Argos Update: May 13, 2026

Hello everyone,

We have a lot to cover this month: quality improvements, issues we identified and addressed, a few exciting developments in progress, and some big news to close things out. Let's get into it.

 

Heating Element QC: MegOhmmeter Testing

We've made a meaningful upgrade to how we test our heating elements before they leave the shop. A small number of customers reported GFCI trips after receiving their machines, which was frustrating given that these units were passing our internal QC process without any issues. After digging into it, we identified that our previous continuity testing with a multimeter simply wasn't sensitive enough to catch poor insulation at actual operating voltage.

The fix came from a recommendation we received to test elements with a MegOhmmeter, which applies the actual line voltage (120V or 240V depending on the element) and measures insulation resistance at that level rather than a low-voltage continuity check. This surfaces insulation defects that would otherwise go completely undetected until the machine was plugged into a GFCI outlet in the field.

All heating elements now go through this testing before assembly. It adds time to the process but gives us a much higher level of confidence in every unit we ship out.

We have also added a European GFCI outlet to our transformer for testing 240V machines as a redundancy to our MegOhmmeter insulation test. 

 

Fluid Level Probe: Design Revision and Proactive Replacement

We've discovered and been working through an issue with the new fluid level probe design that rolled out in February.

The new probes no longer have overlapping insulation due to constraints on the manufacturing side. If the upper insulation isn't cut with enough precision, the probe can report an acceptable fluid level reading even when the boiler is lower than we'd like. This issue appears to impact about 50% of the probes and is only noticeable on machines that are run completely out of water. This is likely only a subset of customers pulling more than 4 shots in a row or not proactively topping off the water before each use. We worked a few parallel paths to resolve this as quickly as possible and have successfully implemented a new solution that combines the previous 2 designs into 1. We continued assembly but held off on shipping for the past 4 weeks until new probes were installed and an additional QC was performed. Serial 1529 was the first machine to ship with a new probe with the exception of 1440 and 1515. 

Once our remaining production batch of probes arrives in a few weeks, we will send the new part out to all customers who were shipped a machine or previous probe with the bad design. While swapping the probe is not urgent, we ask customers to please be mindful of the fluid level in your machine. We don't want anyone to be in a situation where their heating element is operating under more thermal stress than necessary.

The silver lining here is that all machines shipping with this probe also include the new Incoloy 800 heating elements, which are considerably more tolerant of high heat environments than the previous 316 stainless elements. So the risk of any real damage is low, but it's still something we want to get right.

We've been working with our supplier on a revised probe that combines the best elements of both designs to avoid this issue going forward. We started shipping machines with these updated probes this week. For anyone who received a machine with the affected design, we already have your information and will be proactively shipping updated probes out to you once our final production run arrives in the next two weeks. No action needed on your end.

We'll also be putting together an updated installation video. The swap process is only slightly different (simpler) from the current method so it should be straightforward. That said, there's no urgency here. Just try to keep your tank topped off and avoid letting the machine run dry in the meantime.

For reference, roughly half of the probes manufactured since we introduced this design in February were affected.

 

Anti-Vacuum Valve: Silicon Nitride Ceramic Ball

We've swapped the ball in our anti-vacuum valve to a Silicon Nitride Ceramic version, and we're happy with the results so far.

Occasionally we'd run into situations where the anti-vacuum valve wasn't sealing correctly, requiring reassembly and sometimes a new o-ring. The ceramic ball has roughly half the density of the previous material, which means less force is required for it to close and seat properly. The valve still functions the same way, venting air out of the boiler during heat-up to prevent false pressure readings, but we're seeing less water seeping out during initial warm-up, which is the most noticeable improvement from a user standpoint.

This change is now shipping in all new machines.

 

Anti-Vac Catch Can: Back in Development

We've picked back up on the anti-vacuum catch can that we had shelved for a while. The design has been simplified considerably. The current direction is a basic injection molded plastic tub that sits beneath the anti-vac valve and catches any water that drips during normal operation, which is expected behavior for this type of component. This is still in the prototyping phase and we don't have a timeline to share yet, but we're committed to getting it right before it ships.

 

Drip Tray Corner Seal: Revised Samples

We received updated samples of the drip tray corner seal and they're finally ready for production. The previous samples weren't holding the drip tray cover on securely enough, so we revised the design to wrap around the lower taper of the drip tray slightly. The goal is a more positive, snug fit that doesn't rely purely on friction along the flat edge.

The production order will take a few weeks to complete and arrive in our shop. These will be shipped out to all customers with a V2 drip tray at no cost to the customer. No need to inquire as we will ship these out proactively. 

                    NEW DESIGN                                                  OLD DESIGN

 

Steam Valve: Needle Geometry Update

We're also working on an update to the steam valve needle design to address premature o-ring wear that some machines have experienced over time. The current design places the o-ring in a position where it seals against a corner which can reduce the life of the o-ring if over tightened. We’re testing various designs to change how the o-ring seats against the internal wall of the valve, while keeping in mind all of the manufacturing constraints.

We have samples on the way and will share more once we've validated them.

                  VALVE CLOSED                                       VALVE OPEN

 

Puck Saturation: Pre-Shower Screen Testing

We received samples of the pre-shower screen and have already put them through testing. We'll publish the full data once we've cleaned it up, but here's a summary of where things landed.

We ran multiple tests across three configurations: stock shower screen only, stock shower screen with a V1 pre-screen, and stock shower screen with a V2 pre-screen. To keep things controlled, we held the same beans, grind setting, dose, and temperature ranges across all tests. We also left the puck screen off the top of the puck intentionally to get the clearest picture of extraction quality without anything compensating for it. On top of that, we filmed slow motion video of the preinfusion saturation at both higher and lower boiler pressure to simulate a first shot versus a consecutive shot scenario.

The two screens differ pretty significantly in their hole pattern. The V1 has 708 holes while the V2 has 376, and that reduction appears to do a better job of evening out the flow before it reaches the puck rather than letting it flow through more freely with bias towards one side.

The TDS results reflected this. The stock configuration averaged 8.89%, the V1 pre-screen averaged 9.5%, and the V2 pre-screen averaged 9.41%. Both screens showed a meaningful improvement in extraction over the stock setup with identical variables. When it came to the visual side of things, the V2 stood out as the most consistent with even looking saturation across the puck during preinfusion.

Based on the TDS data and the visual comparisons, we've decided to move forward with V2 for production. Screens are expected to arrive in a few weeks and will be included in all production builds going forward.

          NO PRE SCREEN                       V1 PRE SCREEN                        V2 PRE SCREEN

  

Production Update

Our current backlog sits at approximately 360 units. We're planning to have a full production schedule mapped out by the end of this month covering all remaining orders, and we'll share that timeline once it's finalized.

 

Software Updates

App Notifications

The app now supports push notifications to alert you when your boiler has reached either brew or steam temperature. This means you no longer have to keep an eye on your screen while the machine warms up. This feature can be toggled on or off within the settings menu depending on your preference.

Brew Plotting Improvements

We've added landscape mode support for brew plots, allowing you to rotate your phone for a much wider and more detailed view of your shot data. To help you dial in your specific setup, we've also made the maximum values for the pressure, weight, and flow rate axes fully adjustable.

For those times when a recording starts too early or runs too long, you can now edit brew durations after the fact to trim the plot. We've also introduced a bulk delete option in the brew history to make cleaning up old shot data much faster.

Auto Start / Stop Logic

To provide more granular control over your recordings, you can now define specific weight thresholds to trigger the auto start and auto stop functions. We've also implemented a new "cup-removed" threshold, which allows the auto stop to trigger as soon as the cup is pulled from the scale, rather than relying solely on weight or time limits.

Seamless Connectivity

The app now automatically identifies and connects to your Argos upon opening, removing the need for a manual scan. For those who prefer the previous behavior, a toggle remains available in the settings to switch back to manual connection mode. 

Machine Management and Tuning

We've integrated firmware release notes directly into the update and management screens, so you can review exactly what is included in a release before you begin the installation. For those looking for more aggressive temperature tuning, we've extended the bang-bang offset range, lowering the minimum from -2 to -4.

Lastly, we've addressed a calculation bug to ensure that steam temperature now correctly accounts for the bang-bang offset.

 

A Big Announcement to Close

We're excited to share that we've closed a deal with a private investor based out of Canada who has experience with manufacturing businesses and a longstanding involvement in specialty coffee. It feels like a genuinely strong fit on both sides.

Like most hardware companies at our stage, continued growth requires upfront capital. This investment puts us in a much better position to work through our backlog more efficiently, continue improving lead times, and keep investing in the component and QC improvements you’ve been reading about in these updates. 

We're extremely grateful for the continued support from this community. It's a big part of what makes opportunities like this possible, and we’re excited for what’s ahead.

Sincerely,

Ross & William