It’s 2021 and in the rush of the holidays we launched some new gear! We wanted to stop and make sure you’ve got the low-down on all of this new equipment, so let’s take a look!
Solis isn’t an all new brand, but we relaunched the Scala and Barista gear late last year. The Barista Perfetta got a lot of attention, but equally exciting is the Scala grinder! This grinder can be a touch confusing because it’s really designed for slow brewing, not espresso. As such, we recommend it as a perfect pair for a new pour over set up or drip brewer.
In the slow brew space, the Scala makes a few concessions on case material and looks to provide an incredibly solid grind for a very affordable price point. At first glance you might dismiss it, but we really think it’s the sweet spot for price and performance in its price range. With a great grind, good range from coarse to fine drip, and a timer, this is a grinder that definitely punches above its weight.
This one’s not so much a new product as a new way to get started or upgrade. Breville offers some great all-in-ones in the Barista Express and Barista Pro, but the issue here is that you can’t independently upgrade your grinder and machine. That’s fine for a user brand-new to espresso, but when you are ready to move up to a new setup, the Dynamic Duo is now waiting for you.
This bundle includes a Dual Boiler espresso machine and Smart Grinder Pro. The Smart Grinder Pro is a great grinder for its price point, offering a grind fine enough for espresso, easy to use features, and simple maintenance. On the machine front, the Dual Boiler is one of Breville’s finest offerings. Filling the void between entry-level machines and higher end prosumer models, the Dual Boiler is likely the perfect machine for a huge number of users out there. Now you can get this great bundle at an equally great price!
The Silvia has been a longstanding stalwart of the ~$1,000 price range for espresso machines for a long time. This is because this machine can be a great one to learn on, and with some practice, creates nearly cafe quality shots. There have been calls for Rancilio to offer a more prosumer version of the Silvia for a while, and those calls have finally been answered!
The Silvia Pro ups the ante by including a second boiler for simultaneous brewing and steaming. It also includes built-in PID control with a shot timer, which corrects one of the trickier parts of the base Silvia (temperature stability). Finally, auto-on programming is a real highlight and fan favorite! The Silvia Pro is an example of a true upgrade in pretty much every way that doesn’t lose the parts of the base Silvia that have made it such a beloved machine.
The Fellow Ode is a huge shift in the brew grinding paradigm. Fellow always brings some pretty radical, intense design sensibility to their products, and the Ode is no different. This is a grinder designed exclusively for single dosing slow brew grinds. What this means is that it doesn’t have a traditional hopper, instead, you only pour in the amount of beans you’re using for your brew. Incredible features like a magnetized catch bin, a knock arm, big, chunky grind setting wheel, and auto-stop grinding give this grinder a premium feel backed up by strong innovations in grinder tech.
While the Ode is one the pricier side for brew grinders, it really is one of the best ways to grind for your pour over or other slow brewed coffee method.
And there you have it! Check out these fine new products and get your year started right with some fresh coffee!
