The September Update (Patreon)

Hello lovely people!

Now that the studio move is done (though you'll see the set continue to evolve for a while), and we're starting to film more regularly again, I also wanted to start giving some updates on what's going on here in case you would find it interesting.

Part of the new studio's space is an area that is dedicated to testing equipment. Previously we were doing it in the set, which made filming more difficult and testing more difficult too - especially when we had more units to test. We're still working out the testing space, and building it out too, but it's already been very useful for recipe development and gear testing.

What are we testing?

I think some of you are aware that we've had a "Best Espresso Grinder Under £500" video in the works for a while. I had hoped to have this video done months ago, but I'm glad I didn't, as it would have been instantly obsolete. We've just purchased and received the new version of the DF64 (it's called the Gen 2, and it's not the DF64V; that's at a higher price point - also, they need better names!) as well as the Timemore 64S. That hadn't been on the list initially, but the Vario VS3 had been in there. The VS3 is out (there've been too many issues with their initial production run, and it is also way cheaper than everything else). As a reminder - the other grinders are: The Lagom Mini, Mahlkoenig's x54, Baratza's Sette, Eureka's Mignon Oro and of course the Niche Zero.

We've currently got a particle size analyser on loan - so things will be getting nerdy!

What else is coming?

We've got a few more grinders, though I'm trying not to succumb to new grinder fatigue. The Fellow Opus and Niche Duo are the two most likely to get a review this year. Also, the AeroPress XL probably deserves a video too.

Beyond reviews - a live event!

We're working on a few different things at the moment. A technique video, some science stuff, the next Tiramisu videos (I think there'll be three more in the series in total, the next one being a deep, deep dive into ingredients and techniques).

I'll also give you all a heads-up now that we're working on a very small live event/tasting. Because of the liquids involved being available in very small quantities, the number of tasting tickets for the event will likely be tiny (maybe 40 or so, and you'll need to sign a waiver too...). We'll be tasting five vintage coffee liqueurs from the 70s, 80s and 90s...

We'll probably have another 60-80 tickets available for those we might be interested in attending to watch me shoot the video and there'll be a live Q&A too. The video will be posted as an edited, finished video, rather than a live stream. The date isn't set yet, but likely around early to mid-October. We'll give people plenty of warning. Tickets will be available to Patreon supporters initially (and hopefully enough of you want to come down that they won't go on wider sale, but we'll see!)

I want to say thank you again for your patience and support, while we've moved and sorted ourselves out. We hope to make more videos in the last three months of this year than we've made in the year to date!

James