This Quirky Hourglass-shaped Kitchen Container takes ‘Playing with food’ to another level

As certain objects and traditions fade into history, their charm remains etched in our memories. One such relic is the hourglass, a timeless instrument once used to measure the intervals of time with its delicate cascade of sand. For many of the younger generation, particularly those of Generation Alpha, an hourglass is a curious antique, more likely seen in movies than in real life. But now, this iconic design has found new life in a surprising context—kitchen storage.

Designer: Vladimir Fer

“The Grains of Time” is a delightful storage container that captures the essence of the hourglass, reimagined for modern culinary needs. Designed to store grains, pasta, and spices, this container is more than just a functional kitchen accessory; it’s a nod to history, a way to keep the charm of the past alive in a contemporary setting.

For those unfamiliar, an hourglass is an instrument that measures intervals of time through the flow of sand from one bulb to another, connected by a narrow neck. This design has been adapted to The Grains of Time, with the sand replaced by your favorite kitchen staples. The glass container mirrors the traditional hourglass shape, with a narrower neck that’s ideal for storing smaller items like spices, powdered foods, or petite pasta shapes.

Encased in a wooden exterior, the container is both stylish and practical. Two sturdy rods along the sides offer a secure grip, while the hourglass-inspired neck provides an ergonomic hold, allowing your fingers to fit between the curve and the rods comfortably. This design not only prevents the glass from breaking easily but also ensures that pouring and handling are effortless.

The containers are equipped with screw lids featuring a larger opening, making it simple to fill them with your ingredients of choice. Whether you’re storing grains, spices, or pasta, the ease of use is undeniable. Available in two stunning finishes, dark wood with a black lid and light wood with a white lid. These containers are as much a statement piece as they are a practical storage solution. Their aesthetic appeal is undeniable, adding a touch of elegance to any kitchen countertop.

And why stop at the kitchen? Imagine smaller versions of the container on your dining table, perfect for holding salt and pepper. These miniature versions could extend the charm beyond the kitchen, making every meal a little more special.

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Robot-looking kitchen air purifier can get close to your stove to absorb smoke

Not all houses have built-in exhaust systems or have space for kitchen hoods so when you cook, it can turn a bit smoky and smelly in there. And of course, we know that the smoke isn’t always that healthy and there may be other harmful elements there. Having an air-purifying product that is small enough to fit in your kitchen but powerful enough to suck out all the smoke would be the ideal solution of course.

Designer: G11 Designs

The Roba is a robot-looking device but is actually an air purifier for your kitchen that can stay as close as possible to your induction stove top. It is able to absorb the smoke that may come as you cook as well as the harmful ingredients that come with it. It has two “legs” that are simple, thin, and hard metals that stand. at a 90-degree angle so it can support the weight of the entire thing and keep it as close as possible to your stove and the food you’re cooking.

Roba is designed with “flexible and concise movements” that can be adjusted as you cook. It has a height-adjustable pillar and an axis that can both rotate in different directions and also bend its head at different angles so it can adjust as you cook different things on your induction stove. The “friendly look” of the device means it can fit in well with most modern kitchen designs and the parts can be handled “concisely in cylinders”.

This seems to be a concept for now but it can actually be a pretty useful piece of kitchen appliance especially for people like me who have small kitchens and no exhaust system. The fact that it looks like a robot or at least a robot lamp adds to the cuteness factor that makes me want to buy one if it ever becomes available. Maybe I can start cooking regularly as well if I have something like this.

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Breville’s new Oracle brews barista-quality cold and hot coffee at “Jet” speeds with precision

I’m a coffee buff but have a limited sense of good coffee. A simple machine keeps me satisfied but a nice brew at a café really tells the difference. I wouldn’t say I’m going to translate into someone keen on brewing specialty coffee at home anytime soon. But if you’ve been yearning for barista-level precision and control over your cup of coffee, you can settle for the new Breville Oracle Jet, which is now available in the US.

A keen coffee machine that can produce hot or cold-press espresso, most of it automatically, the Oracle Jet is Australia-based Breville’s first-of-its-kind option on the market. From how it appears, it’s an impressive coffee machine with a brushed stainless steel finish (available in a range of exclusive colors) featuring a touchscreen display that would let you control it in most cases. Interesting however is the fact that the intuitive machine automatically does the grinding, dosing, and tamping to eliminate the human intervention, yet enhancing the brew quality in return.

Designer: Breville

What really distinguishes Breville’s new entrant in the world of specialty brewing at home concept is its ability to brew perfect cold espresso drinks. In fact, it’s the first in the Breville’s portfolio that makes cold brew but then the price of the machines really makes me skip a beat. Not that I was going to make an effort to secure finances for purchase, but $2000 for the coffee machine will have many like me deterred and setting in return for a regular drip coffee maker.

This doesn’t at all mean that the Oracle Jet does not have its mouth where the money is. Of course, the price is nothing for a good shot of cold brew espresso that this machine has been designed and manufactured to achieve with little to no effort. A definitely lift up of your stature from a barista visitor to a full-blown coffee specialist at home!

As an auto cold-brew espresso machine, it requires a bit of doing to install it and get the beans and water calibrated. Thereafter the process is pretty automatic and straight-forward. The touchscreen panel onboard is where all the controls are for you to set the grind size, switch between hot and cold brew or add your choice of milk to the coffee. The controls on the screen are generated with the tech-based ‘barista guidance,” and the machine helps execute the moves to brew you a perfect temperature espresso every time of the day.

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Mono kitchen hood brings a minimalist but functional air purifier

For those who spend a lot of time indoors in their homes or condo units, we are not always so conscious about the quality of the air that we breathe. We are now only becoming aware that air pollutants can be as harmful as outdoors, sometimes even more so. Cooking in the kitchen is also a major source of indoor pollutants so you need to have a good filtration system especially there.

Designer: Ciarko Design

The Mono kitchen hoods will not only keep your air clean from all the smoke, grease, and other indoor pollutants but it also gives you an aesthetic addition to your space. Unlike other hoods that look too bulky, this has a more minimalist look and can be compared more to air purifiers but has a pretty strong carbon filtration system inside. So you get a functional and pretty air filtration system in your kitchen.

What’s also great about this is that it has a Gesture Control system so you don’t need to touch it whether you want to turn it on or off or to change its operating mode or to adjust its lighting. You can also use the remote control if you prefer something more tactile. And if you want to touch the hood itself, it has an AntiFingerPrint coating. It also has LED lighting so you have an additional lighting when you’re cooking and it can be adjusted from warm to cool.

The Ciarko Design Moni is available in white, black, gold, rose gold, green, and ecru so you can choose which can fit in with your kitchen’s design. You can either mount it on the wall or you can hang it from the ceiling as well if the wall mount is not possible.

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Experience Pure Water Effortlessly with the PIURIFY ALCHEMY Smart Water Filter Pitcher

The PIURIFY ALCHEMY Automatic Water Filter Pitcher is here to make your life easier and your water cleaner. Combining smart design with cutting-edge technology, this pitcher stands out with its sleek, modern look that fits right into any contemporary kitchen. You’ll appreciate its sophisticated design, which blends effortlessly with your kitchen decor, making it a stylish addition to your countertop.

Designer: Piurify

Click Here to Buy Now: $87.99 $109.99 (Use coupon code “20YANKO20” to get 20% off). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

What sets the Piurify Alchemy apart is the ease with which the filter is changed. You don’t have to insert your hand inside the pitcher to remove the filter, unlike with models such as Brita. Additionally, the filter lasts six months, making maintenance a breeze. The transparent body enhances its visual appeal and lets you keep an eye on the water level. No more guessing or unexpectedly running out of clean water; you can always see exactly how much water is left. This feature is handy for busy families who rely on a steady supply of filtered water throughout the day.

How to use the pitcher.

Made from BPA-free acrylonitrile styrene, this pitcher focuses on safety and durability. It ensures your water remains free from harmful chemicals, providing peace of mind with every sip. With a capacity of 50-ounces (1.5 liters), it offers the perfect balance of convenience and size, meeting your daily water needs without the hassle of constant refilling. This is ideal for families, ensuring everyone has access to fresh, clean water at all times. One of the most impressive features of the PIURIFY ALCHEMY is its advanced Ultrafiltration (UF) + Carbon technology. This multi-stage filtration system includes a pre-filter, UF membrane, and post-filter, effectively removing many pollutants. Harmful bacteria like E. coli are eliminated at a rate of 99.9999%, chlorine is reduced by 99.9%, and other contaminants like VOCs and lead are significantly filtered out. This thorough purification process ensures that every drop of water you drink is of the highest quality and safe for your family.

Easy to use.

The PIURIFY ALCHEMY’s rapid filtration capability is highly efficient. Capable of purifying a full pitcher in just two minutes, this electric water filter dispenser ensures you never have to wait long for clean water. This feature is particularly beneficial for busy households where time is essential, making it easy to quickly fill up for dinner, sports practice, or a hot summer day. Environmental sustainability is another key benefit of the PIURIFY ALCHEMY. Significantly reducing the need for over 1000 plastic water bottles saves you money and helps conserve the environment. The long-lasting filter, which can handle up to 130 gallons of water or six months of usage, further enhances its eco-friendly credentials. This extended filter life means fewer replacements, reducing waste and ensuring continuous performance without interruption.

Maintenance is simple and hassle-free. The smart filter change alert notifies you when it’s time to replace the filter, eliminating guesswork and ensuring the device operates at peak performance. The mess-free filter replacement mechanism at the base makes the process straightforward and hygienic. Additionally, the pitcher has a durable battery that lasts up to 30 days on a single charge, ensuring uninterrupted filtration. Ergonomics have not been overlooked in the design of the PIURIFY ALCHEMY. The handle is designed for a comfortable grip, making it easy to lift and pour, even when the pitcher is full. Its compact dimensions allow it to fit comfortably in most refrigerator doors, making it an unobtrusive yet essential part of your kitchen.

The PIURIFY ALCHEMY Automatic Water Filter Pitcher offers a seamless blend of style, convenience, and advanced technology. Its rapid filtration, long-lasting performance, and eco-friendly design make it an ideal solution for those seeking clean, safe water without hassle. Whether you’re concerned about health, convenience, or sustainability, the PIURIFY ALCHEMY addresses all these needs effectively, providing a reliable source of fresh, pure water daily. Its thoughtful design enhances everyday usability, including a comfortable grip handle, compact dimensions for easy storage, and a smart filter change alert. The combination of advanced Ultrafiltration + Carbon technology ensures high-quality water, making the PIURIFY ALCHEMY an essential addition to any modern kitchen.

Click Here to Buy Now: $87.99 $109.99 (Use coupon code “20YANKO20” to get 20% off). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

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Enjoy Mineral-Rich Water Anytime with the Waterdrop X16 Reverse Osmosis System

The Waterdrop X16 reverse osmosis system combines convenience and style, transforming home water filtration into a seamless and attractive addition to any kitchen. Unlike bulky purifiers often hidden away, the sleek X16 fits perfectly under the sink, enhancing your kitchen’s look with its modern design.

Designer: Waterdrop Filter

Click Here to Buy Now: $1299 $1999 (Use coupon code “X16” to get exclusive $700 off). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

This reverse osmosis system enhances the look of your kitchen with its minimalistic and futuristic design. It can be placed or installed under the sink, occupying minimal space while delivering maximum performance. This system provides a comprehensive upgrade to how drinking water is filtered and dispensed in your home. Its sleek and modern design makes it a valuable addition to any kitchen, complementing any decor with its clean lines and sophisticated appearance. The Waterdrop X16’s tankless design allows it to provide purified water on demand, making it space-efficient and time-saving. Traditional water purifiers often rely on bulky tanks that take up significant space and require time to refill. The X16 eliminates the need for such tanks, enhancing your kitchen’s look and making the system easier to use.

The X16’s intelligent design extends to its digital faucet, letting you control the water volume precisely. The faucet’s color-coded display provides real-time monitoring of water quality and filter life. Blue indicates a healthy filter; yellow means the filter is nearing replacement, and red alerts you to an immediate filter change. This system ensures the purifier always works at its best, preventing potential water quality issues. The automatic water cut-off feature adds safety and convenience, making maintenance straightforward and hassle-free. The minimalist and futuristic look of the faucet complements any kitchen decor, making it a worthwhile addition to any home.

Enjoy refreshing mineral water at home

The X16 has a peak capacity of 1,600 gallons, providing instant hydration. Due to its tankless design, it can fill a 6-ounce cup in just 2 seconds, which is great for busy households. Whether you’re filling a glass, kettle, or cooking pot, this fast flow simplifies daily routines and makes them more convenient. A key feature of the Waterdrop X16 is its Healthy Mineral Boost technology. Using PCC mineralization, the system activates specific mineral crystals, mimicking the natural formation of spring water and adjusting the pH to a friendly 7.5±. This not only enhances the flavor of your drinking water but also makes it healthier, encouraging you to drink more. Increased water consumption is beneficial for overall health, promoting better hydration and well-being.

The advanced reverse osmosis (RO) filtration system in the Waterdrop X16 is developed for top-notch water purification. The system features an 11-stage precision process that effectively reduces total dissolved solids (TDS), PFOA, PFOS, chlorine, fluoride, arsenic, lead, and other contaminants. The reinforced 0.0001-micron RO membrane, crafted from 18 intricate layers, ensures thorough filtration. This meticulous multi-stage process tackles a wide range of contaminants that might be present in your tap water, ensuring that the water you drink is clean and safe. Additionally, the X16 is certified by NSF/ANSI for standards 58 and 372, ensuring high quality and safety in reducing TDS and using lead-free materials.

To further ensure water safety, the X16 integrates a UV sterilizer that eliminates bacteria and viruses, providing an extra layer of peace of mind. This feature is particularly beneficial for those with compromised immune systems or concerns about microbial contamination in their water supply. The combination of advanced filtration and UV sterilization ensures that the water you consume is of the highest quality, free from harmful microorganisms.

Sustainability is a major focus of the Waterdrop X16. The system has a groundbreaking 3:1 ratio of pure to wastewater, significantly reducing water waste compared to traditional systems. This efficiency saves up to 1,200% on water resources, making it an eco-friendly choice for environmentally conscious consumers. Additionally, the system includes an energy-saving mode that operates silently and saves 40% on power consumption. Packaged in compostable PLA and PBAT materials and certified carbon neutral, the X16 is developed with environmental sustainability in mind, making it a responsible choice for eco-conscious consumers. This dedication to eco-friendly practices ensures that you’re not only getting clean water but also contributing to a healthier planet.

The Waterdrop X16 combines advanced technology with thoughtful design to offer convenience, efficiency, and high performance. It provides purified water on demand, intelligent features, and sustainability considerations, making it an excellent choice for high-quality water purification. Investing in this system means investing in your health, convenience, and the environment. The complete kit, including the purifier and the smart faucet, is usually priced at $1,299 ($700 off with Coupon Code X16) !  This forward-thinking solution offers cutting-edge technology and thoughtful design, ensuring you always have access to clean, great-tasting water right in your kitchen.

Click Here to Buy Now: $1299 $1999 (Use coupon code “X16” to get exclusive $700 off). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

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Iconic Faema E61 espresso machine now has a consumer-grade model

Even though I am a “certified” coffee addict (if certified means drinking it more than twice a day), I am not one of those that buys expensive equipment and whose kitchen looks better than most coffee shops. But for the true blue connoisseurs, there are brands that evoke a certain joy and Feima is one of those. However, not everyone can afford such a legendary machine since it’s really meant for establishments or rich coffee “professionals.”

Designer: Faema

Good news though for fans of the Faema E61 espresso machine as they are releasing a consumer-level and single-phase version that can adorn your coffee nook at home. The Faema E61 Cult is a version of the legendary machine but still can be described with the words “heritage, historic, and trendsetter”. While it’s meant for homes, it still is a professional machine so it needs to be installed by a specialized technician since it has to be connected to your water supply.

Having the Faema E61 Cult on your kitchen counter makes it look like you’re a serious coffee brewer since it carries the same expensive and premium vibe of the original. It has the chrome aesthetic down pat with wooden elements added to its levers and knobs. There is also a warming rack on top that has a transparent brown finish for its cup guard. The iconic panel is still there which has made the Faema brand “unmistakable since 1961”.

If you know your way around complicated but premium espresso machines, then this is probably something aspirational but useful for you. Now if you’re like me that just uses coffee makers or capsule machines, then this will be purely an aesthetic showpiece, albeit an expensive one.

The post Iconic Faema E61 espresso machine now has a consumer-grade model first appeared on Yanko Design.

Top 10 Kitchen Tools You Need To Master The Meticulous & Delicious Art Of Japanese Cooking

Are you someone who loves Japanese cuisine? Is a bowl of hot steaming ramen or some fresh sashimi your go-to meal?! Well, then you’ve reached the right spot. As delicious as Japanese food is, preparing it takes a lot of care, finesse, and attention to detail. And if you want to master Japanese cooking, or well at least be able to prepare a decent bowl of donburi, then you need the right kitchen tools to assist you. We’ve curated a collection of ingenious and well-designed kitchen tools that are essential if you’re preparing some Japanese meals. From a precision ceramic sashimi knife to a portable bento box-style rice cooker – these are the must-have kitchen products you need to cook up some delicious Japanese food!

1. Precision Ceramic Sashimi Knife

Named the Precision Ceramic Sashimi Knife, this sleek and stunning kitchen tool defines Japanese craftsmanship and perfection. The knife was built with advanced technology and utmost care, forming an exceptional tool that enhances the culinary art of preparing sashimi.

Click Here to Buy Now: $299.00

Why is it noteworthy?

Using the Precision Ceramic Sashimi Knife, you can cut through delicate pieces of sashimi with complete ease, without causing any damage to the soft pieces of fish. The knife works with complete ease and precision, amped with a lightweight and sharp blade. Since it is made from ceramic, it doesn’t need sharpening consistently.

What we like

  • You can slice and prepare sashimi with the finesse of an expert Japanese swordsman
  • You can prepare delicate and aesthetically pleasing dishes

What we dislike

  • Fragile as compared to steel knives
  • It can be tough to sharpen if the need arises

2. Supreme Daikon Radish Grater

Meet the Supreme Daikon Radish Grater – a meticulously crafted grater created for those who appreciate fine kitchen tools. The grater is excellent for grating daikon, and it features a 1.5mm thick stainless steel grating surface that is durable and easy to maintain. The Daikon Radish Grater is equipped with traditional Hon-Meguri diagonal sharp blades and innovative Quattro blades.

Click Here to Buy Now: $99.00

Why is it noteworthy?

The Supreme Daikon Radish Grater offers an effortless and stress-free grating experience. Each grater is crafted by skilled Japanese artisans, and each one is a masterpiece of the traditional Hon-Meguri technique. It is a time-honored method that includes using a sharp chisel (tagane) to carve each blade into the thick metal plate.

What we like

  • Features exceptionally sharp and durable blades

What we dislike

  • Might not be efficient for other veggies

3. Mt. Fuji Cutlery Rests

This lovely cutlery set is inspired by Japan’s most iconic summit – Mt.Fuji. This cutlery set serves as a luxurious metal accessory to amp up your Japanese-style meals. They have a simple form with detailed and intricate engravings. They’re lavish tableware accents, created with fine craftsmanship.

Click Here to Buy Now: $219

Why is it noteworthy?

The cutlery isn’t just a flat block of metal, the pieces slope slightly upwards towards the middle, creating a flat stump at the peak, instantly reminding you of Mt.Fuji. The curves are also excellent for supporting knives, forks, spoons or chopsticks.

What we like

  • The pretty cutlery also captures Japan’s seasons of yielding cherry blossoms
  • Created as a tribute to Japanese craftsmanship

What we dislike

  • The cutlery set can only hold two utensils, a limited design

4. PrecisionGrip Chopstick Tongs

Meet the PrecisionGrip Chopstick Tongs – these innovative kitchen tools are shaped like chopsticks and are great for preparing Japanese meals with speed and efficiency. You can pick up small pieces of food with complete ease, while also allowing you to prepare small, well-balanced meals for multiple people.

Click Here to Buy Now: $19.00

Why is it noteworthy?

The Chopstick Tongs are a great option for creating bento boxes or even eating sushi, which are popular Japanese food items. The tongs are also pretty easy to hold and use.

What we like

  • Built from sustainable SUS821L1 stainless steel which is derived from scraps and offcuts

What we dislike

  • The tongs aren’t great for picking larger pieces and cuts of food

5. Ishiyaki Set

Named the Ishiyaki Set, this kitchen appliance allows you to create an authentic and surreal Japanese dining experience in your home. You can prepare food in true teppanyaki style! The set functions as a tabletop stone grill, and you can prepare the meat just the way you like it.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Ishiyaki Set recreates the Benihana experience in your home, and you can dry-sear your food before you eat it. It is equipped with a board with an additional porcelain tray to hold your food, as well as two bowls to hold your soy sauce and wasabi, creating the ultimate modern teppanyaki experience for you.

What we like

  • Creates the Benihana-style teppanyaki experience to your home
  • Ideal for dry-searing sashimi-style seafood like Tuna, Salmon, or Scallops, or meats like beef

What we dislike

  • Bulky, space-consuming design better suited for homes with loads of space

6. The Stacking Sake Drinkware

Drinking Sake is extremely common in Japanese culture, whether in social settings or at formal ceremonies. The Stacking Sake Drinkware is an unusual sake drinking cup made from authentic tin – serving as a unique and distinctive drinking cup set. Tin is a good material choice as it absorbs impurities and purifies water.

Click Here to Buy Now: $299.00

Why is it noteworthy?

Tin is truly the perfect material choice for cold sake, as it provides a soft and comfy texture for hands, allowing you to handle the glass with ease, while also making the sake taste smooth and mellow.

What we like

  • The bowl-shaped vessels can be stacked easily on top of each other
  • Elegant and pleasing aesthetics thanks to their smooth curves

What we dislike

  • Stacked pieces might topple easily

7. Rassen Chopsticks

Designed by Nendo for Hashikura Matsuskan, these unique chopsticks are called the Rassen (spiral) chopsticks, and they’re great for consuming Japanese food. The chopsticks are the perfect culmination of fun and functionality – the chopsticks form one single unit when combined, and they can also be pulled apart when needed.

Why is it noteworthy?

Bringing the chopsticks together and then separating them feels like you’re playing with a jigsaw puzzle. Using the chopsticks becomes a fun and interactive experience, bringing joy to your daily meal. And since you can easily combine the pair, you never have to live in fear of losing one!

What we like

  • The chopsticks are whimsical and functional
  • They’re handmade by artisans

What we dislike

  • Since the design is new and novel, it can take some time to get used to using them

8. Plate Grater

Named the Plate Grater, this small product looks like a tiny plate and can be used on the table. You can use the grater to grate fresh garnishes and ingredients into your meal. You can even use it to prepare some fresh wasabi to accompany your sushi. The product combines the functionality of a plate with a grater.

Click Here to Buy Now: $65

Why is it noteworthy?

It is equipped with dual functionality and is quite an aesthetically pleasing design. You can elevate your basic meal with some fresh garnishes.

What we like

  • An excellent design grating fresh ingredients onto your meal, and adding a gourmet touch

What we dislike

  • It may take a while for users to adjust to it and use it

9. Hinoki Essence Cutting Board

Called the Hinoki Essence Cutting Board – this stunning wooden cutting board is great for a hassle-free food-cutting experience. The board is made from the hinoki cypress, and it has a medium hardness which offers resistance without damaging knives. The cutting board has a minimal and appealing appearance.

Click Here to Buy Now: $59.00

Why is it noteworthy?

The cutting board has a simple yet lovely look, and since it is made using cypress wood, it pairs up perfectly with the Precision Ceramic Sashimi Knife.

What we like

  • Made from Hinoki Cypress Wood which isn’t very harsh on knives
  • Features a water-resistant silicone coating which prevents damage

What we dislike

  • You need special care to maintain it, which can be tedious

10. Thanko Electric Bento Rice Cooker

Named the Thanko Electric Bento Rice Cooker, this portable cooker prepares a bowl of warm rice for you whenever you need it. It features a compact and portable size, and cooks single-serve rice in a short amount of time. Once your rice is ready, the light glows.

Why is it noteworthy?

The cooker is excellent for those who like to travel often and need a fresh bowl of rice for dinner. You can prepare six ounces of rice in one go, and it has a measuring cup for convenience.

What we like

  • Features a portable and easy-to-carry design
  • The rice can be eaten straight from the container

What we dislike

  • Lacks a variety of choices in sizes and colors

The post Top 10 Kitchen Tools You Need To Master The Meticulous & Delicious Art Of Japanese Cooking first appeared on Yanko Design.

Modular Coffee Machine lets you vertically add an Ice Maker and Cup Washer to your Brewer

It’s sort of reminiscent of how some homes stack washing machines and dryers one above another… but imagine that scaled down ever so slightly and dedicated to your coffee. Meet UOCO, a modular all-in-one coffee machine that does just more than brew you a stellar cup. Designed to even resemble the washing machine with its clean, boxy aesthetic, the UOCO is a stackable appliance that lets you add extra modules to your coffee maker. Sure, its central feature is the coffee machine itself, but the UOCO also features an ice-maker, and a cup-washer that attach to the coffee machine, giving you an all-in-one vertical station for making ice lattes, and then washing your glass/cup after!

Designer: Yui Jo

Designed by Yui Jo, a student at the Hongik University in Seoul, UOCO is much more than your tabletop coffee maker. In fact, it isn’t a tabletop appliance at all. Large enough to be a floor-standing gizmo, the UOCO is significantly larger than your Keurig or Nespresso maker… but it’s also thrice as efficient.

The UOCO features three distinct modules that stack one on top of the other, connecting through a central port that supplies power to all three gadgets. Right at the top is an ice-maker, which delivers perfect ice cubes to go into your iced coffee. At the center is a pod-based coffee extractor that works just like your Keurig and Nespresso machines. Place your cup inside, add a pod to the tray, and press a button to watch fresh coffee percolate and pour right into your drinking vessel… with or without ice. Once you’re done enjoying your beverage, the cup/mug goes into the third, lowermost vessel – the cup washer. Working like a scaled-down dishwasher, it rinses your cup with hot water, cleaning it inside out and drying it for your next round of caffeine.

Scaled-down design prototype

It seems odd that Yui Jo didn’t opt for more coffee-adjacent modules like a roaster or grinder… but that’s the beauty of UOCO’s open framework. You can add modules as you go, and the UOCO can easily feature a non-pod-based coffee machine option with roasting and grinding capabilities too. Ultimately, the aesthetic is really what matters here. It’s clean, industrial-looking, and adds quite a touch of modernity to your home. You can even opt for colored modules, creating a nice color-blocking totem that goes with your decor.

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Espresso machines concept gives you more space in your modern kitchen

Espresso machines are basic necessities for coffee lovers. But most of the ones that are available in the market now follow the iconic traditional design of Italian coffee machines which are luxurious-looking but pretty bulky. And if a kitchen has limited space, then it most likely takes up the entire counter or coffee lovers cannot actually have such machines in their homes.

Designers: Gerhardt Kellerman, Ana Relvao

This concept for an portafilter machine wants to change this traditional design and instead come up with something that rethinks the form factor. The Youn – Ligre gives you your caffeine shot but also makes space in the kitchen for you to be able to do other things rather than just coffee. This machine is as thin as your average computer monitor or small LED TV set but has the usual espresso machine trimmings.

By making the machine simple enough but still highly functional, they were able to conceptualize something that can fit in with small but modern kitchen spaces. It is also made from aluminum so it can integrate easily with other appliances or the aesthetic of your kitchen. It even has a steamer (that looks like a faucet) integrated into it so you get your complete setup.

For noobs that are intimidated by espresso machines, this has an Easy mode so it’s easy to use. For the experts who like more control over various brewing parameters, there is the Nerd mode. It’s a pretty interesting redesign of the usual espresso machines that we get so hopefully someday it will be commercially viable and available.

The post Espresso machines concept gives you more space in your modern kitchen first appeared on Yanko Design.