A roundup of the good 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 at all times necessary to seek out time to buckle down and bear in mind why you went: for espresso schooling and networking, to be particular.

I dug deep this 12 months to seek 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 up to now, 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 manner 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 circulate restrictor) to fluctuate the stress on the grouphead with precision and variability that I’ve not but seen from different producers. This, in fact, leads down the rabbit gap of stress profiling, espresso photographs, and five-minute chilly espresso extractions (which I bought to strive).

One factor is for sure: No matter their previous, Duvall isn’t messing round—what was on show was not one thing inbuilt 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 exhibiting the belt-driven pulleys within the again and the full-color touchscreen for barista interface. Like I mentioned, 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 aspect dealing with the client. The shopper can put their journey mug contained in the chamber, and RediUV closes round it. Contained in the chamber, a UV mild is activated and sanitizes the complete in and out of the espresso mug.

After only a fast few seconds, the chamber opens on the other aspect, 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 backwards and forwards, count on to see RediUV on an increasing number of espresso store counters.

3. The Collection GH-B Grinder by Pinecone

OK, this one goes to remain a little bit of a thriller for a couple of extra days as a result of you’ll be able to’t purchase one fairly but (like I mentioned, give it a couple 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 attempting 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 repute in my guide, as they have been previously the unique Mahlkönig distributor in the US, and they’re simply throughout nice of us. 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 mentioned, “You gotta test 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 fairly priced.” All of the issues I wish to hear!

What actually satisfied me that these have been the grinders for me was what I realized 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 identify 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 kit, nevertheless it 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 typically ask me what espresso I get enthusiastic about. The reply I give isn’t some form of goofy co-ferment or a stylish selection, and even an origin or roaster. The truth is, I often say “one which surprises me.” A low-elevation Ugandan robusta that scored 80 factors a couple 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, they usually 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 guide—they usually 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, in fact, bought enthusiastic about this product.

Keep in mind how I mentioned 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 every of 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 dimensions of a journey mug for about $100?!

Whereas I’ve but to do any long-term testing, the adjustment factors appear stable, 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 together with it. This may be the one piece of kit 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 might be very multifaceted. Positive, the massive, flashy cubicles draw the crowds, nevertheless it’s the smaller hidden cubicles the place subsequent 12 months’s developments 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 actual gems of the present. Give them some love—you may simply be on the slicing fringe of the subsequent massive 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 manner round numerous totally different espresso devices. Josh has been working within the espresso business since 2006 and enjoys profiting from all the nice adventures the outside have to supply.

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