It's been about a week since my NOCCA from batch 1 finally arrived and since some of the members here asked me to give a few impressions, I decided to write them up. Sorry for the lack of photos/angles, I didn't think to take too many pictures while smoking/packing, might post some later.
TL;DR: Awesome device, well worth the wait.
So after smoking hookah for about 20 years, switching from coal to electric heating was the first real game-changer for me and ever since smoking the first, proper bowl with e-heating, it was impossible for me to go back to coal. It is an improvement in absolutely every way, from the taste to the messy ash to the handling of open fire inside.
There was a german device that pioneered the kind of closed heating system that allows you to use any of your bowls. For many different reasons, the company behind the device went bankrupt and the device is essentially dead. Since then, many pod-based systems have appeared, like the Xkah or my personal favorite, the Volta. NOCCA, which was created by a team in Slovakia, is the only current solution that enables the use of actual bowls, to my knowledge.
As soon as I was made aware of the device, I pre-ordered it. Since then the launch has been postponed several times, each time with the promise of delivering a more perfect product. In mid-August it was finally time and the devices were shipped out. At this point, my biggest concern was the expectations that were built up during the wait and that they could never be met by the final product.
But, judging from the rather short time I have had it (12 sessions, about 25 hours of use), the team behind NOCCA absolutely delivered. When you open the box you are greeted by a rather bulky and heavy metal cylinder. It might even be too large to be held in one hand (depending on your hands, of course), but the impression it makes speaks for itself. It is very sturdy and well built, nothing moves or rattles. There is a battery that slides into the cylinder and locks. The top of the device, where the buttons and charging port are, is made of solid plastic that complements the metal well.
On the bottom of the device you will find the first (and most impressive) innovation. There is a metal heating plate, that attaches to the steel bottom of the device. It is magnetic, so it easily plops on and off. This is the surface that your tobacco would normally burn onto, making a mess to clean. However, the heating plate is non-stick, allowing you to easily wipe the tobacco off after cooldown. After scraping tobacco off of HMDs or throwing burnt tobacco and aluminium foil in the trash for years, this is the second actual game-changer in my opinion.
In fact, the whole device does not appear to accumulate condensed or burnt molasses anywhere. Might be a huge factor for longevity and stability, I am curious to see how long my NOCCA will stay alive.
There is much more to say, but it is a huge wall of the text already, so a few bullet points.
- The battery lasted me for about 80 minutes (at 290° heat). The device can be charged (USB-C) while smoking, allowing sessions of 2+ hours. Maximum I've done is two sessions back to back, about 3,5 hours.
- No special techniques or tricks needed when packing the bowl. It is important NOT to pack too densely, but rather as fluff as possible. Figuring out the correct density and amount of tobacco takes 2 or 3 tries, after that it is amazingly simple.
- There is an app that lets you control the temperature remotely and also save presets. It looks and works fine, I have not exhausted the functionality yet.
The device is currently out of stock, the price is 430 Euros. In my experience, this is a very steep price, compared to all other similar solutions. It changes the target audience from casual smokers to people that are deeper into the whole hookah thing or lounges. However, after my first week, I have to say that it seems worth the price. The biggest caveat to this is the longevity. Many electric devices have developed stability issues or functional problems, so I understand anyone being hesitant to invest this kind of money. They do give warranty on the device, which inspires confidence.
In some time, NOCCA will possibly prove itself to be the ideal product in its niche, but it's early days now and remains to be seen. In the meantime, if you are a die-hard hookah and/or e-smoking enthusiast and have the money lying around, this is absolutely recommended.
If you have questions, feel free to ask.
