This page provides essential technical guides and policies for Decent Espresso machines and other Decent gear. Key topics include setup instructions for plumbing, drainage, and catering kits, water quality recommendations, maintenance tutorials (like changing puck rake needles), repacking procedures, and our stolen machine policy.
Source: How to repack your Decent Espresso machine
To safely transport a Decent Espresso machine for moving, travel, or service, it must be repacked in its original padded suitcase. The process involves cleaning and removing the water tank, drip tray, and portafilter, then disconnecting the tablet.
The machine is placed into the custom foam padding, with accessories like cables and handles organized in designated compartments. By following these specific steps to secure the machine and its components, you ensure the equipment remains protected and organized during transit.
Source: Stolen machine policy
Decent Espresso's Stolen Machine Policy is designed to protect buyers, support legitimate owners, and deter the trade of stolen equipment.
For Prospective Buyers: The company strongly advises requesting a serial number before purchase. Decent's tech support will verify the machine's legitimacy, specifications, and repair history with the registered owner. Reluctance from a seller to provide this number is a major red flag.
Transfer of Ownership: Legitimate second-hand buyers can transfer ownership by providing a photo of the serial number. Remaining warranties are fully transferable, and expired ones can be repurchased.
Theft Deterrence and Recovery: Stolen machines are added to a global database. Once connected to the internet, these units are remotely disabled, rendering them unusable. If a stolen machine is flagged:
Context on Theft: The policy highlights common theft methods, including "porch piracy," courier "loss" (where machines are later auctioned), and recent AI-generated marketplace scams.
Source: DE1 drip tray v2 fittings how-to
This guide explains how to install the fittings for the DE1 Drip Tray V2. Unlike the V1, which featured a molded ceramic drain, the V2 uses a hole in the ceramic base secured with metal parts, washers, and gaskets to create a reliable seal.
The primary advantage of the V2 design is a more secure drain tube installation that doesn't require a cable tie or a perfectly dry surface to prevent slipping. The page includes a video tutorial and a detailed assembly diagram to help users correctly position the washers and gaskets for a leak-free setup.
Source: How to power your Decent Portable Rinser with a battery
The Decent Portable Rinser can be powered off-grid using standard 18V power tool batteries (like Makita, DeWalt, or Milwaukee). Since the rinser requires a steady 12V DC input, the setup involves three key components:
Critical Safety Note: Never connect the rinser directly to an 18V battery, as the excess voltage will destroy the pump. When shopping for adapters, ensure they are rated for 12V/3A. This setup allows for professional-grade pitcher rinsing at festivals, markets, or outdoor events without needing a wall outlet.
Source: Water recommendations for the DE1 and Bengle
Water quality is the most critical factor for the longevity of Decent Espresso machines. Using improper water causes scale buildup and heater failures, which are not covered under warranty.
Recommended Water Types:
Key Guidelines:
Source: How to Change the Needles on Your Decent Puck Rake
To replace needles on a Decent Puck Rake (V1 or V2), follow these steps:
Note for V1 owners: V2 needles are 4mm longer. You must either replace all needles for a uniform length or trim the new ones with pliers to match your existing set.
Source: How to connect your Drain Kit to your machine
The Decent Drain Kit v1 allows users to bypass manual emptying by routing wastewater from the drip tray to a container or drainage system. It is compatible with all DE1 models (PRO, XL, and PLUS) but is not compatible with the Bengle.
The kit includes a specialized drip tray with a drainage hole, a cover, a long opaque waste tube, a small straight tube for countersinks, an L-shaped connector for sideways drainage, and a cable tie.
Installation Methods: There are three primary ways to configure the drain based on your setup:
Critical Setup Note: In all configurations, the cable tie must be used to secure the tubing or connector to the drip tray spout to prevent leaks. Additionally, ensure the end of the waste tube is not submerged in water, as this creates backpressure and prevents proper drainage.
Source: How to connect your Catering Kit to the machine
The Decent Catering Kit automates refilling for all DE1 models and the Bengle. Regardless of the option chosen, you must connect the black network cable from the kit to the machine for power and communication.
This is the simplest setup for direct suction from a water source.
Use the included simple valve to manage flow and prevent backflow.
Crucial:* Ensure the arrow on the valve points toward the kit (away from the bottle).
Once switched on (indicated by an orange light), the kit remains on standby. It only activates when the machine detects a need for water, at which point a green light illuminates. To ensure freshness, the kit tops off the tank rather than keeping it permanently full.
Source: How to connect your Plumbing Kit to the machine
The Decent Plumbing Kit allows DE1 series and Bengle machines to connect directly to pressurized water sources, such as Reverse Osmosis (RO) systems. Like the catering kit, it uses a black network cable for machine communication and features indicator lights (orange for power, green for active filling).
Once powered on, the kit remains on standby. When the machine's sensors detect a low water level, the solenoid valve opens to top off the reservoir, ensuring the water stays fresh rather than constantly full.
Source: How many coffees can a Decent Espresso machine make per hour?
The DE1XL from Decent Espresso can produce approximately 102 espressos per hour, a conclusion reached by founder John Buckman through a series of "10-minute challenges." The primary takeaway from these tests is that the machine is rarely the bottleneck; instead, speed is determined by the barista's workflow and equipment setup.
Throughout the challenges, several factors limited performance:
For milk drinks, the DE1XL managed 54 lattes per hour when one machine was dedicated to brewing and another to steaming. Even without a flawless performance, the Decent proved capable of outpacing many professional coffee shops. To maximize speed, the study recommends having multiple portafilters ready and starting the next extraction before finishing latte art.