A roundup of the best new devices (and low) we encountered at this 12 months’s Specialty Espresso Expo in Houston, Texas.
BY JOSH TAVES
BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE
Featured photograph courtesy of Specialty Espresso Affiliation
The 2025 Specialty Espresso Affiliation (SCA) Expo has formally wrapped up, concluding yet one more 12 months of smoothies, bean sorters, inflatable costumes, and raucous rabble rousing. And whereas all of the trimmings are what make the occasion thrilling, it’s all the time necessary to search out time to buckle down and bear in mind why you went: for espresso training and networking, to be particular.
I dug deep this 12 months to search out the gems amidst the fluorescent lights and fodder, and in case you missed them, right here they’re.
1. Duvall’s FC-1 Espresso Machine
I suppose I’ve missed Duvall previously, as their Instagram has posts relationship again to 2017, and it’s a disgrace I did. The espresso machine firm confirmed up in a giant method this 12 months with an immaculate and attention-grabbing model of their FC-1 three group espresso machine.
This machine employs a singular piston-driven chamber that makes use of variable motor pace and a recognized mass of water (not a move restrictor) to fluctuate the stress on the grouphead with precision and variability that I’ve not but seen from different producers. This, after all, leads down the rabbit gap of stress profiling, espresso photographs, and five-minute chilly espresso extractions (which I bought to attempt).
One factor is for sure: No matter their previous, Duvall isn’t messing round—what was on show was not one thing in-built a again alley storage or needing to be custom-ordered. Duvall is clearly capturing for production-level outputs of their fashions, with components and serviceability that declare to match any of the opposite giant espresso machine producers. Oh, and in case you walked by with out registering, their sales space had the cherry-red espresso machine with clear cutouts displaying the belt-driven pulleys within the again and the full-color touchscreen for barista interface. Like I stated, they aren’t messing round.
2. RediUV’s Reusable Cup Sanitizing System
There have been many gizmos with flashing lights on the present, however this one from RediUV may be the one one I wished. Easy in its design, the RediUV is a cylindrical chamber, roughly 18” tall, that sits on the counter at your espresso store. When it senses the presence of a buyer in entrance of it, it opens the chamber on the facet dealing with the client. The client can put their journey mug contained in the chamber, and RediUV closes round it. Contained in the chamber, a UV gentle is activated and sanitizes your entire inside and outside of the espresso mug.
After only a fast few seconds, the chamber opens on the other facet, now dealing with the barista, and presents the client’s journey mug to the barista clear as a whistle and prepared for a drink to be made. No switch of germs, no worries. As we begin to see extra municipalities crack down on the questionable sanitation of journey mugs being handed forwards and backwards, count on to see RediUV on increasingly espresso store counters.
3. The Sequence GH-B Grinder by Pinecone
OK, this one goes to remain a little bit of a thriller for a number of extra days as a result of you possibly can’t purchase one fairly but (like I stated, give it a number of days)—however I’ll sum up the necessary particulars simply sufficient to get you salivating.
Pinecone is a comparatively unknown grinder producer that has been making an attempt to make a push into the U.S. marketplace for the previous few years via a distributor often known as GHGBS. GHGBS has an ideal fame in my e book, as they have been previously the unique Mahlkönig distributor in the USA, and they’re simply throughout nice people. The “GH” portion of GHGBS represents the founder, Gary Horne (extra on that later).
I hadn’t paid Pinecone a lot thoughts till my GHGBS gross sales reps pulled me apart and stated, “You gotta verify this out.” I requested what was so particular about it and his response was mainly, “Nicely, it’s easy, works very well, and is admittedly moderately priced.” All of the issues I wish to hear!
What actually satisfied me that these have been the grinders for me was what I discovered subsequent: A) Pinecone was based by a bunch of ex-Mahlkönig engineers, a few of the greatest within the enterprise; and B) the “GH” within the mannequin title GH-B stands for none apart from Gary Horne himself! The person, the parable, the Southern-gentleman-legend now has his personal grinder, and I would like one.
4. Espresso Wallas
This one isn’t a chunk of apparatus, but it surely undoubtedly piqued my curiosity. I’ve been a barista for a number of generations in canine years and labored as a inexperienced purchaser for half a decade as effectively. Folks usually ask me what espresso I get enthusiastic about. The reply I give isn’t some type of goofy co-ferment or a classy selection, and even an origin or roaster. In truth, I normally say “one which surprises me.” A low-elevation Ugandan robusta that scored 80 factors a number of years again involves thoughts. Naturally fermented Gesha from Oaxaca is one other—I didn’t know farmers in Mexico have been doing that once I first tried it 10 years in the past.
Anyway, subsequent time I get requested what espresso I’m enthusiastic about, I’m going to say, “Espresso Wallas.” Espresso Wallas is a roaster out of Canada that ONLY roasts specialty-grade espresso from Asian nations. I attempted washed and pure coffees from China, Vietnam, Indonesia, and India on the present, and so they have been all scrumptious and clear. Now, let’s be actual: Are these $300/lb Brewers Cup-competition-level coffees fermented in a shower of unicorn tears? Nope, however the 5 coffees I attempted have been all well-roasted and simply scored between 84 and 88 factors in my e book—and so they have been all from Asian nations! Coloration me impressed; these have been my favorites of the present.
5. Nuttii’s OX Moveable Espresso Grinder
Discover that the above title doesn’t say “hand grinder.” Whereas the Nuttii OX grinder does certainly slot in your hand, it’s powered by a chargeable battery—and I believe that’s simply genius. As somebody who has actually spent dozens of hours cranking on Hario Skertons and Comandante C40s (amongst others), I, after all, bought enthusiastic about this product.
Bear in mind how I stated the RediUV was the one factor I discovered that I kinda wished? Nicely, I suppose I lied as a result of I truly satisfied the fella working the Nuttii sales space to let me purchase one in all his demo fashions, that’s how a lot I appreciated it. I imply, come on, a USB-C rechargeable conical burr grinder that’s roughly the scale of a journey mug for about $100?!
Whereas I’ve but to do any long-term testing, the adjustment factors appear strong, the bearing units are agency, and the general development is spectacular. The grinder is available in an array of colours, and the fella I purchased it from even threw in an identical Geo-C Moveable scale to go along with it. This may be the one piece of apparatus I’ve ever purchased off the present flooring, and I’m tickled with it.
Till Subsequent Time
As I’ve grown as an expert and continued to attend the SCA Expo for who-even-knows what number of years now, I’ve actually come to understand the truth that the present may be very multifaceted. Positive, the large, flashy cubicles draw the crowds, but it surely’s the smaller hidden cubicles the place subsequent 12 months’s tendencies are made.
Whereas this may not be the Expo recap you anticipated, with the most recent releases from the names you already know, I hope you loved this deep dive into what I discovered have been the true gems of the present. Give them some love—you would possibly simply be on the reducing fringe of the following huge factor within the espresso world.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Josh Taves is the proprietor of Dialed Espresso Providers in Michigan and the creator of the Cupping Brewer. He’s additionally a 2017 USBC finalist, so he is aware of his method round numerous totally different espresso devices. Josh has been working within the espresso trade since 2006 and enjoys benefiting from all the nice adventures the outside have to supply.
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