The HiBREW H14 is a compact coffee machine that not only saves space on the kitchen counter, but also protects your wallet and strengthens your barista ambitions.
Introduction - HiBREW H14 test
The culture of drinking coffee has undergone a significant transformation in recent decades. We went from simple filter coffee makers and coffee makers at home to complicated espresso machines that almost require barista skills. It was during this development process that coffee makers intended for home use, compact in size, yet offering professional functions, appeared, including the HiBREW H14.
HiBREW is a relatively new player on the coffee machine market. The Chinese manufacturer has launched several models in recent years, the common feature of which is that they offer functions at an affordable price that we could previously only find in more expensive, premium category machines. The H14 model is another embodiment of this philosophy, which tries to condense important functions into a relatively small, compact machine housing.
This coffee maker is not only suitable for making espresso, but also contains a built-in coffee grinder, so you can also experience the taste of freshly ground coffee with it. This is especially important for those who like fresh, aromatic coffee, but do not want to buy and store a separate grinder in the kitchen. In terms of style, it is icing on the cake that the HiBREW H14 also has a milk frother, which is important for those who want to make a good latte or cappuccino.
Perhaps the best thing about this machine is that its compact size allows it to fit into households with limited kitchen options. This can make it particularly attractive for those who live in small apartments or who do not want the coffee maker to take up too much space on the kitchen counter.
The machine operates with a pressure of 20 bar, which corresponds to the performance of professional coffee makers. According to paper form, this makes it possible to make espresso at home with the same quality as in a cafe. As I mentioned, the built-in steam function also allows you to make cappuccino or latte, so lovers of milk coffee will not miss out. Of course, theory and practice do not always overlap, but the article will reveal how well the coffee house managed to keep its promise to the manufacturer.
Of course, the HiBREW H14 is not only interesting for coffee lovers, but also for those who like to receive guests. The machine is suitable for preparing several types of coffee drinks, so everyone can find their favorite. In addition, due to its compact size and modern design, the machine can look good even in a small office or meeting room. In the following, we will examine in more detail how well he managed to achieve this.
External
The HiBREW H14 has an eye-catching appearance even at first glance. The tested model is beige in color, which creates a pleasant contrast with most kitchen environments, kitchen counters, and coverings. This is a refreshing change from the traditional chrome-plated or black Italian coffee makers. The machine's compact dimensions - 27 x 11 x 28,5 cm - allow it to fit even in smaller kitchens.
The construction of the device is somewhat unusual. In the middle is the vertical, elongated control panel, which contains five touch buttons: a power button, two buttons for making small and large coffee, a button for the milk frother, and one for grinding. The buttons have LED lighting, which is not only aesthetic, but also practical during use.
The drip tray and the coffee spout are located on the left side of the machine, where the filter holder will have to be inserted. On the right side, we find the outlet of the grinder, under which the filter holder can be hooked directly. This solution is practical, although some people prefer to use a dosing cup to transfer the ground coffee. It is important that, unlike many other coffee grinders, the grinding is not started by inserting the filter holder, but by us using the switch panel.
The coffee bean container is located on the top of the device, which is relatively small and, according to my measurements, suitable for storing about 80 grams of coffee. The size is really unusually small, but it still holds a few cups of coffee beans. On the back is the water tank, which has a capacity of 750 ml. This is enough to make quite a few cups of coffee, although it is also smaller than the average 1,2-1,5 liter combination press machines on the market.
The milk frothing steam pipe is located on the right side of the machine, next to it there is a rotary control knob that can be used to adjust the amount of steam. The steam tube is relatively short, which, as you might suspect before use, may limit the use of larger vessels when frothing milk.
It is interesting that although the manufacturer promises a weight of 4,56 kg, in reality the weight of the machine does not even reach 3,5 kg. This is a strange mistake in the specification. Of course, this should be the biggest problem, the low weight is quite practical if you have to move the device often. The disadvantage is that it can cause stability problems during use. When inserting the filter holder, for example, the machine must be properly supported so that it does not move.
The general appearance of the HiBREW H14 is modern and attractive, but the device is made entirely of plastic. This explains the light weight, but can also raise questions about durability. The use of plastic also means that the feel and sound of the machine is different from traditional metal coffee makers, which may be unusual for some. The unusualness is also reinforced by the fact that these plastics are quite thin to the touch, and they are not very good to the touch. In short, the machine seems cheap. I remember, it's actually cheap too, so everything is in place that way.
Specification
As I wrote, the HiBREW H14 is a compact but versatile coffee machine that, according to the specification, offers several professional functions. The heart of the machine is a 20 bar pressure pump, which theoretically can provide a pressure that is ideal for making espresso. It is important to note that in practice this pressure ranges between 9-15 bar, which depends on the density of the coffee cake and other factors.
The device's built-in coffee grinder offers 15 different grinding finenesses. This allows users to adjust the grind to different coffee types and tastes. The grinder works with a conical cutting mechanism, which usually results in better quality grinding than propeller grinders, so we can award a red point here. The H14 also has a pre-soak function that evenly moistens the coffee grounds before extracting the coffee. This theoretically improves the quality of the extraction, resulting in a richer tasting coffee. The machine is also equipped with an NTC (Negative Temperature Coefficient) temperature control system, which helps maintain the optimal cooking temperature.
I already wrote above about the water tank, which has a capacity of 750 ml, which is enough to make several cups of coffee without refilling. The machine includes two filter baskets of different sizes, which allow you to prepare single or double doses of coffee. I have already written the external dimensions, so they are 285 x 110 x 270 mm, which is really surprisingly compact and thus takes up less than 0,1 square meters of space on the kitchen counter. I can't imagine a better solution for a small kitchen!
The HiBREW H14 does not have a dedicated mobile application, computer software or similar useless extras, but its user interface is simple and intuitive. The touch buttons with LED lighting are easy to use and easy to learn, especially since we don't have too many setting options, but I will write about this in the next chapter.
The machine has an automatic power-off function, which is useful from an energy-saving point of view. When not in use, it automatically turns off, reducing energy consumption.
That's about it, I won't mince words, let's move on to the experiences!
Experiences
To be honest, I was very curious about this machine. I've been using a grater press for a while now, which I don't even want to replace. It is true that the machine is large and difficult to move, so if by some miracle I were to find a smaller one that could offer the same knowledge, I would get rid of it without a problem. The HiBREW H14 had some chance of this, but only until I tried it.
Don't get me wrong, the HiBREW H14 is not a bad coffee maker at all, I gathered a lot of interesting experiences while using it, from which it became clear that it is quite far from professional machines. You can say that mentioning the baristas in connection with the machine is already a serious insult to the baristas.
Let's start with the built-in coffee grinder, which offers 15 different grinds. During the tests, it turned out for me that I could usually achieve the best results with the finest grinding setting. While using the grinder, I noticed that it grinds about 7 grams of coffee with a single dose, which is enough for a single espresso, but not enough for a double dose, to put it mildly, so you have to start the grinding twice for a double dose. This is not a serious problem yet. It is rather that the amount of coffee to be ground cannot be regulated, so here we have lost an opportunity for customization.
After grinding, it is worth using the attached "rubber ball", which helps to remove the coffee residue left in the grinder. It's actually a rubber bell that needs to be placed in place of the coffee holder, pressing it in blows air through the grinder, cleaning the passages. It is important to note that this is not only important in terms of cleanliness, but also helps to dispense the coffee more precisely. In other words, if you are so professional that you put the desired weight of coffee beans into the grinder, you can use this bell to achieve the most accurate input-output coffee quantity ratio. In other words, essentially as much coffee goes into the grinder at the top as falls into the filter at the bottom.
Ok, we're done grinding, let's finally make the coffee! I faced several challenges while making espresso. The pre-set brewing time of the machine turned out to be too long for me, which resulted in over-extracted, slightly sour coffee. In addition, the amount of ground coffee used for one brew and the finished coffee drink was not in a very good ratio either, compared to the ideal ratio of 1:2, we get a ratio of 1:3, or even slightly worse. In addition, the machine does not offer the possibility to manually control the cooking time, which again only limits the possibilities of fine-tuning.
The HiBREW H14 has a pressure filter holder, which can be beneficial for beginners, as it almost always succeeds in producing some form of espresso and crema. At the same time, this solution also significantly limits the possibilities of optimization. There is hardly any noticeable difference in the end result between the different settings, which means that those who do not know how to make coffee will not have much experience, and for those who do, it will be quite frustrating that whatever they do, the end result will not change much.
I have found that the end result is better when making one batch of coffee than with double, it's a shame that I usually drink double.
The milk frothing function of the machine, however, was a positive surprise. As I wrote, the steam pipe is relatively short, but this did not cause any serious confusion. The frother heats up quickly and provides particularly powerful steam, which enabled quick and efficient milk frothing. When frothing small amounts of milk, this short tube was not at all beneficial, but you can live with it.
I did a comparison test between my current machine and the HiBREW H14, asking my partner to switch cups (or not) to act as a blind test. Unfortunately, there were no cases where the coffee made by the HiBREW H14 won. Of course, it could also be that my own machine was simply the "domestic" taste that I was used to, but somehow I still felt that my own machine was tastier, denser, and creamier.
Conclusion
The HiBREW H14 coffee maker is an interesting attempt to condense some of the features of professional coffee makers into a compact, affordable device. The machine undoubtedly has attractive features: its compact size, built-in grinder and milk frother are all elements that can make it attractive to coffee enthusiasts with small kitchens or beginners.
At the same time, practical experience shows that the performance of the machine unfortunately falls short of that of higher category competitors, which is of course nothing to be surprised about, since they are of a higher category. The quality of the coffee does not reach the level that an extra demanding coffee drinker would expect, and the lack of customization options limits the possibilities for fine-tuning. The pressure filter holder, although it can be especially beneficial for beginners, hinders the preparation of really high-quality espresso.
The machine's strengths include the efficient milk frothing function and the compact, aesthetic design. These features, combined with the favorable price, can make it attractive to those who primarily drink milky coffee drinks and do not insist on a 100 percent perfect espresso.
Overall, the HiBREW H14 is a compromise solution. It does not replace professional coffee makers and separate grinders. You won't feel like you're in a coffee shop, you won't become an imaginary barista using it. However, it is still much better than machines without a grinder, where the only option is ground coffee from the store. You can experiment with different types of coffee and the fineness of the grind, which is a big advantage compared to ground coffee machines.
It can be a good choice for those who have limited space and/or a small budget, but still want to make espresso-based drinks at home. It can be ideal, for example, for a small office or a household where the first-class quality of the coffee is not the primary concern, but comfort and versatility.
Ultimately, the HiBREW H14 is an entry-level device in the world of coffee brewing. It can be recommended to those who are just getting to know the secrets of making coffee at home and do not want to immediately spend a large amount of money on equipment. However, more experienced coffee drinkers and users who are more sensitive to quality will probably quickly outgrow this machine and want a more advanced device with more settings.
If you like the machine (which I wouldn't be surprised by), you can now order it from the Polish warehouse. The price of the coffee machine is M0AD8WCT8BW9 with coupon code ~ HUF 60. The price may vary depending on the dollar exchange rate.
To buy, click on the link below:
HiBREW H14 coffee grinder press machine
