Continuing the $365 portafilter theme, I give you ... ta daaaa... the moonraker... https://youtu.be/6Xu3pWOPVdA Let the howls of derision begin!

I may as well get in first: with the cost of a unifilter and a moonraker you could buy a new Breville Dual Boiler. Any yet the Ultra Moonraker sold out in two hours. Not sure how many units that was but I suspect it was a decent number. I guess that there is still plenty of money around when they can sell a moonraker for around $US500 which does the job of a paperclip or Dave's toothpick. Mind you, he must be on at least his third one by now. I know, I know, it's better than a paperclip or a toothpick ... or is it? Not saying I wouldn't buy, just saying it's amazing what's happening at the top end of the market.

But then if it wasn't excruciatingly expensive, it wouldn't be a Weber. I mentioned in another thread that I was fortunate enough to have a chat with Douglas Weber when at MICE last year. I was trying to convince him to develop a hybrid grinder but he wasn't having any of it because he didn't think that it would achieve anything more than a normal pre-breaker on a large conical like an 83mm Mazzer Robur (HG-1 and 2, Key) . There's a slight chance to be knows a lot more about these things than me but nevertheless he was very patient with my persistent pleadings. The upshop of the conversation was that he didn't want to develop any products unless it was going to make a difference. Something new or something better or something different. And you would have to say that he's consistently stuck to that philosophy right from the outset. Color me impressed.

While it’s staggeringly expensive, it is definitely a thing of beauty. I’m going to stick with my piece wood with a few needles I though

This seems to be the way the coffee industry is going……god help us!

Weber at this point are taking the pee with the prices The guy is using his apple knowledge very well Fool and his money comes to mind. But hey if you can afford it then why not Ive only ever had one Weber product the bean cellers and they lasted less than a year. Each to their own but this is a bit ott for me.

As a fan of Swiss mechanical watches, I approve.

Question is… those cogs are needed in a watch or a clock. But why are they needed in a distribution tool? 🤔

@"MediumRoastSteam"#p42569 Because without them the $485 markup on a standard WDT tool would be an even bigger ask, even for Weber!

To be fair I do really like it, fantastic piece of engineering and WDT aside I can see it bringing a little moment of joy every time it’s used. Obviously very expensive taken at face value but I suppose the coffee equivalent of a Leica or Patek.

They are defo going for the James Bond vibe with that music… I notice Moonraker has the TM after it.. wonder if they had to license the name (or they have). Love the look - very mechanical watch… but wow.. I like a gadget but would draw the line there ! @"tompoland"#121 There is a standard version you can still buy - and 150 dollars cheaper 👍

Weber moonraker

dfk41

Pompeyexile I am with you matey! I break up any clumps which for me is rare for the Niche to produce then tamp and away we go. I am not having a pop at anyone on here as it is each to his own style, but you do see videos posted of people taking 3 to 5 minutes to produce one shot, and this does make me wonder. I do not faff on unless I find something with which I can taste the difference………that does not happen very often. Personally, I think that much of this modern shot prep is hard to argue with in the sense that if I said to you do not put on a blindfold and headphones then walk across the road…………..that makes perfect sense but who in the hell would do it?

Cuprajake

even more so now with these high flow baskets, questioning if channeling is good or bad,

even down to the coffee used, personally if it tastes good and you’re happy doing what you do, read about it and decide if its something you want to implement, i do use wdt,

more now than ever in the world of perfection, social media and instagram, were most stuff is doctored, multiple takes to get the best, we need to realize that its not the real world…

Cuprajake

dfk point

dfk41

Cuprajake Thats the way to do it! I was really eferring to enthusiastic amateurs though Jake. You know, they start off with a prayer to the coffee gods before starting to chant slowly. After they have removed the pf, they wash and dry it with the highest grade microfibre cloth. Next the beans are weighed out very slowly, adding one at a tie until the critical weight is reached. Then they go into the grinder where they are sprayed with water, then ground (very slowly of course because the coffee gods tell them adjustable rpm is the way to go and the slower the better). Then they produce an array of instruments with needles and rakes and spend at least 60 seconds gardening the grinds. At last when really satisfied, they genuflect a couple of times before engaging the pf. Great you think! Then they produce a set of scales and a cup. They inspect the cup, then put some hot water in to bring it up to the optimal temp. Then they dry it (very carefully) and eventually place the scales underneath adding the cup. Then at least three sets of timing devices are placed on the counter to which they permutate the average time in case that 0.001 of a second discrepancy can be tasted. Then the shot commences, and after 5 seconds a dilemma occurs as someone rings the doorbell

tompoland

JHCCoffee there is this one from etsy

https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/1356567802/v3-wdt-rotating-espresso-distribution

chlorox

tompoland

Mine Haa a handle with a hole in the handle that yoi can insert your index finger into to spin the handle. That version that u have doesn’t seem to be as easy to spin.

JHCCoffee

tompoland JHCCoffee there is this one from etsy

https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/1356567802/v3-wdt-rotating-espresso-distribution

Thanks for the tip, @tompoland . I ordered one (their most recent v3.55). The vendor actually lives where I do (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) and must also frequently wake up at 2 AM, as we had a 2 to 4 AM chat via Etsy. So he is very responsive.

tompoland

This type of tool should offer more consistency since the needles travel the same route every time, at the same depth. I don’t see them as game changers but I like trying new stuff. And if the moonraker makes it easier to achieve consistency then I’ll no doubt keep them. A 5% improvement here, 5% there … no biggie in isolation but put them altogether and for me, it’s worth it.

Someone from Coffee Snobs in Australia has sent me another 3D printed version to test. That one is freely available if you know someone with a 3D printer.

Once the Moonrakers arrive in July I’ll compare the three versions and post impressions.

Cuprajake

consistency is the key,

i used to fall into that trap, ive bought some right crap lol, im a bit more skeptical now of thing,

as the human we are the biggest variable haha

Pompeyexile

There you go, horses for courses Patrik at the barista championships didn’t use a WDT tool and his flow was perfect.

Having said that, I love the tool Tompoland has found on Etsy if only for the clever engineering and way it works so seemlessly for no so much wonga. So, we go from a toothpick to a few needles stuck in a handle to a multi cogged rotating machine. I guess the next iteration will be a push button battery operated one that doesn’t even need rotating with your hand….quick! get me a taxi to the patent office!!!!

Cuprajake

well theres a battery tamper…..

i did have files for a 3d print tool

https://www.printables.com/model/481587

dfk41

I really am surprised that this never caught on!

https://coffeeequipmentreviews.wordpress.com/2020/02/18/vdt-vibration-distribution-tool/

tompoland

dfk41 DaveC had one as did I.

I gave it a fair crack but couldn’t make it work. At least not in a way that made it a better option than a puck rake.

Cuprajake

theres a new version

tamped on squid

Cuprajake

presumably it would make fines drop to the bottom of the pf?

DavecUK

Pompeyexile Lance whatshisface doing a quick grind/dump and tamp and not getting any channelling which is how it has been done years before WDT became a thing, makes you wonder if with the right technique as you say Cuprajake is WDT really needed? I have got to admit before coming across it myself, I rarely if ever had channelling…

In pretty much all my shot videos, you don’t see me doing WDT…..Although with the Kafatek Monolith I have to, due to the specific workflow requirement. But I don’t need a moonraker to do what I can do with the normal tool. In fact a moonraker would be zero use (in fact, bad) with the Monolith, as the need for WDT is to resolve a very specific issue.

It’s funny how some things you never read about in the forums…

MediumRoastSteam

DavecUK with the Monolith, as the need for WDT is to resolve a very specific issue.

Which issue is this Dave? Out of curiosity?

Ernie1

I’m not saying WDT does nothing but as above, I dose, quick tap on the side with my palm (with the funnel still attached to stop grinds falling out) tamp and extract.

No channelling, great tasting shots.

DavecUK

MediumRoastSteam Which issue is this Dave? Out of curiosity?

I shall have to make a video…

DavecUK

MediumRoastSteam Which issue is this Dave? Out of curiosity?

Or even better, let you use it next time you are round….see if you enjoy it!

JHCCoffee

Has anyone actually tried / used the Esty tool, especially their most current version. If it produces results that are as good as my best manual WDT, then the added consistency (and a bit of time saving) may make it a worthwhile purchase. If it is well enough made. Etsy Tool

chlorox

JHCCoffee

I don’t know if I have the very latest version but I have the coffeetoolsCA etsy tool. It is quite easy to use and spins fast when u use the handle that is operated by your index finger. I think it does give a consistent result but i don’t think manual wdt is slower - in fact I think I can do a good manual wdt faster than setting it up and spinning it. However you do need to concentrate a little more doing manual wdt than with the tool. After comparing it withmanual wdt for a while, I don’t find I’m usually that bleary eyed that I cannot do manual wdt almost without thinking about it though. So I now believe this tool is best for a cafe where u have no wdt at all and where there is different experience levels with different barista. But YMMV.

tompoland

JHCCoffee

whinmoor85

JHCCoffee As WDT takes up a significant chunk of time, effort and focus in my workflow

It takes me like 5 seconds!

« Previous Page Next Page »