The xBloom Studio is a revolutionary coffee machine and the perfect Christmas gift

An exceptional cup of coffee can feel like a gift, a room in your house you didn’t know you had. Upgrade your morning routine with the Xbloom Studio, a terrific new coffee maker designed to introduce you to the world of specialty coffee. If you’ve been relying on pre-ground coffee, it’s time to discover how easy it is to brew a perfect cup right at home.

The Xbloom Studio is an all-in-one device that combines a grinder, brewer, and scale into a sleek, compact unit that’s a stylish addition to any kitchen or workplace.

It offers three distinct brewing modes: Autopilot, Copilot, and Freesolo. Autopilot mode is perfect for those who prefer a hands-off approach, providing fully automated brewing with pre-set parameters. Copilot mode allows users to tweak settings, while Freesolo mode offers complete control over the grinder, brewer, and scale, catering to the most discerning coffee aficionados.

Precision, grinding, and temperature control are crucial to achieving the perfect cup of coffee. The grinder in the Xbloom Studio is engineered to deliver a consistent particle size, which is essential for capturing the full range of flavors without over-extracting, which can lead to bitterness. The grinder features a conical burr with 30 grind settings and adjustable speeds,  allowing for precise adjustments to achieve the proper grind for various brewing methods, including espresso. As a standalone part, a grinder of this quality could easily cost around $200-$300.

The brewer and integrated scale also offers precise control. You can dial in a temperature between 195-205°F, the ideal range for coffee brewing (different roasts release their aromatic compounds at different brewing temperatures). The built-in scale lets you maintain the ideal coffee-to-water ratio, crucial for extracting the best flavors from the beans. If that seems too much to handle first thing in the morning, the xBloom’s mobile app makes it seem simple.

Operating the xStudio is easy. The Xbloom Studio supports the use of custom beans purchased in pre-filled pods directly from the company. Each xPod is filled with whole beans and comes with an integrated RFID recipe card that transmits the bean’s specific grind size and brew settings to the machine, so all you have to do is push a button and let Autopilot take over.

Want to geek out? Xbloom’s mobile app provides real-time monitoring and recipe customization. First, you fill the water reservoir, weigh 17 grams of beans on the scale, then drop your beans into the hopper. We’re particularly fond of the Lando blend from Fruit of Life Coffee in Fort Worth, whose owners import roasted, whole beans from their family’s coffee farm in Colombia. Next, select the Freesolo mode to manually control each step. Adjust the grind size to medium-fine, which is perfect for highlighting the chocolate-toned, candied mandarin, apricot and pomegranate notes of the Lando blend. Set the temperature to 195°F for optimal extraction.

Once the settings are dialed in, you can walk away. The machine grinds the beans directly into a paper filter. The filter arm then moves laterally to the brewing station, where the water pour-over begins. The Xbloom Studio offers several pour-over patterns, including a spiral pattern, to ensure even saturation of the coffee grounds. This extracts the maximum flavors and aromas, resulting in a cup that truly showcases the beans’ unique characteristics. Three minutes later, you’re good to go.

We love this coffee maker. Its combination of functionality, precision, and design makes it a worthy investment for coffee enthusiasts looking for a terrific cup at home.

A version of this story appears in 360 West Magazine, where the author writes a monthly Gear column.