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Smart coffee maker brews your next cup right when you get home
Sure, you can get connected coffee makers, but they tend to brew whole pots (or multiple cups). What if you just want a hot cup o' joe when you get home? That's where Smarter's new WiFi Coffee Machine comes into play. The device lets you remotely brew individual cups through an Android or iOS app, complete with scheduling. You can have it wake you up when your coffee's ready, and it'll offer to grind and pour that beverage when you step in the door.
Costa's iPhone app gains Passbook support, but doesn't use its best features
Costa might be the coffee shop king in the UK, but updates to its mobile apps have been slow going. After finally launching a digital version of its points card, the company today added some fresh iOS functionality in the form of Passbook support. Dial back your expectations though, because this is hardly a revolution in mobile payments or loyalty schemes. For one, there are no push notifications, so when you stroll into your nearest store you'll need to remember to pull out your smartphone, which negates Passbook's built-in location features. For another, there's still no option to actually pay for your order. Starbucks, on the other hand, can handle both requirements. That means you're still only able to collect points using Costa's app, which can then be exchanged for free drinks and grub. Still, this is Costa's first stab at Passbook, so it's possible these features will be patched in with a future update -- if the company actually wants you to buy a gingerbread latte with your phone.
BRUVELO would be your iPhone-powered coffee powerhouse
What is it with Apple fans and coffee? Perhaps it's the fact that you can totally "geek out" on the process, the beans, the hardware and so on. Add your iPhone to the mix and you've got Apple-loving Coffee Nerd Nirvana. BRUVELO is a coffee maker and companion iOS app, currently on Kicktarter, that will scratch your coffee nerd itch. Typically we save items like this for our "Crowdfunding" post, but the clock is ticking on this one and we think it's worth mentioning. Here's where it gets cool. Connect your BRUVELO to WiFi and store a "recipe" on your iPhone. A recipe lets you get as nit-picky as you like, storing bean-specific instructions on steep times, ratios, temperature and more. Then, the next time you've got that bean in the pot, all you need to do is tap the recipe and the BRUVELO executes all of your instructions. From a single tap on you phone. Neat, eh? There's about a week left to back this, as of this writing. If your blood runs as dark as the beans you roast, this might be the connected coffeemaker of your dreams.
Mr. Coffee just released an iPhone-controllable 'Smart Coffee Maker'
The list of "Things That We Probably Don't Need Smart Versions Of But We Got Them Anyway" gets a little bit longer today with the announcement and release of the Mr. Coffee Smart Coffee Maker, an iPhone-controllable appliance that lets you initiate the brewing of a fresh pot of bean juice from anywhere you can get a data signal. The completely unnecessary -- but pretty cool, nonetheless -- coffee maker uses Belkin's WeMo technology and is controllable via the WeMo app. The app lets you program brewing schedules or start up the device and produce 10 cups of java any time you want, though you'll obviously have to have the maker pre-loaded with fresh grounds or there isn't much point. Speaking of which, the first company that comes up with a coffee maker that lets me load roasted beans in bulk, and then grinds, reloads the filter, and brews it all on its own will score at least one order from me. If you're even slightly curious about Mr. Coffee's new smart coffee contraption, our own review guru Steve "Mr. Jitters" Sande has one in-hand and is currently caffeinating and re-caffeinating himself repeatedly in order to bring you an accurate picture of the machine's capabilities, so keep an eye out for that. [via iMore]
Belkin and Mr. Coffee want to brew your first pot via WiFi
Belkin is no stranger to home automation, introducing several products in that vein through its WeMo line. We already put the company's Crock-Pot through its paces, and now there's a WiFi-enabled coffee option, too. The Mr. Coffee smart coffee maker brews 10 cups of joe, controlled from the handy WeMo app on a phone or tablet. Using the mobile software, you can schedule brewing, monitor its status, turn the unit off/on and get alerts when it's time for a proper cleaning. It also boasts Optimal Brew tech that's said to brew faster while packing in more flavor (we'll be the judge of that). If you're itchin' to get the coffee going before you roll out of bed in the morning, the $150 kitchen gadget is available now. Of course, if money's no object, and you have serious caffeine habit, there's a semi-automated pour-over option that we're a bit fond of.
Congratulations to our Insert Coin winners: Poursteady and Noke
The votes have been tallied; the judges deliberated; and we have our winners for this year's Insert Coin. The judges tossed their support behind Poursteady, a robot that makes five pour-over cups of coffee and handed the company $10,000 to help get off the ground. Noke took home the $15,000 readers choice prize. While we've seen plenty of smartlocks before, this is the first time we've seen Bluetooth crammed into the padlock form factor. You can relive the entire competition, from the initial presentations by the 10 semi-finalists, to the grilling by the judges, and finally the prizes being awarded after the break.
60 seconds with a robotic pour-over coffee machine
Coffee enthusiasts know that one of the best ways to brew the caffeinated beverage is via the pour-over method, a meticulous technique that requires a steady hand and precise timing. At coffee shops, baristas have traditionally brewed this style of coffee the old-fashioned way, carefully pouring hot water in a steady spiral stream over multiple filter setups. Not only can it be tiresome, it can also distract them from giving better customer service. Poursteady, however, is a potential solution to that.
Starbucks' new app will let you skip the line and sort delivery
Love your morning coffee break, but hate having to wait in line amongst the masses? Well, Starbucks will allow you to skip the line entirely with its new app. Just place your order via that trusty smartphone, and you'll be able to walk in and pick it up. Of course, the company's mobile software sorts payments too, which certainly helps expedite the process. What's more, plans for a delivery option are in the works for folks who belong to its loyalty program -- but only in select markets. "Imagine the ability to create a standing order of Starbucks delivered hot to your desk daily," CEO Howard Schultz said. "That's our version of e-commerce on steroids." The new version of the bean-slinging mobile app is set to arrive in December, beginning with Portland, Oregon before a nation-wide rollout in 2015. [Image credit: Jason Alden/Bloomberg via Getty Images]
Square now tells your barista when to start brewing
Square isn't just in the business of selling things -- it wants to help you buy stuff too. And now, it's taking the latter a step further by simplifying your daily quest for a piping-hot cup o' joe. After today's update, you can use the Square Order app to purchase coffee from a nearby Square-friendly cafe. So? Here's the cool part: By using your phone's location data, Order alerts the barista to start brewing the drink once you're within a certain distance from the shop.
Scientists look to take the pooping out of civet coffee
At first glance, coffee that's result of animal's bowel movements sounds pretty gross. But for anyone who's actually tasted brew from those poop beans (or a beer that features them), the process takes a backseat to the taste. And it makes for one of the most expensive cups of joe in the world. Well, a pair of scientists are skipping the civet's digestive tract when it comes to the flavors of the Indonesian Kopi Luwak coffee, opting for a fermentation process to achieve similar results. A company called Afineur has developed a two-day process that's "inspired by" the civets' work rather than recreating it exactly. It does, however, reduce the bitterness of the coffee and modify aroma just like the small animals do. Fermentation also adds another variable that can be tweaked to fine-tune flavor profiles -- on top of bean selection and roasting techniques. When Afineur's coffee goes one sale later this year, the price per pound should be between $50 and $100 -- cheaper than the several hundred dollar figure that civet-digested beans demand. Of course, you'll still need to decide on a brewing method once you're able to snag a bag. [Photo credit: SONNY TUMBELAKA/AFP/Getty Images]
It didn't take long for a company to crack Keurig's K-Cup lockdown
When Keuring Green Mountain announced that it would cut out third-party pods for the next-generation of its popular single-serve machines, other coffee outfits were up in arms. One particular company, TreeHouse Foods, claimed that it would take a short time for the code to be cracked (and filed a lawsuit, too). Well, Mother Parker's Tea & Coffee has done just that with its RealCup capsules. The company's coffee and tea pods will work inside the recently released Keurig 2.0 brewers capable of brewing both single cups and carafe-sized batches. Keurig has licensing deals in place with big name coffee outfits like Starbucks, Peet's, Caribou, Krispy Kreme, Twinings of London and others, but it's the other not so well-known suppliers and the private label clientele that are set to suffer under the exclusivity. [Photo credit: m01229/Flickr]
Recommended Reading: An MIT engineer's coffee quest
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. Can Blossom's MIT-Enhanced Brew Win Over Skeptical Baristas? by Danielle Sacks, Fast Company The quest for the perfect cup o' joe has led to some rather amazing new brewers over the last few years, and the same goes for this MIT engineer's creation. The Blossom One Limited is a brewing unit that gives the barista complete control over all aspects of the process, except for the actual roasting of the beans. Water temperature, coffee dosage, grind, immersion time and more can be tweaked during the search for the best combination. Creator Jeremy Kuempel notes how coffee is more complex than wine on a genetic level, so he sought to make a unit that could showcase the unique properties of different varieties. Oh yeah, the ability to calculate perfection will cost your coffee shop $4,950.
Costa's only gone and swapped coffee reward cards for apps
Is that Costa Coffee Club rewards card weighing down your wallet and generally just giving you the hump? Well, slice it up and chuck it in the bin, because now there's an app for that. With Costa's new Coffee Club app (new to Android, anyway, and updated on iOS) you can, instead, perfect your aggressive posture and sighing volume as a junior barista struggles to scan your grubby smartphone screen. As well as being useful for collecting and cashing in reward points, it'll also direct you to your nearest Costa in case the only thing in your vicinity is an indy outlet serving Lavazza -- I've seen the logo at service stations, which means it probably tastes like warm, caffeinated Carling. The app will even keep you up to date with offers and breaking news regarding your favourite beverage vendor. And who needs a fancy, Starbucks-like mobile wallet feature when you can have a user-defined profile image? (Mine's going to be an on-theme selfie, with half my face obscured by a coffee cup, and maybe a little latte foam on the tip of my nose for comedic effect). On a serious note, though, if you frequent Costa then you might actually wanna download this.
The Barisieur alarm clock automatically brews coffee while you wake
It's no secret the first five minutes of consciousness for many of us each morning involves brewing a cup o' joe. Well to help get a jump-start on things, designer Joshua Renouf has developed a striking alarm clock that starts the process before you even get out of bed. Using induction heating and stainless steel ball bearings, the Barisieur boils water for pour-over brew, giving off the aroma of your favorite beans as you rise to start the day. There's even a cooled slot for a spot of milk and storage for sugar and extra grounds. Renouf plays up the ritual of loading the unit before nodding off as an activity that helps alert the body that it's time to catch some shut-eye. Though there's only one for now, plans are in motion to produce the multitasker that's said to retail for £150-£250 (around $250-$420). While a retail option is in the works, we should have ample time to stash away our loose change.
Starbucks wants you to use its app for payments in other stores
Starbucks' mobile apps could soon let you buy much more than your next grande latte. The coffee shop's digital lead, Adam Brotman, tells Recode that the coffee shop giant is talking to companies about using its app for payments and loyalty programs in other stores. He's not naming any would-be allies, but the strategy would turn a fairly ordinary restaurant app into more of a universal digital wallet that just happens to focus on drinks. And even if that doesn't pan out, Starbucks is still committed to expanding the role of its software -- it's determined to offer coffee pre-orders across the US, regardless how long it takes to make the feature work.
Astronauts on the ISS are getting their very own espresso machine
One of the biggest complaints from Italian astronauts is the lack of fresh espresso. At least, that's according to the Italian coffee brand, Lavazza, which has an obvious interest in the matter. At least the company is ready to do something about it, however, by giving those aboard the International Space Station a proper caffeine fix. The Italian coffee maker has teamed up with aerospace company Argotec to create the ISSpresso: a specially-modified coffee machine that's capable of delivering "authentic Italian espresso" in space.
Keurig's coffee copy protection should take just months to crack
Much like printer makers barring cheap ink, Keurig is using elaborate methods to block third-party coffee pods; its upcoming Keurig 2.0 machine will have cameras that read tags and limit you to official brews. Think of it as K-cup copy protection. Unfortunately for the company, those added measures may be for naught. TreeHouse Foods, which sued Keurig for allegedly abusing a monopoly with its 2.0 system, now estimates that it should take just a "matter of months" to replicate the K-cup technology. The discovery should keep TreeHouse selling unofficial pods that cost significantly less than Keurig's, and it could also thwart similar protection schemes in other companies' coffee makers.
The Queue: Northrend, annual pass, class changes, and worms
Welcome back to The Queue, the daily Q&A column in which the WoW Insider team answers your questions about the World of Warcraft. Adam Holisky (@adamholisky) will be your host today. My question for the Queue today: What's your favorite type of coffee? Mine is not this $5 Folgers junk I bought at Walgreens because it was on sale. I have no idea what I was thinking -- I normally grind all my coffee (I have a grinder built into my coffee machine, it's pretty amazing, not gonna lie). So I need to get rid of this terrible coffee by drinking a ton of it and then buying new stuff this weekend. So tell me dear readers, what's your favorite kind of coffee? ThingWhatWoWs asked: Sis & I have hit Northrend. (Now 73) where should I make sure we go for the great story bits? It's her 1st time through.
Daily Roundup: Netflix raises prices, a tour of the Samsung Innovation Museum, and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
How a toy designer dreamed up the geek-friendly AeroPress coffee maker
The AeroPress is a deceptively simple device -- it's basically a coffee syringe. The quick-brewing coffee maker sits somewhere between an espresso machine and a French press. You pour hot water over your grounds then force the water through them with a plunger. What makes the AeroPress unique is how quickly it can spit out a high-quality cup of Joe. The entire process takes roughly one to two minutes and at the end you've got a heavily concentrated, smooth mug of coffee. But unlike other modern methods for making a hot caffeinated beverage, the AeroPress was dreamed up by an engineer who spent a good chunk of his career making toys and electronics.
