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Starbucks Mobile Order & Pay comes to Android and more UK stores
If there's anything Brits enjoy more than an orderly queue, it's skipping one. That's what the Mobile Order & Pay feature in Starbucks' mobile app is all about, allowing you to skip straight to the in-store collection point, much to the frustration of more patient patrons. The feature launched last autumn for iOS users, and was further limited in that it was only available in select London outlets. From today, however, Mobile Order & Pay is now baked into Starbucks' Android app and furthermore, customers can now order ahead in stores "nationwide" -- or at over 300 participating outlets across the UK, anyway. Perfect if you're late for work and still need an unseasonal mocha frappé to start the day, then.
Here's how you make coffee in the International Space Station
Now that the International Space Station is in bloom, how about a nice cup o' joe to enjoy alongside the (single piece of) greenery? European Space Agency astronaut Tim Peake pulls out a coffee with cream vacuum pack (with the delicious sounding sugar substitute), and inserts it into the most high-tech kettle we've ever seen. This injects hot water into the pack, and one plastic straw later you're drinking space coffee. Which is obviously the best kind of coffee. It seems astronauts are still waiting on that space-ready espresso machine from Lavazza.
ICYMI: Pegleg cat, X-ray laser sight and recharging tabletop
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-260428{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-260428, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-260428{width:570px;display:block;}try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-260428").style.display="none";}catch(e){}Today on In Case You Missed It: A cat born without part of its hindlegs got an upgrade with 3D-printed prosthetics implanted in its bones. A camera that basically gives X-ray vision has been invented, peering around corners with lasers, then recreating images of objects that are out-of-view. And design students in Copenhagen dreamt up a charging pad for phones that is powered by the heat given off by a cup of coffee.
Starbucks now delivers coffee in Seattle thanks to Postmates
We've known about Starbucks' plans to offer delivery, starting in its hometown, since this spring. The coffee purveyor promised the service would go live this year, and it's keeping its word. Customers in the Seattle area now have the option of delivery when placing an order through the Starbucks iOS app. Simply input your address, create that beverage of choice and a Postmates courier will be dispatched to pick up the order from the location closest to you. You'll also be able to track your cup of joe in real time.
Dunkin' Donuts takes aim at Starbucks with mobile ordering and delivery
You can already order your coffee from Starbucks before you get there, and soon you may be able to do the same from another popular purveyor of the brew. Dunkin' Donuts is testing mobile ordering through its app at locations in Portland, Maine. What's more, a few stores in Dallas are trying their hand at delivery and some in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles and Washington will begin coffee drop-offs soon. The move follows coffee giant Starbucks getting into both ordering ahead and delivery, so it's likely Dunkin' Donuts is looking to keep pace by offering its customers an easier way to get their caffeine and sugar fix. Of course, a number of other restaurants also offer similar services, including the likes of Chipotle and Taco Bell. As both ordering and delivery are in the trial phase, there's no word on when the services will expand nationwide in the US or to the company's limited footprint in the UK and other countries. [Image credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images]
Starbucks' store of the future bets on tech, luxury and alcohol
Starbucks stores are designed to feel welcoming and instantly familiar. In most locations, you know exactly what to do -- a long bar sits against one of the walls and you slowly work your way down, explaining your order, paying and finally waiting for your chosen beverage(s) at the end. Not so in London's Starbucks Reserve Bar. A first for Europe, this new establishment on Upper St. Martin's Lane uses technology to radically change the in-store experience. For starters, there are only a couple of traditional cash registers -- Starbucks has given tablets to a handful of staff instead, which they can use to take your order from anywhere inside the store. The company hopes this will reduce queue times and also create a more "open" atmosphere in the bar. If you're an iPhone user, you can also use Mobile Order & Pay in the Starbucks app to complete an order at any time.
Starbucks starts testing in-building delivery in New York City
Starbucks is no stranger to delivery, thanks to a hand from Postmates. However, the bean-slinging company is taking matters into its own hands with a new delivery option. The "Green Apron" service is in the testing phase inside the Empire State Building in New York City. The idea here is that Starbucks has its own setup in the building and can drop off coffee and food orders in 30 minutes or less. Don't expect a full-on retail location where you can sit and sip in, though, as the kitchen is dedicated to delivery orders. On the surface it may seem like overkill to have a dedicated Starbucks for one building, but when you factor in the thousands of caffeine addicts that work there, it makes a lot of sense. There's a dedicated website where orders are placed and the customer is able to specify a meeting spot (the reception desk, for example) to pick up that PSL. While the service is a trial for now, the company could expand it to other large office buildings or packed urban areas in the future. [Image credit: Craig Warga/Bloomberg via Getty Images]
Starbucks' app lets UK users pre-order drinks and skip the queue
Starbucks first allowed US customers to begin pre-ordering drinks and food at the end of last year, but it took until late last month for it to become available to both iOS and Android users across the country. Meanwhile Brits were left out in the cold. Luckily, the coffee giant has now decided to include the UK, as Mobile Order & Pay has today begun rolling out across 150 of its London stores.
Starbucks adds mobile pay and ordering to its Android app
The day when you no longer have to scream "No, you fool! I ordered a Venti Decaf Non-Fat Pumpkin Spice Latte!" at your barista is finally upon us. Starbucks has tweaked its Android app to bake-in both ordering and payments straight from your phone, saving you the drama of having to explain your arcane coffee needs to another human. The feature was originally tested last December in Portland, and was added to the iOS version of the app back in July. The app will work in the US, Canada and in the UK, although the mobile ordering will only work in stores that the company owns -- there's a big venti question mark over if it'll work in other locations. Oh, and don't shout at your barista, because it's both very rude and a one-way ticket to guaranteeing your coffee has something extra special inside.
I had to smile for my free cup of coffee at a trade show
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-601847{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-601847, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-601847{width:629px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-601847").style.display="none";}catch(e){} Coffee, pens, non-existent free WiFi, and USB sticks are the four spirit animals of any tech show. But what if a company wants you to be happy before you've got your cup of morning sunshine? That's DigitalSTROM's gambit, using its sensors and Intel's RealSense 3D camera to detect when you're smiling before delivering your daily caffeine hit. Sensing a grimace could prove more practical.
These disposable vapes let you huff your caffeine instead of drink it
Dammit, Logan. I'm glad it's your first day working at this coffee shop; congrats on getting hired and all. But dude, seriously, I don't have time to waste waiting for you to fish that beard hair out of my coffee. I'm "latte" enough for work as it is. That's why, for a full week, I tried switching from my normal intake of three to four caffeinated beverages a day to Eagle Energy caffeine vaporizers. Oof, my heart is still racing.
Afineur's first batch of fermented coffee is available through Kickstarter
Back in October, we told you about Afineur's goal of replicating the process of civet coffee without all the pooping. To create a flavor profile similar to the pricey Kopi Luwak beans, and bypass the bowel movements, the company uses fermentation to create coffees with low bitterness and astringency so that fruit and other flavors shine. Well, now's your chance to try it as Afineur's first batch is up for grabs via a Kickstarter campaign. The so-called cultured coffee not only leverages science to create its flavors, but it makes the brew easier on your stomach while leaving those cute little animals out of the equation. The coffee is made in Brooklyn (where the company is based) with the help of Pulley Collective's roasting facility. In terms of origin, the beans are currently sourced from Guatemala, but the folks behind Afineur are "open to new collaborations."
Starbucks' Lyft deal has you earning coffee with every ride
Starbucks isn't done lining up deals with tech-savvy companies -- not by a longshot. The coffee chain has unveiled a partnership with Lyft that will reward just about everyone. As a passenger, you'll earn points (that is, Stars) at Starbucks every time you hail a Lyft ride. Yes, you could travel to a business meeting and get a free drink when you arrive. You can even gift a cup o' joe to your driver, if you like. Those drivers will also get Starbucks' Gold perk status as a matter of course, and they'll earn Stars for every ride they offer. Baristas might see some benefits, too, as Starbucks is testing a program that would give employees Lyft rides when mass transit isn't an option. The alliance is only effective in the 65 US cities that Lyft covers, but it could prove tempting if you just can't get enough grande lattes.
Keurig revives refillable K-Cups following disappointing sales
Following its first disappointing holiday sales numbers since its coffee machines hit shelves, Keurig will bring back refillable K-Cups. So far, the Keurig 2.0 machines haven't taken off like the company thought they would, partially because new brewers don't allow users to add their own beans with a so-called My K-Cup filter. The machine -- capable of brewing more than one cup at a time -- also costs $200 while other Keurig options have price tags around $100. In an attempt to revive interest, a version of the My K-Cup for the pricier new brewers is in the works. CEO Brian Kelley said on an investor call this week that Keurig "underestimated the passion" customers had for the DIY option. What about the unpopular DRM requirement that nixed some third-party pre-filled pods? It's staying. The company wants to convert all unlicensed cup to official products, adding to the 500 varieties of coffee, tea and hot chocolate from 70 brands.
Starbucks delivery rolls out in US cities this year
Starbucks already has locations on nearly every street corner -- even ones directly across from each other -- but now on-demand delivery service Postmates will grab your coffee and bring it directly to your office, house or basically wherever your mouth is. Postmates plans to roll out its Starbucks delivery routes in the second half of 2015, starting in Seattle. The service wants users to order through the Starbucks mobile app and then tell Postmates to pick up that iced, grande, soy-milk caramel macchiato (with whipped cream) for them.
Surprise! People don't like Keurig's DRM-protected coffeemakers
Keurig's coffee machines have done great business for its owner Green Mountain Coffee. Making coffee in combination with pretty expensive capsules has made a lot of money for the company, but its latest 2.0 machines have left (excuse me) a bitter taste in the mouths of customers, as Keurig has seen, missing sales and earnings targets in its latest financial report. It cited poor machine sales during the typically lucrative holiday season -- the first quarter that the new Keurigs went on sale. The main issue with the new machines, which can now make coffee both by the cup and in larger quantities, is the DRM-style lockdown on the pods it takes. The popularity of the Keurig machines led to no shortage of cheaper third-party pods, but in an effort to reclaim the lucrative cash cow that was its own coffee pods, the company's second-generation machines packed cameras that detected special ink found only on official Keurig pods. Every other kind of pod simply didn't work.
Daily Roundup: Joystiq X Engadget, easy WiFi with Eero and more!
Joystiq may be gone, but it's not forgotten as we announce a new beginning with Joystiq X Engadget. Meanwhile, Eero wants to create a mesh network to solve your difficult home WiFi issues and Razer's new laptop gives you portable gaming in a powerful package. All that and more of today's top stories can be found below.
IRL: I spent a month controlling my coffeemaker over WiFi
The unending march to bring the Internet of Things into all the things continues. While CES 2015 gave us a sneak peek at the near- and long-term future of the IoT movement, there are plenty of WiFi-connected options available today. We've already taken a close look at the Belkin Crock-Pot Smart Slow Cooker with WeMo (phew!). Now it's time to see how useful a smart coffeemaker can be.
Freedom Clip rids you of Keurig's coffee pod tyranny
Keurig's K-Cup 2.0 DRM protection didn't keep rogue pods out of its coffee machines for long, and another company created an add-on to bypass the system. The Rogers Family Company, a purveyor of some of those unapproved coffee products, made the appropriately-named Freedom Clip: a small insert that'll allow you to use those "non-approved" coffee and tea servings. Keurig's newer machines recognize special ink on the tops of its officially licensed pods, and those lacking the identifier won't work. The clip tricks machines into thinking the security measure is present, and the folks at Rogers are giving it away for free. Of course, it's probably hoping you'll nab a box of pods as a display of gratitude.
Recommended Reading: The most advanced coffee lab in the world
Recommended Reading highlights the best long-form writing on technology and more in print and on the web. Some weeks, you'll also find short reviews of books that we think are worth your time. We hope you enjoy the read. Inside the World's Most Advanced Coffee Laboratory Jason Koebler, Motherboard If you're at least somewhat interested in coffee, you've likely researched a bit about where your favorite spot gets its beans and who roasts them. Thanks to Motherboard, we can take a look inside the walls of Cenicafé: a government-backed facility dedicated to analyzing Colombia's coffee varieties.
