Things that sell out within minutes: Beyoncé and Taylor Swift tickets. Telfar bags. “Barbie” showings. And countertop composting devices that turn your food waste into fertilizer. Or, at least, one such machine. Lomi recently released the Lomi Bloom, an updated version of its popular home composting machine — not only did it sell out in two hours, but the second drop went quickly, too. Thankfully, the stock has seemingly stabilized and the company is accepting orders with a relatively quick turnaround (shipping in about two weeks at the time of writing).
Countertop composters certainly seem to be growing in popularity — at least enough so that companies like Lomi and Vitamix are continuing to evolve their own offerings, while other brands are getting in on the action as well. It’s heartening, really, that so many people are revved up to do their small part in tackling the food waste crisis (and by extension, the climate emergency). Machines like these, which dehydrate and grind down organic matter into soil amendments, can help divert the large amount of household food waste produced in this country from landfills.
But what about this newfangled Lomi Bloom, specifically? I got my hands on one of the new machines, and after testing it in every mode, I can officially say I’m a fan.
The Lomi Bloom is a versatile and good-looking machine for anyone who wants to responsibly dispose of food waste and other organic matter, perhaps get some fertilizer out of it and not worry about an eyesore sitting on their countertop.
What we liked about it
Even before Lomi Bloom was a thing, I was impressed by the company’s Classic countertop device. It was the first of its kind that I heard about (the brand is big into podcast advertising), and I was amazed by the concept of being able to operate a composting-adjacent process from your kitchen counter. Before getting one, I relied solely on a private composting service that picks up food waste from a bin in my alley for a fee — though I don’t get anything back from it (that’s not always the case; it just depends on the specific service you use). For anyone overwhelmed by the idea of composting (or who just doesn’t have the physical space to do so), this is a fantastic alternative.
A user-friendly, minimally disruptive process
Operating the Lomi Bloom is simple: Fill the bucket with food and approved packaging waste (according to the guide of what can and can’t go in there), put the lid on and press a button. From there, the device heats, grinds and dehydrates its contents until you have an end product that looks and feels like dirt. Refillable activated charcoal filters keep odors at bay — aside from the occasional and faint earthy scent — and the sound is minimal, akin to the quiet hum of a running dishwasher or small humidifier. A single cycle takes anywhere from three to 17 hours, depending on the mode and the specific contents (an improvement on the 3-24-hour range of the Lomi Classic).
Three versatile modes to suit your needs
The fact that there are modes to choose from is, in my opinion, one of the Lomi Bloom upsides, because it allows you to tailor the process — from the type of waste you put in to the amount of time it runs and the output it provides — based on your needs and preferences. If you just want to quickly shrink down your food and plant waste for your home compost or green bin (or, worst case, trash can), go with “Eco-express.” This is the fastest mode (approximately three to five hours), using the least amount of energy, and you can add a pretty wide range of food waste. Fruit and vegetable scraps, leftovers and plate scrapings, meat scraps (but not bones), seafood, fish bones, eggs and eggshells, coffee grounds, grains, oats, legumes, plant and yard trimmings, nuts and seeds and soft peels are all on the “go for it!” list, while dairy products, fruit rinds and fibrous peels, nut butters and thin nut shells, pizza and pasta, and syrup and confectionary items are okay in small doses (no more than 10% of the total waste per cycle). Again, this cycle doesn’t break down the scraps enough to actually become compost, but it shrinks down the waste so it takes up less space (and isn’t as stinky) in your home compost bin or trash can.
If your primary concern is responsibly disposing of as many non-food compostable products as possible, you can run the “Lomi approved” mode, which allows for certain bioplastics and packaging (the full list is on its website).?Lomi even encourages you to rip up the compostable plastic bag the device is wrapped in upon delivery and toss the scraps into your bucket — though you’ll have to separate it into multiple cycles, because the company recommends capping the non-food waste at 10% of every cycle. This mode takes about five to seven hours, and when it’s done, you can discard the output (also dirt-like, though less fine) in your municipal or private service compost bin.
If you’re a plant parent or home gardener in need of some fresh fertilizer, you can go all in on “Grow” mode, which takes the longest (14 to 17 hours) but produces the closest thing to finished compost — which you can actually mix with soil at a ratio of 1 part “Lomi Earth,” as it’s called, to 10 parts soil. Because you’re creating a nutrient-rich soil amendment, though, you’ll have to be more selective about what you put in the bucket. Lomi advises users to stick with fruit and veggie scraps, eggs and eggshells, coffee grounds, oats, legumes, plant and yard trimmings and soft peels. That said, there’s something of a loophole for other food products: You can take the output from “Eco-Express” mode and include it in a “Grow” mode cycle. The company also recommends adding a LomiPod — tablets containing a proprietary probiotic blend — to each “Grow” cycle to create what they say is an even healthier product for your plants. The Lomi Bloom comes with one pack of LomiPods, so I’ve been using them, though I have no real way of telling the difference they make. After the included pack runs out, you’ll have to buy your own, which will run you $35 for a 90-pack, though you can find some small savings by signing up for recurring purchases.
I’ve found that I have use for each mode, so it’s nice to be able to change it up, depending on what’s in my kitchen collection bin and whether or not I’m in need of fertilizer.
Regardless of the mode, it really is amazing to see what this relatively small machine creates from my kitchen scraps. It genuinely looks, feels, and smells like dirt (though it’s clear the “Grow” mode grinds waste the most thoroughly, while the plastic bag I included in “Lomi Approved” mode could still do with some degrading).
Easy cleaning
You might think that cleaning something that turns food scraps into dirt would be a nightmare, but the Lomi Bloom makes it surprisingly easy, especially considering it doesn’t require very frequent care. The manual recommends cleaning the bucket “routinely” to maintain “optimal performance.” It doesn’t specify exactly what that means, but every few cycles feels reasonable to me. The Lomi bucket is dishwasher-safe; you just need to clear out any dirt chunks or residue first. Sometimes I need to use a small knife to free up loose dirt under the grinding arms, but overall the process is quite easy. I have seen more stubborn buildup around the metal piece connecting the grinding arms to the side of the bucket, which is where the cleaning cycle function comes in. If cleaning by hand or a dishwasher doesn’t do the trick, you can pour two liters of water into the bucket and run a 90-minute cleaning cycle. I was initially a bit disappointed after I tried this, but then I realized my expectations of a sparkling, dirt-free bucket were irrational considering the water doesn’t actually go anywhere. Instead, the cycle seemed to soften and loosen the buildup so that I was able to easily rinse it off.
The rest of the Lomi Bloom isn’t dishwasher-safe, but it also isn’t exposed to as much mess. The manual recommends cleaning the exterior “once a month or as frequently as you would clean any other kitchen appliance,” and all that entails is wiping it down with a damp cloth (and, if necessary, a bit of dish soap), then again with a dry cloth.
A design-forward aesthetic
Lomi is among the classes of appliances that are nearly as good-looking as they are functional. It’s evident the company put care into the aesthetic design — something that’s pretty important when you’re talking about a machine that may find its permanent home in plain view on your countertop. The slightly rounded hexagonal shape and smooth, matte finish evoke a stylish planter more than a kitchen appliance. There’s minimal branding (just a barely noticeable, tone-on-tone logo on the front) and only the one button surrounded by a small circle of indicator lights and subtle symbols. And while the first-generation Lomi Classic was only available in white, the Lomi Bloom also comes in black and sage green; I have the latter, and it’s a gorgeous shade that adds life to my kitchen and fits in well with my adjacent living room.
Also new with the Lomi Bloom is the “Skylight Lid” so you can watch the Lomi work through two half-moon-shaped windows. It’s one of those details that isn’t necessary and wouldn’t be missed if it weren’t there, but is actually pretty great to have. Initially, I was simply excited to see what the grinding process actually looks like — it was truly fascinating to see fully intact food scraps turn into dirt before my eyes — but I’ve realized I also like having the ability to peek in and see how far along a cycle is at any given moment.
A connected app for tracking your impact and earning rewards
The Lomi Bloom is Wi-Fi and Bluetooth-enabled, so you can connect your device to the accompanying Lomi app (available currently on iOS, with Android “coming soon,” according to the website). It’s not the most advanced smart appliance, as you can’t actually operate your Lomi Bloom from the app. The closest feature to that is the fact that, if you set up push notifications, it will let you know when a cycle is completed. That said, there are some benefits to having it, the most valuable of which is the new rewards program. Once you connect your Lomi Bloom to the app, you’ll earn points for every cycle you run —?the most for Grow mode, then Lomi Approved, then Eco-Express — with double points during the first 30 days. You also get points for your initial purchase, as well as recurring subscription orders (such as for charcoal filter refills) and successful referrals.
You can then redeem those points for Lomi products or discounts with partner brands, like Pela (which is owned by the same company), Goldilocks Goods and Hive. Actually benefiting from this program will take pretty regular use: The “cheapest” products you can get are a set of Lomi Labels or a 45-pack of LomiPods for 2,000 points, while running a cycle earns you anywhere from five to 10 points depending on the mode. You get a 250-point boost with your purchase; other than that, the big-earning actions are subscription orders (300 points) and referrals (5,000) points. That said, it’s not nothing —?and perhaps more importantly, I feel like even this small incentive will encourage people to actually use their Lomi Bloom machines long-term, rather than leave them to collect dust after the initial excitement wears off or the time comes to order new filters.
The Lomi app also tracks your environmental impact, keeping a tally of how much waste you’ve kept from landfills (in pounds, based on an average of 2.2 pounds per full bucket) and your carbon dioxide savings equivalent (CO2e) compared to driving a gas car (in miles, based on the approximation of 1.39 lb CO2e per cycle, which is the equivalent of about 1.57 miles driven in an average passenger vehicle). It’s another one of those things that doesn’t actually do anything, but it’s encouraging and fun to see.
Beyond those features, the app serves as an easily accessible guide to how to operate the Lomi Bloom and what you can and can’t include in each mode, and a platform for purchasing refills and accessories.
What we didn’t like
An expensive appliance
Starting at $499, the Lomi Bloom is a significant financial investment, and certainly cost-prohibitive for many households. As we’ve mentioned before, you’re likely to spend significantly less if you opt for traditional at-home composting or even a private collection service. (If your city offers municipal composting for free, go with that!) Depending on your exact setup, it could take years before the cost of the Lomi Bloom becomes less than a service. That’s not to say it isn’t worth it: Some of this comes down to personal preference and your goals. If you want on-demand fertilizer or an incredibly turnkey in-home process, a countertop composter like this may very well be worth it compared to the other options.
Beyond the upfront cost, you also need to plan for filter replacements. Lomi recommends replacing the activated charcoal every three months or every 45 cycles. A one-time refill purchase costs $30, $55 or $100 for a one-pack, two-pack, or four-pack, respectively; or you can subscribe and save 10%. You probably shouldn’t search for cheaper alternatives, either: Using anything other than Lomi’s own product will void the warranty, which could cost you if something goes wrong with the machine.
If you want to keep using the LomiPods in your “Grow” mode cycles after the included pack runs out, you’ll need to buy more for $30, $35 or $65 for 45, 90 or 180 cycles, respectively. As with the charcoal pellets, you can save 10% with a subscription.
Lomi does offer another alternative: Buy the hardware for $499 along with an “unlimited membership” for $20 per month, billed quarterly. That membership gets you an unlimited supply of LomiPods and filter refills, as well as a three-year extended warranty. Unless you’re going to run your Lomi Bloom very frequently and almost always on “Grow” mode, though, this won’t likely save you much money. If your budget is tight, it may be worth considering the Lomi Classic model instead, which is $100 cheaper than the Lomi Bloom and not all that different.
How it compares
When I heard Lomi was releasing a second-generation countertop composter, I got really excited. I figured there would be significant improvements in the hardware, allowing the Lomi Bloom to handle tougher waste (like fruit pits) and more thoroughly grind things like bioplastic bags. So, it was a bit of a letdown to learn the waste allowances are the same as the Lomi Classic. The significant updates are the speed (“up to” two hours faster), the two new colors, the addition of the Skylight Lid, the cleaning cycle ability and the new app and rewards program. I’ve already made it known I’m a fan of these features —?but are they worth an additional $100? That’s questionable. I certainly wouldn’t go out and buy the Lomi Bloom if I had a working Lomi Classic at home. If you don’t have any such device, though, the decision of whether or not to spring for the newer version will come down to your own budget and personal preferences.
Lomi’s most prominent competitor, as far as we can tell, is the Vitamix FoodCycler Eco 5. I have tested that one as well, and they’re pretty evenly matched, including on price. The Eco 5 definitely has the leg up on food waste allowances; most impressively, that machine can handle various fruit pits — including avocado pits — which are a definite no in the Lomi. The Lomi, on the other hand, allows for certain bioplastics and packaging — waste that in many cases, would end up in landfills or incinerated otherwise —?and gives you the option of three different modes to suit your schedule and needs. As for looks, the Vitamix is decently sleek, but the Lomi still wins that category handily, as far as I’m concerned. The other big difference is capacity, with Vitamix’s 5-liter bucket making it a nice choice for larger households compared to Lomi’s 3-liter counterpart.
Bottom line
Backyard, municipal and private composting services all remain fantastic options for responsibly handling your household food and organic waste. But there are plenty of reasons you might prefer a countertop composting-esque device, and if that’s the case, the Lomi Bloom will likely serve you well.
This device handles an impressive variety of scraps and trash without taking up a lot of space, leaking an unpleasant odor or disrupting your peace and quiet. If you so choose, you can get fresh soil fertilizer on demand (well, in 14 to 17 hours) or shrink your food waste down rather quickly to minimize its footprint in your green bin or, worst case scenario, a landfill. And it looks great while doing all of that.
The Lomi Bloom is a big purchase, so it’s something you want to carefully consider, but the brand does offer a 30-day trial. Per the website, you can get a full refund and free return shipping, “no questions asked,” within that time frame. If you think this sustainability solution could be a good fit for your household, it’s worth taking advantage of that first month and running all sorts of cycles. I’m guessing you’ll end up with a keeper.
