Is Bengle worth it? Comparing to the DE1 espresso machine.

Comparison Review: Bengle vs DE1 Espresso Machines

In this article, we will compare the Bengle espresso machine with the DE1 espresso machine, highlighting their differences and similarities. Despite being 50% more expensive, the Bengle and DE1 produce the same-quality espresso and run the same application on their tablets.

Key Differences

One of the primary differences between the two machines is the scale. The Bengle has a built-in scale in the drip tray, whereas the DE1 requires a separate Bluetooth scale to be connected and placed on top of the drip tray. Both machines feature water mixing technology, which instantly mixes hot and cold water to achieve the desired temperature.

The driving technology behind the two machines is also distinct. The DE1 has a more traditional pump sound, whereas the Bengle has a smoother and more high-frequency pump sound. This results in a more even water flow and faster peak water output on the Bengle, making it ideal for making Americanos or emulating lever espresso machines.

Cup Storage and Steaming

The Bengle has a built-in cup warmer with a thermostat, allowing for up to 25 cups to be stored and heated to the desired temperature. In contrast, the DE1 does not have a built-in cup warmer, and the top of the machine is not suitable for storing cups. When it comes to steaming milk, the Bengle has a built-in milk thermometer in the steam wand, whereas the DE1 requires a separate milk pitcher and thermometer.

Tablet and Charging

The Bengle has an 11-inch tablet with a 1080p resolution, made by Samsung, while the DE1 has an 8-inch tablet with a 1280 x 800 resolution. The Bengle also has two USB-C ports for charging, compared to the DE1’s single USB-A port with a USB-C connector.

Performance and Maintenance

The Bengle has a faster warm-up time, taking approximately 2 minutes compared to the DE1’s 4.5 minutes. Both machines have a refill kit, allowing for plumbed-in or manual refilling, and a 2L water tank. However, the Bengle’s tank is made of a more durable and lightweight material, with an enamel coating, whereas the DE1’s tank is made of porcelain.

Steam Power and Wand

The Bengle has more powerful steam capabilities, with the ability to heat a latte in approximately 14 seconds, compared to the DE1’s 28-38 seconds. The Bengle’s steam wand tip is also made of a heat-resistant plastic, making it easier to clean and reducing the risk of burns.

Height-Adjustable Feet and Water Tank Lid

The Bengle has height-adjustable feet, allowing for greater stability and adjustability on uneven countertops. The DE1, on the other hand, has fixed rubber feet. The Bengle also has an integrated water tank lid, made of silicone foam with a Teflon top, which provides a smooth and secure closure. The DE1 does not have a built-in water tank lid, but it can be purchased separately.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while both the Bengle and DE1 produce high-quality espresso, the Bengle’s additional features, such as its built-in scale, cup warmer, and more powerful steam capabilities, may justify its higher price point for some users. Ultimately, the decision between the two machines depends on individual preferences and priorities. The DE1 remains a viable option for those seeking a more affordable espresso machine, and Decent Espresso has confirmed that it will continue to produce and support the DE1, with a focus on expanding its line of espresso machines.

In this video, we’re going to compare the Bengle
espresso machine with the DE1 espresso machine. Now, 2 things to note right off the bat: First, Bengle is about 50% more expensive
than the DE1 espresso machine. And then, secondly, and it might surprise you, they
both make the same-quality espresso and they
both run the same application on the tablet. So here, we’re going to talk about the
differences between the two machines and why you might want to
pay a little bit more for Bengle. The first difference is the scale: on Bengle, the scale is built into the drip tray. On the DE1, you’ll want to
find yourself a Bluetooth scale, connect it, and put it on top of the drip tray. In both cases, your shots will
stop at the weight desired. Both machines feature our water mixing technology, which takes 2 pumps and mix hot and cold water
instantly to give you the temperature that you wanted. There is a difference, though, in how they drive. One is the sound of the DE1 will be more…
[sound of the pump] as the water is pushed out at the volume you want, whereas on Bengle, the sound will be a bit more…
[sound of Bengle’s pump]. The reason is the driving on Bengle of the pumps is at
a very high frequency, very short piston movements, whereas on the DE1, there’s large piston
movements and less frequent. The technology is completely different. What that will give you though on Bengle
is much smoother water flow, as well as about 50% faster peak water. Now, peak water is useful when
you’re making an Americano, it’s also useful if you want to emulate
a lever espresso machine, as levers have tremendously fast
flow rates at the very beginning. Next is cup storage. On the top of the DE1, you really
don’t want to be putting a cup, it’ll just fall off and there’s not much space anyway. Plus, the top of the DE1 is cool. On Bengle, there’s a built-in cup
warmer, controlled by a thermostat, so you can put up to 25 cups on the very top, and
they’re heated to exactly the temperature that you want. Steaming milk. On the DE1, you’ll want a milk
pitcher and a milk thermometer. That will allow you to hear when the thermometer
beeps when you should stop the steam. But on Bengle, the milk thermometer
is built into the steam wand itself, or you can remove it if you want to use a traditional
milk thermometer, which you’ll need for the DE1. Next, the tablet. On the DE1, you’ve got an 8 inch
tablet at 1280 x 800 resolution. Here on Bengle, you’re got an 11 inch tablet
made by Samsung at a 1080p resolution. Bengle has 2 plugs, both USB-C, for charging
your tablet either here or on the side. On the DE1, the charger is a USB-A
with a USB-C connector on it. In both cases, you can take the tablet right
off and put it next to the espresso machine. Let me show you how to do that. You can then choose to use
the espresso machine like this. You don’t actually need to use the tablet,
except maybe to change profiles. But if you’re going to use just one profile, you can just
use the group head controller to make your coffees. The other advantage of this approach, especially on
Bengle, is that you have very good access to the cups. Because of the pumps and greater
wattage, Bengle can output hot water at
about 15% more speed than the DE1. Also, because the pumps are running at a higher
frequency, a smooth-flow water comes out, whereas on the DE1, the water
tends to be a bit jittery and splashy. The warm up time on Bengle is
about half the time of the DE1. Both are really fast; you’re looking at 4.5 minutes for the DE1 to warm up
and about 2 minutes for Bengle to warm up. Both machines use the refill kits, so you can plumb them or put them into a water tank, it’s the same kit for both of them. With both models, you can run them
plumbed-in or manually refilling them, both of them have a tank that’s about 2L in capacity. On this model, the DE1XL, in order to take the tank
out in order to refill it, you take the back panel off, lift this lever here, take out the drip tray and then pull it forward. At this point, you’re going to pour water in
and then do the same thing in reverse. On Bengle, the process is similar, just a little bit easier. You take the drip tray off the front, drip tray and cover, and then you can just pull the water tank forward. You don’t have to lift the lever anymore. The lever is just there if you want to take
the tank completely out for cleaning. Speaking of which, the tank on
Bengle is a new process. On the DE1, the tank is made of porcelain. It’s
rather thick, and if you drop it, it will shatter. On Bengle, we’ve gone to a new process;
this is a stainless steel form, on which we’ve baked, at high
temperature, an enamel coating. It has all the same food safety as porcelain on the DE1, but it’s much lighter and much more damage resistant. The same portafilters and group head
handles work on both machines, but as far as standard goes, the DE1 being
black comes with a black resin set of
handles that look like black piano keys and Bengle comes with oak wood handles. If you get the sculptural model of Bengle, instead
of oak handles, it’ll come with a handle that
is more appropriate to that metal cover. The DE1 comes in 2 levels of steaming power; there’s the DE1PRO and the DE1XL, which will take
about 38 seconds to heat a normal-sized latte. There’s the DE1XXL, which cuts
that down to about 28 seconds. Now, that’s as fast as the DE1 series get. Bengle on the other hand will speed that up
even more, so you’re looking at something
on the order of 14 seconds to heat up a latte. Much faster than even the DE1XXL, and
really commercial-grade steam power. To get that extreme steam power, you will,
however, need a 15A 240V plug. We also offer Bengle in a 10A 240V version, which is the same steaming power as the DE1XXL, as well as a 120V version, which then brings the
steaming power down to the same as the DE1. However, the pump technology in Bengle
will give you the same absolute flow rates
on all voltages, even down to 120V. It’s only the heating power that suffers as
you go to lower amounts of electricity. On the DE1, the steam wand tip is
made of metal, and it does heat up. That means that when you have to clean it,
you will want to use a cleaning cloth that’s
got water on it and give it a little wipe. On Bengle, we got rid of that slight annoyance; we’ve
made a steam wand tip out of a plastic called PPS, which is the same plastic used for baby bottles. It does not warm up at all, and so the milk doesn’t
adhere to it and wipes off really easily. Next, you’ll notice that there’s
a large ball joint on the DE1. The steam is coming from a boiler to this
point, goes through the ball joint, goes
through here and comes out there. That means this ball joint gets extremely hot. Not only do we lose steam power
with that, but also, it’s a burn risk. With Bengle, we got rid of that problem; the
steam goes directly from the boiler through a
tube, through this joint, all the way to the tip. That means this no longer gets burning hot, it also means greater efficiency for a
little bit more steaming power. Height-adjustable feet. On the DE1, we have these rubber feet
that really hold the machine in place. However, they are not height-adjustable. That means if your countertop is not
level, your DE1 won’t be level as well. On Bengle, we have height-adjustable feet. These little feet here rotate and they go up or down, and all 4 feet can be adjusted
to any camber of your top. A water tank lid is not included on the DE1, and it’s something separate you can purchase
if it’s something you think you need. Here is how it works: you take the drip tray off, slide the water tank out and then put the water tank lid on top. Slide that all back into place. On Bengle, you don’t have to do any of that. There is an integrated lid directly in it. This is a silicone foam with a Teflon top,
which is completely food safe. There’s sliders here made of Teflon,
which makes the action really smooth. You just put the water tank in, slide it in like this, and you’ll feel the stop and then, it locks into place. What’s happened is it’s pushed the tank up
against the foam, snugly held by that foam. Both machines feature a shot mirror. So you can see your espresso pouring out of the
portafilter without having to bend over and look up. On the DE1, that mirror is
made of plastic and it’s stuck on, so if you do scratch it, you can remove it
with a hairdrier and put a new one on. On Bengle, the mirror is made of polished steel; it’s more durable and it’s a higher-quality mirror as well. If you do happen to scratch it, it still can
be easily replaced with 2 screws here, and we’ll just send you a replacement
mirror that you pop right in. Getting into the nitty-gritty now, the group head
part inside here is made of brass on the DE1. On Bengle, it’s made of cast stainless
steel, which is even more durable. On Bengle, there’s lighting built into the case. This part here is lit. From the back, you can see the back panel lit. And quite usefully, there’s a lighting strip right here,
which lights up your espresso as it’s pouring. Naturally, on the DE1, there’s no lighting at all. You may be wondering what’s the future of the DE1. Well, the future is very good. Our goal is to have a line of espresso machines, all
making the same quality, all running the same apps. So the DE1 has been with us from the very first day, and it is something we’re going to continue to make, and it will continue to be a lower-cost
machine than the Bengle. Both machines make the same-quality espresso, both run the same firmware, both run the same software on the app. It’s all the little finishing touches
that make the difference. Whether Bengle is worth more money to you
than the DE1 is really your decision to make. Thanks for watching this comparison of the
DE1 and the Bengle from Decent Espresso