… and that in reality is a disgrace that only a few other people are speaking in regards to the Melitta Senz V espresso brewer. As it’s moderately distinctive, and has a ton of tremendous geek out options inbuilt. It is available in two variants: one with bluetooth put in so you’ll be able to use a distinct app; and one with out. Differently, it’s completely function packed: It has
- two inbuilt scales
- a hydraulically managed go with the flow free up valve
- two thermometers
- an auto get started timer
- a brew analyser (rudimentary, however it is dependent upon mathematical calculations)
- rechargeable battery by means of USB, and…
- it has a TDS meter, inbuilt.
Loopy, proper? So why isn’t any person speaking about this brewer? Neatly, I’ve my theories.
Melitta and the Fashionable Influencer
Melitta is an overly old skool corporate. Old-fashioned in that they don’t actually be in contact neatly with trendy, 2020s (or 2010s, and even 2000s technology) advertising vibes available in the market. I imply, simply have a look at their Canadian web page; it simply reeks of “Madison Road Entrepreneurs” (google that).
For a century and longer, Melitta have been just about the one pour over sport on the town (Chemex was once the outlier), however as soon as Hario arrived on scene with the V60 device, getting it into key, influencing cafes, web sites, and different “below 30 advertising” circles, it was once virtually as though the Melitta device didn’t exist, and folks began to suppose Hario invented pour over espresso. (they without a doubt didn’t, however they did revitalize it, evidently).
Melitta to nowadays operates like an organization from the Nineteen Seventies or 80s. They don’t appear to know the concept that of “pass viral”, or how to achieve out and paintings with magazines, web sites, Youtube influencers and TikTok other people to get their merchandise spotted, identified, and lusted after.
Positive, Melitta has a couple of Instagram channels, without a doubt run by way of some 3rd celebration advertising corporate. However they don’t get concerned at once within the forte espresso trade. I can’t ever recall seeing Melitta at a Area of expertise Espresso Affiliation Expo. I can’t ever recall them sponsoring barista occasions, brew competitions, and even fostering competitions and advertising selling their pour over methods. In all probability issues are other with the corporate over in Europe, however in North The united states, they perform like a type of “commodity espresso corporate”, by means of their advertising and promoting, and no doubt now not like a leading edge forte espresso logo.
So when the corporate comes out with a variety of actually cool merchandise, just like the Melitta Momentum Line over in Europe, or the Melitta Senz V Hooked up Brewer which is to be had in Asia and the States, “we” simply don’t listen about it. With only a few exceptions their merchandise don’t seem to be featured on any of the preferred Youtube channels (3 years in the past, they were given Hoff to check one Momentum product). They aren’t written up on web sites like ours. It’s now not featured in Barista Mag (that I do know of). There’s no demos on the 2024 SCA display in Chicago.
And that’s a disgrace. For the reason that Melitta Momentum line seems to be actually fascinating in the event you dive into their main points at the other brewers. Ditto at the Melitta Senz V. Melitta actually must do a greater task. I think they neglected the boat on all of the pour over resurgence, as an alternative paddling slowly at the back of the SS Hario’s massive wake.
That mentioned, the Melitta Senz V is one of these cool software, that we purchased two of them, to check and completely assessment on CoffeeGeek. And that assessment is coming very quickly.
The Melitta Senz V Hooked up Pour Over Brewer
I do a ton of analysis on-line when reviewing merchandise, writing quite a lot of histories of espresso, drafting out our how tos and guides, and about 2 years in the past, I stumbled throughout a Taiwanese video (thank the celebs for auto-translate) appearing this nifty tower pour over device with a inbuilt scale. I spotted the identify Melitta on most sensible and concept… “What the…!”. The interpretation was once pronouncing such things as TDS readings, scales, temperature readings and the like, however the fellow didn’t have a TDS meter out, or a scale. (unfortunately, that video is now not to be had on Youtube)
Seems all the ones issues have been constructed at once into the pour over tower, which in the beginning look regarded much more easy: a black base plate, picket fingers, and a tumbler and white ceramic most sensible portion. It had all the ones issues inside that? And it was once from Melitta? Get out!
I had a touch from years again at Melitta, so I fired off an e mail. It bounced again (the individual was once now not with the corporate). I discovered a press touch e mail, and despatched one there. No reaction. Months went by way of, and I forgot about it.
A few 12 months in the past, I used to be going via a series retailer in Western Canada known as London Medication. They’re well-known for buying esoteric, uncommon and peculiar units and home equipment on their cabinets for brief runs. I even purchased a Krups Moka Brew at London Medication, again in 2005.
All over my consult with a couple of 12 months in the past, I noticed at the shelf the similar Melitta Senz V brewer that I had noticed within the Taiwanese video a 12 months previous. It was once simply $99, so I purchased one instantly. Once I were given house, I used to be disenchanted to determine it was once the non-bluetooth model of the software, so it was once first of all put aside.
Part a 12 months in the past, I stumbled throughout some other Asian barista video appearing the Melitta Senz in motion. This one with out the app concerned, and it gave the impression the software had numerous options that didn’t depend at the app. So I dug the unopened field out of garage, and put the brewer to make use of. That’s once I found out it had a TDS meter inbuilt. Two scales. Temperature probes. Even a hydraulically managed go with the flow valve. Lovely cool!
I knew I needed to assessment it, however I felt I needed to get the bluetooth model ahead of I did. It’s now not to be had in Canada, so I stopped up purchasing from the USA Amazon retailer, and had it shipped up right here to Canada. (sidenote – as of this weblog submit, the bluetooth “Hooked up” Melita Senz V isn’t to be had to any extent further on Amazon; the hyperlink above is to the non-bluetooth model).
As soon as it arrived, the Senz V app (by way of a 3rd celebration, known as Wabilogic) was once loaded on my Android telephone, and I went to the city. After a number of months of the usage of the units and doing numerous comparisons and actual lifestyles stroll throughs, it seems the app and bluetooth are roughly simply an added gimmick; you’ll be able to in reality get so much out of the brewer with out the app.
If truth be told, I had slightly of a love-hate factor with the Wabilogic App, to the purpose the place it jogged my memory of the Acaia apps. Once they paintings, they in reality provide some actually excellent timeline information about your brew. However it didn’t at all times paintings. I will be able to quilt this much more within the complete assessment.
Why the Melitta Senz V is Excellent
I wish to save maximum of my information for the whole assessment, however believe this slightly of the TL:DR model.
For round $150 or much less, you’re getting a pour over brewer software that features a) a scale, b) temperature readers, c) timers, and d) most significantly, a TDS meter, all inbuilt.
I put Melitta Senz V’s inbuilt TDS meter up towards a DiFluid R2 refractometer and was once roughly amazed to determine the Melitta unit wasn’t a ways off the hyper-accurate R2. When the R2 was once studying 1.32 extractions (after temperature balancing the refractometer), the Melitta scale show was once appearing levels of one.28 to at least one.35. Indubitably sufficient to be a excellent reference level.
The Melitta Senz V has a programmed workflow within the software as neatly; flip it on, press the beginning button as soon as, and it asks you so as to add your flooring espresso. Press it once more, and the dimensions zeros out and signifies it’s in a position for brewing water to be poured. Once you get started pouring, the timer begins routinely. While you’re finished the brew, if it detects no alternate in 1 minute, it’ll end the brew cycle, presenting you with the TDS, the common brewing temperature, brewing time, and its estimate on what the completed cup is like, pronouncing such things as balanced, vibrant, gentle, sturdy, sour and so on. You’ll additionally whole the brew and get those numbers by way of urgent the beginning / prevent cushy button yet one more time.
This is the handbook if you wish to see extra in regards to the options and what the brewer is in a position to.
I additionally occur to suppose the brewer seems to be stunning. Very Scandinavian in design. I virtually by no means use the carafe with it – as an alternative who prefer to brew at once right into a ceramic mug – however the carafe too may be very lovely. Simply don’t put it within the dishwasher.
After all, it makes use of Melitta #2 filters simplest (even though there may be an Asian model of this brewer with a spherical ceramic filter out holder that may accommodate V60 and Kalitta Wave filters). I occur to love Melitta’s paper filters so much, so this no doubt works for me.
Our complete assessment can have a workflow video, and much more information about this brewer, together with the Wabilogic app and the great and unhealthy about that. However I’m assured sufficient to suggest you purchase this type of if you wish to have a fascinating, and have wealthy, multi functional pourover device, particularly in the event you love to geek out on TDS numbers and such.
