I was going to start off this review with some bad vague allusions to the unfortunate naming of this espresso machine. I’m not sure about the rest of the world, certainly I expect Taiwan where the machine originates is clear, but “Gee”, here at least, is a pejorative term, a slang word usually referencing a specific part of female anatomy. I was going to say how I had become excited at the prospect of getting my hands on this Gee. How I was looking forward to playing with it, and tasting what came out of it.

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During some recent shenanigans at Marco HQ, Paul Stack (El Grande Uber himself) whipped out a bunch of these Xpress thingies. They’re made by a company called Smartcup, and the basic idea is that it is a disposable french press that is also your cup. The idea of a cup with a built in press isn’t all that new, but in a disposable form I guess it is. So instead of getting a cup of brewed coffee and taking that away, you would get a cup of brewing coffee and take that away. I would have a few concerns, but anyway, here’s what Paul thought.

I have spent hundreds, nay thousands of euros on coffee equipment. I did not start that way, however. My earliest coffee equipment purchases now seem trivial, but then as someone merely dipping their toe into something unknown, they seemed like sizable investments. It can be hard to get that epiphany, “I get it” coffee moment without the ability to grind to order. In a way the availability (or lack thereof) of a competent low priced grinder is a rate limiting step in the appreciation of speciality coffee, and the growing of that audience.

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I’ve posted at some length previously regarding extraction, TDS, meters and all that. I daresay I may become typecast in the role of extraction curmudgeon. That said, the Extract Mojo software and refractometer have become as much a part of my coffee toolset as my grinder, or kettle. However, the economy of the meter and software has been the one area I have had some concern. Ideally, everyone could afford the package, and we could all move forward, industry and consumers, both understanding how to get to where we want to be. Job done. The price barrier has been formidable for all but the most devoted consumers, and even, I imagine, for plenty of small coffee shops and roasters. The path to widespread adoption has not looked to be a speedy one.

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