The 2024 World of Coffee just concluded in Copenhagen, with the announcement of four new World Coffee Champions and a slew of exhibitions and new coffee gear. It was the final show hosted by the Specialty Coffee Association in 2024, and companies from all over the world used the opportunity to debut and showcase new products. From the plethora of eye-catching equipment on display at the show, we at Sprudge have narrowed it down to a concise list of items that deserve a little extra attention.
Slayer Steam Single
Slayer released the first single-group machine in its Steam series, which garnered a lot of attention at World of Coffee in Copenhagen. The model marks the brand’s move into the home market and features a built-in 2.5L water tank for easy plug-and-play operation. Like Slayer’s other machines, it’s sleek and sleek, and like the Steam LP, it can be pre-injected at low pressure to slowly steep the coffee puck before ramping up to full pressure. Users can choose to brew in manual or volumetric mode after dialing in their shot.
New kit always receives glowing praise at coffee expos, and a new espresso machine from a brand like Slayer can’t help but attract interest. Next year, the single-group machine will be rolled out to home and prosumer markets.
Marco Milkpal
This was a pleasant surprise from Marco, an Irish-based company that has been making a good impression at European exhibitions for many years. The Marco MilkPal is up to the task of everything you want in a milk dispenser. This 30 kg machine can store up to 25 different recipes, from hot to cold milk, from 0º to 80ºC. The clear user interface allows the user to set the amount of milk and the percentage of foam, meeting almost all the needs of a café. Unlike traditional steam frothing, MilkPal uses an air pump to inject air, so the milk doesn’t get diluted. It can deliver up to 24 litres of milk per hour. Plus, if the machine is idle for more than six minutes, a self-cleaning cycle kicks in, maintaining high hygiene standards.
Marco’s products also have a beautiful appearance that makes an immediate impression. Milk Pal is scheduled to go on sale from autumn this year.
x Bloom Studio
The California-based company has just released a new machine that adds more versatility to users at a lower price point in addition to the original model. The xBloom Studio allows users to use their preferred brewing implement rather than being stuck with the included Omni Dripper. Described by the brand as the “ultimate machine for specialty coffee,” the machine handles every step from grinding to brewing with its 48mm conical blade and adjustable RPM. Users can set up a recipe in the app and let xBloom do the work, or go completely manual like you would with a pour-over kettle. It also features a built-in scale and plumbing options, a clear upgrade from the original model.
According to the official xBloom website, the xBloom Studio is priced at $499 and is expected to ship within two business days.
ROASTINO Manual Roaster
Kavekalmar won the SCA 2024 Best New Product Award in the Open Class category for its ROASTINO manual roaster. Designed by Hungarian company Kavekalmar, ROASTINO is an ode to the art of manual roasting with a touch of artisanal craftsmanship. Inspired by vintage drum roasters, the roaster features a modest sphere that serves as the roasting chamber and can handle 30 to 100 grams of green beans. Operation is simple: simply place the roaster over a heat source such as an open flame or induction cooktop, preheat the roaster and then start roasting.
Perhaps most interesting is that the ROASTINO is fully manual and needs to be turned by hand. In an age where everything coffee-related has gone digital, from Cropster to drip machines like the xBloom Studio, this hands-on approach offers a kind of meditation and makes you feel more connected to your coffee. It feels like a breath of fresh air.
Loveramics and Stronghold Strap Cups
Here at Sprudge, we love lanyard cups. They’re so cute! Super practical and definitely stylish for the convention floor, lanyard cups offer the best of both worlds: a sustainable approach to trade show cupping and tasting compared to paper cups, and they look great too. If your lanyard cup is labeled with your roaster’s logo (like the one pictured here), it’s a badge of honor and proof that you’re a serious, avid coffee lover.
After a huge success at the SCA Expo in Chicago, the lanyard cup established itself as a must-have accessory in Copenhagen.
Loveramics x Boram Um Embossed Tasting Cup
Labramix will also be releasing embossed tasting cups designed in collaboration with 2023 World Barista Champion Boram Um. Available in four vibrant colors ranging from purple to yellow and three sizes ranging from 80ml to 200ml, the Boram Um Tasting Cup series features a wider mouth that is thought to enhance the sweetness of the coffee compared to the original tasting cups. These cups retain the embossing, further enhancing the tactile experience when drinking coffee.
I can imagine these looking so chic behind the bar counter of a beautiful cafe.
Shibarist Dual Chamber Filter
Photo courtesy of Sibarist.
The latest addition to the Sibalist filter paper line, the Dual Chamber, is unique in its own right. It is the world’s first dual chamber filter, which when attached to a cone-shaped dripper, separates the brewing chamber into two independent parts. Each chamber can hold a different coffee, which can be brewed separately or simultaneously. This innovative product opens up countless possibilities in filter brewing, allowing you to explore countless variables.
Tung Nguyen is the founder of Citric Meets Malic and a Sprudge contributor based in Hanoi, Vietnam. Read more by Tung Nguyen on Sprudge.
Tung Nguyen July 8, 2024
