Lab Report - 0002 - Rotary Distribution Tool

Verdict

🔴 Rejected

This rotary distribution tool looked promising and was enjoyable to use, but it didn't earn a place on our coffee bench.

While it simplified the distribution process, it didn't produce the same consistent results as a traditional WDT.

What We Liked

• Simple and enjoyable to use.
• Fits naturally into an espresso workflow.
• Quality packaging and solid construction.
• An interesting alternative to a traditional WDT.

Why We Rejected It

The rotating needle design follows the same path through the coffee bed every time. As a result, some areas receive very little agitation while others are repeatedly disturbed.

During testing we found it often left a small well in the centre of the coffee bed and occasionally failed to break up larger clumps. It also required more cleaning than a traditional WDT because coffee grounds collected between the rotating needles.

Would We Recommend It?

No.

Although it looks innovative and is enjoyable to use, we consistently achieved better puck preparation using a traditional WDT.

Lab Notes

We tested this tool over approximately 30 coffees because we wanted to give it every opportunity to prove itself. While the workflow was enjoyable, the espresso preparation simply wasn't as consistent as the traditional WDTs we compared it against.

Sometimes the newest idea isn't the best one. In this case, we'd choose a well-designed traditional WDT every time.