Precision Fill Mini V2 - New Product Overview
Written by: Michael Williams, CTO, SOVDA Coffee
Product launches are always a special time for me. They serve as a natural inflection point to reflect on the work we’ve done, our motivations, and how those things have manifested themselves in the final design. Precision Fill Mini is a product I’m particularly passionate about. While our other equipment targets larger roastery operations, Precision Fill Mini is the perfect ‘first SOVDA machine’ for most smaller roasteries. In short, Precision Fill Mini–affectionately referred to internally as the PFM–is one of the most high-value assets a small specialty coffee roastery can acquire.
At SOVDA, we generally implement iterative design improvements over a product’s lifecycle without marketing fanfare. We prefer to keep our heads down and focus our resources on optimizing our products for our customers. Consequently, when we do decide to market a new product version, we believe it is truly worthy of your attention.
Precision Fill Mini V2 encompasses substantial improvements across the entire machine, earning the V2 moniker. In this article, I’ll review the updates we’ve made and the engineering philosophy behind them. But first, I’d like to share with you how the project got started.
Precision Fill Mini first launched in December, 2022. This machine was incredibly successful for us and our customers because it disrupted the weigh & fill category with its unique form factor, capacity, speed, and usability. After two years of observing customer usage and analyzing how we could make it better, we decided to start working on a product refresh.
The original scope was modest: update a few of the subsystems to increase reliability, add some quality-of-life improvements, and soft-launch it under the existing ‘v1’ name. However as we spent more time on the project–talking with users and discussing more with our sales and service teams–we realized the potential for a more radical evolution. Although the result was an extended project timeline, it was the obvious choice for everyone involved. We saw the potential to take a big step forward and build something great.
Let’s start at the top. A distinguishing factor of Precision Fill Mini is that it does not require a conveyor system (ex: SOVDA Lift) to load. Its benchtop size makes manual loading possible. This is an important attribute for smaller roasteries trying to conserve capital and/or have limited space for equipment.
The most significant factor influencing the ergonomics of manual loading is hopper height. As far as we are concerned, every centimeter counts. That is why we are thrilled that Precision Fill Mini V2 is 106mm (4.2 in) shorter than its predecessor. This is a drastic, tangible difference that will allow more operators to load the machine safely and comfortably without requiring aids, such as a step stool.
We achieved this height reduction by completely redesigning the hopper. By removing the outer hopper supports, we reclaimed that volume as usable space. This allowed us to shorten the hopper’s height without sacrificing capacity compared to the V1 design. While this accounts for the majority of the height savings, we also reduced the main body height by 1.5 cm by optimizing the internal component layout.
The next big improvement regards the pneumatics system. On the previous version, the pneumatic regulator was mounted on the rear exterior. To reduce shipping volume (and consequently, costs), we required the customer to mount and connect the regulator during installation. While usually straightforward, our customer support team flagged this as an item that if improved, could save our customers time and frustration.
It’s for this reason, the V2’s pneumatic system is 100% internal. Simply connect a 8mm hose to the machine’s push-connect air fitting, and you’re done. It is easy, fast, and elegant.
The new internal air regulator is accessible by removing the right hand side panel. This actually makes it easier to adjust than the rear-facing regulator on V1, though it ships factory-calibrated so most customers should not need to adjust it. Furthermore, we repackaged the system using smaller, higher-efficiency components. The capabilities match V1, but the V2 consumes even less compressed air.
A recurring question regarding the V1 was, “how to clean it?” Deep cleaning wasn’t a primary design constraint for the original machine, so we made it a priority for V2. We achieved this through several mechanical updates:
Collectively, these changes result in a massive time savings when maintaining the Precision Fill Mini V2 compared to its predecessor.
Foot pedals are the industry standard for signaling to a weigh & fill machine that a bag is in place and ready to be filled. It’s a reliable solution that few manufacturers question. However, during our research phase, we observed a curious behavior: some customers placed the foot pedal on the bench to actuate it by hand.
The feedback was that during a long bagging session, the foot pedal can cause fatigue. Operators constantly shift weight to their heels or stand on one leg, which becomes uncomfortable over time. The problem became clear, and we wanted a solution that was 100% reliable. We investigated optical sensors to detect bag presence, but they could not guarantee the absolute reliability we demand - no one wants specialty coffee spilled on the floor due to a sensor error.
Eventually, we arrived at a novel mechanical solution: make the funnel itself the switch.
Here is how it works: when the machine has a dose ready and the bag is in place, simply pull back on the funnel to drop the coffee. It is intuitive and requires zero body repositioning. We believe this is an industry first, and we are confident most operators will prefer this method of control.
For traditionalists, do not worry: the Precision Fill Mini V2 will still include a foot pedal, and the funnel activation feature can be disabled in hardware.
Precision Fill Mini V2 is available for order immediately. The first batch of units will begin shipping in January 2026, with pricing staying identical to the previous version. Submit your order soon to secure an early spot in the first batch.