![](https://design-milk.com/images/2022/09/7XBloom-coffee-.jpg "Xbloom") Seen a few coffee influencers have been teasing the XBloom, looks like a slick over-engineered pod machine with an inbuilt grinder for single cup filter coffees. Hard to find specifics on the grinder but I'm guessing some kind of 30ish mm conical. Here's Rao providing an overview, ironically pouring a demo cup with very clear signs of channelling: https://youtu.be/4IsyND_CHH8 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. Is there enough of a market for techbro speciality coffee hobbyists who will be prepared to pay above the odds to avoid any of the effort involved with coffee making? Edit: quite the pricetag, early bird Kickstarter price is 399usd, apparently a 50% saving off RRP.

Coffee pod things are nothing new but what scares me is that they've got all the coffee influencers on payroll.

@"Newdent"#p27920 Except me , no one asked me.

@"DavecUK"#p27922 they only asked the ones who they thought they could throw $ at to forget about their conscience! 😅

@"Newdent"#p27923 Well I suppose I would tell it how it was…from my unconsciously biased perspective….I should watch the video though, as I am now intrigued!

@"DavecUK"#p27925 Please don’t tell us you has this on your counter! 🤣

> @"FadedFrontiers"#p27789 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"#16 No, I don't have one on my counter…"I'm not the reviewer they are looking for" ![Giphy - Obi Wan Mind GIF by Star Wars](https://media3.giphy.com/media/l2JJKs3I69qfaQleE/giphy.gif?cid=bb77869fv7yxd4gg0zvjn962k56mx55eymp6ojxrlsagtzq4&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g)

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"#p28004 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!

XBloom: new pour over pod machine launching on Kickstarter

Del_UK

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.

DavecUK

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.

Newdent

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

Del_UK

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!

DavecUK

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.

Del_UK

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.

MWJB

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?

FadedFrontiers

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.

MWJB

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.

FadedFrontiers

MWJB Looks like a couple of venture capitalist funds from China, couldn’t find any links to other coffee products at all but lots of tech and apps which probably explains the approach: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/xbloom

MWJB

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?

FadedFrontiers

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.

dfk41

Another video review of sorts. I think the hurdle they are going to face is that the average coffee user, who wants simplicity is not going to pay the price of the capsules. Will they understand the difference between a pod and a capsule with allegedly fresh beans that you grind…….

DavecUK

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!

InfamousTuba

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

lancehedrick

InfamousTuba those changes were due to my consutling. Humble brag haha! I had the temp heightened (they only had it to 95), the steps shortened (they had it to 35 or so) and the reusable pod added.

tompoland

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.

Platypus

tompoland You could offer @MWJB a free “working” holiday incl board on the proviso he brings a V60 in his hand luggage. I think Jonathan Gagne is busy with a newborn!

Del_UK

Now that they are opening up the system with the inclusion of the reusable dripper attachment, I think it looks really good! Imagine the ideal scenario: roaster sells beans that they have curated a recipe for, you tell the machine what beans you are using and maybe even how old they are and it grinds and pours based in the roasters recipe so you get close to exactly what they had in mind.

I’m like you in that I’m not a huge filter fan, but I think it’s because I’m doing it wrong, and I don’t have the time/patience to learn/experiment. If I had the space I’d be tempted, but the Bianca is a beastie of a lady 🦛

tompoland

This video is also very interesting

lancehedrick

Newdent So, I have been approached by dozens of brands to be “on payroll.” I have turned down every single one. This one I consulted quietly on for about 6 months. They asked me to be an advisor. I only agreed because 1) they listened to every critique I made of it and implemented my suggested changes and b) they included a reusable pod from the material I suggested, meaning one doesnt need a subscription to their pods for coffee.
I am not sure what other “influencer” is on their payroll besides Brian Quan, who literally is employed there, and Scott Rao, who is head of roasting quality control.

Newdent

lancehedrick hey, at the time it just seemed like lots of big names in the coffee scene were announcing their connections to xbloom. Who you mentioned, weirdly I thought Kyle Roswell did too but can’t find any record of that now…

Anyway, I’ve addressed my stance on it on discord, I don’t think there’s any denying the pod model isn’t going to be great for the producers, for the environment but I also feel like if I was in your position I would struggle to turn down the opportunity so no judgement on your part specifically, more so on the venture capital backed pod style model in general.

lancehedrick

DavecUK your wishes are true!

DavecUK

lancehedrick That’s good, because it looked an interesting device. Now all they really have to do is send me one 🤣

« Previous Page Next Page »