A Coffee Kickstarter Cautionary Tale
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ก.ย. 2024
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I worked at a company that spent years delivering a relatively simple hardware product to market. Really opened my eyes to how incredibly hard it is to make things.
My coworker asked me why my hand grinder cost so much, "it is just some piece of metal".
I told him to "try make it yourself, it is harder than it looks".
LTT Screwdriver comes to mind haha
@@VietVuHunzter Well if it is a simple device made out of metal, of course you can do it cheaply and easier.
But you are then neglecting the other costs in the process, such as RnD (Research and Development) and that is why the Chinese knockoffs can be problematic.
@@wingstrikez I was about to mention it.
@@wingstrikez or LTT vocoder
Gosh you make phenomenal content. I'm far from a coffee aficionado and would certainly never buy this product (or any other coffee machine for that matter) yet I'll still sit here and watch 18 minutes of coffee content while mysteriously captivated.
Bravo.
He's the David Attenborough of the coffee world!!!
I got into coffee more because I started watching James. He has a magnetic quality that draws you in. I’m Aspie so his attention to detail works for me, as it’s what drives me analytically. I love watching his content.
99% of the time I am more of a tea person. James is honestly the reason why I drink coffee at all, even if it is rare. His instructional videos have shown me how to prepare coffee in a way that actually makes it pleasant. It's still not on chai masala's level, but a well prepared cappuccino with some dark cocoa powder is very nice.
True story, mate.
I'm more like a Coffee Enthusiest rather than a Coffee Aficiado; (I'm spilting hairs. I know.), but whenever a James Hoffman video comes on my feed I find myself clicking more often than not. That's because I get a little buzz at being in on some in depth content about my favorite additive substance. (A little buzz. Was there a pun intended? 🤷♀)
Feel bad for anybody trying to start a business in the run up to 2020.
I'd imagine uncertainty in that situation would be extremely stressful.
100%.
That must've sucked.
and for the people that took a investment risk in 2018, 2019, most business will only profit after a couple years and it sucks that the moment they we're supposed to compensate the investment the whole world crashes
Yeah. Crazy anyone was using Kickstarter and calling anyone scammers at that point. I always think people trying to get their money off failed Kickstarter projects that were really trying to bring a product to market, should just be banned from the platform.
After all, it's an investment platform for brand new products. It is not a shop. You invest your money at your own risk. If things go wrong in the development process, that's the risk you take when investing. You aren't owed anything for development process problems.
Products fail the development process all the time.
We had our best coffee shop in the city open right in the middle of 2020. They're still holding up, their baristas are winning competitions, and I'm truly spoiled with consistently amazing coffee.
2020 sucked alright. Delays in everything. Wondering everyday if I'd have job. They came through with their product so thumbs up from me. They could have run but didn't
Kickstarter ideas and their promotions always remind me of my students, especially when some of the mechanical engineering kids get together--they identify an issue, they hypothesize a solution, and they want to manufacture that solution right away. The go-right-to-print mentality is something that they can get away with in class (getting a C in a design course won't have terrible real-world consequences even if they think it will). We beg them to iterate on drafts, of course, but everyone remembers being a student and not exactly giving your all on a project or two. Once they get into the real world and have access to potential funding through a simple online pitch, there's nobody around to grade their first draft and send them back to the drawing board... they have enough knowledge to make a pitch over some people's heads, but not enough to produce a prototype before seeking funding.
James, can you do a video on WHY good espresso machines are so expensive? As someone who is completely ignorant of engineering and manufacturing and also most things, it seems intuitive that it shouldn't be much more expensive than a pressure cooker. This is absurd, of course, but why is it absurd?
Anything above 4 bars of pressure is a bomb. Espresso is brewed around 6-9 bars of pressure
Plus a good espresso machine will last for 50+ years
a pressure cooker requires a properly sealed lid, and an OPV for safety, on top of a regular pan.
think of all the hydraulic circuits, precision springs, pumps, as well as buttons, knobs and the electronic parts that go into an espresso machine. I’d put them starting at least as 10 times more expensive than a pressure cooker (and I say that as someone who hates to pay for things more than they should cost).
and then comes the real cost-increasing culprit of machines like these: their maintenance is way more complex than the one for a pressure cooker. it doesn’t mean only that the maintenance costs are higher, but that the requirement for even higher precision engineering (not only to allow them to fail as late as possible, but also whenever they fail they do it in predictable ways) adds dramatically to the upfront costs.
I’d recommend looking into the Bellman Stovetop steamer, which is essentially what you described (with a controlled steam output); try to figure out why that’s more expensive than a regular pressure cooker, and then from there, think of what needs to be added to turn that into a complete espresso machine, and the complexity of each of these additions. I think you’ll get the picture if you do so.
Yeah, I'd say your intuition is a bit off, given the much higher pressure and the extra complexity. If you're imagining a self-standing pressure cooker like an Instant Pot, that's a _less_ unreasonable starting assumption, but you still need to double the pressure, which means at least double the material.
And then the espresso machine is _much_ more complicated on top of that. A pressure cooker is just a pressure vessel and some heating elements, a relief valve or two, and maybe a bit of electronics.
An espresso machine is a much beefier pressure vessel that then needs to send out hot, pressurized steam and liquid to a variety of output streams, all while maintaining the water's temperature and pressure all the way to (and through) the puck, yet without actually _heating_ the water as it brews the coffee. It needs to do this completely reliably, safely, and predictably, with an even distribution of flow.
As said by others, 9 bars of pressure is a _lot._ For a reference point, have you ever seen a viral video of a tire exploding while being inflated and seated on a rim? If not, look one up. They can easily send the 20+ pound tire and wheel to (even through) a corrugated metal ceiling 20+ feet above, can knock the tire tech unconscious or even kill them. That's 2 to 3 bar. 9 is kind of a big deal.
Not only is the pressure vessel thus a bomb... every outlet, every nozzle, every joint in the piping, every fitting along a hose, is a potential high-powered water-gun for boiling water and superheated steam... including the ones that are explicitly _designed_ to let the water and/or steam out.
You do _not_ want that to be cheaply made. Not if you enjoy having a face.
It's sort of like buying a vehicle. Can you buy a perfectly functional means of getting from point A to point B for a thousand bucks or so, in the form of a moped, scooter, or golf cart? Sure... but if you want to go on the highway, not die in a crash, and still be driving it in ten years, you're gonna need something more substantial, and you're going to need to pay quite a lot more for it. ;)
Bruh bruh right
@@barefootalien what a load of bullshit.
Comparing preasure of a gas to preasure of a liquid is not just wrong, it completely misses the point how espresso ma shine work.
You can pressurize liquid much easier that gas. Regular pressure washer you can buy in Walmart has easily achievable pressure of 150 bars. If you take check valve off instantly it will squirt a little bit of water and that's it. Oil pressure in hydraulic cylinders is even greater than that.
Difference between gas and liquids is that pressurized gas expands. That is why you have compressors with huge tanks for storage of that gas. If they fail gas rapidly will expand and can hurt you.
Water won't expand.
Look up hydraulic preasure and gas preasure difference. Lot of comparisons on yt.
If you have an aeropress funnel, it's a good fit for a Coffeejack dosing ring
Also fits nicely in the Option-O Remi hand grinder.
Yep. I do that too.
I rather stick to my aeropress, cheaper and good coffee
I use that same funnel for my Crema dosing cup.
@@chrisjong8412 not even close to espresso though
5:59 james: "the stand is, i think, 45 pounds"
me: "wow that's pretty heavy, what's it made of?"
james "so it's a little bit expensive"
me "oh, right"
meee too
If that stand was 20 kilograms, it'd pretty much have to be solid lead.
Truly the thought I had
funny enough I read your comment before I got to this point of the video and still fell for it
You know, it actually took me reading a reply to your comment to realise your confusion.
I was a backer, received my unit last month. I've also Kickstarted several other products and was well-versed in the ways that KS projects can derail. I think it's unfortunate the vitriol hurled at the manufacturers after the enormous challenges surrounding launching a KS to build a new product in 2020. It's amazing they made it across the finish line (well, almost, they are still shipping lots of units). I wish them well and that they do iterate, rather than being completely burnt out after the outrageous number of threats and harassment they weathered.
The CJ itself I am very pleased with. It certainly doesn't replace my Profitec 500 PID but it has worked perfectly for an at-work, mini espresso bar on my desk. I am also lucky that I have access to a kitchen next door to the office for easy cleanup and hot water prep. I bought the CJ, stand, and a 3rd-party tamp and am completely satisfied in the purchase. I will try some of the tips suggested here in the video to make even better shots.
I agree. The ordeal bringing a new product to investors during a pandemic must have been so profoundly stressful.
The problem with the two guys in charge of this project is they burned backers of their magnetic pen. I never received my partial order. Despite repeated emails to them, Matt and Ass-hat never bothered to respond to messages. NOT ONE. When those 2 clowns decided to do the Coffeejack, I figured they were going to repeat the same process. Some will get their items and some won't. They will not answer ANY emails individually but tell backers to read a generalized email. Reading the comments, one of the common complaints is that people are getting incomplete orders. Don't hold your breath if you are expected any product support from the gruesome twosome.
Gives me hope when mine arrives. I got worried seeing James making a video on it.
what is the tamp size that you bought? I am thinking I need to get one cos I didn't expect to have so much hassle without one.
@@sunrainsky5617 The basket is 46mm give or take. A tamper for a Flair Pro/2 machine will fit nicely (45.5mm).
My wife dreads every time James release a coffee product review video.
Your bank account probably weeps more. 😊
Same here
At least this video will be a product you probably won’t want to buy, buying you time until the next video.
Why ? Is she also a coffee product ? :D
Mine says she can tell I'm watching his videos because his voice is so bassy that the walls rattle a little bit when I play it through speakers 😅
I was an early backer, mine arrived sometime ago. It was a slow delivery but the updates did show progress despite a challenging climate. The CoffeeJack experience was far better than Hitch, which kept demanding extra money, delivered a totally different product, leaked everywhere and was many years late. By comparison CoffeeJack has been great and the extras like the travel containers all feel well made.
I am glad you got it.
but sadly, I am still waiting really worried.😢
I was backer 3457 in may2020(my address has not changed) and paid extra in January for quick delivery!
I get angry just thinking about Hitch. I ordered the two pack. And now they wanted more money to deliver it after the whole mess, but I see on the website theres free shipping for 2 or more bottles? Cool. How about you charge your new customers shipping, and use that money to get me my product. I absolutely refused to give them more money, even if that means I lost money.
@@SteveMoore1969 ... Steve, mine arrived this week in Australia. I backed in Dec 2019. They are sending out in batches from China. I paid the extra delivery fee as well. They send all the tracking details when its posted and it gets to you pretty quickly. One week from China to Australia East Coast.
@@MP-th4nx did it live up to your expectations?
Personally I just wanted to retire my mokapot when I go away for holiday and weekends
“The quintessential coffee kickstarter cautionary tale. A phrase I did have to practice before saying it out loud” 😂
Only makes you wonder what other phrase Hames is going to thave to pracice
Say that 5 times fast :p
@@algotrhythm4287 Indeed. This one is prime for a unhelpful summary.
I said it quickly without issue, I'm not sure what could have gone wrong 😅
Yes We all heard him. 😐
I backed this during the Kickstarter. My usual approach with Kickstarters is I'll back an idea I like and usually forget about it. If it delivers, it delivers. I'll only back projects up to the amount I am willing to potentially lose. That being said, I am so happy to get this. I think I got all of the accessories when I backed it so a significant discount! But it is still sitting packed. Hoping to use it in the next week or so
Honestly, that’s the healthy approach. Only back something if you can afford to lose the money. Know it’s not a sure thing. Be pleasantly surprised if it works out.
Same here... that's why when they even asked more money, I kinda know that they're already in trouble & I will likely not get it... so, if it comes, GB!
I mean thats the whole idea. If it wasn't, you'd go to a store
I've backed a handful over the years, when/if anything ever shows up it's like christmas.
My experience with Kickstarter has generally been "Don't back something you want to, like, give as a holiday gift." Because delays are nigh-inevitable. You just back a thing, get some email updates sometimes, and then get pleasantly surprised by a package at your door! It's kinda fun :)
See, I like coffee and espresso, but I'm not so dialed into espresso's finer qualities to not just use an Aeropress to get something "close enough for jazz," so to speak.
It really depends on the product. Video games, for example, have a *horrible* success (read: shipped product) ratio where as something like board games are a tremendous high success rate.
@@kilo3989 you and me both. I immediately thought - hand pressure, little round filter papers, why not just aero press?
I am still waiting for a comic book I backed back in 2016. It's still apparently planned to be finished, so it will be interesting when or if it ever comes.
@@Nightenstaff It really seems like video game Kickstarter is the category that seems to have the highest overlap of people who are in over their head and proposed way more then they actually had the ability to accomplish and ending up with budgets that are 5-10x what they intended and now have to find out how to manage a project that is much bigger than they thought it would be.
i really love my picopresso, thanks to your day out video! i am a flight attendant so being able to brew my own espresso in my hotel room has been such a joy!
I just brewed my very first Aeropress watching your guide! Thanks for helping me become the weird coffee person i am today!
Hope it tastes great!
james aeropress recipe is great imo, how did it turn out for you?
Nice; enjoy!
Honestly, it’s an uphill climb for any of these Kickstarters /Johnny-come-latelys trying to improve on the Aeropress .
Many years on , & more brewers added to the collection , Aeropress still owns a big chunk of my heart.
I had an aeropress for several years just sitting around. I had made coffee in it once and didn’t much like it. Then I watched James’ mini aero press series and now I have my very good aeropress coffee every morning. No, it’s not espresso and not quite as rich as our bialetti. But it’s far richer than a pour over or electric drip and i like it better than a French press.
@@jameshoffmann it was delicious! Cleaner tasting than my French presses have been. Probably from the paper filter. But still full of sweetness and fruit. Really lovely. Thanks again!!
As an inventor who now has 15 years of manufacturing experience (beaterblade) I agree with everything put forth in this video about the trials and tribulations of manufacturing. It's VERY difficult even after you've done a few products. R&D, prototypes, customer testing, tooling, sampling, costing, packaging, production & assembly, shipping...it's a mine field of complex systems and it takes more than a village to make anything.
James, I applaud your 'lens' to which you present new products...you give care and empathy for the struggle we go through. Keep up the superior videos that YOU make.
Thanks James. I backed this Kickstarter project in 2019 and am still waiting (like many others) for it to arrive. After being told they were all in the warehouse and about to be shipped, we were told they had run out of money and were asked to pay a further fee to cover the shipping. This is on top of the shipping we already paid when backed originally. At that point it started to smell a bit fishy, so did not pay what others have coined the “ransom” to get our CJ. It is worthwhile looking at the comments on their Kickstarter page. Even people who paid the additional delivery fee are saying they still haven’t received anything. Has left a bad taste in my mouth and that is even without brewing a coffee in it!
I sincerely hope yours arrives... they are delivering but have, of course, prioritised those who stumped up the 12 pound shipping addition. I figured I'd invested quite a bit, what was another $20AU!
Same. Across the board. I haven't backed a Kickstarter since. Never will.
I backed this kickstarter, like you, in October 2019, but didn’t receive it until September 2023. I can’t say I really got frustrated about it, there was plenty more going on in the world to be concerned about. I own a Delonghi coffee machine at home, but my previous at work coffee maker was an aeropress. I took a punt on the CoffeeJack to replace it. When it arrived I loved everything about it: the compact case it comes in with 2 baskets, it feels like a proper piece of engineering built to last. The stand feels like I could use it to hold up my car. I don’t think I’m as particular about my coffee as James, but I think it makes a good brew and I enjoy using it. Cleaning it is simple as I just run it under the tap. I’m glad the manufacturers took their time and made a good product, rather than rushing it and making something sub standard.
I LOVE the Coffeejack, not because I got one - I didn’t - but because all the hype and “last chance to order” adverts on social media led me to look into the world of espresso and to discover your channel. I ended up buying a Minipresso (plus NS adapter) at the time, followed by an Aeropress and then a pre-mil La Pavoni for home and a Picopresso for travelling.
Three years later, I am hopelessly down the rabbit hole (yes, I know, you warned me “do you want a new hobby?”) and in a way, have the Coffeejack to thank for my OCD - Obsessive Coffee Disorder. Had I been confident it would be delivered, I might have backed it, but at £150 plus the accessories, I will pass.
Wish I’d passed on the X-Bar too, but that’s a different story.
I went for a 9Barista (after trying and rejecting a Flair Pro on the grounds of massive faffing) and now a La Pavoni. The LP is awesome 😊
@@moose99moose oddly, I did it the other way round - bought my 9B after my LP. 9Barista makes great coffee but of course doesn’t have the flexibility of the Europiccola.
@@moose99moose I bought a LP last year -- great fun to brew and fine tasting coffee as the primary reward.
Well at least you didn't buy a Decent Espresso 🤣
Getting into a Kickstarter project is like signing up as a Patreon supporter for a content creator; you're essentially putting faith in someone's effort at creating an experience that resonates with everyone, hoping to fulfil the vision that one had. That's just the nature of self-employment and James is an example of passion successfully translated into sustainable business venture.
This channel is it and well reputable as a result. Therefore hope to see more entrepreneurs like CoffeeJack still being willing, as the Scandinavian idiom goes, to "bite the sour apple" and continue to persist as things eventually iron out. Best of luck to them.
"Bite the sour apple" is my new favorite phrase. Thank you!
@@jessicazimmer8910 Sure thing!
You can taste the temperature is low.
You can taste the channeling
Omg this guy's taste buds are on another level.
Practice makes perfect I guess. It would be interesting to cook for him. Scary but interesting.
I was an early backer. I really love the idea of portability because I was traveling a lot pre-pandemic and the CoffeeJack seemed like the answer to sad hotel-room coffee and/or hotel brewed coffee. The idea of morning Americano-style coffee in-room was super appealing. In the lull after the Dec 2022 update, I wanted to tinker with manual portable espresso and found the Picopresso really fun to use and it really opened up my world to learning more about espresso before finding your channel. I received my CoffeeJack unit in January. Comparing the two, I can find different uses for them. The CJ is very well design and attractive-- I did get the stand and tamp for easy of use, but I do like the Picopresso's "industry" compatible basket and how it includes everything for prep puck all in one neat package. The Pico's funnel fits on the CJ! So that's what I've been using to dose. I haven't been able to pull an espresso shot on the CJ that tastes as well the Pico yet, but I'm sure it just requires more tinkering. Will def try out the paper sandwich method. Thanks for the video!
It looks great on the stand. I’d enjoy looking at that in my kitchen. Good job the tamper isn’t tight, they left space for the paper! Thanks for sharing another great video.
I did back this on KS and it's not the first project I've backed, others have died in the process and so I was happy to just wait. My CJ arrived last month and I must say that I really like the coffee i get out of it, I use a darker roast and have got a nice sweet shot. I have yet to try it while camping which was my initial draw to the product but looking forward to the experience. I felt sorry for the guys who put everything into this and got a lot of flack, it has been worth the wait for me but clearly not for others.
One of the most appealing features of your videos is the fairness. Thank you for this. 🙂
I was an early supporter of this coffee maker. It is sad that the creators faced so many hurdles in trying to get this product out in a timely manner. In the end, they came through with a product that I feel is better designed and built than many projects on both Kickstarter and Indiegogo. They delivered something that makes better Cuban coffee than my Bialetti or my grandmother's cotton flannel cone shaped drip filter. I am happy with this coffee maker.
You should try putting a little knit cozy around the reservoir to get the temperature up. They're surprisingly effective on a French press, so maybe it will help on this thing?
I want to see James take up knitting. No joke! I can see it in my mind's eye...and I LOVE it!
If he wants this, I volunteer to knit one for him. Better yet, a felted cozy. I made one for my husband’s teapot (knit then felted) and it’s amazing how hot it keeps the tea. James, I’m at your service if you want this!
Looks like an "arm band" would work beautifully.
Or you could just buy an athletic (tennis) wrist band and call it a day!
@@svgs650r wouldn't have the insulating power of wool. Also, it wouldn't be cute!
I don't drink coffee AT ALL. Yet I watch this TH-cam channel avidly. Charming enthusiasm. Very satisfying.
3 years sounds pretty quick to me. I backed a videogame on Kickstarter in 2012 and they only finally delivered it in September 2022... 😂
Holy cow, dude, what game was that?!
@@justmutantjed Probably Psychonauts 2.... ;)
Dead Matter?
SpaceVenture?
I backed a game back in 2017 and they're still working on it.
Updating and everything.
It's interesting seeing the progress.
You've been incredibly kind to this product
It's really hard to justify the price, considering what you're getting. Expensive press + stand and tamper which are essential + dosing ring that's not a must, but it's beneficial. And for that money you're getting what's basically a press you have to preheat and pump manually. I feel like this is really a niche product, there are literally small espresso machines for personal use in that price range that make superior espresso, with less effort.
Can you give advice on which ones are cheaper and make better espresso
But can they do so on public transportation? 🤔
But yeah, I agree. The device is way too simple to justify the asking price. You often hear the explanation of manufacturing costs, and low production numbers that can't take advantage of the economics of scale. But as a potential customer, that's not what I care about. My side of the equation is simple: this costs X; does it improve my life sufficiently to part with X amount of moneys, and are there alternatives that improve my life similarly that can do it for less? And the answer is yes, there are far cheaper alternatives if you're looking for a portable device that can make "sort-of but not really espresso".
Also, use case matters. I jokingly pointed out that this can be used on the bus. But my grinder and kettle are at home, and I never make coffee when out and about. Except when camping, where mains power is available, and my grinder, kettle, and a small portable stove (I'm a moka pot man) are also available. So the portability of this thing is not a factor for me, and therefore will not score points towards justifying the expense.
Aeropress.
@@EvenTheDogAgrees Exactly. Where is someone boiling water on public transport? Or doing a double boil and pre-heat? A $30 electric espresso machine will make better espresso 100% of the time. For the same money someone can buy a Delonghi of some sort, a used Gaggia, etc.
@@TechnoRocka The Breville Bambino costs around $345 (£283), and the CoffeeJack "full works" package with the stand and tamper is about $365 (£299). The Bambino is a very good basic machine, and while it's not really portable, it would make much better espresso. It can even steam milk, if you want.
I think my question here is did they give every Kickstarter backer the stand and tamper? If so, that's very nice of them, and the added cost of them for new buyers helps recoup costs that they didn't anticipate. If not, though, if James got one because of this channel and his stature, then I would say that selling the accessories separately at such a cost is more an effort to split off essential components of the device so that backers end up needing to pay more for a complete setup, which would be pretty anticonsumer
No. I just got mine yesterday. Part of the reason I backed it was they claimed it would be “self-tamping”. Even their own videos show them using the tamper in addition. I’m annoyed.
This guy is inspirational.
His aim is to encourage his audience to achieve the very best coffee experience, and I found it has helped me a lot, so I have to say thanks for that.
He sets his videos from the point of view of someone that wants to help the viewer understand the subject from all angles, and particularly for the expresso enthusiasts amongst us.
He does it all in a very logical way, and obtains results showing the effects of al lthe important parameters, this is not an easy task.
So, keep up the videos please.
Thank you James. My device has been sitting on my shelf waiting for this video. Time to try out the brew tips!
Let me know how you get on!
"Aggressive water"
My favorite phrase from todays video
The fact you didn’t cringe and say “oh no.. nonononono” and instead said “I wouldn’t be unhappy with that if I was served that in a cafe”
I think speaks volumes….
That’s pretty high praise for you
As a design student this was really valuable to hear!!
I'm an industrial designer who has developed a few coffee products myself and I loved this video. You showed a ton of insight into the product development and manufacturing world that most people don't understand. It's hard enough developing a successful one-part product, but developing a complex product with all kinds of moving parts and seals is next level. I'm glad they finally got it out there. It's a real pity it too so long.
1:57 "And then in 2020, the world happened to everyone." So true.
I was an early backer of this - the process of the project completion worried me a bit as it went very much the same way as another failed project I backed... but this one did arrive, and arrived complete... and I must say arrived with impeccable timing!!!
Just 3 weeks after the CoffeeJack arrived my dual boiler machine blew it's PID controller leaving me without an espresso machine... so time for the CoffeeJack to step up.
And I have to say, step up it did!
While it took me a couple of days to dial in properly, and the issue with the pressure induced indent and subsequent under/over extraction issue explained in this video, were (mostly) resolved it went on to serve my wife and myself very well for the next 3 weeks while I waited for a new PID unit.
While I could not get this to produce full on espresso it was very close... certainly better than any other portable espresso maker or Nespresso style device... and saved me from my French Press, a style of coffee I've never really loved.
So I would say that while my experience with the Kickstarter was less than optimal, the experience in hand has met, or even exceeded my expectations.
I haven’t been this excited for a video for a video in… ever. This saga has been my personal reality entertainment and I’m not even a backer 😂
The little logo on the basket looks like it could be an intentional workaround for the problematic pressure in the center. It functionally lengthens the path that the water takes from the center of the puck. Without it, the water could drive straight through the divot in the center of the puck and out the bottom, giving you some vaguely-brown water.
I love that there are people who are bold enough to try and innovate on coffee products. I wish them all the best!
Assessing any manufacturing process that started in 2020 should be approached with a great deal of empathy. This was the same era in which production lines across industries slowed to a crawl!
Aww poor company 😢
HA! I thought of the paper sandwich before you mentioned. It is used in organic chemistry, where you place a piece of filter paper on a bed of silica beads, so when you pour your stuff over it, it goes down evenly.
Just backed the Sculptor 64s at $300. That’s above my KS threshold, but Timemore is an established company. On the other hand, one could argue that an electric grinder is more complex than their previous products. Fingers crossed!
I did the same the very day their campaign launched in KS. That was only a few days and they have already managed to debuff the motor power from 180 to 150W since.
@@JoseCinnamon really I wonder why
@@JoseCinnamon I really believe everyone is over-reacting about this. I know the spec charts said 180W but the label on the bottom of the actual grinder states 150W so the motor is the same as it has always been. It has a power range of 150W-180W and they should have used the lesser figure in the original spec charts like they did with the Sculptor 78 models. Timemore are definitely guilty of poor communication, but they haven’t “bait & switched” the motor like the complainers are insinuating.
@@littlewren2353 advertising a 150 as a 180 gives better access to people's wallets and it is virtually the exact same thing as downgrading
And the timing of this video relative to the massive support for the Sculptor (I've backed a 64s) is not lost on me.
"And you pump, and espresso happens." Has got to be my favorite line, haha
Been looking forward to mine for ages and honestly cause it's a kickstarter I just consider it a win if I ever get the product! Doesn't matter how long it takes really.
I was a Kickstarter supporter, and yes, waited four years to receive this. I've been enjoying it! Having run a crowdfunding campaign previously, I think I had more patience, knowing the risks of funding a new project. That being said, I really appreciate the video. I didn't have a tamp and for the first few goes used my thumbs and a spoon to approximate a tamp. This made me feel embarrassed as a seasoned barista, but eventually I purchased their new tamp/distributor, and have had much better luck. I haven't purchased the stand yet but using it on a sturdy mug hasn't been much of an issue, especially as I typically make a latte or americano with this. While I'm not thrilled by the espresso, it is usually a decently tasty extraction, with a good coffee bean, and it is a hell of a lot easier, convenient, and affordable than buying an at home espresso machine. I would love to see this put to the test in comparison with other at home espresso machines of a similar price range. Thanks again for the video and the paper sandwich technique. I also would love it if they released an improved version that has better heat retention. Cheers!
I was an original backer. I've always brewed filter so thought this would be a good addition. I roast my own light/medium coffee so I'm still working it out. I'll definitely give the paper a try. Honestly I'm still trying to work it out
How do you roast your coffee? 😮
the main issue with Kickstarter is: you are NOT pre-ordering, you are investing. this is something people seem to confuse.
Hi James! I am desperate to know where you got that sweater. Also, your videos are my favorite way to spend coffee time in the morning. Thanks for all the hardwork you put into your videos. It shows.
I was in the group of early adopters. As difficult a time as they had getting this made during the pandemic, they did send a lot of updates. I wish I had bought the tamper and a few other items during the campaign, or that they would have included the tamper at least.
I got mine last week and am really, really pleased. It is a very lovely product and I am happy with the results it puts out. The next test will be to see how it holds up to the wear and tear I put on everything I own.
I wasn't sure this was ever going to happen but I am happy they pushed through and got it done.
James: reviews products I would never purchase, let alone know about
Me: “interesting 👁️👄👁️ “
totally :D same!
James: *Goes into insane detail over the depth of flavor in what he's drinking, suggests ways to improve my own coffee*
Me: *Sips my Community Coffee bottled espresso because I am the world's laziest caffeine addict*
So, I backed it and had to pay an ADDITIONAL 12$ USA for shipping price increase, but still waiting. I am very excited because when traveling I hate drinking instant crap in a hotel and I can bring this with me and have a decent coffee in my room. Thank for the advice about the filters.
True, but there with an Aeropress you can stash your grinder inside the whole unit. Great for travel.
I initially backed the Coffeejack when I was just starting to get into coffee. When the first delay happened, I cancelled my order and ended up buying a Bambino Plus and a Niche grinder. Three years later, I have also added an Aeropress, V60, a Picopresso, and a Kingrinder hand grinder to my coffee station. In hindsight, it was the right decision to back out of the Coffeejack as I would have never gotten into coffee as soon as I did!
I was an early backer and got mine delivered early in. I was sympathetic to their delays and thought they did a good job explaining why. I also don't KS anything unless I'm willing to lose the $ invested. That said, I'm still having trouble using mine. Occasionally I can't get the right pressure. I'll pump but nada. Sometimes I can turn the lid and find the sweet spot but not always. Still trying to figure out the correct technique.
I would pick the picopresso. La pavoni compatible baskets and tampers, plus everyone that uses it says the espresso is great, no paper filter needed to barely make it good. Plus, don't need a stand, doesn't burn your hands. Sounds rough put it that way, but the competition is simply a little bit better.
I got two. One arrived with the pressure valve not working but we were able to fix it.
I’m not James Hoffman and usually make my black coffee in a plunger at home so the stuff that comes out of this machine is pretty awesome by comparison.
Big respect to the team at CoffeeJack for pulling through after a very difficult few years and heaps of abuse.
I look forward to the next update.
Would love to see a product review on your favorite/total fails with Kickstarter coffee stuff! There are some good ones even crowdfunding is not an ideal way to get products to end users
Had to pay additional postage in January for this, as they had massively underestimated the postage costs however as of today I’m still waiting for my CoffeeJack to arrive. It’s been many years of broken promises, I. Remain highly sceptical, until I actually receive mine.
I’m still waiting for mine😢
@@deborahpercell321 same here. I didn’t pay extra for shipping again. Let’s see if I still get it
I got mine a couple of weeks ago and I was one of the people that almost gave up hope to ever receive this thing. So far I haven't been able to be completely comfortable using it, it makes an ok espresso, but I believe I need to dial in my grind settings, it does make a nice americano and it works great in espresso martinis. I bought this to take on trips and I think it will be a nice thing to have at the side of a mountain by a little lake.
I absolutely love mine. I always preheat and preflush with the basket in place. I initially pump gently to avoid channelling. I rinse the puck and the body and give it a good wipe after use. It's also eco friendly being much more simple than large coffee makers that have an issue with old water left over from the day before which this doesn't suffer.
I've backed 35 projects. The only one that I never received because they ghosted everyone, returned after 5 years and then ghosted us again was the coffee related Invergo. This summer it will be 9 years since my pledge. I know that backing doesn't mean purchasing, but I would like to know what he did with the money and what went wrong.
What are the things you are happiest about backing?
@@tallky Completely not in the coffee realm, but mine is absolutely the Soundboks
I got my CoffeeJack and tamper in January. Still waiting on stand and case. Did not pay extra for shipping. I'll try using filter paper today. Thanks James!
Just backed a 078S grinder from timemore , i hope you'll talk about it soon James 🤗
I’ve spent 30+ years developing hardware, from simple one piece products through to complex mechatronic systems. I often told my ‘newbie’ clients that their ideas would take ten years and all the money they could lay their hands on and more and would probably cost them a relationship or two along the way. I was more often right than wrong about my predictions.
So to, myself am in the process of developing a coffee grinder. Yes… another one! In fact I’m currently developing three grinders. But given my experience, I took this approach. One whole year of user research. Not focus groups. Folks most often just tell you what they think you want to hear in those things. This was done to develop ideas around people’s ‘pain points’ with existing products. Coming up with ideas is the easy bit!
This was followed by six months of basic prototyping, to test out the mechanics of the ideas that were born out of the research. This is still fairly easy, but a little challenging maybe.
Now we’re entering the manufacturing phases. The fist phase is hard. That’s taking the prototypes and refining the details to transfer into small series production. This is hard…. But larger series production is waaaaay harder. And that’s not even the hardest part.
Harder still is finding, developing and serving the market. Then comes the hardest part of all. Maintaining the business, keeping customers satisfied over the long term and developing the infrastructure required to do so.
So when you buy a grinder for a few hundred pounds/dollars/euros, be amazed at that simple thing in your hand, because there’s way more to it than you might think and the manufacturer might be lucky to make 5% after cost of goods, overhead and taxes.
I would love to see episodes where you visit random people, and they make you a cup of coffee.
You then taste the coffee, and offer ways in which they can improve their experience (taking into account their constraints).
E.g. "Jack the bricklayer, first cup of coffee at 5 AM. Does not want to spend an extra 10 minutes brewing coffee. Had to be on the go. Etc"
I love this idea!
I can't deny I have always wondered what he would say about the coffee I (or others) make, and how to improve it. I measure my beans, use a burr grinder, boil to a specific temp, and use his v60 method (for my chemex). It seems great to me, but I have to wonder if an expert would agree
This would be great! Brewing in the Wild - making the best with what a person has and uses on the regular. I think this would help all of us up our coffee game.
Same, I think it would be really helpful to get the in line comments about objectives as well as helpful adjustments that real people can make in their routines
As a non-backer I'm astounded at the cost. As you've pointed out it's not just the 150quid for the coffeejack, but also a 30 quid tamper and a 40-50 quid stand, it comes out to let's say 230 quid. With all the Accoutrements portability is getting even more limited and for something that's at that price point you'd want to get more than an occasional use out of it. It feels more like an Aeropress for espresso, with a lot more hassle, higher cost at which you're able to get wired single cup entry level espresso machines. Whereas as a portable espresso maker for "field trips" the picopresso seems to be the cheaper and more fit for purpose device.
"heft" is a word that I've never heard to describe a taste and it makes no sense, but I knew exactly what you meant when you said it. Bravo.
Is it similar to "rich"?
A few months after starting to watch your videos, I now have my very own V60 & an Aeropress; been having a ton of fun learning how to make good coffee at home.
Thank you James!
I learned similar lessons by being an early backer of the Temperfect from Joeveo; but without the COVID.
They had a lot of delays, and frankly I was a lot more amused than annoyed. They were open about the delays and causes, and the story itself is great fun.
I think a lot of these crowd funded kickstarters take a similar path. I think that’s also why the investors on Shark Tank are so extremely cautious and demanding. Seems common for dreamers to get ahead of themselves. The dream is farther along that the financing for it.
@@totallyfrozen "The dream is farther along that the financing for it" is a great way of putting it. It's easy to be overcome with confidence, especially if you're the type of person who'll likely start a kickstarter in the first place. It's a shame that we have to make make mistakes to make experiences, but that's life, I guess.
@@dfleck9210 try raising children. You learn from the first, but make different mistakes with the 2nd. By the 3rd, you’ve got a whole new set of mistakes. Luckily, love helps repair a lot of those mistakes and if your kids have a sense of humor, they get a kick out of laughing at you when they’re grown.
The Coffeejack was what got me into espresso. When the Kickstarter launched, I initially backed it, but as I began to learn what was required to make espresso, I started having doubts that the machine would be able to deliver on its claims.
After running some math that determined it would require ~20-25lb of force (i.e. applied to the top of a cup) to generate the promised 9 bars in 8 pumps, I soon thereafter canceled my pledge, and left a comment on the Kickstarter with my findings (that either you'll destroy your cup, or the product won't work as advertised). I then discovered this channel while seeking an alternative, and ended up settling for a Cafelat Robot, thanks in part to your review, which I've been using since late 2019.
So, in a way, thanks to Coffeejack that I discovered espresso and this channel!
I got mine in Janurary (one of the first batch) and I'm honestly very happy with it. I use it twice a day and have been working my way through various italian ground coffees and enjoy using it. I found that after a month it felt like there was a slight decrease in the pressure build up and I'm wondering it it needs maintenance already, or maybe I just built up more muscle from using it. As far as kickstarter is concerned, it's not the first time I backed a product, so I understand the delays and issues (and concept of crowdfunding). However, in the end they delivered a better quality design than the initial concept and for that they should get some credit. I bought the tamper, which is a must, and I do wish I bought the stand.
I think (I hope!) that it can't really decrease in pressure as the pressure is decided by the overpressure valve above all? Maybe it's just gotten lubricated by all that coffee...
@@ErrorUncertainty i mean initially pressure seemed to build up easily and it would "feel" like I had to exert a decent amount of force to push the coffee through but that has gotten much easier now, so I'm worried that it's easily channelling now. The coffee taste is less consistent now too, but generally still acceptable for me.
I'm one of the early recipients. Mine arrived on 31 January and I use it every day at work for one Americano in the morning and a double espresso on the afternoon. I've used the aeropress extensively and the handpresso. The coffee jack matches the handpresso but delivers a double shot, not just a single. Both of them produce a close approximation to an espresso shot. The aeropress doesn't. I'm happy with the purchase, but I agree that the tamper and the stand are near essential. If you're travelling with it, the carrying case is a must as well.
Well that’s funny. We’re working towards a Kickstarter with Squid 🦑 V1 my zero puck prep espresso vibrator. Since I’ve backed so many crowdfunding campaigns and know how they tend to go I wanted to do it differently. Instead of kickstarting my “idea” I decided to prototype first and that’s what we’ve been working on since October 2021. I fabricated about 7 or 8 vibrating distribution tools myself brought them to a prototyping business locally and said “this works let’s make a product”. We initially did a functional prototype and subsequently began work on a V1 product candidate which I’ve been refining for about a year now. Right now we’re putting the finishing touches on the design and ordering 3 new ones at the moment. I’ll be showing them off at the Portland Coffee Expo in April and may film my kickstarter vid in April or May. At the moment there are some details to dial in like accessories that may be useful a funnel for smaller portafilters like La Pavoni or Breville or Rok, a tamper that’s more cost effective for kickstarter, the anti-vibration base, as well we adjusted the design to stabilize and isolate components away from vibrations. That design change came in January and now I’m testing that to make sure it’s robust enough for daily use and doesn’t fail. So far so good. We switched to a new vibrator in December and have been testing the longevity of that out as well. We want to build a long lasting product and that requires extra time to make sure the design is solid and won’t break. Tamped on Squid. Coming Soon 😅. ❤🎉
I have finally received mine in september 2023. I never complained, felt sorry for them. No extras but they have sent me vouchers to buy another which I will use. I love it and will be buying more as gifts!
I haven't backed it, but I would be furious if I had. Not because of the delay, I follow all the reasonable arguments you made. But the additional costs for the tamper and the stand (which both seem to be essential) do not only push up the price to an extend which makes the whole endeavor more that questionable, the additional stuff increases the size to a point where the USP, the portability, suddenly gets pointless. Badly good example for missing the usability completely.
Sir you are a national treasure. I got into coffee via your good self during covid and you kept me sane. Now I am really down the rabbit hole and its great. I am a lever machine and anything that does not need electricity man who has to measure everything and note it down. Thanks to you i did not embarrass myself when i went to local roaster for an espresso course. Keep up the good work.
I wonder if an insulating sleeve could be fitted over the outside of the chamber to improve heat retention
Add $40 for that.
Maybe a can neoprene sleeve ( trimmed) will fit well.
Friend ordered one and we had some good fun trying it out. No stand, no tamper; does indeed make it a challenge. Thanks for the tips.
I'm most certainly not first but I am sleep deprived, i need more coffee
I don't have one. Yet. Hopefully my backer one will turn up soon. Looking forward to trying it and thanks for the tips on usage before it turns up
I backed this one. I was one of the understanding “Ooft, they’re having a nightmare” people. Ended up being shipped two. Used it maybe 3 times. Oh well. In the drawer with all the other kitchen gadgets I’ve collected over the years. I might try again, give the paper trick a go.
I backed the timemore 064s for $299 US and hope they don't have these issues. Restated ship date is June this year and I hop I don't have to wait till next year to get one.
This is really great for people who have nothing to do with their excess time & money & willingness to put a stupid amount of effort into the most trivial of things .
The best business case for Nescafé I've ever seen
I did just back the new Timemore Sculptor 064s and I'm very much hoping that the execution of delivery is relatively Swift and seamless and that the product delivers.
The look of the design would fit so nicely in a home kitchen aesthetically.
Same model here but I am afraid it will stall with light roasts on espresso
@@JoseCinnamon I've been seeing the concerns as well. Brushless motor FTW though? I'm not a motor expert haha
@@ethanyos4093 I'm no motor expert either. But I will not forget that *after* they got $1million they announced that the motor was downgraded from 180 to 150W (for the 64 models).
This is how I must sound like to normal people when I talk about the things I am into. While I admit I know nothing about coffee, I can feel the passion this man has for coffee.
I'm homeless and enjoy all your portable espresso products..thanks ❤
I've got it and am a happy user. Your tip with the paper filter makes it better, so thanks for that tip. I use it when going on canoe trips with my family.
Always happy to start the day with James' video.
Thank you for providing detailed content. I finally received the CoffeeJack. Out of the box, not so great, but adding each of the following steps that you provide here and in other videos made incremental improvements. Puck prep: 1) espresso distribution + 2) add filter under espresso+ 3) add filter on top of espresso + 4) freshly ground espresso = pretty good espresso
People still seem to think KickStarter is a store where you preorder things, and then always proceed to become extremely angered when something isn't delivered.
I think that's because the alternatives (either gambling or lending with no expectation of reciprocity) isn't palatable to most.
Full respect to James. Coffee always comes first. Improving the products of others when it doesn't serve, except to improve the taste of coffee when using that product. The moral of this story? When developing a new way of delivering coffee, consult and involve James Hoffmann at all times.
I've never seen those little papers before, definitely going to try them with my mediocre espresso machine (and mediocre tamping skills) 😂
I think those are papers for the Aeropress, just repurposed for the CoffeeJack.
I have a 40mm portafilter basket in my Flair, and use a child's craft punch to cut AeroPress filters to fit. It's hokey -- but now a standard part of my workflow.
@@jggimi where do you get the filter paper?
I have one and can confirm your review being really spot on. I still haven't found a way to get great espresso out of it, but keep inching towards it by experimenting with the different variables. So far, I have got the best result using the finest grind, tamping quite hard, preheat, and preinfusion. It gave somewhat of a crema. I tried a paper below, which improved the decaf, but not the regular bean. Will try your approach of using a paper on both sides.
To anyone interested in buying it, I have to really point out what was said about it being problematic to fill the small basket. Further, be aware that the whole process of preparing the coffee is quite a surgery to perform and garners a lot of weird looks from the colleagues and admittedly justified comments about the problems of it, like open water container with boiling hot water.
Further, be aware that you need to be able to get boiling water. You might want to be able to control the temperature of that water. E.g. I found out the decaf I'm using impoved by adding 90 °C water, not sure though what was the final brewing temperature this creates.
Lastly, you'll want to clean the basket right after using it because it drips. Cleaning it can be rather messy because the best way is to hold it under water. At least for finder grinds, you can not just shake it out since the small basket holds really firm to it.
Dude's on a whole different level..."tastes like it's a few degrees too cool, and tastes like it's channeling" 🤣
Channeling is like cork on a wine. You'll recognize it when you've got it. Watery, bitter, sour all at the same time.
Thank you for this James, all of this. It has been a long three year ride for us backers. Before this video, your mocha pot series were quite helpful in getting more out of the CoffeeJack!
I feel like In an alternate timeline, there’s a Canadian James Hoffman out there that is the most sophisticated cannabis connoisseur on planet earth.
Video about coffee tech from James = a perfect start to the day 🤎☕