Last weekend I got a chance to check out the new, $15,000 coffee machine from Alpha Dominche at Philadelphia’s Dilworth Plaza La Colombe cafe. Owner Todd Carmichael has installed five of these machines in his cafes.
Alpha Dominche is an American company based in Salt Lake City Utah. It first offered their machines in April and is currently being sold only in the US. Also known as the “Steampunk”, this machine is a marvel of technology, one that may change the way coffee is made both at cafes and, eventually, at home.
The Steampunk has four chambers, all controlled by an internal computer that enables the Barista to “dial in” any brewing process, including French press, Pour-over and Siphon. After configuration, the barista can choose from three different filter/plungers to replicate the brewing process that’s perfect for each individual bean selection. Barista Ben made for me a single origin Kenya Kirinyagan utilizing the French Press method. Just watching the process is a marvel. And the coffee? Although I felt that they could have brewed at slightly lower temperature, the proof was certainly in the cup. Bright citrus flavors on the nose and palate, it was a great cup of coffee.
At this time there isn’t a home version of the Steampunk brewer. For around $500 US, Bunn makes the “Trifecta” which uses “Air Infusion” which I heard makes an incredible cup. Users can dial in up to 25 brew settings but they do not offer the array of filter options that Dominche provides. By the way, if anyone is reading this from Alpha Dominche, I know someone who would be happy to test the Steampunk home version. Just “call me maybe?”
http://alphadominche.com
http://lacolombe.com
http://www.bunnathome.com/products/trifecta
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[…] A few days ago Todd Carmichael, owner of La Colombe Coffee tweeted that he was going to be at his Dilworth Cafe in Philadelphia brewing coffee on his Alpha Dominche Steampunk MOD 2.1. Back in June I reviewed the first generation Steampunk Todd installed at this location and came away a believer (Review: La Colombe and their Alpha Dominche “Steampunk” brewing system). […]
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