Doesn't claim an entire counter, no app, no subscription, works during weeks-long power outages, 90% of all repairs can be made with off-the-shelf silicone O-rings, discourages guests from hanging around too long. It's perfect.
Most of the same applies to the cafelat robot, which is far more practical in every way. Not knocking the 9bar, it's an awesome and ingenious bit of engineering, just not the most practical design when it comes to manual espresso. I'd love to have one, I just wouldn't want it to be my only way of making espresso.
@@LyK0saBeen very happy with mine. I looked at the robot and the flair with the needing to preheat the heads and was like “nope”, let alone having to get a kettle to able to properly pour near boiling water. 3-4 shots a day with the 9barista, with beautiful consistency that doesn’t require me to watch a pressure gauge. Had great results from the second shot, on day one. Only machine I’ve heard similar success stories was a CT2 and those are much uglier due to the mixed metal appearance, although they solve the heating of the group head issue and are by all counts joys to use.
@@Naftoor sounds like you've got the workflow down! Glad you're enjoying it. It's the dialing in process that would bother me. Botch one shot and you've got a fair wait before you can make another attempt. The robot isn't too fussy when it comes to preheating unless you're wanting to pull lungo shots on very light roasts, then you'll definitely want to do a piston preheat. Dark roasts don't need any preheat at all, for more medium roasts all I usually do is let the basket/brew chamber overflow for a few seconds while filling, just to offset that initial temperature loss to the basket. I appreciate the sheer simplicity and efficiency of the design, even relative to the flair. It's nice to be able to pull back to back shots if I've got company too.
@@LyK0sa Yeah I will admit the full manual systems do give you better control, especially if you really enjoy lighter roasts. The 9baristas big limitation is the fixed temperature of the boiler system (which becomes more of an issue if you want to use it at higher altitudes as well) I’m a dyed in the wool medium guy myself, living at about sea level so it works out well for me. By the second or third shot the results were better than anything I’d had from local coffee shops, and while there’s been some variation when I swapped out a new grinder, and then changed the burrs and in trying different coffees I can say I have yet to have a bad shot from it past that first shot or two. I’m not really into experimenting with coffee, I mostly just want to find a system that works well. I’m glad I got the 9barista since it works really well for that, but the full manual machines would definitely be the way to go if you like lighter roasters or do more than 3-4 shots a day
I have a 9Barista and I absolutely love it. It is the only alternative when space is limited and it travels well. Pair it with the Subminimal NanoFoamer Pro for a complete espresso machine alternative that can be put away for counter space. I recommend getting a second basket to speed up that second brew.
Amazing idea with the second basket, thanks for that. I've also been thinking about the bit that's missing from this setup and that is a steamer and have been looking at frothers as alternatives. To be really compact I was considering the subliminal nanofoamer - the stick version. What would be the advantages of the PRO in your opinion?
@@suffocated I have both. I bought the NanoFoamer first, then upgraded to the Pro. I get similar results with the stick version, but the Pro is much easier to use, it heats the milk, and it operates while the espresso is brewing. The downside is cleaning the Pro is a pain and securing the lid is harder than it should be; if you don't get it right, the milk will heat, but the wand won't spin. Overall, I prefer the Pro and would have skipped the manual wand, but I'm happy to have both.
@@nathangreene3 Just watched a review of the PRO V2 where they addressed the lid not sitting securely flat on V1 apparently. I assume you have V1? And the cleaning bit indeed they mention, once you've poured the milk you're leaving little milk on a heated bottom that will probably burn and stick really bad. i guess the idea is fill it up with water as soon as you've poured to avoid that.?
@@suffocated The lid is just hard to align properly. The milk is already scaled on the bottom. I do add water immediately afterward, but it still requires scrubbing out when I get around to cleaning up. I haven't had the Pro long, but apparently I do have the V1, so ... rats. Anyway, I still think it's a net positive and recommend it as an alternative. There will always be something to clean.
@@nathangreene3 Ah, I see. That probably means a thin film of milk burns to the bottom while it's frothing. I'll think about it, again the idea is to stay very compact and also the stick vs the pro there's 3 times the price difference almost so might go for that one. The 9Barista does have to stay on the stove for 5-6 minutes to extract so might use that time to microwave the milk then froth it manually. Thanks for the input.
I have a tiny kitchen so this would be perfect... unfortunately, its a bit pricy, and my wife always wants espresso too, so not doing back-to-back shots is a deal breaker. Thanks for highlighting that. The search for a relatively cheap and compact machine continues.
One could always have a few of these on hand for back to back shots...💲💲 I have a Bambino and a Sette grinder, and though I'm no expert I like them both.
@@kodyguy97 Good suggestion, I actually had a Bambino! But realized one of the draws towards espresso for me is a nice feeling hunk of heavy metal and boilers and pipes and the feel of a premium machine that I enjoy using. I enjoyed the coffee with the Babmino, but didn't enjoy making it since it felt too plasticy/light/cheap. Not everyone would mind, but it mattered to me. My heart wants a fancy E61 machine but my counter space and wallet don't want me to deal with espresso at all ha.
May i suggest Amzn’s “Used-Acceptable” (Open Box) Breville Barista Pro. It’s only $504 and will arrive to you like new. It has a precision “Baratza” grinder and a powerful “Thermojet” steam wand making it an incredibly compact & affordable all in one machine that will not only make excellent espresso but steam milk as well for silky smooth specialty drinks. I recommend this specific little known deal for anyone that is interested in getting into the hobby. Since it’s technically already “Used” you can use it till your heart’s content without worrying and still be able to return it if for any reason it just isn’t for you. You have nothing to lose and a world of endless espresso possibilities that await. ❤ ☕️
Have owned the 9B since May 2022, I love the engineering and the coffee produced. The profiling of the unit (pressure) bring out some beautiful sweetness in the cup.
This delights me but it's also such a narrow use case; it seems like if you can afford the $550 (and lbr it's probably going to be more like $600 once you're done) you'd be better off spending that money on an espresso machine, and to take full advantage of it you'd also need a high quality grinder. I think it's intended as a proof of concept and a bit of a novelty, and the target market is probably people who have very limited kitchen space and you'd need to have either a good manual grinder or a very small footprint electric grinder, which is probably going to set you back at least another $200, if not much more. Alternately, if you're really wanting espresso while camping, I can see this, but it seems like there are more cost-effective options in that circumstance. And as a travel brewer it requires a hot plate or similar, which is a non-starter for most hotel rooms. But it's a brilliant bit of engineering and I'm glad it exists, even if it's unlikely I'll ever own one.
It’s been amazing for me. Small form factor means the counter sacrificed to the caffeine gods is minimal. I have a helor 106 with mk2 shurikones in it, so the entire operation system is literally no louder than the water boiling in the secondary boiler. Fantastic for a small apartment without bothering other occupants with grinder or pump noise. It’s built like a tank, and will probably outlive me, while also creating an incredibly consistent shot that I’ve been very pleased with not having to faff about with. It just works and that work is quietly making a great shot. I’d get a CT2 if they weren’t so hideous, but until they offer it in mono metal appearances the 9barista will be a permanent companion 😂 I don’t understand the folks who take it camping. Yes, it’s a compact package, but then you have the grinder, distribution, tamping, preferably a good water source, plus you need to wash it up between shots. It’s great to take camping for instagram clips and TH-cam shots, but it’s no more practical than any of the small espresso makers like the picopresso for that. An energy drink or the reliable terrible Folgers is the way to go if you need caffeine in the outdoors, much less hassle 😅
I've made 2 drinks back to back with this but each drink takes about 4-5 mins from prep to heating to espresso coming out. Definitely not back to back like a traditional machine but not as bad as needing to wait hours for the next drink.
Great video and agreed on most points about the 9Barista. I've had mine since the original preorder and love it! One correction: you can immediately release pressure by pressing (or pulling) the pressure release lever on the safety valve. By doing this under cold water, you can make back to back shots. I can make a shot every 5 or 6 minutes by doing that and starting it heating while I prepare the next puck. Takes a bit of practice, but for home use I end up getting my and my guests' espresso done just as fast as a standard boiler machine including preheat. Obviously not cafe level production and not as fast as some of the thermoblock machines, but not bad at all. Plus, as you said, the experience of brewing with the 9Barista just has that magic something that makes it a pleasure to use.
@@taejaskudva2543 Depends on the rest of your routine. I use a hand grinder, and the time to heat cold water and start brewing on my stove is just about perfect (I usually have 15-30 seconds to spare) if I measure my beans into the grinder first and then turn on the burner with cold water. If I'm doing back-to-back shots, the remaining warmth in the brewer means I have to do about half the grinding before I turn on the burner otherwise the brewer is ahead of me. If I were using a fast motorized grinder the equation might favor preheated water.
I have been using 9barista for 2.5 years. It works as well as day 1 and it makes delicious espresso very consistently. As Morgan said it's not a back to back espresso machine, also not for people that like to tweak settings like pre-infusion, flow rate, pressure..etc, otherwise it's wonderful.
10:50 I still can’t get over the expression all of the TH-cam espresso enthusiasts make during their first sip… revulsion, followed by regret then quickly composing themselves as they remember that they are on camera. I understand it’s a moment of contemplation and I know that they are enjoying it as much as I do but “Espresso Face” seems to be a very real phenomenon. 😋❤☕😳🤢😂
The 9Bar is my travel companion. I do keep it separate with my carry on as it will be checked out in security, but has never caused an issue. I pre pack 18g pouches of beans and grind them as needed. As far as back to back goes I run cold water over it, release pressure clean and go. I’d say a five minute turn around. Yes expensive, so it’s about priorities. Starting my day with a couple of excellent shots is a must for me so the cost was well worth it. My unit is 3 years old and been around the world.
I've been using this machine only for the last 2-3 years and it's never let me down. Have replaced some seals once and messed up the valve twice cause i forgot it on the stove without water. There is one thing i wish reviewers would do. It's difficult but still, i really wish someone would test the actual temperature and pressure of this thing when water hits the puck. Because in your review you just repeat what the manufacturer claims. We're supposed to trust them I guess. However since and if the brew produced tastes good then it shouldn't really matter right. Still for the love of science it would be nice if someone would go through the trouble.
The manufacturers themselves are figuring out pressure and temperature with mathematical equations, I don't even know where to begin doing practical testing of those numbers in a way that wouldn't affect the functionality of the machine.
@@Toastybees Well, I think you could pump air or even water through the stem with a puck prepared in the grouphead and see at what pressure the valve gives in. A pump with a pressure gauge. As for temperature, not sure but maybe one of those infra red temperature guns that measure surface temp? Or some sort of wireless temperature sensor that can be imbedded inside the coffee puck? There are ways, needs a bit of thinking and then doing. I cant be bothered so I'm putting it on youtube reviewers.
@@suffocated That would give you a reading of the pressure valve gives in but not the brewing pressure. A wireless temperature sensor that could withstand the pressure and be small enough to fit in the chamber would be an expensive bit of kit that likely wouldn't be readily available to consumers if it exists at all which it likely doesn't, the mathematical formulations for figuring out pressure are reliable.
@@Toastybees If you carefully read what i wrote "I think you could pump air or even water through the stem with a puck prepared" I did mention a PREPARED PUCK whilst testing which would measure the pressure of the valve giving plus the resistance of the puck. And whilst indeed it wouldn't still measure 100% exactly, if the pressure read is 5 instead of something close to 9 ,then we could deduce that something might not work as claimed by the manufacturer right? As for the sensor I just did a quick google search and found something to the size of a small watch battery that can measure temperatures, its 3.3g, diameter of 17mm thickness of 6mm and can read temps of up to 125C. It costs 134 dollars and you can buy it now if you want to. Doesn't say anything about pressure but you cant just assume it doesn't work, one can try. And all that is a 3 minute google check I'm sure there are even smaller more advanced and rugged sensors. So to just assume that it would be an expensive kit that is not readily available to consumers is based on zero research on your part and ignorance. Its 2024, there are lots of stuff you can buy these days for cheap for all sorts of purposes. Now to your other silly claim that "the mathematical formulations for figuring out pressure are reliable." It seems you speak as if you did the calcs yourself, or have access to them? Can you talk a bit about what these calculations entail? Put it in simple terms please. But to add to what you just said, there are lots of physics calculations that predicted things and on paper looked correct but we only scientifically accept them once real life experiments are executed and then duplicated repeatedly by other impartial labs. FFS the subatomic particles were pre-discovered theoretically but we built the LHC worth billions to test those theories. And you sit here telling me "the mathematical formulations for figuring out pressure are reliable." Without telling me what those calcs are or how they work.
Several times a year, I take my counter top espresso machine camping. But in the winter, I worry about freezing. This seems like I could purge the water from the coil and store it in my truck. Espresso is especially good on a snowy day. So I would like to see other options too.
I have one of these, and it's my daily driver! I find it to be the very best balance of counterspace, convenience, and aesthetics. While that price point may turn some of you away, compare that price point with a decent quality compressor-driven espresso machine, which the 9barista can match in quality of coffee, and it doesn't sound too far off. That said, you absolutely can get the same quality of espresso at a much cheaper price point with an entry level Flair. The advantage that the 9barista has over a flair is its convenience, in that all you need to put effort into is figuring out what heat setting on the stove works best when you first get it and dialing in your grind setting. With a flair or other manual espresso machine, you need to be careful about the amount of pressure you're applying over time, where the 9barista does that automatically with one moving part that's easily replaceable. I had a manual espresso machine before my 9barista, and I found the 9barista something I could much more easily fit into my daily routine with little effort. Little tip for time efficiency, you can put the boiler on the stove to heat while you do your puck preparation. You should finish with plenty of time to lock in the portafilter. After pulling your shot, you can also run the boiler under cool water to flash cool it (the instructions say this is okay) in order to depressive and prepare for the next shot. Still not as convenient as a compressor-driven espresso machine, but perfectly fine for serving two or three people.
“I’m gonna chillax for a second” chillaxes by giving us the most beautiful, satisfying shots of coffee being brewed by the not-mocha pot expresso thing
One of those really, really cool gizmos that I really don't need. I can imagine a knot of people in the kitchen at a party and someone saying "Stuart is demonstrating that silly expensive espresso machine again!!"
Ahh the 9 Barista, the thing that makes anyone who doesn’t understand espresso angry. Lol. True coffee nerds appreciate what’s special about it. Now that Flair leaked then released their updated Pro and 58’s maybe it’s time to revisit that segment of the espresso scene.
Very cool piece of coffee tech and engineering. One additional thing to note. The echo 😅 is kinda bugging me. Not sure if you have any plans for fixing that, but I would recommend getting some rugs for the non kitchen space in the studio to eat some of the sound.
Very cool way to brew, I was wondering how they were going to maintain pressure without overheating. The coil design definitely is a great way to do it.
Could you bring the water to a boil in a kettle while prepping the puck so that it doesn't take so long to get hot on the stove, or would that mess with the pressure or something?
You can begin the heating process prior, yes. I don’t find that it saves that much time and ultimately ends up being a little tricky since you’re then left working with hot parts.
What I personally do with mine is that I put water in the chamber and screw both parts together and place them on heat. While it's eating up I prepare my puck and place it on top once done. With practice I usually have like one or two minutes to wait before coffee comes out.
Hmm, I feel this is probably very temperature and altitude dependent, however. As in, it's likely it won't reach 9bars or 100c, if you happen to be at altitude or in a colder region. Great little device though. Just hard for me to justify the price haha
Roughly 9 bars should be achievable in all conditions since I believe that is controlled by a spring largely. Atmospheric pressure isn't really relevant since the water is in a pressure vessel so the boiling point will be similar across all reasonable altitudes. All metal construction means heat will transfer easily from your heat source to the water
@@88sstraightcool, and it will only be purchased by the wealthy. I get why Morgan has it, it's literally her job lol but a normal person? That doesn't have a trust fund? Nope.
As much as I love my 9barista, I'm always a little hesitant to use it b/c I've had to replace the valve, o-rings, the pin inside a number of times. In fact, they basically just refurbished the whole thing for me recently (great customer service). Makes great espresso though. Also, ever since we've lived in places with electric stove tops, my shots are 6-8 minutes with the heat on high regardless of whether I'm using the plate. That just makes me more nervous.
Can you use it on an induction cooktop? Oh, and what's with the, "Thou shalt not leave thy coffee brewer at any point!" and five seconds later you leave it to go "chillax"?
I've been eying this for a while. There's a local seller listing it at about a 100 dollar discount. Do you think it's worth it? I'm so smitten with its design and concept.
I’ve always thought these were super cool and fascinating, but as someone on a budget I went with a Picopresso instead. For $400 less, it feels like a bargain, even if it isn’t quite as consistent or quite as cool.
The lack of back-to-back shots is a huge killer for me as I normally brew a double shot... this is even not taking into account if I have anyone else wanting a shot.
I just want someone to explain grind size to me (with visuals! Not just ‘fine’ like that’s a good descriptor 🙄) and what’s good for light, medium dark.…
If I were so space constrained in my living circumstances, I'd hope it's because I live somewhere with some good cafés who can handle all trouble & expense involved with espresso instead!!
At its core this is a mocha pot. They just kept pushing the mocha pot to its logical point for modern espresso. I hope the price can come down a bit in the long run.
I love a solution to a problem that doesn't exist that costs 5 bills. People are saying this is for those who don't have space. I mean, spend $300 bucks on an entry level machine and another hundred on a little cart you can put in a corner somewhere and you're still ahead. Even for travel - how many hotels have stoves? It is a neat analog technology concept, I give it that, but that is kind of about it.
Very cool piece of coffee tech and engineering. One additional thing to note. The echo 😅 is kinda bugging me. Not sure if you have any plans for fixing that, but I would recommend getting some rugs for the non kitchen space in the studio to eat some of the sound.
Very cool piece of coffee tech and engineering. One additional thing to note. The echo 😅 is kinda bugging me. Not sure if you have any plans for fixing that, but I would recommend getting some rugs for the non kitchen space in the studio to eat some of the sound.
how does 9 whole baristas fit in there?
As a daily user over 2 years, I think it's my best coffee gear that just fits in my tiny kitchen.
It is a work of art that makes good espresso. Fidgeting with parts adds an extra activity to the coffee hobby.
Fair. In a world where a flair or something similar exists I don’t see the need for this
Doesn't claim an entire counter, no app, no subscription, works during weeks-long power outages, 90% of all repairs can be made with off-the-shelf silicone O-rings, discourages guests from hanging around too long. It's perfect.
That’s what I was thinking too. When I make it big I’m getting one of these to sit next to my Moka Pot
Most of the same applies to the cafelat robot, which is far more practical in every way. Not knocking the 9bar, it's an awesome and ingenious bit of engineering, just not the most practical design when it comes to manual espresso. I'd love to have one, I just wouldn't want it to be my only way of making espresso.
@@LyK0saBeen very happy with mine. I looked at the robot and the flair with the needing to preheat the heads and was like “nope”, let alone having to get a kettle to able to properly pour near boiling water.
3-4 shots a day with the 9barista, with beautiful consistency that doesn’t require me to watch a pressure gauge. Had great results from the second shot, on day one. Only machine I’ve heard similar success stories was a CT2 and those are much uglier due to the mixed metal appearance, although they solve the heating of the group head issue and are by all counts joys to use.
@@Naftoor sounds like you've got the workflow down! Glad you're enjoying it. It's the dialing in process that would bother me. Botch one shot and you've got a fair wait before you can make another attempt.
The robot isn't too fussy when it comes to preheating unless you're wanting to pull lungo shots on very light roasts, then you'll definitely want to do a piston preheat. Dark roasts don't need any preheat at all, for more medium roasts all I usually do is let the basket/brew chamber overflow for a few seconds while filling, just to offset that initial temperature loss to the basket.
I appreciate the sheer simplicity and efficiency of the design, even relative to the flair. It's nice to be able to pull back to back shots if I've got company too.
@@LyK0sa Yeah I will admit the full manual systems do give you better control, especially if you really enjoy lighter roasts. The 9baristas big limitation is the fixed temperature of the boiler system (which becomes more of an issue if you want to use it at higher altitudes as well)
I’m a dyed in the wool medium guy myself, living at about sea level so it works out well for me. By the second or third shot the results were better than anything I’d had from local coffee shops, and while there’s been some variation when I swapped out a new grinder, and then changed the burrs and in trying different coffees I can say I have yet to have a bad shot from it past that first shot or two.
I’m not really into experimenting with coffee, I mostly just want to find a system that works well. I’m glad I got the 9barista since it works really well for that, but the full manual machines would definitely be the way to go if you like lighter roasters or do more than 3-4 shots a day
I have a 9Barista and I absolutely love it. It is the only alternative when space is limited and it travels well. Pair it with the Subminimal NanoFoamer Pro for a complete espresso machine alternative that can be put away for counter space. I recommend getting a second basket to speed up that second brew.
Amazing idea with the second basket, thanks for that. I've also been thinking about the bit that's missing from this setup and that is a steamer and have been looking at frothers as alternatives. To be really compact I was considering the subliminal nanofoamer - the stick version. What would be the advantages of the PRO in your opinion?
@@suffocated I have both. I bought the NanoFoamer first, then upgraded to the Pro. I get similar results with the stick version, but the Pro is much easier to use, it heats the milk, and it operates while the espresso is brewing. The downside is cleaning the Pro is a pain and securing the lid is harder than it should be; if you don't get it right, the milk will heat, but the wand won't spin.
Overall, I prefer the Pro and would have skipped the manual wand, but I'm happy to have both.
@@nathangreene3 Just watched a review of the PRO V2 where they addressed the lid not sitting securely flat on V1 apparently. I assume you have V1? And the cleaning bit indeed they mention, once you've poured the milk you're leaving little milk on a heated bottom that will probably burn and stick really bad. i guess the idea is fill it up with water as soon as you've poured to avoid that.?
@@suffocated The lid is just hard to align properly. The milk is already scaled on the bottom. I do add water immediately afterward, but it still requires scrubbing out when I get around to cleaning up. I haven't had the Pro long, but apparently I do have the V1, so ... rats.
Anyway, I still think it's a net positive and recommend it as an alternative. There will always be something to clean.
@@nathangreene3 Ah, I see. That probably means a thin film of milk burns to the bottom while it's frothing. I'll think about it, again the idea is to stay very compact and also the stick vs the pro there's 3 times the price difference almost so might go for that one. The 9Barista does have to stay on the stove for 5-6 minutes to extract so might use that time to microwave the milk then froth it manually. Thanks for the input.
I have a tiny kitchen so this would be perfect... unfortunately, its a bit pricy, and my wife always wants espresso too, so not doing back-to-back shots is a deal breaker. Thanks for highlighting that.
The search for a relatively cheap and compact machine continues.
breville/sage bambino has been recommended by a few reliable coffee people, can be had for less than $300 and is very compact.
One could always have a few of these on hand for back to back shots...💲💲
I have a Bambino and a Sette grinder, and though I'm no expert I like them both.
@@kodyguy97 Good suggestion, I actually had a Bambino! But realized one of the draws towards espresso for me is a nice feeling hunk of heavy metal and boilers and pipes and the feel of a premium machine that I enjoy using. I enjoyed the coffee with the Babmino, but didn't enjoy making it since it felt too plasticy/light/cheap. Not everyone would mind, but it mattered to me.
My heart wants a fancy E61 machine but my counter space and wallet don't want me to deal with espresso at all ha.
May i suggest Amzn’s “Used-Acceptable” (Open Box) Breville Barista Pro. It’s only $504 and will arrive to you like new. It has a precision “Baratza” grinder and a powerful “Thermojet” steam wand making it an incredibly compact & affordable all in one machine that will not only make excellent espresso but steam milk as well for silky smooth specialty drinks. I recommend this specific little known deal for anyone that is interested in getting into the hobby. Since it’s technically already “Used” you can use it till your heart’s content without worrying and still be able to return it if for any reason it just isn’t for you. You have nothing to lose and a world of endless espresso possibilities that await. ❤ ☕️
@@fuzzyevil2 Cafelat robot maybe? Feels sturdy, cheapish and only kettle needed. Though pipes/boiler do not exist :)
Have owned the 9B since May 2022, I love the engineering and the coffee produced. The profiling of the unit (pressure) bring out some beautiful sweetness in the cup.
Always interesting to hear about diffrent brewers etc
I love my 9Barista. When I did not had the room for a regular espresso machine, the 9Barista was a space-efficient solution for good espresso at home.
This delights me but it's also such a narrow use case; it seems like if you can afford the $550 (and lbr it's probably going to be more like $600 once you're done) you'd be better off spending that money on an espresso machine, and to take full advantage of it you'd also need a high quality grinder.
I think it's intended as a proof of concept and a bit of a novelty, and the target market is probably people who have very limited kitchen space and you'd need to have either a good manual grinder or a very small footprint electric grinder, which is probably going to set you back at least another $200, if not much more. Alternately, if you're really wanting espresso while camping, I can see this, but it seems like there are more cost-effective options in that circumstance. And as a travel brewer it requires a hot plate or similar, which is a non-starter for most hotel rooms.
But it's a brilliant bit of engineering and I'm glad it exists, even if it's unlikely I'll ever own one.
It’s been amazing for me. Small form factor means the counter sacrificed to the caffeine gods is minimal. I have a helor 106 with mk2 shurikones in it, so the entire operation system is literally no louder than the water boiling in the secondary boiler. Fantastic for a small apartment without bothering other occupants with grinder or pump noise. It’s built like a tank, and will probably outlive me, while also creating an incredibly consistent shot that I’ve been very pleased with not having to faff about with. It just works and that work is quietly making a great shot. I’d get a CT2 if they weren’t so hideous, but until they offer it in mono metal appearances the 9barista will be a permanent companion 😂
I don’t understand the folks who take it camping. Yes, it’s a compact package, but then you have the grinder, distribution, tamping, preferably a good water source, plus you need to wash it up between shots. It’s great to take camping for instagram clips and TH-cam shots, but it’s no more practical than any of the small espresso makers like the picopresso for that. An energy drink or the reliable terrible Folgers is the way to go if you need caffeine in the outdoors, much less hassle 😅
I've made 2 drinks back to back with this but each drink takes about 4-5 mins from prep to heating to espresso coming out. Definitely not back to back like a traditional machine but not as bad as needing to wait hours for the next drink.
Yeah, If you cool with cold water and let the pressure out you can shorten your time between shots
I love my 9Barista! I use it for travel and camping. Works every time and produces amazing espresso.
This one is something I always wanted to own, always so cool to see it in action!
Great video and agreed on most points about the 9Barista. I've had mine since the original preorder and love it!
One correction: you can immediately release pressure by pressing (or pulling) the pressure release lever on the safety valve. By doing this under cold water, you can make back to back shots.
I can make a shot every 5 or 6 minutes by doing that and starting it heating while I prepare the next puck. Takes a bit of practice, but for home use I end up getting my and my guests' espresso done just as fast as a standard boiler machine including preheat. Obviously not cafe level production and not as fast as some of the thermoblock machines, but not bad at all.
Plus, as you said, the experience of brewing with the 9Barista just has that magic something that makes it a pleasure to use.
Is it worth putting preheated water in the chamber, the way people are recommending with a moka pot?
@@taejaskudva2543 Depends on the rest of your routine. I use a hand grinder, and the time to heat cold water and start brewing on my stove is just about perfect (I usually have 15-30 seconds to spare) if I measure my beans into the grinder first and then turn on the burner with cold water.
If I'm doing back-to-back shots, the remaining warmth in the brewer means I have to do about half the grinding before I turn on the burner otherwise the brewer is ahead of me.
If I were using a fast motorized grinder the equation might favor preheated water.
I have been using 9barista for 2.5 years. It works as well as day 1 and it makes delicious espresso very consistently. As Morgan said it's not a back to back espresso machine, also not for people that like to tweak settings like pre-infusion, flow rate, pressure..etc, otherwise it's wonderful.
This is the best review I have seen of this espresso maker, thank you Morgan
i look forward to these videos! love morgan's sense of humor and personality
10:50 I still can’t get over the expression all of the TH-cam espresso enthusiasts make during their first sip… revulsion, followed by regret then quickly composing themselves as they remember that they are on camera. I understand it’s a moment of contemplation and I know that they are enjoying it as much as I do but “Espresso Face” seems to be a very real phenomenon. 😋❤☕😳🤢😂
Excellent way of describing a pretty universal (and sometimes unfortunate) phenomenon X)
@@morgandrinkscoffee I love your videos, thank you for everything that you do for our beloved coffee community 🥰
The 9Bar is my travel companion. I do keep it separate with my carry on as it will be checked out in security, but has never caused an issue. I pre pack 18g pouches of beans and grind them as needed. As far as back to back goes I run cold water over it, release pressure clean and go. I’d say a five minute turn around.
Yes expensive, so it’s about priorities. Starting my day with a couple of excellent shots is a must for me so the cost was well worth it. My unit is 3 years old and been around the world.
I've been using this machine only for the last 2-3 years and it's never let me down. Have replaced some seals once and messed up the valve twice cause i forgot it on the stove without water. There is one thing i wish reviewers would do. It's difficult but still, i really wish someone would test the actual temperature and pressure of this thing when water hits the puck. Because in your review you just repeat what the manufacturer claims. We're supposed to trust them I guess. However since and if the brew produced tastes good then it shouldn't really matter right. Still for the love of science it would be nice if someone would go through the trouble.
The manufacturers themselves are figuring out pressure and temperature with mathematical equations, I don't even know where to begin doing practical testing of those numbers in a way that wouldn't affect the functionality of the machine.
@@Toastybees Well, I think you could pump air or even water through the stem with a puck prepared in the grouphead and see at what pressure the valve gives in. A pump with a pressure gauge. As for temperature, not sure but maybe one of those infra red temperature guns that measure surface temp? Or some sort of wireless temperature sensor that can be imbedded inside the coffee puck? There are ways, needs a bit of thinking and then doing. I cant be bothered so I'm putting it on youtube reviewers.
@@suffocated That would give you a reading of the pressure valve gives in but not the brewing pressure. A wireless temperature sensor that could withstand the pressure and be small enough to fit in the chamber would be an expensive bit of kit that likely wouldn't be readily available to consumers if it exists at all which it likely doesn't, the mathematical formulations for figuring out pressure are reliable.
@@Toastybees If you carefully read what i wrote "I think you could pump air or even water through the stem with a puck prepared" I did mention a PREPARED PUCK whilst testing which would measure the pressure of the valve giving plus the resistance of the puck. And whilst indeed it wouldn't still measure 100% exactly, if the pressure read is 5 instead of something close to 9 ,then we could deduce that something might not work as claimed by the manufacturer right? As for the sensor I just did a quick google search and found something to the size of a small watch battery that can measure temperatures, its 3.3g, diameter of 17mm thickness of 6mm and can read temps of up to 125C. It costs 134 dollars and you can buy it now if you want to. Doesn't say anything about pressure but you cant just assume it doesn't work, one can try. And all that is a 3 minute google check I'm sure there are even smaller more advanced and rugged sensors. So to just assume that it would be an expensive kit that is not readily available to consumers is based on zero research on your part and ignorance. Its 2024, there are lots of stuff you can buy these days for cheap for all sorts of purposes.
Now to your other silly claim that "the mathematical formulations for figuring out pressure are reliable." It seems you speak as if you did the calcs yourself, or have access to them? Can you talk a bit about what these calculations entail? Put it in simple terms please. But to add to what you just said, there are lots of physics calculations that predicted things and on paper looked correct but we only scientifically accept them once real life experiments are executed and then duplicated repeatedly by other impartial labs. FFS the subatomic particles were pre-discovered theoretically but we built the LHC worth billions to test those theories. And you sit here telling me "the mathematical formulations for figuring out pressure are reliable." Without telling me what those calcs are or how they work.
A video on non-electric espresso makers would be cool. Flair Pro and various portable"camping" machines etc.
Several times a year, I take my counter top espresso machine camping. But in the winter, I worry about freezing. This seems like I could purge the water from the coil and store it in my truck. Espresso is especially good on a snowy day. So I would like to see other options too.
I have one of these, and it's my daily driver! I find it to be the very best balance of counterspace, convenience, and aesthetics. While that price point may turn some of you away, compare that price point with a decent quality compressor-driven espresso machine, which the 9barista can match in quality of coffee, and it doesn't sound too far off. That said, you absolutely can get the same quality of espresso at a much cheaper price point with an entry level Flair. The advantage that the 9barista has over a flair is its convenience, in that all you need to put effort into is figuring out what heat setting on the stove works best when you first get it and dialing in your grind setting. With a flair or other manual espresso machine, you need to be careful about the amount of pressure you're applying over time, where the 9barista does that automatically with one moving part that's easily replaceable. I had a manual espresso machine before my 9barista, and I found the 9barista something I could much more easily fit into my daily routine with little effort. Little tip for time efficiency, you can put the boiler on the stove to heat while you do your puck preparation. You should finish with plenty of time to lock in the portafilter. After pulling your shot, you can also run the boiler under cool water to flash cool it (the instructions say this is okay) in order to depressive and prepare for the next shot. Still not as convenient as a compressor-driven espresso machine, but perfectly fine for serving two or three people.
Cant wait to finish this video! Been so long since I've watched a coffee video
My moka does a pretty good job but when I seen the cup start to fill, my mouth started watering!☕️
I love learning about different types of brewers. If this was more affordable I would even consider buying one of these.
“I’m gonna chillax for a second” chillaxes by giving us the most beautiful, satisfying shots of coffee being brewed by the not-mocha pot expresso thing
One of those really, really cool gizmos that I really don't need. I can imagine a knot of people in the kitchen at a party and someone saying "Stuart is demonstrating that silly expensive espresso machine again!!"
These! Ive always been super intrested in these im so glad to see you've tried it
Ahh the 9 Barista, the thing that makes anyone who doesn’t understand espresso angry. Lol. True coffee nerds appreciate what’s special about it. Now that Flair leaked then released their updated Pro and 58’s maybe it’s time to revisit that segment of the espresso scene.
Very cool piece of coffee tech and engineering. One additional thing to note. The echo 😅 is kinda bugging me. Not sure if you have any plans for fixing that, but I would recommend getting some rugs for the non kitchen space in the studio to eat some of the sound.
thats a super super cool machine!!! i will keep it in my mental wish list for the future hehe
Hey Great Video. Great to see you again. 😊
Very cool way to brew, I was wondering how they were going to maintain pressure without overheating. The coil design definitely is a great way to do it.
As something else to check out if the 9barista is up your alley, the Kozak Rota 2 is truly a fascinating little machine
Could you bring the water to a boil in a kettle while prepping the puck so that it doesn't take so long to get hot on the stove, or would that mess with the pressure or something?
You can begin the heating process prior, yes. I don’t find that it saves that much time and ultimately ends up being a little tricky since you’re then left working with hot parts.
@@morgandrinkscoffee oh right, that wouldn't be very practical I guess 😅. thanks for the reply!
What I personally do with mine is that I put water in the chamber and screw both parts together and place them on heat. While it's eating up I prepare my puck and place it on top once done. With practice I usually have like one or two minutes to wait before coffee comes out.
Had one since it was launched. I still use it regularly. With a good grind, it’s very good. Just don’t tamp hard.
I would love to see a review in the Belman stove top espresso makers
Hmm, I feel this is probably very temperature and altitude dependent, however.
As in, it's likely it won't reach 9bars or 100c, if you happen to be at altitude or in a colder region.
Great little device though. Just hard for me to justify the price haha
Roughly 9 bars should be achievable in all conditions since I believe that is controlled by a spring largely. Atmospheric pressure isn't really relevant since the water is in a pressure vessel so the boiling point will be similar across all reasonable altitudes. All metal construction means heat will transfer easily from your heat source to the water
I thought this thing looked pretty rad until I saw the price 😅
It’s made in a country that pays living wages which accounts for the higher price, along with the insane quality.
Same
@@88sstraightcool, and it will only be purchased by the wealthy. I get why Morgan has it, it's literally her job lol but a normal person? That doesn't have a trust fund? Nope.
As much as I love my 9barista, I'm always a little hesitant to use it b/c I've had to replace the valve, o-rings, the pin inside a number of times. In fact, they basically just refurbished the whole thing for me recently (great customer service). Makes great espresso though.
Also, ever since we've lived in places with electric stove tops, my shots are 6-8 minutes with the heat on high regardless of whether I'm using the plate. That just makes me more nervous.
Man that was a clean slide!😎
Love that thing allmost got it for a year now in daily use
0:07 OTTO Turkish coffee pot spotted!
Can you use it on an induction cooktop? Oh, and what's with the, "Thou shalt not leave thy coffee brewer at any point!" and five seconds later you leave it to go "chillax"?
I've been eying this for a while. There's a local seller listing it at about a 100 dollar discount. Do you think it's worth it? I'm so smitten with its design and concept.
$500? I have to watch it? no way... (Watches that moka-like bubbling up but it's a perfect espresso). Take my money!
The coffee it brews seems to be excellent but for 550 to enjoy one espresso is a bit steep but i would say it possibly brews the coffee beautifully.
I think this is a fascinating machine that could be used for educating people about espresso without having to lug a huge machine
I’ve always thought these were super cool and fascinating, but as someone on a budget I went with a Picopresso instead. For $400 less, it feels like a bargain, even if it isn’t quite as consistent or quite as cool.
Great slide!
$500+ is craaaazy 😂 My moka pot was free, can't beat the taste of saving all that money.
The 9bar engineering is spectacular
All i can say is that i want one. I don't even really like espresso but i like gadgets and coffee gadgets are my favorite. Thanks for the video Morgan
A bit random, but I live in Vietnam and I was looking at a coffee magazine in a cafe and you were featured from one of the competitions! So neat
9barista seems like it’s half jet engine, half moka pot.
the inventor is literally a jet engine engineer
The lack of back-to-back shots is a huge killer for me as I normally brew a double shot... this is even not taking into account if I have anyone else wanting a shot.
It's very cool and very impractical except for a small subset of people. And if I were rich, I'd likely buy one!
Another TH-camr (shugemery) has had one of these from about the time they were introduced. He loves it. But, it's always been too expensive for me.
I really didn't need anyone to remind me the 9Barista exists, my bank hates this.
i suppose this would be good to take camping or on the go, otherwise a little bambino would be easier to use at home
I just want someone to explain grind size to me (with visuals! Not just ‘fine’ like that’s a good descriptor 🙄) and what’s good for light, medium dark.…
"What if a Moka Pot and a bong had a baby?"
Have you or anyone else used this with an induction cooktop? I’m curious how it behaves.
9Barista sells an induction adaptor plate. I haven't tried it myself, but once you use that, it should work just fine.
It's plated brass. It will not do anything on an induction burner without a piece of steel underneath it.
I love appliances that have no electrical opponents but $500 is too steep for my pockets
If I were so space constrained in my living circumstances, I'd hope it's because I live somewhere with some good cafés who can handle all trouble & expense involved with espresso instead!!
I want a screen saver of this thing brewing
canada
Looks like tuner car parts!!! Hahaha!!!!
It's $729 in canada...😮
$975 in Australia…
At its core this is a mocha pot. They just kept pushing the mocha pot to its logical point for modern espresso. I hope the price can come down a bit in the long run.
Often used in countries making the worst coffee possible - US, GB and so on...
Regards from Sweden.
its 10 times more expensive than moka pot, does it brew 10 times better?
You need to compare it to espresso makers as that is what it is.
Yes.
$35 for a moka pot??? Bruh Imusa versions are $10 at any hispanic grocery store
The moka pot is timeless, the other is overpriced and soon forgotten
nope
First! Nice, my first one.
$550 coffee pot and they cant even bebothered to machine off all the casting texture??? for shame
I love a solution to a problem that doesn't exist that costs 5 bills. People are saying this is for those who don't have space. I mean, spend $300 bucks on an entry level machine and another hundred on a little cart you can put in a corner somewhere and you're still ahead. Even for travel - how many hotels have stoves? It is a neat analog technology concept, I give it that, but that is kind of about it.
*ugh* The number of times I heard this person say 'temp-a-chur' ... I can't believe anything this person has said.
I own one because it is amazing, made by British engineers, the best kind of engineers, and British made, the best kind of made.
$500 for a moka pot+ is diabolical
It makes REAL espresso though unlike any moka pot
Is this a man ?
Oh that sexy La Marzocco 🤌🏻
But I'm still a fan of Lelit Bianca 😉❤️
Very cool piece of coffee tech and engineering. One additional thing to note. The echo 😅 is kinda bugging me. Not sure if you have any plans for fixing that, but I would recommend getting some rugs for the non kitchen space in the studio to eat some of the sound.
Very cool piece of coffee tech and engineering. One additional thing to note. The echo 😅 is kinda bugging me. Not sure if you have any plans for fixing that, but I would recommend getting some rugs for the non kitchen space in the studio to eat some of the sound.