X e n i a - a new and flexible coffee machine

[Iskanda]

First I want to introduce myself. My name is Holger and I'm living in germany. I hope I'm allowed to post some information about a new coffee-machine (but which is not in production yet).


Since the late 80ths we are in contact with Italian coffee (Espresso) and for some years we imported coffee machines from Italy. Now we developed a coffee machine with some friends over more than 4 years and discussed the features for more than 1 year in the German coffee forum kaffenetz.de.


The Xenia is developed in Germany and will be build in Germany (close to Berlin). Nearly all components are made in Europe (Italy and Germany) - except 3 (tank for water, the driptray made of ABS and the ardunio-based control board).


We build only this one machine as it covers a wide range of features and wishes. The machine can be used as a kind of basic version (Xenia B, HX-machine) and can be upgraded to the version DP (with 2 PID-controllers). It is also possible upgrade the machine to a dual-boiler - but actually we have no reasons to offer it, as the machine is very stable. However there is space for and additional boiler and the controlboard with a 32bit-processor is able to handle the additional tasks.


Apart from the possibility to upgrade the machine, it is possible to customize the machine. We have i.e. a beautiful black faced, handles made of of olive wood or metal. There are joystick-valves for steam and water and you can swap the position of the steam and water valve (fore left-handed persons). The glass tank for water can be lifted or slided out to the left or right (if there are wall cupboards).

Here you can see one of the prototypes (in our kitchen):

We made many measurements to find the best stability concerning the brew temperature and we developed a kind of new brewgroup which allows is to have influence of the brew temperature. Some measured curvesyou will find here:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1626055654332560.1073741841.1612085189062940&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1626365234301602.1073741842.1612085189062940&type=3

The machine is not controlled by a standard control box, but by a own developed board which is based on the arduino project (in fact it is a ardunio Due) with a lot of input and output ports. The advantage is that we can implement new features if we want - just by using the arduino-IDE and connect the board by USB to the PC - and we are not depending on a external manufacturer. And there is an option to install a 2nd board with more sensors, relays, WLAN, a.s.o.



Even the machine offers a lot of nice feature - it is still a small machine and suitable for many kitchens.

We didn't made everything in another way compared to other machines and we don't think that the Xenia is a breathtaking revolution in the coffee business. But we improved several things and we see now that the people in middle Europe like the flexible concept and beautiful small machine.


If you understand German, you will find 4 threads on www.kaffeenetz.de with some thousands of comments and proposals:
https://www.kaffee-n...-e-n-i-a.92908/
http://www.kaffee-ne...maschine.87167/
http://www.kaffee-ne...teuerung.88577/
http://www.kaffee-ne...gnfragen.89613/


Our website is providing many information in English: homepage


On vimeo you find some videos, like:

https://vimeo.com/159705440
https://vimeo.com/148719238


If there are any questions or ideas concerning the machine - feel free to ask me. I can reply in German and English

 

[Mr.Peaberry]

Nice look, utilitarian, but nice & clean. So one is able to operate this machine from PC or Mac and store profiles for different espresso blends? How about the price? Target launch date? Also, welcome to coffeeforums.com!

 

[Iskanda]

Nice look

Thank you. We tried to find an elegant and clear design.

So one is able to operate this machine from PC or Mac and store profiles for different espresso blends?

With the 2nd board there a WLAN-chip and we think that ws will install a small webserver and there is access by each brower possible.
Probably there is an option to save profiles but we have actually 'only' a list of desired features to implement

 

[Iskanda]

How about the price?

Please take a look: prices

Target launch date?

The 1st production is in june.

Also, welcome to coffeeforums.com!

Thank you.

 

[javanize.me]

I like the compact polish and retro style of the machine. I think you should hire someone to work on your IoT features and develop an API that will allow to access via Browser but also via phone apps easily. That way, you could also develop a community which could share brew profiles and so on. Basically even a non expert would be able to make very good coffee just by downloading the coffee profile from another user.

Not sure if the mechanical part of the espresso machine would allow it, but using the arduino you can configure scheduling into the machine and have it prepare the espresso itself at wake up time. You could also create other logic like if the phone is being used by the user in the morning than start espresso machine, proximity detection via bluetooth and so on. Any way that you feel could improve the life of people.

You could also focus on interacting with other technology like the scale acaia which use bluetooth and you can access remotely to see profiles and so on. It is also designed to be a scale to be used in the tray of an espresso machine so very sturdy.


Anyway, keep the good work!

 

[Iskanda]

I think you should hire someone to work on your IoT features and develop an API that will allow to access via Browser but also via phone apps easily.

I'm software developer, my hardware designerand some customers are developers too

That way, you could also develop a community

We think more about a kind of community to develop the software. The idea is to publish the code and it could happen that there will be a kind of 'fork' - a new firmware which is developed 'outside' our company with more functions (like pressureprofiling, ...).

but using the arduino you can configure scheduling into the machine and have it prepare the espresso itself at wake up time.

A good idea, but the coffee will be burned due to heating up.

You could also create other logic like if the phone is being used by the user in the morning than start espresso machine, proximity detection via bluetooth and so on. Any way that you feel could improve the life of people.

Yes

You could also focus on interacting with other technology like the scale acaia which use bluetooth and you can access remotely to see profiles and so on. It is also designed to be a scale to be used in the tray of an espresso machine so very sturdy.

This is an existing idea we think we work on it one day. We have a lot of options due to the design of the controlboard(s).

Anyway, keep the good work!

Thank you

 

[coughee1]

Exciting looking and sounding machine, espresso machines really are going crazy. My days of a barista (over 8 years ago) I would never have dreamed about getting a machine like this. Nice!

 

[Iskanda]

Thank you.

But this machine is not really crazy. You can start with a reasonable version und upgrade later if you want/need.