Think of your Nespresso pod and imagine if it were just a thousand times better. I’m talking whole beans, ground and brewed on the spot, with an automated procedure occurring all within the same machine. What the xBloom does isn’t completely different from any average coffee machine, however, the method it employs and the underlying technology it uses is simply remarkable. A Tesla isn’t different from other cars – they both transport you from A to B… but one of them is just much more visually, technically, and emotionally sophisticated. That’s why we’re calling the xBloom the Tesla of coffee machines. Designers: Richard Xu, Rui Zhou & Yuan Hong
The xBloom is an all-in-one coffee machine designed to sit elegantly on your countertop. It handles grinding, brewing, and dispensing all in one device. It does so in an almost entirely automated and expertly tuned manner, so you really don't have to do anything once the machine takes over. Pour the beans in, sit back, and watch your coffee be made as if by a robot barista. Its overall design is also stunning, with simple geometric forms that separate the coffee machine's functions and a metallic finish that feels luxuriously pristine.
Instead of tiny metallic pods filled with pre-ground, pre-flavored coffee powder, each xBloom comes with actual coffee beans inside, measured out for a single serving. Expert roasters curate the pods, which include special coffee types from around the world, bringing the entire world of coffee to your kitchen countertop. How are these pods brewed? That's probably my favourite part!
It's not often that kitchen appliances and RFID tags cross paths, but the xBloom does. Each pod contains coffee beans, but on the underside of each pod is an RFID tag that allows the xBloom to recognise the sort of coffee. Simply tap the underside of the pod on the xBloom, and the grind size, brew temperature, coffee-to-water ratio, and even pouring style are all instantly set. Once the xBloom has identified the coffee, simply remove the lid from the pod, add the beans to the device's inlet, and store the empty pod in its designated holder.
The beans enter the grinding chamber, where they are ground to the proper consistency by 48mm conical burrs. The grounds are then returned to the empty pod (which also comes with its own built-in filter lining). The xBloom then transports the pod from the grinder to the brewing area, much like a production line robot. The gadget practically choreographs the coffee-making process, which is pretty fun to watch. The xBloom then adds warm water to the coffee, brewing it right in the pod (no need for a separate filter), with perforations in the pod's base allowing coffee to trickle directly into your empty cup or glass.
Unlike any other coffee machine I've seen, xBloom can even pour in several patterns, simulating a straight pour, a leisurely spiral pour, and a quick spiral pour based on roasters' preferences. The pouring machine is unlike any other, with the laminar water stream being electrostatically regulated by four electrified electrodes, resulting in an almost miraculous curved flow of water. Furthermore, the pod holder may agitate the pod, allowing the coffee to brew more evenly. The most remarkable aspect of all of this is that it is possible with just one simple RFID scan and no human intervention on your part.
The amount of water remaining in the pod is detected by a weighing scale incorporated inside the pod holder. This keeps the xBloom from mistakenly overfilling the pod and spilling water. Various grinds filter coffee at different rates; a coarser grind allows more water to pass through than a fine grind, and the xBloom can determine this by weighing the pod. It then automatically adjusts the water delivery rate to guarantee that no errors occur. Water filters through the pod and into your cup or glass below, resulting in a fresh cup of coffee. The pod, which now holds your used coffee grounds, may be simply removed from the xBloom and disposed of in an attractive manner.
It's no surprise that xBloom's design team is made up of IT veterans, including ex-Apple product designers. The xBloom literally transforms a coffee machine into a luxurious ritual that is bound to delight any coffee drinker with its level of sensitivity to design, detailing, and user experience. The device is simply a work of art that houses technical wizardry beneath, echoing the level of sophistication seen in Apple's own products. The user experience is prioritised - there are no buttons, knobs, cables, or even screw details visible on the device. Jony Ive appears to have moulded the gadget with his own hands. The interiors of the xBloom are made with high-quality parts from suppliers who also supply Apple and Tesla. The pods are expertly curated with a wide range of coffee bean types, and each pod is made of sugarcane and bamboo fiber, so you can throw it away in its entirety (including the coffee grounds) without worrying about generating plastic waste. Maintaining your xBloom is also a breeze, thanks to a pop-out magnetic cover that collects any leftover ground coffee from the grinder.
