Alternative Brewing Reviews 340

Good products and selection, but "24/7 Australian Customer Support" isn't.

I bought a Varia Hybrid Evo Grinder from AB and while I appreciate the price and fast shipping, I wasn't able to get support with the product—stopped grinding correctly—this Saturday morning around 9:20 am AEST despite the advertised 24/7 support. The chat agent advised that their product support would not be available until Monday.

This is misleading marketing IMHO.

Edit: while I appreciate the business' reply, let's face it... this wasn't a particularly difficult issue to solve. All I had to do was tighten a screw with the included hex key. Thanks for being willing to improve the honesty of your advertising.

Update 30 June 2025: the grinder’s motor died 6 days after the warranty expired. Alternate Brewing came through anyway, which was generous given I live outside of AU and would have had an uphill battle with AU’s consumer protection laws. That act of grace is enough to promote this review from 3 to 5 stars. Good recovery.

They’re not the cheapest but the depth and breadth of knowledge is sublime! I thoroughly enjoy giving them my money to enhance the experience of the brewing and consumption of 30ml of liquid black gold. I’ve bought a few things but most recent is the Normcore Spring-loaded Tamper V4, for lack of a better word it’s ‘Brilliant’. Perfect for all my home barista needs.

Bought a Mugen from AB for my afternoon office coffee. Produces a surprisingly rich balanced brew by just dumping the water in from a random kettle. Way better than expected. Great products and service.

I travel a lot, like a lot. I also love a good ristretto to get my day started. those two things are not alway compatible.

That can be hard to find, specially in some remote destinations and even in larger cities. The amount of times I have to explain how to make one, and that is even if they have the beans or capacity to produce one. I have had some very bad coffees at $5+

So... fast forward and after a lot of research. I opted for something that would be the most practical. Needs no power, just boiling water. You can even get tha on a long flight. I also opted for the Wacacco Exagrind manual grinder

It took me 3 goes to get the extraction right. That is not bad for a machine that I have never used.

I must say, I am impressed with the quality of the Picopresso and the quality of the shot it brews. With my current beans, 15 clicks on the grinder, filled to the top of the inside divisions, makes the perfect ristretto, with the Picopresso filled just shy of the top.

Very compact. It all could fit in my jacket pocket and the cary case it comes with is excellent.

Both very good products that will pay for themselves in just a few months

Excellent customer service
I bought from Chile and the communication was super fast. If you live in Australia I’m sure it’ll be faster.
I preorder in May and they sent my parcel as soon as they got the dripper. HARIO suiren

I recently bought a Gaggia coffee machine, but from the very first use, one of the lights on the panel wasn't working. I contacted them about the issue, and they sent me a prepaid postage label (although for the first time they sent me to the post office with an expired post barcode on Saturday and no one was available to help me even the online chat!) to send it in for repair. It's now been two weeks since I've been without the coffee machine that I paid approximately $800 for. When I requested a full refund, they said that they are not able to provide me with a refund for the machine while it is being repaired!
Their product is faulty and their service sucks!
Stay away from these people

Just so simple and easy. I googled it, they were the only ones who had it, product was exactly what I was looking for, even with the upgrades, and ordered. Shipped within an hour or two, it arrived quick even all the way from Australia to the middle of the United States, and arrived in great shape. They kept me up to speed but not overwhelmed me with emails. Just an easy company to work with. I love their reviews, they are simple and honest, and I am certain to do business with them again. Seriously, other companies should pay attention.

This kettle still rocks. It's a classic that has always done a rock solid job. I had one a long time ago that lasted years of regular daily use in my cafe. During the last few years, I was using the slightly bigger capacity Brewista clone of this kettle - but it's not available any longer for some reason. In going back to the Bonavita kettle, it's so much quieter and gets to temperature quickly so we're just as efficient as ever. Highly rate this robust workhorse of a kettle.

Beautifully finished and easy to use scales with lots of functionality. Exactly what I was after. Stylish, minimalist and accurate. Alternative Brewing are the best at delivering fast at the best pricing and with a vast array of tutorial videos.

I was looking at big shipping fees/wait times for a US (Flair) product which I luckily found for even cheaper on the AB site - the only Australian supplier I could find for it. When I had questions there was an actual person on the live chat to answer them :) very excited to receive my new things!

Bought a few Bialetti items, very happy with the service, the price and the shipping. Will definitely order more.
Highly recommend Alternative Brewing!

The ultimate online coffee toy shop that carries an insane range of top quality products, at a fair price, with detailed reviews and tutorial videos from its passionate owner who is so fully committed to help you achieve that perfect cup of coffee. The wildest and most comprehensive place where you will find whatever you are looking for that perfect brewing experience with slick, fast and smooth customer service. Kudos to Joshua at Alternative Brewing ☕️👍😊.

Great brand with the biggest range of products

Good range. Competitive prices. Love my Breville grinder

We've bought a number of items from Alternative Brewing now. Huge range of products and the service is very fast as was the one customer service enquiry I made. (The freight is a little slow but I guess that's out of their hands if they're going to keep the cost of shipping down.) Prices are competitive and it feels great being able to support an Aussie supplier. Their YouTube videos are also very helpful.

Definitely recommend these guys.
Has all your coffee nerd needs ☕️

Order Number: #541983
Alternative Brewing is a well-regarded coffee supplies company based in Australia, known for its diverse product range and commitment to quality. Here’s a short review:

1. Extensive Product Range: Alternative Brewing offers a wide variety of coffee equipment and accessories, including coffee grinders, espresso machines, manual brewers, and barista tools, catering to both home users and professional baristas.
2. Quality and Brands: They stock products from reputable brands like Aeropress, Hario, Baratza, and Chemex, ensuring customers have access to high-quality and reliable equipment.
3. User-Friendly Website: The website is easy to navigate, with detailed product descriptions, reviews, and instructional videos, making it simple for customers to find and select the right products.
4. Educational Content: Alternative Brewing provides a wealth of educational content, including brewing guides, tutorials, and tips, helping customers improve their coffee-making skills and knowledge.
5. Customer Service: The company is known for its responsive and helpful customer service, assisting customers with product inquiries, troubleshooting, and order support.
6. Fast Shipping: With efficient shipping options, including international delivery, Alternative Brewing ensures timely delivery of products to customers around the world.

Overall, Alternative Brewing is praised for its comprehensive selection, quality offerings, and strong customer support, making it a trusted choice for coffee enthusiasts looking to elevate their brewing experience.

First order from Alternative Brewing went great. Got an Acaia Lunar scale, and it shipped quickly and works well. Best price I could find online here in Australia, so there's nothing not to like.

I want to say a big thank you to the team at Alternative Brewing. They helped me quickly resolve an issue I was having with a faulty machine (manufacture error). They handled the tricky situation perfectly, with calm and clear thinking. Their focus on customer experience and satisfaction really shone through. I want to commend Amy and Jai, in particular, for their dedication and knowledge, for guiding me through the whole process. I will definitely be shopping here in the future.

Have placed a few orders with Alternative Brewing and have always been happy with the service and postage speed.