Global launch of the NCD Pulse

On February 10, 2025, Nucleus Coffee Tools will globally release the NCD Pulse, marking a new development in coffee distribution technology.  This innovative tool is designed to improve espresso preparation for baristas worldwide, while prioritising efficiency and workflow.

In anticipation of the NCD Pulse’s release, its co-creators Saša Šestić and Angus Mackie shared some insights into the development, aims and functions of the new coffee distributor, and how they expect it to be received worldwide.

The evolution of coffee distribution tools

The journey of the NCD Pulse began with the original NCD (Nucleus Coffee Distributor, formerly OCD), introduced by Nucleus Coffee Tools founder and 2015 World Barista Champion, Saša Šestić, when competing at the World Barista Championships in Seattle, USA.

Saša reflects on his passion for perfecting espresso, which included developing innovations such as the original NCD. “I’ve always chased the perfect coffee,” he says. “The original NCD was born out of a need to achieve more consistent distribution, and it became a benchmark for baristas worldwide.”

The original NCD sought to address a critical issue in espresso preparation – the inconsistent distribution of coffee grounds within the portafilter. Uneven distribution can lead to channelling during extraction, where water finds the path of least resistance, resulting in under-extracted and over-extracted areas in the same shot. By creating a flat, even bed of coffee, the NCD has helped baristas to achieve more consistent extractions and better-tasting espresso.

Since the release of the NCD in 2016, a great number of distribution tools and methods have been developed, becoming an integral part of coffee puck preparation in coffee venues and competitions across the globe.

However, Saša and the rest of the team at Nucleus Coffee Tools undertand that the coffee world never stands still. They observed that even with the original NCD, air pockets of less-evenly distributed coffee could form at the bottom of the coffee puck, potentially affecting extraction. This observation became the foundation for the development of the NCD Pulse, combining the best of the original design with innovative pulse vibration technology.

“The coffee industry is always evolving,” Saša notes. “We’re constantly learning, experimenting, and refining. The NCD Pulse represents years of research and a commitment to helping baristas improve their craft.”

Introducing Pulse Vibration technology

For the last six years, members of the Nucleus Coffee Tools team have experimented with different ways of overcoming the problem of potential air pockets – seeking a way to ensure not only even horizontal distribution throughout the coffee puck, but also to improve vertical distribution, from the top to bottom of the coffee grounds in a portafilter.

At the heart of this latest innovation, NCD Pulse, is its groundbreaking Pulse Vibration technology. This is inspired by principles used in other industries – for example, in construction, vibration is applied to settle concrete and remove air pockets, ensuring a solid and uniform structure. Similarly, the NCD Pulse uses subtle vibrations to redistribute coffee grounds evenly throughout the portafilter, eliminating air pockets and voids, creating a more uniform density from top to bottom.

“Imagine your [coffee] dose sitting in your basket from top to bottom. Consistent density is the goal prior to tamping, but achieving consistent density in the bottom portions are harder as we can’t touch them,” explains Angus Mackie, Research and Development Lead at Nucleus Coffee Tools.

“Imagine tapping your basket on one side not the other, or leaning to one side when tamping. This also creates cracks or uneven density of coffee from one side to another. The goal of dual horizontal and vertical distribution is eliminating inconsistent densities throughout the entire basket, which requires sensitive and consistent technique from barista to barista, shot to shot.”

The NCD Pulse features two vibration settings—low and high—carefully calibrated through extensive sensory testing. It was developed with these settings after experiments showed that while most coffees benefitted from a high Pulse Vibration setting during distribution, some had more favourable results on a lower setting.

“Most coffees benefit from the high vibration setting, but some, depending on their roast profile or recipe, perform better with the low setting,” Saša notes. “This flexibility allows baristas to fine-tune their process for optimal results.”

Initially, the NCD Pulse was only produced with one vibration intensity – however, extensive testing revealed that because different coffees performed better on either higher or lower Pulse Vibration, and that a range of vibration settings would allow for more experimentation and for allow users to decide what performs best. 

“Initially, we imagined the product would have one vibration intensity only. However, after tasting literally hundreds of different coffees from different global roasting styles, origins and processes, we noticed a the diversity of coffee some tasted ideal with slightly lower or higher vibration intensities – hence the two options for baristas to find their favourite,” Angus says. 

The benefits and theory of Pulse Vibration

The Pulse Vibration technology in the NCD Pulse offers several key benefits that make it an essential tool for baristas:

1. Enhanced consistency: By eliminating air pockets and redistributing coffee grounds evenly, the NCD Pulse ensures a consistent puck density, which translates to more predictable extraction results.
2. Improved workflow: The automatic activation and intuitive design of the NCD Pulse make it easy to use, saving time in busy café environments. Baristas can seamlessly integrate the tool into their workflow without compromising speed or quality.
3. Better coffee taste: Uneven extraction often leads to sharp, bitter, or sour flavours. By promoting even extraction, the NCD Pulse helps baristas unlock the full potential of their coffee, delivering a sweeter and more balanced cup.
4. Versatility: The dual vibration settings allow baristas to tailor the distribution process to different coffee profiles, densities, and roast levels, offering flexibility and control.

The theory behind pulse vibration is rooted in creating a uniform particle distribution within the coffee puck. Uneven densities can lead to water bypassing certain areas, resulting in inconsistent extraction. By addressing both the top layer and the interior of the puck, the NCD Pulse minimises these inconsistencies, ensuring that every particle of coffee contributes to the final shot.

“The beauty of pulse vibration is that it’s both simple and effective,” Angus explains. “It takes the guesswork out of distribution, allowing baristas to focus on other aspects of espresso preparation, like dialing in the grind or perfecting their milk steaming technique.”

Key features and benefits

The NCD Pulse is packed with user-friendly features designed for efficiency and precision. This includes:

• Effortless operation: The tool activates automatically when lifted from its charging dock, and vibrations cease when returned, streamlining workflow.
• Durable design: With a smooth, powder-coated finish and DLC-coated blades, the NCD Pulse is lightweight yet robust.
• Long battery life: Capable of over 1,000 uses on a single charge, the tool’s USB-C rechargeable battery ensures uninterrupted service.
• Adjustable height: Customisable settings allow for precise measurements tailored to various coffee doses and densities.

The combination of horizontal and vertical distribution is a standout feature. Like all NCD models, the four-arm propeller on the base of the NCD Pulse provides horizontal distribution to ensure that coffee grounds spread evenly across the surface of the portafilter.

Enhanced by vibration, vertical distribution ensures uniform density throughout the puck, eliminating air pockets. This dual action provides an optimal foundation for tamping, reducing the risk of channelling and promoting even extraction.

Impact on barista workflow and coffee quality

The NCD Pulse not only enhances the technical aspects of coffee distribution but also empowers baristas to deliver exceptional results with ease. By ensuring even distribution, it eliminates variables that can negatively impact taste.

The design of the NCD Pulse replicates those of previous NCD models, meaning that it can be used in the same way. After ensuring that the bottom propeller is set to the ideal height for the coffee and selecting a Pulse Vibration setting, the distributor simply needs to placed onto the portafilter and spun several times, over 2-3 seconds.

“We know that making coffee is complicated, and that it’s getting harder with this global coffee crisis – we need to optimise the time behind the bar and to be as fast as we possibly can, so we can provide that groundbreaking coffee experience to customers in the right amount of time,” Saša says.

“This is where we wanted to make sure that when baristas are handling our tool, it pretty much is the same as handling the old NCD, or any other distribution tool. The NCD Pulse is designed to be intuitive and efficient, so that baristas can achieve consistent distribution in just three spins, improving extraction without adding complexity to their routine.”

The introduction of Pulse Vibration technology also aligns with broader trends in the coffee industry, where precision tools – including those with vibration – are increasingly used to elevate quality.

“On competition stages and in some specialty cafés, vibration distribution is becoming a standard for achieving unparalleled consistency and taste,” says Angus.

In the most recent World Barista Championship, a number of competitors used types of vibrations to improve not only coffee distribution, but to improve the texture and overall sensory experience of their coffee. Several competitors used prototypes of the NCD Pulse during their performances, with 2024 South Korean Barista Champion, Junghwan Lim using it to place 5th overall.

Although success on the competition stage has helped to develop and fine tune the NCD Pulse, Angus says that the goal of this distribution tool is improvement in the everyday preparation of coffee while prioritisting efficiency.

“Espresso is extremely difficult to prepare consistently in a café, where fast paced needs combined with multiple staff makes it too easy to turn a beautiful coffee into an espresso with sharp or bitter tastes,” Angus explains.

“Working most of my career as a head barista and barista trainer, my goal with NCD Pulse is an efficient and consistent way to achieve distribution which improves taste quality.”

Celebrating the global release of NCD Pulse

The NCD Pulse represents years of innovation, testing, and dedication, and signifies a leap forward for baristas seeking to refine their craft.

“This tool is a testament to our commitment to making coffee preparation simpler, faster, and better,” says Saša. “We’re extremely proud of what we have achieved, and we can’t wait for baristas to try and experiment with it.”

As the NCD Pulse enters the global market via Nucleus Coffee Tools’ partners and resellers, it is poised to set a new standard for coffee distribution. Whether you’re a seasoned barista or an enthusiastic home brewer, the NCD Pulse offers a transformative experience – one that turns the pursuit of the perfect espresso into an achievable reality.

The NCD Pulse will be launched globally on February 10, 2025. Learn more about the NCD Pulse and where to find it here.