This collection highlights various Decent Espresso activities, including high-speed "Ten Minute Challenges" and unique signature drink concepts. It features factory visits, taste tests, and guest blog posts that showcase our community engagement, machine performance, and the vibrant culture surrounding the Decent Factory Cafe.
Source: Buy Cake for Damian
We're showing our gratitude to Damian, the prolific community member behind the popular DSX skin and Londinium profile. Since he shares his technical innovations and support for free, we've created a way for users to "buy him a cake." 100% of these donations go directly to him.
Source: Signature drink concept brings in the crowds
At the Seoul Coffee Show, our friends at Fillout Cafe drew massive crowds by focusing on "signature drinks." We saw how creative differentiation—like their salt creme latte—can build customer loyalty. By moving beyond standard profiles, cafes can transform espresso into unique, Instagram-worthy experiences that stand out in a crowded market.
Source: Buy Johanna a Hot Toddy
We're thanking Johanna, a key community contributor who revolutionized our app with Bluetooth scale support and GitHub integration. While she recovers from a cold, we've set up a way for you to "buy her a hot toddy." Every cent goes directly to her as a token of our appreciation.
Source: The Ten Minute Challenge
John explores whether Decent machines are fast enough for cafes through "Ten Minute Challenges." By timing real-world workflows—including weighing doses and WDT—he averaged 45 seconds per espresso. These tests identify bottlenecks, proving that high-end specialty techniques can still meet the demands of a busy morning rush.
Source: Video: 10 minute challenge: espresso, 2x DE1
In this video, John attempts the "Ten Minute Challenge" using two DE1XL machines and a Niche grinder. Despite intentional distractions and "fussy" specialty techniques, he pulls 10 espressos. The experiment highlights the importance of consistent workflow over hardware, showing that one machine often matches two when multitasking fails.
Source: 10 minute challenge #2: latte, 2x DE1 (#2)
In this second "Ten Minute Challenge," John makes lattes using two DE1XL machines. He completed five drinks, noting that inconsistent workflow and simple mistakes—like spilling a drink or forgetting to hit start—limited his speed. He concluded that "ghost" (hands-free) steaming is effective but requires precise milk measurements.
Source: 10 minute challenge #3: espresso, 1x DE1XL (#3)
In this third challenge, John focused on a single DE1XL to test real-world speed. He successfully pulled 10 espressos in 10 minutes, matching his previous two-machine performance. The results proved that a streamlined workflow and a fast grinder are more critical for speed than having multiple espresso machines.
Source: 10m challenge #4: latte, 1x DE1
John returns to the single-machine setup for his fourth "Ten Minute Challenge," successfully producing five lattes. He highlights that while the DE1XL steams quickly, the real bottleneck is human workflow—specifically the time spent cleaning pitchers and precisely dosing milk—rather than the machine's mechanical limits.
Source: 10m challenge #5: 17 espressos=102 per hour !
In his fifth challenge, John achieved a blistering pace of 17 espressos in 10 minutes using two DE1XL machines—extrapolating to 102 per hour. He proved that with a prepared workflow (using four portafilters) and a fast grinder, a single barista can maintain high-volume specialty standards without sacrificing quality.
Source: 10m challenge #6: two people making lattes
In this final challenge, John and a partner produced eight lattes in ten minutes. The results confirmed that the bottleneck is never machine speed, but rather human coordination. Even with two people, efficiency depends on managing the workflow of prepping, pouring, and cleaning rather than the hardware's performance.
Source: Entrebox visits the Decent factory, does a taste challenge with our employees
Hong Kong YouTubers Entrebox visited the Decent factory to conduct a blind taste test. Using two different extraction profiles for the same coffee, they challenged employees to identify the flavor differences. The video, subtitled in English, showcases the machine's versatility and the staff's palate.
Source: Katie Tang guest blogger at Decent Cafe
Guest blogger Katie Tang visited the Decent Factory Cafe to explore the DE1's precision. She highlighted how the intuitive tablet interface and automated pressure calculations make professional-level brewing accessible. Using Oatly, she enjoyed a seamless plant-based latte-making experience, demonstrating the machine's ease of use for home baristas.
Source: "Coffee Mania" at Decent Factory Cafe
The Decent Factory Cafe hosted RIAS Coffee Roasters' "Coffee Mania" preliminary competitions. The event utilized the cafe's well-lit, livestream-ready space for contests and training. Decent also provided a "free style" room for contestants to practice privately on machines, highlighting the venue's role as a hub for the Hong Kong coffee community.
Source: New video: unboxing your Decent
The video and blog post provide a concise, scripted guide to unboxing and assembling a Decent espresso machine. Key steps include carefully sliding the machine out wheels-first, installing the water tank and group head handle, and attaching the Android tablet. It serves as both a setup tutorial and a sales showcase.
Source: New video: Unboxing DE1XL v1.44
This guide details unboxing the Decent DE1XL v1.44. Key steps include sliding the machine out wheels-first, removing packaging, and installing the water tank and group head handle. Finally, mount the tablet, connect the USB and power cables, and fill the tank to begin brewing.