There are already so many different ways to prepare the perfect coffee... and then something new comes along: the Nucleus Coffee Tools . The best thing about them is that they don't do anything fundamentally new... and yet it's a completely different world. The Nucleus Paragon in particular creates an even more intense coffee experience in the cup . The main attraction among the many exciting Nucleus Coffee Tools is without question the Nucleus Paragon. But the Thermometer Compass, the Leveler NCD and the Nucleus Stem are no less useful. We'll explain each device individually below. The company was founded by world barista champion Sasa Sestic.
Nucleus Coffee Tools - the Nucleus Paragon
Since he entered the world of coffee, Australian-Bosnian barista Sasa Sestic has been looking for ways to perfect every cup of coffee. In this quest to extract every drop of flavor and aroma from the coffee beans, he came up with the idea of developing the products now sold as Nucleus Coffee Tools . He was and is supported by a first-class team of product testers and even by scientific institutions that helped develop the devices. All of this to offer the best coffee available in your café or at home. Especially with the use of the Nucleus Paragon.
Nucleus Paragon - Structure and Use
The Nucleus Paragon is basically a frame made of aluminum alloy on a sturdy rectangular base . It measures 165 x 120 x 260 millimeters. Paragon has three levels that you can move along the frame and fix in place as needed. The three levels serve as holders for drippers, the so-called Chilling Rocks, and finally for a collecting tray for dripping filter paper. The frame is designed so that you can use your favorite vessel and dripper. Right at the top of the Nucleus Paragon you set up your dripper with filter paper and coffee powder as usual. On the second level – directly underneath the coffee that runs out – is the holder for the Chilling Rocks, which are basically metal balls with a liquid core. And underneath you can fit a cup, a server or whatever your favorite vessel for coffee is. And then you brew coffee as normal, using the pour-over method .
Nucleus Paragon – the Chilling Rocks
The secret to brewing with Nucleus Paragon is the metal ball, called Chilling Rock . These balls have a diameter of 40 millimeters, are made of stainless steel, have a liquid gel in their core and a titanium coating on the outside. The Chilling Rocks go in the freezer . There they wait for their ice-cold use when brewing coffee. The core filled with dense liquid ensures a higher heat capacity. So it maintains the lower temperature longer compared to hollow or water-filled alternatives. The round shape allows the coffee to run evenly and calmly over the cold surface and drip into your coffee vessel below. The coffee cools down very quickly. The Chilling Rocks for the Nucleus Paragon are available in boxes of 5 and 25.
The Nucleus Paragon is basically a frame made of aluminum alloy on a sturdy rectangular base . It measures 165 x 120 x 260 millimeters. Paragon has three levels that you can move along the frame and fix in place as needed. The three levels serve as holders for drippers, the so-called Chilling Rocks, and finally for a collecting tray for dripping filter paper. The frame is designed so that you can use your favorite vessel and dripper. Right at the top of the Nucleus Paragon you set up your dripper with filter paper and coffee powder as usual. On the second level – directly underneath the coffee that runs out – is the holder for the Chilling Rocks, which are basically metal balls with a liquid core. And underneath you can fit a cup, a server or whatever your favorite vessel for coffee is. And then you brew coffee as normal, using the pour-over method .
Nucleus Paragon – What does Nucleus coffee taste like?
Cooling the coffee is very important for the aroma . The Nucleus Paragon was developed in collaboration with the Zurich University of Applied Sciences, ZHAW. Before development, the university investigated the influence of temperature on the preservation of volatile aromatic substances and the resulting sensory taste results in coffee. They researched the extent to which temperature changes when brewing coffee ultimately show up in the cup. And discovered something amazing: if you cool the coffee rapidly immediately after brewing - as with the Paragon and the Chilling Rocks - then your coffee will contain up to 40 percent more important and volatile aromatic substances than the same drink without cooling. This gives you an even more intense and varied taste experience.
Nucleus Paragon – Step-by-Step Guide
- Adjust the Paragon to the correct height for your coffee tools
- Place your dripper with filter paper in the upper ring
- When you are ready to brew, take the Chilling Rock out of the freezer and place it in the basket under the dripper. Caution: The Chilling Rock must not touch the filter paper as this could tear it
- Brew your coffee normally and make sure that the coffee runs over the Chilling Rock
- Remove the Chilling Rock after the first third of the extraction and continue brewing normally
- Enjoy coffee
Nucleus Coffee Tools – Thermometer Compass
As we already know, temperature plays a major role when it comes to coffee. Whether it's finding the right temperature range when brewing, which is always between 88 and 95 degrees Celsius , or when cooling down quickly after brewing with the ice-cold Chilling Rocks from Nucleus. So it's an advantage to have a thermometer to hand. And Nucleus Coffee Tools has come up with something for this too: the Compass. The Compass is also simple in design and consists of a round base that houses a plastic shelf, a sliding frame to which the thermometer is attached, and the thermometer itself. Like the Paragon, the frame is made of aluminum alloy. The device measures 100 by 120 by 180 millimeters, weighs 180 grams , and the battery built into the thermometer can be recharged via micro USB.
Nucleus Compass – When is it used, what for and how
Nucleus Compass has a precise infrared thermometer that can measure temperatures between 0 and 100 degrees Celsius . You can also set the display to Fahrenheit. You can also remove the thermometer completely from the sliding frame, making it even more portable. The different height settings make Compass suitable for measuring drink temperatures in containers of different sizes: from espresso cups to pots . Simply place the container under the thermometer and Compass will continuously measure the temperature of the liquid using infrared.
And why is temperature still important in the finished coffee? Our taste sensitivity changes at different temperatures. Each taste receptor has its own sensitivity zone. For example, the sensitivity of our sharp tactile receptors reaches its highest sensitivity at around 45 degrees Celsius and our sweetness at around 37 degrees. On top of that, the aroma density and composition in the coffee also changes due to chemical reactions during cooling. This means that the taste of the same coffee constantly changes as the temperature drops. Using Nucleus Compass to monitor temperature allows us to predict and control the coffee experience.
Nucleus Coffee Tools – Leveler NCD
Whether you're a hobby barista, private user or professional - the Leveler NCD from Nucleus Coffee Tools has something for everyone. Firstly, it comes in four stylish colors: black, silver, titanium and pink. Secondly, it has innovative features that not all levelers have. With its weight of 368 grams, it sits comfortably in the hand and very well on the ground coffee in the portafilter. The lower part has a diameter of 58.5 millimeters and therefore fits exactly on all IMS and VST filter sieves. The entire tool is 58 millimeters high and has a diameter of 990 millimeters. The Leveler NCD is made of anodized aluminum and stainless steel.
Nucleus Leveler NCD – what it can do
What's special is that the Nucleus Leveler NCD can be adjusted to the amount of coffee used. Regardless of whether you use a low or high dose of coffee, the height-adjustable NCD ensures perfect coffee distribution. The marked and labeled markings on the side help you to set your dose with millimeter precision.
The four uniquely designed blades not only allow for a faster and even distribution of the coffee powder in the sieve , but also significantly reduce the amount of coffee that sticks to the tool after each use thanks to the advanced anti-static coating. Textured sides and the stable weight of the all-metal design create a good hand feel and easy grip. They are provided with grooves to give your fingers a grip and are non-slip even on hectic days. Incidentally, the Zurich University of Applied Sciences was once again involved in the development of the Leveler NCD.
Nucleus Coffee Tools – Stem for Baristas
And last but not least is Nucleus Stem, a tool designed with baristas in mind. Stem is a tool designed to be a barista's best friend in a busy coffee shop. Developed by coffee industry professionals and the Nucleus Coffee Tools R&D team, the lightweight yet sturdy design helps increase productivity and workflow in the coffee shop by providing a stable platform to hold cups to the coffee machine. Stem is designed to work optimally hand-in-hand with barista scales, while protecting the scales from water damage.
Nucleus Stem – what is it used for?
The stem is matte black, weighs just over 500 grams and is height adjustable between 9.5 and 13.5 centimeters. Like all the other Nucleus Coffee Tools, it is made mostly of aluminum alloy. It is ideal for the following portafilter machines: Sanremo Cafe Racer, Sanremo Opera, Vittoria Arduino Black Eagle, Slayer, Kees van der Westen, La Marzocco Strada and La Marzocco Leva. Thanks to the adjustable height, the stem can of course also be used on many other machines.
As mentioned, Stem is designed to support the barista and make their work easier, especially on busy days. Its small-format design gives the barista the freedom to move it between portafilter machine spouts or even between machines. The adjustable height of the support platform means it can accommodate any cup size, minimizing the risk of spilling or making a mess. This allows you to concentrate on what matters most: making the perfect cup of coffee.
Nucleus Coffee Tools - Conclusion
The tools from Nucleus Coffee Tools are not only stylish, but also very useful for intensifying the coffee and taste experience. It doesn't matter whether you prepare and enjoy coffee at home or professionally in a café. Above all, the Nucleus Paragon gets even more flavors out of your coffee. With the Nucleus coffee flavor, you can virtually enter worlds that no palate has tasted before.
