Anyone know where Skuma are with their RO Machine and if they ever delivered a test product to a volunteer on CFUK? I know they raised the money on indiegogo but things went quiet so was just wondering how they got on

All on schedule apparently. Test units were sent out and they took on feedback and redesigned certain features / functions - like increasing from 3l to 4l tank. I've bought one and there was a live demo last weekend. Expecting delivery in June / July. Really looking forward to receiving it. But still need to work out where it's going to go.

That’s good news and I guess on reflection it’s the investors at this stage who will be kept informed rather than Joe Public until they go to general production Room can be an issue but the wife has now accepted and adopted our Osmio 😀 Thanks for the info

Hi @"Uncletits"#p18421 , Alex here - production is on track and the first units should be rolled out as promised in June/July. Hopefully we can replace your Osmio someday!

@"SkumaWater"#569 Did you ever give one out for a CFUK volunteer to test? That was my original understanding of your introduction on that forum (9th August 2021) - I understood it was a crowdfunding campaign but I personally wanted feedback from a known reliable coffee user so never took it to the next stage Using poor water for 10 months was not an option for me so I got the Osmio and have loved it ever since including throwing our kettle away The whole Skuma situation went quiet hence my question

@"Uncletits"#p18460 since we had not yet developed the coffee concentrate and since we were already having some of our backers come to the office to test Sküma, we decided not to send the units to the CFUK volunteers for now. That said, we’ve recently worked with a few coffee guys and we have a formulation we are pretty proud of. We’ll do the announcement soon!

> @"SkumaWater"#p18479 worked with a few coffee guys and we have a formulation we are pretty proud of. We’ll do the announcement soon! This is great news, as long as the formulation to be used in espresso machines is non-scaling, I might be your next customer! 😊👍 But the non-scaling factor becomes irrelevant for pour overs, as there’s no boilers and above boiling point temperatures involved.

@"MediumRoastSteam"#p18480 we’d love to have you on-board! Sküma with the coffee infusion is non-scaling (we’ve followed the SCA guidelines and our Langelier Index is -0.63 which is ideal for all PO as well as espresso machines) We’re closing our pre-orders in a few weeks from now and we’re offering our final pre-launch discount of **£220**. If you are interested just follow this [link](https://www.skumawater.com/) where you can use the coupon code **SKUMAEARLY** for the discount. Also, I’m a little confused as to what happened with CoffeeForums - why did everyone move over here?

> @"SkumaWater"#p18482 Also, I’m a little confused as to what happened with CoffeeForums - why did everyone move over here? https://coffeetime.freeflarum.com/d/28-about-this-forum https://coffeetime.freeflarum.com/d/83-what-corporates-can-do-when-they-monetise-a-forums-data/97 The forum they bought to plaster with irrelevant adverts and monetise, is now pretty much dead.

@"SkumaWater"#p18482 - do you have any idea on how often the filters need to be replaced? On the website it says every year, but isn’t that relative to the water hardness fed in? Also, do you know how much the filters will cost, or the infusions? Also, would it be possible to replace the infusions on the fly, or have a “blank” infusion? For instance, can I keep the “hydration boost” infusion for everyday drinking, and replace with the “coffee balance” when filling up the coffee machine, or have no infusion if I simply wat pure RO? Will it require flushing? I’m very close to pulling the trigger, but would like to know a bit more before I commit. Many thanks.

@"MediumRoastSteam"#p18909 the filters need replacing every 500 - 750L depending on your water quality. If you live in an area with “hard water” (i.e TDS

Skuma

ams

Rob1 I’m not entirely certain, it’s something that sits inline between the boiler and cold water feed, according to the blurb: “Limescale Inhibitors prevent limescale build-up by influencing the crystal structure of the limescale precipitated.”, reading about this further it seems it may only be useful for protecting the boiler. Though after 18months I’ve not noted any significant limescale build up around the show head, taps etc (unless I’ve just been very diligent cleaning such :) ).

DavecUK

ams we currently have a water conditioner that’s intended to protect pipework etc, which appears to do the job, though I’d not really considered a water softener as the conditioner was something the plumber installed when replacing the boiler.

Ah well new has come to light information.

Apparently Osmio now has a special carbon block filter for hard water areas…so that’s probably what they meant
Water conditioners are “usually” snake oil.
Water softeners are wonderful things my TDS is about 300 in summer to 240 in winter and my water is moderately hard.

For the first few years, I had no softener and in my flat for over 7 years I had no softener. I put one in around 26 years ago and would NEVER run without a softener again…ever. I use a Twin Tank design (they are all Harveys inside and require no power. I find for my situation is suits me best.

https://www.fountainsofteners.co.uk/harvey-crown-water-softener-unlimited-soft-water-for-large-small-households-c2x17510096

I have the one above…they are quite a bit more than I paid nowadays

However this from homebase probably also uses the Harvey’s system inside and is considerably cheaper at £630

https://tinyurl.com/msjnv8ku

The the Sumo looks like the same product, just paying more for the privilege.

https://www.mrcentralheating.co.uk/sentinel-sumo-water-softener

ams

DavecUK thanks for the recommendations, so from what I can tell it may be pretty tricky installing a water softener in the house, the stopcock is placed under the stairs where there’s branching for the boiler, underfloor heating, kitchen, outside tap etc, are you aware of any effective water softeners that don’t require drainage?

DavecUK

ams are you aware of any effective water softeners that don’t require drainage?

For salt based softeners, they all require drainage, There are polyphosphate softeners that don’t need drainage, but I don’t know a huge amount about them.

https://www.osmiowater.co.uk/whole-house-water-filters/water-softeners-44/water-softener-alternatives.html

ams

@DavecUK cheers, I think I may be able to route pipes to a softener if placed in the utility room, planning on getting a plumber to take a look.

DavecUK

ams cheers, I think I may be able to route pipes to a softener if placed in the utility room, planning on getting a plumber to take a look.

Well worth it if you have hard water. Then you can feed the Osmio from a softened tap.

ams

DavecUK Thanks for the suggestion regarding a water softener, I’ve arranged one to be installed next month. Will post some notes on the Skuma after I’ve used it for about a month, though I would say the support from Skuma is pretty good.

ams

Hopefully the Skuma is arriving today, will take some pics / make some notes over the w/e.

DavecUK

ams Hopefully the Skuma is arriving today, will take some pics / make some notes over the w/e.

Will be interested to hear, a few went the Skuma route….and posted back on the forum.

ams

Yes, it was between the Skuma and Osmio Zero, I ended up going for the Skuma as it was a better fit for the ‘coffee trolley’ and I ended up purchasing an extra set of 4 filters that will hopefully last sometime (I’ve someone popping over next week to quote on fitting a water-softener).

Alpesh

Would be interested to see what your findings are as I understand there is an upgraded Gen 2 model that I presume you will receive which reduces the filtration noise and improves the control of the hot water temperature.

ams

Alpesh just given the Skuma a whirl:

I understand there is an upgraded Gen 2 model that I presume you will receive

I’m not seeing anything on the Skuma that explicitly indicates such, the model name is: “SK2000” .

Regarding the filtration noise it measured ~60dB (measured with: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.splendapps.decibel&hl=en_US).

I dispensed some hot water into a warmed mug using the 85C temp setting, my thermometer measured ~60C; there’s a note that came with the Skuma indicating the hot water function can be adjusted for Summer/Winter and there’s an option to control the max temp - I’ve yet to try this.

Inspector

Hmm after reading what you wrote, i checked my osmio zero, using 85C temp setting resulted in a a room temp mug at 71C, i dumped that water and dispensed once more and it read 81C.

100C temp setting was reading 90C in the mug after it dispensed 250ml.

ams

MediumRoastSteam

Inspector 100C temp setting was reading 90C in the mug after it dispensed 250ml.

Water will lose heat pretty quickly to the environment and to the walls of the mug. Try with a polystyrene cup and see if that increases (unless that’s what you were using in the first place).

DavecUK

Inspector That sounds about right….What I usually do, I have a little pot and I catch the first 10ml which is cold before I let the rest into the cup, gets it even hotter for tea,

Inspector

Not that I’m complaining, I’m very happy with what I get, was just curious to try what I get out of osmio.

ams

I plan on having a proper play with the temp settings tomorrow and to make some coffees with/without the included infusion.

Alpesh

From my experience it looks as though the Skuma switches off the heating element a few seconds before it has finished dispensing whatever quantity of water you have set it at presumably to cool down the element. You can tell as the dispensing light turns from red to blue. This will also potentially have the effect of dropping the temp in your cup. You could draw your cup away as soon as it turns blue - not sure if that would make a significant temp difference. Not tested myself.

ams

Alpesh yes, having spent a few days with the Skuma I noticed that too. I had a play with the temp. settings and found the ‘max’ setting sufficient for teas that recommend a water temp of ~85C.

DavecUK

ams Thanks for the suggestion regarding a water softener, I’ve arranged one to be installed next month. Will post some notes on the Skuma after I’ve used it for about a month, though I would say the support from Skuma is pretty good.

Which softener did you go for?

ams

DavecUK a Minimax Innova, decided to get one with 2 cylinders.

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