A long overdue update
Added 2024-04-22 19:50:47 +0000 UTCHi all,
Firstly - apologies for the relative radio silence. I hadn't meant for it to be this long between videos or between posts on here. I thought I'd quickly update you on what's happening and what's coming up.
I guess there are some spoilers here, if you like to be surprised, but I'll only spoil the gear that's in review.
Firstly, there are three videos that are about to be finished and published. The first two are relatively normal (I'm not sure what normal constitutes any more, but I stand by this statement!). The third video has been a monstrous project, that has grown out of control and I will be more terrified to hit the publish video for it than for anything else I've ever made. It was only possible to make this because of the Patreon support. There'll be quite a bit of BTS because there will be questions... If you watch it and ask, "Why did you make this?!" afterwards, then I understand. I do really hope you have fun and enjoy it though.
Secondly, reviews: The next comparison is going to be grinders under $250. It's a really interesting collection - the new DF54, the Fellow Opus, The Baratza ESP, the latest version of the Varia and the Sage grinder. If there were aspects of the previous grinder comparisons that you liked, or wanted more of, then leave me a comment. We're still working through all the testing protocols and trying to improve on what we did in the last comparison.
There are two espresso machines in testing. One of which is a bit odd, has been highly requested, and will be getting something of an experimental review. The other is the Lapera, which has recently arrived.
As always - thank you all for your ongoing support. The team and I want this year to be a little more experimental in places and the support of all of you patrons lets us take some risks and hopefully make things that wouldn't have been possible (or sensible) any other way.
James
Comments
Good to have you back! 😊
Juan Martinez
2025-01-21 17:21:04 +0000 UTCM
Mike Michel
2024-10-09 04:35:39 +0000 UTCPls can we also have a guide to getting hair that looks as good as yours James? 🙏
Jackson
2024-07-02 17:07:10 +0000 UTCLoved the "What Does A Great Cup Of Coffee Taste Like?" video -- so hard to pull off. Would love to see some of the errors and issues that came up, especially with the blocking -- the BTS video is way too polished. Any chance of a blooper real, perhaps with explanations?
Glenn Fawcett
2024-05-23 18:44:10 +0000 UTCThank you very much!
Aaron Geckeis
2024-05-11 05:23:48 +0000 UTCHaving just gotten back from a brief trip involving a few nights in a hotel, I had a question for James. Could you do a video on travel coffee making? Things that will work in a hotel room, but are airline travel friendly (no bripe torches!). Looking for compact, light, but easy to use and then clean in a hotel sink. I have tried the Cafflano Klassic (meh.), the Asian style hook-over-the-cup drip pouches (better coffee but expensive if buying preloaded), and instant (gahh. The homeopathic stuff in the hotel lobby was better). I have a portable electric kettle the size of a commuter mug (350ml), but what else is there?
Keith Anderson
2024-05-07 23:39:20 +0000 UTCI just saw an ad for a grinder in pre production by Grinista.com. Will it be part of the sub-250 reviews? It looks like a Timemore 064s knockoff??
Jim Vanides
2024-05-01 18:16:53 +0000 UTCCan’t wait for the ultimate tiramisu recipe
wombat_67
2024-05-01 01:15:24 +0000 UTCAny more word on the perfect specialty coffee/biscuit pairing video?
JJ McGuckin
2024-04-26 15:09:33 +0000 UTCI’m currently enjoying the freeze drying video. Would the Cometeer coffee freeze dry better then what you’ve made?
Barbara Currie
2024-04-25 05:11:16 +0000 UTCWould you be "the weird coffee guy" if you didn't make off the beaten path videos?
Milan Gonda
2024-04-25 00:51:59 +0000 UTCI’ve had an Opus for a couple months now and all espresso I pull seems to require going below the “1” setting about 2-4 notches down on the micro adjustment. Could it have arrived out of alignment or calibration? I’ve read about other people’s experiences having espresso range between 1 and 2. Also wondering if Opus will improve with seasoning over time. Thank you! Excited to hear your take on DF54 stock burrs for filter.
Kyle M
2024-04-24 12:53:27 +0000 UTCDon’t have buyers remorse, there will always be a new product that can give you that extra x% but if you enjoy your grinder then that’s all that really matters :)
Max Viner
2024-04-24 06:26:12 +0000 UTCSeconding this! Just one "compared to flagship hand grinder" and maybe one "compared to one model in next price category up" would be nice. Some folks would prefer the best of $250 grinders, others may decide to spend more to go up a price category but won't know what the quality bump would be just from this video. Same for manual vs electric - I know I'm manual only for now, but watching your reviews would help me understand quality comparison across categories 🙏
Adam Hill
2024-04-23 21:17:48 +0000 UTCHe replied above - testing is done, videography date TBD
Adam Hill
2024-04-23 21:14:57 +0000 UTCWould you consider looking at grinders that are not single dose? Espresso is not my favourite, I prefer a pour over and will typically do 600 mill @ 70 gr / l making it 42 gr of coffee, normally none of the single dose will hold that much.
Carsten Junge
2024-04-23 17:05:38 +0000 UTCThanks for the update. As for aspects of grinder comparisons: In general I like information about how easy a grinder transitions between filter and espresso settings – if at all. For this price category especially I'd be interested in how they compare to a (equally expensive) good hand grinder in grind quality. Thx.
Sören Petsch
2024-04-23 08:58:55 +0000 UTCLove the weird coffee film-making so much! Looking forward to that third mystery video. 🎬
Madame Soybean
2024-04-23 02:51:49 +0000 UTCYour timing is impeccable! I just became a patron because I've been wanting to pull the trigger on an inexpensive grinder but couldn't quite settle on one based on other reviews. Now I can rest easy until yours comes out. Main struggle that I'll take to the Discord after integrating: Buying the Baratza ESP vs finding a used Baratza Sette 270 for ~$300 on ebay. I want the ESP for espresso and filter, but can't tell if it's worth sacrificing the quality of just espresso from the 270.\
David Tester
2024-04-23 01:45:28 +0000 UTCMy favorite part of the endgame grinder showdown was the “real world” retention test: grind and pull a dialed shot of espresso, grind a dose for pour over, then switch back to espresso and see how the shot parameters changed.
supercres
2024-04-23 01:11:01 +0000 UTCI am really looking forward to the content. I have been enjoying your videos and your knowledge. I wish I had started this journey three years ago right after I retired. That seems to be when everyone started doing new and inventive things on YouTube.
Diane Simms
2024-04-22 23:51:58 +0000 UTCHopefully you recommend that we buy the Opus, because I already did. So if you don't recommend that, I'm gonna be real sad about it. But thank you very much for the update. I was just musing that things had been pretty quiet on the Hoffmann side of things recently, so nice to know you've got a bunch of stuff in the pipeline. Looking forward to it.
aurally
2024-04-22 23:24:55 +0000 UTCAny plans to review the new Fellow Aiden when it comes out?
Andreas McDermott
2024-04-22 23:11:59 +0000 UTCI’m here for the ‘Why did you make this?’ content 😂 Look forward to it - thanks for the update ☕️ 🙌
John Martin
2024-04-22 22:51:18 +0000 UTCLooking forward to the content. Appreciate your work!
Florian Pfaff
2024-04-22 21:58:07 +0000 UTCThanks for the update. I, for one, just appreciate that if you go quiet it’s because you are working on cool things and the quality will be better because you took your time with cool work. Thanks for it all and excited for what comes next! A question I’ve been wondering about for a bit: how much work do you put into aligning your studio grinders (and I suppose the ones around Square Mile)? Have you shimmed the EG-1? How much extra effort have you done to maximize the output of the ode (if you still have one in studio)? What about your Uniform?
Conor McLaughlin
2024-04-22 21:36:14 +0000 UTCGood afternoon James. For what must be a v long list of potential items to consider reviewing: just for fun recently ordered an aramse (link below). If you believe their marketing, classic way to brew coffee in India. Assume you may be aware and have opinion, but seemed to fall in weird coffee gadget category so passing along. Best - Brian https://aramse.coffee/
Brian Kearns
2024-04-22 21:15:36 +0000 UTCRe new topics:
Brian Kearns
2024-04-22 21:15:24 +0000 UTCAll good, James. Thank you for keeping us apprised. I love where we are going!
Jeff Cerreto
2024-04-22 21:13:14 +0000 UTCHappy to wait, it's worth it usually! On grinders, I'd be curious about maintainability, such as cleaning. My Baratza Encore is about 10 years old, but often has issues with adjustment drift due to tiny husks getting caught in various places that are difficult to clean.
Dave
2024-04-22 20:57:17 +0000 UTCI always like the noise level and noise recording info for various grinders, since some of them really do sound horrible and it's good for potential buyers to know. Personally I use the original Niche, noise has been fine. Thanks!
ER
2024-04-22 20:57:08 +0000 UTCYes, this is why I chose my Baratza over other models! I'm not interested in spending money on something that performs slightly better just to have to throw away the whole thing if something goes wrong (it's me, I could be the something, I'm very clumsy). The ability to repair and replace parts is super important to me.
Susan Held
2024-04-22 20:53:19 +0000 UTCOf all your videos, the ones where I wondered why you made it were the ones I liked the most.
Gian
2024-04-22 20:46:07 +0000 UTCGo get ‘em tigers!
James Broderick
2024-04-22 20:41:51 +0000 UTCPlease look at repairability of the grinders! When what was probably a ball bearing broke on my Wilfa Uniform (which I had liked a lot until then), I had a piece of garbage on my hands - it was impossible to open and get to the motor or axis. Here’s another idea: how does the best electric grinder stack up against a hand grinder at the same price point (eg, a Commandante or 1Zpresso K-Ultra)?
Andreas Vogel
2024-04-22 20:41:16 +0000 UTCplease let us know if the grinder is available in the USA in your reviews.
Richard J Letts
2024-04-22 20:39:24 +0000 UTCYeah
James Hoffmann
2024-04-22 20:35:38 +0000 UTCIt isn't the Orb One but I do now have my Orb One
James Hoffmann
2024-04-22 20:35:24 +0000 UTCWe got derailed by some additional testing, but we're pretty much done on testing now so we just need to film it.
James Hoffmann
2024-04-22 20:35:06 +0000 UTCExperimental sounds fun, no fear!
Sérgio
2024-04-22 20:30:14 +0000 UTCMy support is unconditional and without any expectation (and I imagine I speak for a number of us). No worries. No apologies necessary. We got you. Cheers from Panama’.
ZenAdventurer Panama
2024-04-22 20:26:36 +0000 UTCThe monster video the same one mentioned at the photography show?
Stephen Allport
2024-04-22 20:18:39 +0000 UTCDon't worry too much, quality over quantity after all!
Gnerus
2024-04-22 20:15:47 +0000 UTC> One of which is a bit odd, has been highly requested, and will be getting something of an experimental review. So curious to know what this is. My hope is the Orb One.
Corey McMahon
2024-04-22 20:14:10 +0000 UTCyour desire to experiment and escalate video scope is why I'm a subscriber. there's a lot of people whose opinions on gear and technique I respect but you and your team are the only people in the game who are really pushing the creative boundaries of "coffee youtube video" and that is the project I am here to support 😌
George Mero
2024-04-22 20:11:08 +0000 UTCI have the opus, it's suited my needs for the most part but I find that I can find myself at the end of the espresso grind settings more often than I want to be. I also feel like the static charge effect that helped with not keeping the grounds so staticky doesn't work anymore. That all being said I make coffee with it everyday
Josh Holt
2024-04-22 20:10:49 +0000 UTCThank you for the update. For future grinder reviews, I’d love to know which one is specific for pour overs versus espresso. Though you mention this in many of your videos, it would be helpful if it’s clearer. Looking forward to more videos!
Varun Shetty
2024-04-22 20:10:11 +0000 UTCWhat happened to the final tiramisu video, the ultimate recipe?
Chester Gregg
2024-04-22 20:07:06 +0000 UTCThat all sounds very exciting! Looking forward to it, for sure
Jo.Comics
2024-04-22 20:03:25 +0000 UTCYou got a lapera! Nice. Been trying to get my hands on one since one of the guys visited a year back. Excited to see your review!
Lance Hedrick
2024-04-22 19:59:56 +0000 UTCWe’ve been waiting - hope they’ll be worth it James.
Colin Briggs
2024-04-22 19:59:27 +0000 UTCThanks James! I would be interested in seeing a version of Jonathan Gagne's 2D Median Particle Size vs. % fines volume grinder curves that show the "unimodality" of various grinder PSDs for the under $250 grinders, if you're able to! https://coffeeadastra.com/2023/09/21/what-i-learned-from-analyzing-300-particle-size-distributions-for-24-espresso-grinders/
Alex Kaplan
2024-04-22 19:59:13 +0000 UTCThanks for the update! I'm just looking forward to the giveaways lol (one day I'll win one... I hope 😅). (I am also, however, looking forward to your tiramisu recipe. How's that coming along, James?)
Nathan Hevenstone
2024-04-22 19:58:29 +0000 UTCFingers crossed for the grinder review. I'm in the market for a simple cheap grinder. And very intrigued to see what the third video is going to be!
Eize van der Vegt
2024-04-22 19:57:39 +0000 UTCdon’t stress it out! we’ll wait! thanks for the update! 🫶🏻
Sasha
2024-04-22 19:56:58 +0000 UTCThanks James! We love the time and effort you put into each video!
ZACHARY ENCLADE
2024-04-22 19:54:37 +0000 UTCThank you for the update.
Alex
2024-04-22 19:54:31 +0000 UTCAppreciate the care put into every video as always James!
Cameron
2024-04-22 19:54:10 +0000 UTCCant wait!
Sharon
2024-04-22 19:53:56 +0000 UTCAnything made by daddy Hoff is worth the wait
Bart Slijkhuis
2024-04-22 19:53:53 +0000 UTCLooking forward to it!
Andrew Hall
2024-04-22 19:53:28 +0000 UTC
