Alternative Brewing Reviews 340

Alternative Brewing are the distributor for Varia grinders in Australia. Under one year in and my VS3 started drifting whilst grinding a single 18g dose. On Varia's guidance I applied food safe grease; this made no difference. AB suggested I changed to the spare set of supplied springs; this made no difference. AB then dispatched stiffer springs and at that time I advised that this constituted their attempt to fix the unit under Australian consumer legislation. The springs fixed the drift by making the adjustment totally unusable (the entire grinder moves instead). I made it clear that the product isn't fit for purpose and that's supported by the coffee roaster from whom I purchased the unit. AB won't acknowledge the consumer right to a refund (they also chose to ignore the video demonstrating the stiffness caused by the new springs); it's quite clear that it the unit presented like this on arrival I would've rejected it outright, instead they're insistent that I need to submit it for warranty inspection and repair.

EDIT:
"I am sorry that this is frustrating however this is a repairable fault and not considered a major fault in the unit. At this stage I can not offer a refund for this unit. I am still happy to offer a return label to have the warranty team further asses this unit for further resolution weather that be repair replacement or refund." 24/04

The above email is not accurate with respect to ACL and runs contrary to AB's response to this review. I'll proceed with the return and edit this as appropriate.

We bought a $450 coffee DF54 grinder which clogged up after 2 months even though it was used exactly as directed. It took many weeks of frustrating communication for them to take it back and service it which was supposedly "a favour to me". Subsequent searching shows that this is a known fault with the system so I think in 2 months from now I will be arguing for a refund after it breaks again.
If you buy from this company, you will have no after-sales warranty support without wasting a lot of your time or paying for it yourself. Extremely poor service.

Invoice Number : 710631

As a follow up to their reply. They have told me that in humid environments like Sydney, this item is prone to frequent clogging every couple of months, which requires a service by them to fix, which they want to charge for. As per Australian consumer law this means it is not fit for service but they think it is fine. There are multiple complaints about their neglect of warranty issues. Reporting to the ACCC only takes 10 minutes.

I’ve consistently had positive experiences with Alternative Brewing. Their range and selection are second to none, the customer service is outstanding, and the after-sales support has been excellent.

I’ll definitely continue to be a customer and wouldn’t hesitate to highly recommend them.

Absolutely love my Bellman Espresso & Steamer CX 25P.

After having a flat white from my friend's one while we were out camping, I knew i had to get one. To be able to make an espresso coffee with steamed milk with just heat alone is perfect. We use it at home every morning, and bring it with us in the van for a flat white in the early mornings in the mountains. Feels very fancy. We also use the steam wand on its own for hot chocolates in the evening. We were considering buying a benchtop espresso machine, but this one is so compact and doesn't need electricity and minimal water, it's just a no brainer.

10/10 so stoked.

Top tip for anyone thinking about buying one though: check to make sure it's the one that comes with a tamp and milk jug. Unfortunately I bought the one that was just the coffee machine, so I had to place a second order for the tamp and jug and pay for shipping from Australia twice, gutted.

Also I've just learned you can get a reusable coffee filter as opposed to the disposable paper ones, wish I had got one of those too.

So don't be a numpty like me, just order the right product from the beginning.

Great customer service and excellent products. Definitely recommend Alternative Brewing for all your coffee needs. Their returns team were very friendly and helpful too.

I have bought a lot of gear from them. I find their advise and recommendations to be very real, they delivery promptly and their prices are always the lowest or at the lowest level.

Consistently efficient deliveries to Perth. A great brew gear alternative! (Ugh.)

I've used a lot of kettles and the Fellow Stagg EKG Pro is the one of the best things on the market today. I recommended for everybody who wants a state of art coffee kettle!

Prompt and efficient service. Quality products. I’ve ordered several times over the past few years and always receive order in timely fashion. Good range of products.

I purchased my Casa V machine from Alternative Brewing and was initially very happy with it. After around 10 months of use, I noticed that the plastic indicator lights had begun to deteriorate and crack.

I contacted Alternative Brewing to raise the issue and explained my cleaning routine openly and in good faith. As part of general maintenance, I occasionally clean the stainless steel case (approximately once a month) using a diluted alcohol solution. Alternative Brewing advised that the damage to the lights was caused by my use of alcohol and stated that, as a result, they could not offer a remedy beyond assisting me to purchase replacement lights.

I expressed the view that the cracking may instead be related to the design or material choice of the light fittings, particularly given the potential for thermal expansion of the stainless steel case to place stress on brittle plastic components. This possibility was dismissed without supporting evidence.

While the machine continues to function despite the damaged lights, I was disappointed by how quickly my concerns were dismissed and by the lack of willingness to investigate the issue more thoroughly. Based on this experience, I found the after-sales support from both Alternative Brewing and the ECM importer to be unsatisfactory, and I would encourage prospective buyers to carefully consider this aspect before purchasing.

Cafetto Grinder Cleaner
I had no idea my grinder needed this product so much until I used it. What a difference! Cleaned the burrs brilliantly and the grind is better, cleaner and my coffee tastes even better. Very happy.

My AeroPress espresso has become part of my morning routine and then a fuller drip/pour-over style later in the day. Brilliant product and Alternative Brewing had it at a great price and delivered super quickly. Lots of good youtube content too to show me how to use

Great business and huge online store variety. Quick delivery

Decent prices, but 2 seperate parcels from them (using Aramex) have been delayed and taken almost a month to arrive. While this is not directly the fault of alternative brewing, they shouldn't be using such a terrible courier, especially since they offer no other option other than paying $10 extra for using auspost. I have looked at reviews online and it is widely known how bad Aramex is. Auspost, or at least sendle, should be default. stop using Aramex and I will change the review to 5 stars.

A unique and modern addition to any kitchen. Quiet boil with extra venting is great in the early mornings when getting ready for work before the rest of the family wakes up.
The temperature setting can be changed seamlessly for a variety of beverages and is a great look with our Hampton inspired kitchen

Alternative Brewing has been my go-to for coffee equipment for years. Their range is extensive, the products they stock are consistently excellent, and pricing is competitive. I usually opt for warehouse pickup, which has always been quick and hassle-free, with friendly staff and good organisation. I’ve never needed after-sales support, but everything about the experience gives me confidence that they’d handle issues well if they arose. A very well-run retailer!

In a time when online shopping is a dodgy minefield, I had the best experience with this company. Great products and super fast delivery.
Happy to give them 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Normcore Slim Bottomless Portafilter has been a great investment. While watching all that coffee goodness oze out of the Portafilter, I also love that it makes cleaning way easier than traditional Portafilters. I have found Normcore to be a quality brand, it fits our Breville Dual boiler perfectly. I'm very happy with this purchase. Incidentally I paired the Portafilter with a Normcore 20g High extraction basket.

Breville Precision Brewer Thermal is amazing. Cannot recommend enough