The Ratio Six Collection 2 espresso brewer. All photographs courtesy of Ratio Espresso.

Espresso brewing tools maker Ratio Espresso has rolled out a brand new model of its Ratio Six brewer for house customers known as the Ratio Six Collection 2.

With the launch, the Portland, Oregon-based firm revealed a white paper detailing a battery of exams and comparisons between the Six and a number of other different standard house drip espresso makers.

The Ratio Six Collection 2 Brewer

The unique Ratio Six brewer was launched in 2019 as a user-friendly however lower-priced follow-up to the model’s flagship Ratio Eight machine. With one-button simplicity, the Six brews as much as 40 ounces of espresso, with water saved constantly inside a number of levels of 200°F through the brew. 

The Six and Eight brewers make the most of the identical 1,400-watt heating factor and handblown inside borosilicate glass provide line configuration. Water by a Six brewer exits a 24-hole stainless-steel bathe head right into a fluted, flat-bottom brew basket.

Whereas sustaining the unique Six’s $339 price ticket, the Six Collection 2 responds to consumer suggestions, with a redesigned carafe and a brand new system of water degree markings on the reservoir.

The redesigned thermal carafe features a new lid that’s simpler to scrub and dry, and a reshaped spout for extra exact, dribble-free pouring, in keeping with the corporate The brand new carafe can be suitable with the present Six filter basket and could be bought a la carte for $75.

New demarcations on the Collection 2 water tank present quantity versus the variety of cups, based mostly on consumer suggestions. 

The Ratio White Paper

In the meantime, the brand new white paper unsurprisingly concludes that Ratio’s merchandise carried out higher than some rivals. But the extra vital message, in keeping with Ratio Director of Gross sales and Advertising and marketing Andrew Bettis, is within the analysis methodologies, not the conclusions. 

Bettis examined a number of brewers for water temperature, water dispersion and brew mattress evenness. The temperature information was gathered utilizing a number of probes, together with one on the bathe head gap closest to the warmth supply, and one from the outlet farthest from the heater.

“The large takeaway, from a analysis perspective, is how inherently flawed the usual methodology of testing brewers is,” Bettis instructed DCN. “I really like the SCA’s 350-2021 Espresso Machine Commonplace. I used this religiously after I labored at Rancilio, and I want extra producers would do that testing to launch standardized information to customers, like horsepower for a automotive. I used that commonplace to tell how this research was constructed, however I feel the [Specialty Coffee Association] brewer certification and different applications that make the most of one probe within the slurry are giving partial outcomes.”

Bettis mentioned high quality certificates based mostly on much less rigorous testing set a decrease bar for producers, for which customers finally pay a value. Essentially the most extensively marketed brewer certification in america and Europe is thru the SCA Licensed Residence Brewer program. 

“One purpose with the white paper is to start out a dialog in espresso about our requirements for automated espresso brewers,” mentioned Bettis. “Within the lengthy provide chain of espresso, that is the final half and is usually given the least quantity of intentionality.”

Along with the brand new Six Collection 2, Ratio is constant growth of the Ratio 4 house brewer and the 4+ industrial brewer, which Bettis mentioned are at present slated for an October 2024 launch. 

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