No World Barista Championship routine is seemingly full with out an espresso gadget or extraction software.

Yearly, a rising variety of rivals showcase the newest improvements in espresso preparation. A number of distribution instruments, post-extraction enchancment machines, and superior tampers have gotten more and more prevalent on the world stage, as rivals push for better-tasting espresso and better scores.

For a contest that promotes excellence, the pattern in direction of high-tech, trendy devices and tools was to be anticipated. Nevertheless it’s additionally having an influence on the broader business, influencing high-end espresso outlets and residential brewing setups.

I spoke with John Gordon at Silverback Espresso Options and Benjamin Hohlmann of Kaffeemacher for his or her perception.

You might also like our article on why specialty espresso is obsessive about distribution instruments.

Specialty espresso’s obsession with perfection

The pursuit of “good” espresso is seemingly unending within the specialty espresso world. 

Along with the “large three” variables – dose, yield, and extraction time – baristas, prosumers, and rivals push to regulate plenty of different parameters as a lot as potential. Over the previous few years, an rising variety of espresso professionals and fans have targeted closely on move fee, temperature, strain, and grind measurement as a method to retain the utmost quantity of flavour and aroma compounds of their espresso.

Gear producers have clearly taken notice of this curiosity. Coinciding with this pattern, the market has been flooded with “espresso devices”: superior and sometimes costly extraction instruments that cater to the extra “geeky” espresso professionals and prosumers.

By investing on this tools, skilled and residential baristas can exert extra management over a wider vary of variables. In idea, this helps them put together higher, extra consistent-tasting espresso.

The WDT craze

Distribution has grow to be a selected space of focus. The apply helps homogenise different-sized floor espresso particles all through the portafilter basket, and in idea, ought to assist extract a greater shot.

The Weiss Distribution approach is among the hottest. Developed by John Weiss in 2005, the strategy entails stirring floor espresso in a portafilter basket utilizing a positive needle or related utensil.

In response to the rising recognition of WDT and different distribution instruments at competitions, residence barista setups, and high-end espresso outlets, extra manufacturers have launched their very own. These embody the Barista Hustle Autocomb (made standard by the 2022 World Barista Champion Anthony Douglas), Weber Workshops’ Moonraker and Blind Shaker, the NCD Pulse (which utilises vibration know-how), and PUQ Press’ automated Navigator.

“Using these instruments raises compelling questions concerning the subjective expertise of espresso preparation and consumption, and the way the instruments we select can affect not simply the result, however the extraction itself,” says John Gordon, multi-national Barista Champion and the director of Silverback Espresso Options in New Zealand.

The pattern of espresso devices at espresso competitions

Competitions just like the World Barista Championship are thought-about by many to be the top of excellence in specialty espresso. Inevitably, they’ve grow to be the perfect setting for using superior espresso devices and extraction instruments.

The pattern seems to be intensifying yr after yr. In the course of the 2025 US Barista Championship, every of the finalists used both one or a mix of a number of distribution instruments and strategies of their routines. At this yr’s World Barista Championship, we’re prone to see an analogous state of affairs.

In the meantime, different superior extraction instruments are gaining prominence. The Nucleus Paragon Espresso software (a titanium-coated stainless-steel sphere with a liquid core containing glycerin and water) was a notable fixture on the 2023 World Barista Championship. Throughout their routines, rivals famous how the Paragon preserved extra of the espresso’s unstable compounds, enhancing flavour notion.

On the 2024 occasion, Australian competitor Jack Simpson showcased “post-extraction enchancment” utilizing the Waved Tech machine. This utilises electromagnetic wave know-how to cut back bitterness and improve sweetness in espresso, traits that assist rivals obtain greater scores.

“Whereas espresso is already a type of emulsion, stirring, vibrating, or making use of ultrasound can additional alter the association of particles within the liquid,” says Benjamin Hohlmann, the founder and CEO of Kaffeemacher in Switzerland. “That is an space the place extra analysis could be worthwhile.

“Utilizing these instruments conveys a way of ‘consistency’ and gives one other narrative component the place causality associated to flavour will be claimed with out the present competitors format with the ability to disprove it,” he provides. “For these instruments to have real worth in a contest setting, the format would wish to alter so judges style one espresso ready with none instruments, stirring, or vibration, and one with these strategies. 

“Such an method would advance information throughout the business.”

Some analysis, nonetheless, has reaffirmed rivals’ claims that these espresso devices and instruments supply benefits. Researchers at ZHAW, for instance, discovered that “compound chilling” the primary 10ml of espresso preserved extra unstable compounds.

Affect on the broader business

As with many competitors tendencies, espresso devices have gotten more and more standard in high-end espresso outlets and prosumer residence brewing setups.

“You solely want to have a look at the highest espresso bars around the globe and see what’s getting used on the bar or what competitors baristas use every day to grasp the validity of most instruments,” John says.

Espresso influencers, together with well-known aggressive baristas, additionally proceed to drive the pattern. Many distinguished business figures showcase new, progressive extraction instruments on their social media platforms or on the worldwide competitors stage.

This presents worthwhile promotional alternatives for tools producers, though nearly all of rivals don’t formally endorse or are sponsored by these manufacturers.

“Usually, there’s initially little to no direct financial trade between producers and rivals; as a substitute, instruments are supplied freed from cost,” Benjamin says. “Some manufacturers actively attain out to rivals and supply tools – usually a win-win.

“The barista will get to inform a ‘new’ story with a brand new software, and the model beneficial properties visibility,” he provides. “Whether or not the software really improves the ultimate cup profile doesn’t should be the purpose, as there’s no blind testing on stage with and with out the machine.”

Type over perform?

Following broader tendencies within the espresso business, the design and performance of espresso devices have superior significantly lately. The previous has grow to be extra visually placing, whereas the latter has grow to be extra superior and complex.

Each points seize the eye of prosumers, who’re more and more prepared to put money into high-tech devices that improve the aesthetic enchantment of their residence brewing setups. 

In flip, we may see extra residence and semi-professional baristas use superior extraction instruments, inevitably making them extra mainstream. 

Nonetheless, producers want to seek out methods so as to add real worth to the person expertise – particularly relating to bettering extraction.

“Emphasising and understanding person wants, combining aesthetics with performance, and guaranteeing ease of use are key going ahead,” John says. “In the end, we have to intention to create progressive and user-centred merchandise that resonate with customers and tackle precise and tangible real-world challenges.

“I believe we have to return to the basics of brewing and have a look at what we’re really gaining from every software,” he provides. “If it’s not bettering the general expertise, then take away it and simplify the method. Generally, much less is extra.”

Developments usually come and go in specialty espresso, however espresso devices are right here to remain – particularly at competitions.

Because the prosumer market expands, these devices and applied sciences will doubtless grow to be more and more mainstream. However the ones that preserve their presence within the business have to ship on efficiency.

Loved this? Then learn our article on the competitors pattern of post-extraction enchancment.

Picture credit: Specialty Espresso Affiliation

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