Decent Espresso History
Decent Espresso developed the DE1 around a different idea of a home espresso machine: make brewing variables visible and programmable, rather than asking the user to infer everything from shot time and taste. Its history includes hardware development, manufacturing changes and an unusually active software community.
The early project and DE1 launch
The company’s history overview places its early concept in 2015 and the DE1+ launch in 2017. Decent also marked a ten-year anniversary in April 2025. These accounts provide a firmer basis than assigning an unsupported incorporation date or first-shipment price.
A public launch, the first customer shipment and routine production are different milestones. The broader development story should not compress prototypes, orders and delivered machines into a single event.
What the DE1 approach changed
The DE1 overview describes control and recording of pressure, temperature and flow, with tablet-based profiles and a water-mixing approach instead of relying on a large traditional boiler. These functions let a user observe a shot and compare it with earlier attempts.
Pressure and flow cannot both be imposed independently without regard to puck resistance. In a flow-led phase the machine changes pressure as needed, within its limits. In a pressure-led phase, the resulting flow depends on the coffee bed. A good graph is therefore a record of an interaction, not proof that extraction was ideal.
2020: scaling production in Hong Kong
In an August 2020 first-person update, John described returning with Bugs to an expanded Hong Kong factory and increased home-espresso demand during the pandemic. An October 2020 production update discussed building in batches of 50 and the challenge of matching stock to different configurations.
Those are dated accounts of operations. They should not be converted into unverified annual revenue estimates or guarantees about current shipping times.
Software as part of the machine’s development
Decent publishes the de1app source repository. Open software allows community contributions and alternative interfaces, while hardware revisions remain a separate matter. A software update cannot necessarily add a sensor, pump or physical feature missing from an older machine.
When reading an old demonstration, note both hardware and app version. Profiles, screens and compatible accessories may have changed. Back up recipes before a significant update and use the manufacturer’s supported installation procedure.
How to use the information productively
- Begin with one established recipe and keep the coffee, dose and basket consistent.
- Record beverage mass and taste alongside the graph.
- Change one profile parameter at a time and repeat the comparison.
- Distinguish measured values from calculated estimates and sensor locations.
- Keep a simpler reference recipe so experiments have a meaningful baseline.
A profile cannot repair every preparation problem. Uneven distribution, unsuitable grind or stale coffee can still dominate the result. Our espresso-extraction guide is a useful companion.
Who benefits from this approach?
The DE1 is relevant to people who enjoy experimentation, saved profiles and feedback. Others may prefer a more conventional control panel and fewer decisions. Compare that preference with the Alex Duetto’s dual-boiler layout and the broader espresso-machine history. For a purchase, check the current model, service route and regional requirements instead of treating a historical article as a live quotation.
