Automated drink slinger takes orders via LCD

Sure, we've seen legions of automated bartenders and coffee machines that conjure up your preferred cup of joe each morning, but the Digital Beverages MyFountain takes things up a notch. Sporting a touchscreen LCD, an internet-linked Windows XP computer, and the ability to be "100-percent customizable," this mechanical drink slinger reportedly interfaces with a "dorm-style refrigerator" that holds a dozen types of alcohol and mixers along with a water line and carbon-dioxide cartridge. Furthermore, the grown-ups can even password protect the non-virgin beverages on tap, and while it would sure be nice to kiss tips goodbye and hold all of your parties in-house, this bad boy supposedly starts at a stiff $2,575. Click on for a couple snapshots of the interface.

[Via CNET, image courtesy of PopSci]

[Sam @ Aug 14th 2007 12:34AM]

you are DEFINITELY just reading popsci and reposting

[Baker @ Aug 14th 2007 2:58AM]

you are DEFINITELY just being an asshole

[nicleT @ Aug 14th 2007 12:37AM]

Funny, it reminds me the idea of the PIANOCKTAIL in Boris Vian's L'écume des jours (1947).

[casey s @ Aug 14th 2007 12:40AM]

I have to have this!

[FordGTGuy @ Aug 14th 2007 1:03AM]

Can it play Doom while making me a beer?

[Revrant2394 @ Aug 14th 2007 1:05AM]

Oh Dear, Paris will have to learn how to read if she's going to get past the password.

[Phil @ Aug 14th 2007 1:23AM]

I'm thinking of the Nutrimatic Drinks Dispenser from the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy:

"When the 'Drink' button is pressed it makes an instant but highly detailed examination of the subject's taste buds, a spectroscopic analysis of the subject's metabolism, and then sends tiny experimental signals down the neural pathways to the taste centres of the subject's brain to see what is likely to be well received. However, no-one knows quite why it does this because it then invariably delivers a cupful of liquid that is almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea."

[Luigi193 @ Aug 14th 2007 1:41AM]

hmm....Can it dispense soda??? The ultimate Coca-cola dispenser....drool.

[deathwombat @ Aug 14th 2007 1:45AM]

But can it play doom?

[Simon Waddington @ Aug 14th 2007 2:18AM]

Hmmm, Windows UI - I wonder if it knows how to mix "Long, slow, painful reboot" and "Blue Screen of Death"?

[Deluxe @ Aug 14th 2007 2:27AM]

The "BSOD" is just Absinth with blue. I'm gonna have to convince my local club to start selling said drink.

[P. Tran @ Aug 14th 2007 3:01AM]

The reason it so expensive cause it run XP! You can knock 400 dollar off price if you use linux instead!

[rlynd3 @ Aug 14th 2007 3:58AM]

Really, because 21 hundred dollars is more reasonable.

[amacdonald @ Apr 3rd 2008 10:10AM]

being a club owner, my main question above price/software/hardware etc would be, how do you get around the other drinks getting tainted from flavors coming through the spouts for other drinks? Just looking at the design tells me there's going to be such issues.

how did you avoid this?

[Timothy @ Aug 14th 2007 5:26AM]

The problem that no one has mentioned (obviously I'm the only bartender here) is that it pours perfect drinks. Guess what, when you're cool and/or you tip a little extra, you get more than a shot in your drink from a live bartender. You have no leeway with this. It's the same as the "electronic pour spouts" you see at some bars. They don't allow for over pour. While that's great for keeping costs down at the bar, it's bad for the customer. If I like you, you'll get an 8 or 9 count on your Captain and Coke instead of the "regulation" 6 count, with these, there's no variance.

[Mark @ Aug 14th 2007 8:41AM]

It says the drinks are customizable. I would guess that means you could put more than one shot into a drink and be as cool as you want.

[engadget.com @ Aug 14th 2007 9:48AM]

I'm with you on that, granted I worked as a bar tender for a very very short time a very long time ago (I was a stand in for a friend for a few nights at a bar I worked at in a non bar tender capacity). Its not always even about the strength of the drinks, its about the experience and comradery between ones self and the bartender that makes a good evening at a bar.

I can see these devices being installed at rich peoples homes maybe, and normal restaurants possibly, but I would not frequent a bar that installs these things.

[Bloobie @ Aug 14th 2007 8:12AM]

I wonder if it can cut you off when you're wasted. Perhaps if you start pushing buttons like a maniac? :)

[Kazoo @ Aug 14th 2007 8:54AM]

so I can customize how much poison must be added to certain drinks?

[harrier @ Aug 14th 2007 11:04AM]

Does it blend?

Really, I mean frozen drinks are a pain to make.

[HineyWipe @ Aug 14th 2007 1:29PM]

This blows. Two of the bartenders (that I flirt with) always over-dew my drinks. Or give me a free one, of which I leave them a really good tip. This device will likely be an audit (boon for bar owner but lame for barmaidens) control device for liquor.
Sorry, but I'll fancy the human element...

[Donoho @ Aug 15th 2007 4:14PM]

+1

I gravitate towards bars with attractive, flirt friendly bartenders. Though I have no expectations of developing anything beyond a friendly bartender / drunkard relationship, I'll take a shaken drink from a busty bratender over the "perfect drink" dispenser any night of the week.

[pawel @ Aug 14th 2007 3:48PM]

It's quite clear to me now that I was missing something in my living room set-up. :)

[sheniferous @ Aug 14th 2007 9:34PM]

yes, but can it make Tea, Earl Grey, Hot?

[dbMan @ Aug 23rd 2007 12:57AM]

Hi everyone. I am the guy who invented the MyFountain. These are some very interesting posts and perhaps I can dispel some myth and provide some truth. We have several MyFountain models running XP embedded, XP and XP Media Center and what we pay for them adds very little to the price. Plus, there is a very good reason why we use them. When you fill out a reservation form, you get access to the login area of our website; there you will know why we are using so much operating software to run an “appliance”. Think digital lifestyle. As far the bartenders, bar owners know they need to keep the “regulars” and the “cool” people happy. They know that a little extra happy juice in a drink or giving someone a freebie is a great way to build customer loyalty. The right amount of customer satisfaction will help business grow and too much, the bar owner goes out of business and you, the bartender, are looking for a job. Our dispensers help the owner and bartender by not letting things get out of control and at the same time keeping “all” the customers happy. When you see a machine in the bar in the very near future, the bar tender will do what they do and you, the customer, will play doom on the screen facing you against someone across the world in their favorite bar. And that is just the beginning! Also, if you look at the photos on our website, there is a cocktail shaker. MyFountain pours the recipe, you shake, fill and garnish. A human required, and never drink alone. ;-) Prices will start at $2,100 for MyFountain and $2,575 for the XL and the Virtual Bartender is our flagship model. I take my Earl Grey hot and cold with just a shot of fruit juice on hot days and XP has voice recognition, Number One. Colas, yes, blender, optional. Cheers!