What Decent do you own and what's your experience been like? Quality? Functionality? Service? Do you still own one? Would you buy it again? Why? Here is my experience thus far. So I have just entered the world of Decent, having acquired a Decent DE1XL V1.42 from a current owner located in Vancouver. It's now sitting in my son's apartment awaiting my pick up in late August. I expect to be operational on August 30. The Decent team are just phenomenonal. Very helpful, very responsive, great service! Their approach to the sale and transfer of ownership of pre-owned units is rightfully very security conscious, but very supportive. They wisely understand that they are gaining new customers and fans. And, I can and will buy an extended warranty for piece of mind and convenience. It's worth every penny (well every $$). They will also sell me version upgrade parts at nominal cost. Assuming that I like the machine, which I am confident I will, Decent will have me hooked into their upgrade path. And an added benefit. As I was able to fund the purchase through prior / excess equipment sales, adding only $600 CDN (well$ 1,000 after I buy the extended warranty), my wife is now acclimated to this next price point in espresso machines 👌

I bought a DE1 Pro v1.43 in October, upgrading from a Gaggia Classic. The upgrade has been incredible in everyway. I get much better coffee from the DE1 and I love the control I can get from it. The integration with the Acaia scales is second to none, I couldn't imagine not using this feature, the ability to stop by weight is incredible. Being able to see the shot parameters mid flight is very useful. In terms of the actual machine, it's small compact and fairly light. I did have an issue in December where the group head ring light froze and I couldn't reset it. I spoke with Decent and I shipped the machine back to them and they repaired a board free of charge ( i didn't pay for shipping) Would I buy it again? - Yes. It's offerings are completely unique at the price point.

Congrats on the purchase @"JHCCoffee"#639 I've had my DE1XL for 2.5 years now. Hasn't missed a beat and comes with a life time extendable warranty. That speaks volumes about John Buckmans confidence in the durability of his machines. A swirl of espresso machines have come and gone around my Decent in those two and a half years.. It's simply extraordinary. For example, this morning I used a DF64V with Gorrilla Gear burrs which pairs well the "Adaptive" profile for medium roasted beans very well. Well balanced, full bodied, full flavored. Later I used a Niche Duo with SSP Espresso burrs and with just two taps on the tablet I switched to another solid match in Scott Rao's "Blooming" profile (designed for lighter roasts) and enjoyed all the bright juicy intenstity that those burrs can offer up. Adding to the easy-to-access diversity of options on the Decent, the Decent Diaspora has members such as John Weiss, the Barista Hustle guy, Scott Rao, John Buckman and a host of other vastly experienced and helpful professionals posting and contributing to anwers. It's really quite extraordinary. Almost as good as CT! People love or hate the Decent. They are like a black jellybean: people who like them tend to love them and the rest can't stand them. And that's just fine. Celebrate that diversity of opinions. Accept and applaud differences. The Decent is the mainstay of my coffee island... [URL=https://i.imgur.com/noTa2gn.jpg][IMG]https://i.imgur.com/noTa2gn.jpg[/IMG][/URL] PS my first shot of the day generally has me simply pushing the button through blurry eyes, just to get a quick caffiene fix. So it's not all about nerding out. The Decent can be as simple or as complex as you enjoy making it.

Thanks @"tompoland"#121. I appreciate your Decent insights. That's definitely a full bench! Just curious. What brand is the pour over kettle and base on the right side of the bench. I’d like something that is more temperature controlable than my current stovetop gooseneck kettle.

@"JHCCoffee"#p50221 yes Fellow Stagg with optional wood accents. Hario Server 01 with a Hario Switch on top. Acaia Pearl scale. The Stagg features a useful "hold" option that will keep the water at the set temperature for up to an hour.

I have the scales and the connection has died on one of the buttons. Despite it being a common occurrence they are not interested. Seems like they view the scales as a beta play thing that their customers who buy £4K machines can view as disposable and buy the next model they release. Won’t buy from them again.

> @"simonc"#p50391 have the scales and the connection has died on one of the buttons. Despite it being a common occurrence they are not interested. Seems like they view the scales as a beta play thing that their customers who buy £4K machines can view as disposable and buy the next model they release. > Won’t buy from them again. That’s unfortunate. They should stand behind everything that they sell. I’ve had pretty good service thus far. Who did you deal with?

@"simonc"#p50391 I’m sorry you’ve had that experience, that seems really weird. I’ve had several dealings with Decent and their support team, and they have been amazingly helpful every single time. I had an issue with one of the buttons on my v1 scale and they replaced the entire scale for free with the updated v1.2 model. It hasn’t missed a beat since. I’d definitely raise this with them again. I know John was away on a trip recently but should be back now. If it was me I’d go through the Decent support portal on their website or message him directly on Diaspora and I’m sure he’ll sort this for you.

I like that the machine heats up quickly, I just wonder how long it takes for the portafilter to heat too? There’s always the kettle to speed things a long but when spending £3k that seems a bit bonkers. I’d say by BDB takes 10 minutes from a cold start.

@"simonc"#p50391 Seems their entire approach is beta... granted some are fine with constant beta testing and 'possible' improvements, but when I buy an item I like it to be quite finished and tried/true for some time to come. Decent has approached trying to bring out the ultimate in every type of item coffee related, but IMBHO most items look like child's play, but to each their own. Seems every other month an updated version of their machine will be available... like oh it's 1.45111 in 2 weeks and there will be a slight price increase, blah blah blah. Personally don't care to have a featherweight espresso setup with that type of water reservoir among other oddities. More power to those constantly seeking, but rarely finding, satisfying cutting edge items that are never fully refined. I like something that will work every single time I need it to and do so indefinitely and have parts available infinitely.

Decent Experience and Poll

tompoland

Chriss29 flushing water through the group to heat the portafilter is a downside for me as it adds up to a fair amount of wastage over time and it’s not something I need to do on the SDB.

Are you sure? Have you checked the portfilter temperature?

In any event, someone else might be able to chime in as to how they heat the portafilter basket on their Decent.

But just wondering … whether heating the basket by leaving the machine on, or by running it under a hot tap or by flushing, isnt there going to be some degree of waste involved regardless of the expresso machine? Not a statement, more an exploration.

Anyhow here’s John Buckmans response.

Chriss29

tompoland Are you sure? Have you checked the portfilter temperature?

Not exactly however after 10 minutes if I held the portafilter in my hand for a few seconds I’d burn myself! I was talking more regards water wastage as I need to distil and remineralise.

However I’m not sure we’d want the base of the basket that hot would we, I mean it’s a thin peice of metal anyway so as soon as we take it out and dose coffee I would have thought it would have dropped to a near ambient tempertature anyway?

Thanks for John’s response, very reassuring.

Regards the volume, 87ml sounds like it would produce a 40g shot, was that the output of the shot you pulled in your video?

Thanks again :)

tompoland

Chriss29 Apologies , but i’m not confident of being able to answer your other questions accurately, but hopefully someone else on the thread with a decent can do so.

It’s a shame John Buckman hasn’t migrated to this forum yet 😕

tompoland

Chriss29 after 10 minutes if I held the portafilter in my hand for a few seconds I’d burn myself

Definitely hot enough!

Yes 40g out. You a detective?

Chriss29

Lol no, just rang a bell from using a Cafelat robot. It’s interesting that 90ml of water produces a 40ml shot, not that it matters.

james65477564

Going from E61 to decent I definitely noticed the difference in portafilter temp but I quickly realised it didnt matter and the decent is safe for my children to use without fear of burning.

The decent is measuring the water right above the puck and if the portafilter is cooler it will supply hotter water to compensate. The PF handle temp doesn’t matter because its contact area with the basket is very small.

I think it also circulates water through the manifold as part of its ‘final heating’ phase. Basically the bits which matter are hot and the parts you touch probably aren’t!

If I am using it from cold I will perform a single flush. The PF will be cool at this point.
I also rinse the PF in cold water and haven’t noticed any difference.

JammyDodger

james65477564 The decent is measuring the water right above the puck and if the portafilter is cooler it will supply hotter water to compensate.

I think this is one of the best things about the Decent for me. Unlike every other machine, which measures boiler temperature, the DE1 measures puck/slurry temperature and automatically adjusts incoming water temperature to maintain the puck temperature to the specified profile. This is why it will read as ‘72’C’ or similar at the start of the shot as it is mixing room temperature coffee grounds with hot water. All machines will be this cold initially, they just aren’t able to show this information.

james65477564

Two shots my son made yesterday morning from cold. The first shows a basket temp 10C cooler but in <4s the temps converge. I dont recall us noting any taste difference:
https://visualizer.coffee/shots/714dea36-43cc-48f0-9e13-24effa8c3947/compare/615a5f07-6de3-4b6f-8d97-e9a511f1f72d

Chriss29

That seems pretty incredible tech to me. Thanks to all the owners for this info. If I read this right then, the temperature of the portafilter is irrelevant?

JammyDodger

Chriss29 If I read this right then, the temperature of the portafilter is irrelevant?

Pretty much. I’m sure it helps to have the machine on for a couple of minutes so everything can warm up properly, but even from a cold start the machine will adjust the water temperature so you aren’t going to brew a sink shot.

sketchy

tompoland Man, what a beautiful setup, Tom!

sketchy

Redla This is a bigger part of design than most think. Design constraints, whether they are physical, or financial shows up nearly everywhere.

tompoland

sketchy 100%. People often don’t appreciate that those contraints often come about as the result of a trade off. E.g. a more powerful grinder motor may result in a higher price for the grinder. That’s a simple example but these are decisions that deigners have to make and that we unfortunately are often not privvy too. That’s why I like to invite the manufacturer to offer a ‘right of reply’ in my reviews; it gives them a chance to explain some of their choices.

Cuprajake

Coming 2025

HarveyMushman

Looks nice, have they said what’s different on this one? I’m guessing more than just software?

BrendaninBrooklyn

HarveyMushman

there is a detailed thread on H-B where John Buckman explains differences

MediumRoastSteam

Looks like a very small Nurri R type.

HarveyMushman

MediumRoastSteam Looks like a very small Nurri R type.

Yeah now you mention it I can’t unsee the Nurri style lines.

Interesting that they didn’t go for something drastically different. Especially as it sounds like they’ll sell the DE1 alongside it. Judging by the group it looks like a similar size to the DE1 which presumably means no DB and still no rotary pump.

Interested to know what’s new.

Adrianmsmith

“looks worse than the original” not my words, guess thats a no then!!

Luckily im still loving the mk2 evo🤓☕

BrendaninBrooklyn

This is a commercial machine intended for cafes. The dE1 will continue to be sold and improved.

Cuprajake

think the design outdates the nurri too, this has been years in the making, decent are building a cafe, i believe in london?

BrendaninBrooklyn

Cuprajake

London, and HK to start

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