Most home coffee machines make espresso, or something close to it from a capsule. Pour-over is a different drink: lighter, clearer, and better at showing what a particular bean tastes like. It is also fiddly. You need a grinder, a scale, a gooseneck kettle and a steady hand.
xBloom puts all of that in one machine. It grinds the beans, weighs the dose, heats the water and pours it over the coffee in a controlled pattern, then stops. You get a single cup of filter coffee that tastes the same every time.
How it works
There are three ways to use it. You can tap an NFC recipe card or use an xBloom pod, and the machine runs a recipe set by the roaster. You can use your own beans and pick a recipe in the app. Or you can treat it as a grinder and hot-water tap and pour by hand.
The hot water runs on its own too, which is handy for tea.
Studio or Original?
The xBloom Studio is the newer, more compact machine. It has a conical burr grinder with fine adjustment, a built-in scale and a rotating spout that pours in circles or spirals. It makes one cup at a time, about 350 ml.
The xBloom Original is the first model, with a different pouring system. Both make excellent filter coffee. For most kitchens the Studio is the easier fit.
Who it suits
- People who drink black coffee and like trying single-origin beans.
- Anyone who wants pour-over quality without learning the technique.
- Small kitchens. It takes about the bench space of a kettle.
Who should look elsewhere
If your day starts with a flat white or a latte, you want an espresso machine. xBloom does not make espresso or steam milk. It also makes one cup at a time, so it is not the answer for a crowd.
See our coffee machines, and pair one with a handmade mug from our mugs and cups.
