This collection of blog posts documents the development of "Bengle," our next-generation machine. Key topics include its sculptural design, custom pump, integrated scale, redesigned steam wand, and bespoke suitcase. The updates track the engineering journey from early prototypes and software integration to final production line preparations.
Source: SMORG first look: feedback wanted
This post introduces "SMORG," a bold, sculptural redesign of the DE1 espresso machine by Omri Almagor. Inspired by sci-fi aesthetics and high-end automotive design, the concept explores metal 3D-printed casings. We seek feedback on these experimental styles, which eventually evolved into the upcoming "Bengle" model.
Source: Smorg + Discommon = Bengle
This post explains the evolution of the "Bengle" design, merging the "Smorg" dragon concept with abstract, planar influences from Discommon. CEO John Buckman discusses collaborative "remixing" in design, involving multiple designers to refine the machine's sculptural surfaces before its expected 2026 launch.
Source: Suggestions for Bengle from the designcrowd.com contest
We highlight three impractical yet creative concept sketches from a DesignCrowd contest. These experimental ideas include a "gaming PC" aesthetic, a warped-wood "espresso squirrel" look, and a hyper-minimalist cube. While unsuitable for production, they served as valuable thought exercises for the Bengle machine's ongoing development.
Source: The Decent redesign with Omri
Engineer Omri Almagor, formerly of Kees van der Westen, presents "Smorg," a dragon-inspired redesign concept for Decent Espresso. This sculptural aesthetic, featuring a leaning profile, served as the primary creative foundation for the machine that ultimately evolved into Bengle.
Source: Cafe Racer Design
Decent customer "EspressoSquirrel" proposed a concept inspired by "cafe racer" motorcycles, emphasizing raw lines and industrial curves. The design notably transforms the typically "ugly" back panel into a feature using translucent materials. This cross-pollination of automotive and appliance design helped shape the creative direction for the Bengle machine.
Source: Bengle v2 - potential new design moves one step forward
The "Bengle v2" design transitions from concept to buildable prototype, featuring black or white metal chassis with matching wood accents. A key innovation is the flexible tablet placement—it can slide into a dedicated slot above the group head or be placed separately, advancing the machine's functional R&D.
Source: We're designing a new, bespoke suitcase for Bengle
We're designing a new, bespoke suitcase for Bengle, our next-gen espresso machine arriving in 2025. I just received the white handle to compare colors with the body. We've included removable wheels and countersunk handles to eliminate air gaps in the shipping box, reducing costs and preventing "crumple zone" damage.
Source: The new Bengle suitcase
We're making great progress on the Bengle shipping suitcase. We've refined the outer design to be much cleaner and less "fussy." We've added custom white protective corners, and we are currently awaiting bespoke white versions of the zippers, handles, and wheels to complete the look.
Source: Bengle suitcase update
We've finalized the Bengle suitcase foam design, ensuring all parts and accessories are safely isolated. While we're currently using a dense prototype foam, our final version will use high-quality material similar to bicycle helmets. Given the $10,000 mold costs, we are carefully perfecting the design before production.
Source: The Bengle lighting system
The Bengle features a customizable lighting system with adjustable brightness and color, allowing users to highlight the machine's wood grain or match their kitchen's aesthetic. John notes that the upper lights happen to look particularly good when paired with Decent's "Tipsy" cups.
Source: Bengle's lighting system
This post showcases the Bengle's lighting system in various dim-lit environments. It features high-resolution photos of the machine illuminated in white and blue, highlighting how the adjustable lights interact with the tablet and chassis. The visuals emphasize the machine's aesthetic appeal in low-light settings.
Source: How Bengle manages to integrate a scale
Bengle integrates a hard-wired scale by supporting the drip tray top with two weighing bars while a separate tray collects water underneath. This setup allows for "flushing" and plumbing without affecting weight measurements, eliminating the need for batteries or Bluetooth pairing for a more reliable espresso workflow.
Source: Bengle suitcase test
We stress-tested the final Bengle suitcase prototype by subjecting it to rough handling, mimicking typical delivery conditions. The interior features high-grade molded foam—the same material used in bicycle helmets—to provide maximum protection for the machine during transit. This ensures every Bengle arrives safely to customers.
Source: 360º video of sculptural metal
This video showcases the Bengle's sculptural metal chassis through a 360-degree rotation. It highlights the machine's intricate, planar design and how light interacts with its metallic surfaces. This visual demonstration allows viewers to appreciate the complex "dragon-inspired" geometry and high-end finish from every possible angle.
Source: Idea for customer-facing tablet on Bengle
We are exploring an idea to add a second, customer-facing tablet to the Bengle. By utilizing a planned secondary powered USB-C port, the tablet can be mounted to the existing stand, allowing customers to place orders, view the drink queue, and see when their beverage is ready.
Source: Bengle first espresso ever
We're celebrating a major milestone: the first-ever espresso brewed on our new Bengle model. The most striking takeaway is how incredibly quiet the machine is—the sound of coffee dripping into the cup is actually louder than the machine itself, proving our new pump design's impressive noise reduction.
Source: Bengle's water tank
We've designed the Bengle water tank to be front-accessible for easy refilling. It features a stainless steel body with a food-safe enamel coating. A built-in lid automatically locks and seals with a PTFE (Teflon) gasket when the tank is pushed in, keeping out bugs and contaminants.
Source: Video: Bengle is every barista's end-game machine (Ryde Jeavons)
Coffee coach Ryde Jeavons explores why the Bengle is the ultimate "end-game" machine. Following a user error at De-Con, we updated the software to ignore scale weight changes during pre-infusion. This allows baristas to adjust cups without accidentally triggering the "stop-at-weight" feature, improving café workflow and reliability.
Source: How Bengle is different: Decent's next leap in espresso
We designed Bengle as a "no-excuses" machine, featuring a two-minute warm-up, integrated scale, and professional 12-second steaming. It offers wood or sculptural metal chassis options, a removable Samsung tablet, and a redesigned non-stick steam wand. This model integrates smart technology for a high-performance, commercial-grade experience at home.
Source: Bengle at home
Our next espresso machine, "Bengle," has officially arrived at John's home for testing. He'll be bringing this unit with him to the World of Coffee show in Geneva next week to showcase our latest progress and the machine's sleek design in a real-world setting.
Source: Bengle's steam wand, redesigned for the DE1
We've redesigned the Bengle steam wand for the DE1, replacing the ball joint to increase movement and eliminate front-panel heat. The new shape improves hands-free steaming, while the non-stick tip prevents milk from burning, making it much easier to wipe clean. Testing is currently underway.
Source: Bengle in gold?
We created a one-off gold version of the Bengle's sculptural "wings" as an experimental design test. While the current gold shade isn't exactly where we want it yet, we find the concept intriguing and are seeking feedback on this bold aesthetic direction for the machine.
Source: Building Bengle, final cables arrived
We've received the final production cable samples for our 500-unit Bengle build. To ensure reliability and avoid counterfeits, we specify and source all connectors directly from manufacturers. Testing begins now, with final PCBs expected August 22nd, followed by immediate beta unit shipments if all goes well.
Source: Bengle with black wings on a white body
We've conducted a one-off test of the Bengle's sculptural wings in black on a white body. The result is a striking, "Batman-like" aesthetic. While the reflectivity differs from silver, we're exploring how different wing and body color combinations, like silver wings on black, might look.
Source: Coffee cart top for Bengle
We've developed a Bengle-specific IKEA coffee cart top. It features a countersunk design to prevent movement and a bolt-lock system for secure transport. The low-profile aesthetic makes the machine appear seamlessly connected to the wood, while a dedicated cable routing hole ensures a clean, professional setup.
Source: Bengle in realistic gold
We've received a new Bengle cover sample featuring a more muted, "realistic" gold tint. Compared to previous versions, this refined shade offers a sophisticated, customized look that better aligns with our aesthetic vision for the machine. We're continuing to explore these high-end finishes for the final production.
Source: Variations on a theme....
We are showcasing several aesthetic variations of the Bengle at our Factory Café. These prototypes explore different finishes and textures for the machine's sculptural "wings," highlighting the diverse design directions we're considering to ensure the final product offers a truly premium, customizable visual experience.
Source: Prototype Gold Bengle Gold with gold and wood handles
We created a one-off Bengle prototype to experiment with a luxury materials look. This striking design features gold-tinted sculptural wings paired with matching gold and wood handles, allowing us to test how different high-end textures and finishes complement the machine's unique geometry.
Source: Inside Bengle: meet the engineers behind Decent's new espresso machine
In this video, we introduce the engineering team—Ben, Ray, and Miles—behind the Bengle. We discuss how we've evolved the DE1 using customer feedback to implement a modular internal design, integrated scale, front-loading water tank, and a significantly quieter pump system, all aimed at a more kitchen-friendly, high-performance experience.
Source: Bengle's first espresso
We've successfully pulled the first public espresso on Bengle. We achieved a peak flow rate of 13 ml/s—nearly double the DE1's capacity—ideal for "blooming" light roasts. While we're still refining the software and integrated scale, the machine is now making delicious drinks and nearing production readiness.
Source: Bengle's first steaming
We've achieved the first public milk steaming on our next-generation Bengle. We reached temperature in just 12 seconds with acceptable foam quality. We plan to further optimize performance by refining the steam wand tip hole size and flow rate for even better results.
Source: Is Bengle worth it? Comparing to the DE1 espresso machine.
While both machines deliver precision espresso, Bengle offers significant upgrades over the DE1: a built-in scale, 50% faster water flow, two-minute warm-up, and commercial-grade steaming. It features premium materials like stainless steel and oak, plus a larger Samsung tablet, justifying its higher price through enhanced convenience and speed.
Source: Bengle's air gap drain idea
Decent is developing an "air gap" drain for the Bengle, inspired by car oil changes. This design allows for easy drip tray removal without disconnecting tedious plumbing tubes. Primarily for coffee carts, the parts will be sold affordably so users can implement this convenient, plumbed-in drainage solution at home.
Source: Bengle production line
At Decent Espresso, we've optimized the Bengle production line for full in-house manufacturing to ensure total quality control. Every assembly worker holds an engineering degree, bringing years of expertise to our "designed for manufacturing" approach, which utilizes a modular, repairable internal layout to maintain our high standards.
Source: Chassis supplier visits Bengle production line
We hosted our chassis supplier to resolve initial Bengle production issues, identifying necessary refinements for sharp edges and painting standards. Being just two hours away allows us to work closely, ensuring every component meets our strict quality control before shipping to customers.
Source: Bengle with black wings
We've responded to the high demand for an all-black Bengle by creating two stunning one-off prototypes. These models feature our signature sculptural wings in a rich black finish for a timeless, elegant aesthetic. Following user feedback, we'll officially release this black edition as part of Version 1.2 in June 2027.
Source: Decent introduces its own pump design for upcoming Bengle model
We've developed our own custom water pumps for the Bengle, optimized for espresso and temperature profiling. These DC-powered pumps offer near-silent operation, precision flow from 0.1mL/s to 20mL/s, and deterministic accuracy. To include this breakthrough technology in the v1.0 release, we've adjusted the Bengle shipping schedule to May/June 2026.
Source: First listen: the quite Decent pump.
We've engineered a custom pump for Bengle that is practically inaudible during standard operation. After three years of R&D, it remains silent at normal flow rates, only becoming softly audible at ultra-fast speeds. It's so quiet that it's undetectable from just two meters away, revolutionizing the home espresso experience.
Source: How we designed Bengle's sculptural wings
We spent 18 months developing Bengle's sculptural wings, moving beyond standard CAD to direct CNC control. This "artistic milling" allows for organic, Art Deco-inspired curves and unique textures impossible with traditional methods. Each wing is then hand-bent, sandblasted, and finished in silver, gold, or black.