In this behind-the-scenes talk, Decent Espresso founder John Buckman explains the philosophy that drives constant innovation—from tackling the challenge of brewing a good light-roast espresso to building a global, open-source coffee ecosystem.

AI Summary:

Introduction

This talk centers on the future of software development at Decent. Unlike traditional espresso machines optimized for dark roasts, this platform aims to solve the problem of brewing high-quality espresso using light roast beans—a task complicated by the limitations of legacy hardware and a lack of clear brewing guidelines. John walks through the conceptual and technical journey that led to the creation of a programmable coffee machine and its associated software, designed to foster community-driven experimentation and innovation.

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Key Highlights

The Problem Space

Traditional espresso machines were designed around Italian dark roasts. When light roasts gained popularity, the same machines struggled to produce consistent, high-quality results.

The core question emerged: How do you make espresso with light roast beans?

The Role of Uncertainty

Coffee expert Scott Rao emphasized, “we don't know,” when it came to brewing light roast espresso.

This honest acknowledgment became a powerful motivator for the team to explore new solutions instead of replicating known techniques.

From Machine to Platform

The goal wasn't just to make a machine, but to develop a platform—a programmable system that users could modify, test, and improve over time.

The software and hardware were built with flexibility in mind, allowing for real-time adjustments to pressure, flow, and temperature.

Community and Collaboration

A significant part of the vision was enabling users to share recipes, data, and brewing outcomes.

This collective knowledge base would evolve the platform beyond what any single expert or company could achieve alone.

Scientific and Experimental Approach

The design encourages a scientific method of brewing: test, adjust, document, and repeat.

The machine logs each brewing session, allowing users to review and replicate their methods.

User Empowerment

By making the machine programmable and the data transparent, users gain deep control over the brewing process.

It empowers baristas, enthusiasts, and researchers to push the boundaries of what's possible with espresso.

Iterative Development

John highlights how each stage of software development responded to user feedback and emerging needs.

This agile, iterative process made the platform increasingly robust and user-friendly over time.

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Conclusion

The future of coffee brewing software, as envisioned in this talk, lies not in rigid, one-size-fits-all systems, but in adaptable, collaborative platforms that evolve with their users. By tackling the unresolved challenge of brewing light roast espresso, the team has created a tool that empowers experimentation, encourages shared learning, and elevates the entire craft. The result is not just better coffee—it's a living system of continuous innovation.

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