperature and pouring via the IOT, isn’t that my best shot at getting something that is optimal?

                                      All thoughts gratefully considered.