xBloom Studio: Why This Pour-Over Machine Won Me Over
The xBloom Studio landed in my coffee corner thanks to xBloom, who sent it to me for testing. Honestly, if that hadn't been the case, I think I would have gotten my hands on one myself sooner or later. My opinion remains completely independent.
Why choose the xBloom Studio?
After years of using manual methods — V60, Chemex, Aeropress — and my trusty espresso machine, I wanted to simplify my morning routine without sacrificing the quality in the cup.
The problem with manual methods? They require time and attention. Controlling the pour with a gooseneck kettle, watching the timer, maintaining consistency in the motion... It's rewarding when you have the time, but sometimes you just want an excellent coffee without thinking about it.
And then there's the geek aspect that I fully embody: I love beautiful electronic objects, well-designed interfaces, machines that combine technology and design. The xBloom Studio checks all these boxes. Finally, after reading numerous glowing reviews about this machine, I ended up taking the plunge.
An all-in-one machine
What attracted me to the xBloom Studio is that it integrates everything I needed into a single compact device:
- A grinder to grind coffee beans
- A precision scale built-in
- A brewer that replicates the gestures of a barista
- Bluetooth connectivity for control via app
At first glance, the price of the xBloom Studio ($699) may seem high. But when you add up the cost of the equipment it replaces — grinder, scale, gooseneck kettle, dripper — you easily reach $800 to $900 for an equivalent setup. Not to mention the counter space.
My daily routine
In the morning, my coffee routine has become incredibly simple:
- I pour my beans into the hopper
- I place my cup
- I press a button
The machine takes care of the rest: I pour in my 15g of pre-weighed coffee, it grinds the beans according to the recipe settings, heats the water to the right temperature and performs the pour with the gestures of a barista.
The cup result? Reproducible aromatic clarity from one coffee to another. It's this repeatability that I struggled to achieve with my manual pour-overs.
What I Appreciate About the xBloom
After several weeks of use, here's what makes the difference:
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Consistency. Each cup is identical to the previous one. No more "that one was better than yesterday" without knowing why.
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Speed. From bean to cup in a few minutes, without complex manipulation.
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Minimal maintenance. No grounds container that gets dirty, no circuits to clean. The coffee falls into the filter, I throw away the filter. That's it. This is actually why I've never been attracted to automatic espresso machines: I've always had this apprehension of poorly done maintenance, of internal circuits getting dirty without us seeing it.
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Versatility. I can use my own beans from local roasters, create my own recipes, or simply press a button and let it do its thing.
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Preserved ritual. What I love about coffee is also the little ritual that frames the preparation. And although the xBloom is an automatic machine, I find these moments for myself. Sometimes, I disable the built-in grinder to use one of my manual grinders. I like watching the water flow into the dripper, observing the bloom form. I like checking the extraction graph on my phone afterwards, analyzing the curves. And during tasting, I often find myself thinking "maybe by adjusting this parameter, I would get that nuance." In short, you keep control over a lot of subtleties. It's an automatic machine that offers a lot of manual control.
This article is part of a series on the xBloom Studio:
- xBloom Studio: Overview ← You are here
- Full test (extraction modes, grinder, scale, app)
- Built-in grinder test
Who is this machine for?
The xBloom Studio is primarily aimed at gourmets, coffee lovers who can appreciate the aromatic subtleties of quality beans.
It will also appeal to pour-over enthusiasts who want to go even further in controlling their brews, with adjustable parameters and perfect reproducibility.
Finally, it will suit those who want to equip themselves completely with a compact setup, without cluttering the countertop with multiple accessories.
My verdict
The xBloom Studio has earned its permanent place in my coffee space. It hasn't replaced my Lelit Mara X espresso machine (they serve different purposes), but it has become my preferred method for pour overs.
Do I recommend it? Yes, provided you fit the target audience. It's an investment, but a worthwhile one. I have no regrets about purchasing it.
Continue reading the test
xBloom Studio: Full Review of the Pour-Over Machine
Discover our complete review of the xBloom Studio, an all-in-one automatic coffee machine combining grinder, scale, and brewer. With its 80 grind settings and three brewing modes, it promises specialty coffee worthy of a barista.
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xBloom Studio Grinder Test: Pour-Over and Espresso
Complete test of the xBloom Studio integrated grinder. With its 48mm conical burrs, 80 settings and adjustable speed, can it compete with dedicated grinders for pour-over and espresso?
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