I’m part of the crowd that thinks getting coffee should be a reasonable excuse for being late. Business meetings, sports games, parent-teacher conferences, and lunch reservations can wait. Coffee comes first‒always. Some of us are thinking about coffee before we even brush our teeth in the morning. If you can skip the coffee, all the power to you. Besides the pursuit of punctuality, having access to a quick caffeine fix when you’re camping or on a road trip makes the difference between Hell and happiness. That’s just the truth. Giving life to that caffeine fix, Chinese designer Jiia Liu developed Saturnbird, a modular glass bottle that brews coffee in a matter of seconds.
Saturnbird comes in four pieces: a brewing top, liquid basin, lid, and coffee pods, allowing for easy brewing and cleaning. In Liu’s 3D visualization, the pods each seem to contain instant coffee grounds that turn into iced coffee when mixed with water. Once the liquid basin is filled with water, users can mix in a pod of coffee grounds, screw the brewing top back on, shake the bottle, and voilà! Instant coffee. The liquid basin displays line measurements that, when filled with water, indicates which coffee pod to pour‒140ml of water requiring a smaller pod than the pod mixed into 210ml of water. Featuring such a simple brew method, Saturnbird could become the go-to accessory for many campers whose first thought in the morning isn’t the chorus of chirping birds or the beautiful landscape, but how they’re gonna get their paws on their first cup of coffee. The liquid basin is constructed from glass with a silicone-coated glass brewing top and lid for a non-slip grip, allowing you to bring Saturnbird on hikes or water-based activities.
Whether you’re waking up in a forest, hundreds of miles away from the nearest cafe or in a daze, five minutes away from your first job interview across town, coffee accessories like Saturnbird allow coffee drinkers to get in their caffeine fix and get on with their day quicker than they could muster up a lame (and unnecessary) excuse for being late. Go ahead and walk into that meeting with a cup of coffee in your hands. You deserve it (and the one after it).
Designer: Jiia Liu
Saturnbird’s glass liquid basin screws onto a silicone brewing top for a non-slip grip.
Users simply mix coffee grounds with water for instant iced coffee.
The screw-top lid of Saturnbird allows users to insert their own straw.
The measurement lines indicate which coffee pods to use.
Modular by design, Saturnbird breaks away from its four components for easy cleaning.
As much as I hate to admit it, I absolutely cannot start my day without a freshly brewed cup of coffee! It’s the boost of energy, dose of motivation, and rush of serotonin that I need every morning. And, I’m pretty sure that’s the case for most of us. However, brewing coffee is an intimate and intricate process by itself, and a few handy products are always needed to peacefully create and enjoy our much-needed cup of coffee. So, we’ve curated a collection of product designs including unique coffee machines, pour-over brewers, sustainable to-go cups, and more to make your morning coffee routine just a little bit more enjoyable!
This conceptual coffee machine is very unlike the espresso makers in the market and it’s the aesthetics that set it apart. It is a dream machine for people who love coffee and space exploration equally (like me!). The compact capsule shape makes it look like a moon lander for your counter and is obviously powered by caffeine which is only the second most powerful fuel after rocket fuel! The designer’s main focus was to retain some of the rawness and the mechanical steampunk look of the traditional Italian espresso makes while maintaining a clean shape that adds character to the product. There is a tubular water/steam container at the back which I feel can be extended down for added support for the appliance. There is also another container for your beans which I assume leads to a small grinder mechanism inside so you only get the freshest cup of joe each time. Overall, the shape is very unique and combines the nostalgic steampunk elements with clean, smooth curves for a balanced modern machine.
Most of the pour-over coffee makers in the market focus on functionality rather than usability making it hard for beginners to make a perfect cup without knowing the techniques. That is where Eli comes in – it is a transformable, compact, and automatic pour-over coffee maker designed to make the brewing process easier and the taste more consistent. It is a brewing kit that divides the process into three phases – material preparation, brewing setup, and final brewing. Boil water and keep the grounds ready, then slide and lift the structure, followed by rotating it to lock the base – now you are ready to brew. It has a smooth and stable rotating axis structure that elevates its minimal aesthetics.
Made in the UK, Orea means “from the mountains” – a fitting name for this teeny weeny coffee brewer made for the outdoorsy. This pour-over brewer comes with an innovative drainage ring at the base, resulting in a faster flow rate. As the designers explain, “The Orea brewer has a unique drainage ring that results in a fast flow rate. What this means for you is that you can grind finer and extract the brighter notes in coffee. If you love the nutty, fruity, citrusy, or chocolatey tastes that come with specialty coffee – you will love this brewer.” This design change improved upon the dreaded clogging and extended brew time with brewers with a smaller opening.
If there was an emergency, I would instantly protect my dog and my coffee. So if you are anything like me then the BruTrek Expedition Coffee Kit is essential for you! Planetary Design has created one of the world’s most rugged, portable, coffee brewing kits for modern-day explorers who need more than just a french press. This coffee kit has a full range of accessories and looks like it is ready to be air-dropped into a war zone and I just know it will survive with the 29-L Zarges case that protects it. The brewing range comes in a sturdy, custom foam-cushioned lightweight German aluminum box which is popular for overlanding and can be neatly stacked over other similar-sized Zarges boxes or strapped to the outside of a vehicle if needed. It is designed to keep dust and moisture out, and it is also IGBC-certified bear-resistant according to Zarges USA – so no aggressive grizzlies will be stealing your coffee although, before coffee, some of us might be like angry bears ourselves!
Designed as a collaborative effort between Electrolux and the students at Umeå Institute of Design to think about post-Covid-19 home solutions, the Fika from Afar helps capture the nuances of work-life and work-leisure while at home. In Swedish, ‘Fika’ is a term for coffee or tea break (usually enjoyed with a cake or bun and in the company of others). Fika from Afar carries that concept and brings it into homes, allowing you to take a well-deserved break from work with your friends. Power on the Fika from Afar and connects you and multiple colleagues through an app that lets you collectively take a break while you sip coffee. Friends can either share a cup of coffee with you, or some gossip, or even their own coffee recommendations, giving you a nice 5-10 minute break from the mundane routine of working from home.
Unocup designed an ergonomic paper cup that folds into itself to create a spill-proof lid! Just fold over each flap and insert the tab to close the “lid”. To open, it is a simple press of a button that will gently open the flap instead of trying to carefully pop off the lid – praying for you if you attempt that with long nails. This cup has a unique shape that fits into your palm, the uniform structure creates a strong and consistent body that will not cave under pressure, unlike traditional paper cups. The drinking curved spout is specifically designed to fit your lips naturally as opposed to the otherwise flat plastic lids. You can also fold flaps backward and drink from the rim just like a normal drinking glass.
Zhi Ka Master is a coffee-making system that employs the use of twin-arm robotics to perform traditional coffee and tea brewing for hand-poured, automated cups of coffee. The entire system comprises a twin-arm, six-axis robot, and accompanying work table. Twin-arm robotic systems are typically chosen for their efficient and automated execution of more involved assembly operations. Through bi-manual manipulation, twin-arm robots can perform complicated tasks in a human-like manner. The incorporation of twin-arm robotics for Zhi Ka Master and a bionic profile design equips the robot with enough know-how to stimulate masterful coffee or tea-making methods with the push of a button. A pre-sized and programmed worktable is used to keep all the machines and tools necessary to make any drink on a typical coffee menu.
Inspired by the powerhouse marque, Sajdin Osmancevic designed a luxury coffeemaker in the style of the Bugatti Type 35, with a finished look fit for the post-race winner’s circle. In order to get the coffee machine going, users simply flip open the golden emblem at the top of the arch-shaped, gridded radiator, to insert their preferred coffee capsule and wait for hot coffee to pour from the Bugatti logo. Moving to the coffee machine’s bulbous backside, reminiscent of the Bugatti Type 35’s spherical and triangular rear wing, users will find the coffee machine’s rear switch dial, a scaled replica of Type 35’s petrol tank where either a single or double shot of espresso can be chosen for brewing.
Designed as probably the world’s most fun user-manual, Sip-To-Suit Coffee Information Cards are a set of coffee-brewing guides disguised as actual playing cards! You see, brewing coffee can be an incredibly elaborate affair, with different brewing machines and techniques requiring different water quantities, brewing times, and even coffee-ground sizes. Sip-To-Suit helps simplify that in an incredibly fun way by creating a set of flashcards that help give you critical information on how to brew the best coffee. Moreover, the cards double up as playing cards too, allowing you to start your day with a nice hot brew, and end your day with Texas Hold’em!
COFFEEJACK comes from the folks at Hribarcain, famed for their great work in the EDC department. Now, they’ve set out to shrink the coffee machine to a form factor so small, you might as well carry it around everywhere you go along with the rest of your belongings. Designed by Ashley Hribar-Green & Matthew Aston Cain, the COFFEEJACK works with any coffee-grind, enabling you to have your favorite espresso anywhere you go, while also reducing your dependence on those earth-polluting Nespresso and Keurig pods. Just add your coffee grind to the lower chamber and COFFEEJACK’s in-built tamper will level the grounds and pack them tightly. Open out the pump and pour hot water into the upper chamber and you’re ready to go! The espresso maker’s manual pump matches the high-pressure output of most coffee machines, giving you an espresso that is deliciously thick and even has that layer of flavor-packed crema on top, just like the one your barista makes with professional equipment.
The LIDfree is less of a redesign and more of a re-imagination of lids themselves. A sustainable improvement on plastic lids would probably be to design lids that are made out of paper instead… but to redesign a cup in a way that it doesn’t need a lid? That’s truly something worth marveling at. Meet the LIDfree, a to-go paper cup that comes with its own fold-in lid. While the lid isn’t 100% spill-proof (not even the plastic ones are), it does a few key things really well. It prevents spillage and merges two products (a cup and lid) into me. It gives you a central channel to put your straw and replaces a wasteful plastic part with a recyclable paper one.
Being a coffee enthusiast myself, I don’t think there’s much left to explore in the pour-over coffee brewing style. Nothing considerable in a brewer’s design would change how the coffee actually tastes. That said, there is of course a lot of innovation possible when it comes to the choice of material, especially because fashion-forward, throw-away plastic brewers have been the most cost-effective choice around the world. Orea coffee dripper; one of the world’s smallest coffee brewers sets out to make that possible and also tries to tinker with the flat-base design to make it a tad faster and clog-free.
This pour-over brewer with an innovative drainage ring in the base that results in a fast flow rate is slightly different from the brewers with smaller holes that lead to extended brew time and often clog up. The Orea is an extremely compact full-size pour-over brewer that you can throw away in the bag without having to worry about breaking it. The robust, lightweight, and super compact Orea is made from 100-percent aluminum and can go with you on any adventure and at the same time work effectively in your kitchen.
Made in the UK, Orea means “from the mountains” – a fitting name for this teeny weeny coffee brewer that is made for the outdoorsy. It weighs only 60g and is designed to fit in a standard cup, camping pot, or unnoticeably in your bag. According to the designers, it is ideal for camping, backpacking, and also for everyday use in the kitchen. What really makes the Orea stand out in the crowd is not so much its cute little design, but the construction and material use. The Orea is milled out of one solid block of aerospace-grade aluminum using a CNC machine.
Orea is made to work with Kalita Wave 155 filters, which can filter finely ground beans and strain a perfect cup of Joe when residing within this petite brewer. Owing to its size, the brewer can only brew one cup (350ml) of coffee at a time. It is priced slightly high at US $69.99 but the Orea justifies its cost with its unique strength and guarantee to last a lifetime, which not only adds to an adventurer’s confidence in his brewer but also means lesser waste ends up in the landfills!
The Bugatti Type 35 was developed with master engineer and racing driver Jean Chassagne, who then also drove it in the car’s first Grand Prix back in 1924. The races to follow determined the Bugatti Type 35 as the most successful of the Bugatti racing models, earning countless winning titles during its peak years. Inspired by the powerhouse marque, Sajdin Osmancevic designed a luxury coffeemaker in the style of the Bugatti Type 35, with a finished look fit for the post-race winner’s circle.
In order to get the coffee machine going, users simply flip open the golden emblem at the top of the arch-shaped, gridded radiator, to insert their preferred coffee capsule and wait for hot coffee to pour from the Bugatti logo. Moving to the coffee machine’s bulbous backside, reminiscent of the Bugatti Type 35’s spherical and triangular rear wing, users will find the coffee machine’s rear switch dial, a scaled replica of Type 35’s petrol tank where either a single or double shot of espresso can be chosen for brewing. Then along the side of Osmancevic’s coffee machine, steam vents that mimic the Type 35’s side hood are fashionably placed along with unique number decals, echoing back to the model’s heyday.
Operating similarly to that of Nespresso coffee machines, Osmancevic’s Bugatti-inspired coffee machine uses ground coffee-filled capsules to brew coffee. Perhaps, most well-known for its iconic arch-shaped radiator, the Bugatti Type 35 was the founding cornerstone for Bugatti’s current trademark look. By incorporating the radiator grills, along with Bugatti’s shades of steel and powder blue and walnut brown leather accents, Osmancevic created a coffee machine that easily distinguishes itself as a luxe appliance ready for the racetrack. Coffee and Bugatti sport a long and rich history, filled with full-bodied flavor, smooth finishes, and steaming hot appeal– a winning match.
Designer: Sajdin Osmancevic
Through different ideations, Osmancevic conceptualized his coffee maker design to look just like the Bugatti Type 35.
From its gridded radiator to its gleaning Bugatti emblem, Osmancevic’s coffee maker felt inspired by Bugatti’s design language in making of his coffee maker design.
Similar to the function of a Nespresso coffee maker, Osmancevic’s uses capsule pods to brew single or double espresso shots.
Echoing back to Bugatti’s racing prime, Osmancevic was sure to include finer details like the side hood vents and flashy decals.
Coming in steel blue, powder blue, and dark chocolate brown, Osmancevic looked to Bugatti’s famous color scheme to coat his coffee makers in glossy paint.
For those of us who currently work from home, our kitchen counter has become our favorite coffee shop. However, in a post-quarantine world (hopefully coming soon), there will be a need for a product that allows coffee-drinkers to take their beverages on the go. That need-fulling product is the Osma portable coffee maker.
At first glance, the Osma looks like a thermos. In actuality, the metal shell holds the Osma’s coffee-brewing machinery, and the clear transparent top is the drink container. So, how does it work? The best way to describe the Osma’s brewing mechanism would be to contrast it against a commonly-used method: pour-over. This method, true to its name, involves pouring hot water over coffee grounds. Basically, gravity does the mixing/flavoring for you. The Osma, on the other hand, does not let the water seep down; it pumps air up into the container to mix the hot water and coffee grounds. This process creates a unique flavor profile, one that coffee connoisseurs say can’t even be achieved through pour-over brewing. It’s faster too – especially when it comes to making cold brew, cutting down a 12+ hour seeping process into 60 seconds. Also, the Osma features two small bonuses: biodegradable pods and a companion app that allows users to discover new flavored pods and share brewing tips/recipes.
The Osma has a unique selling point that can appeal to multiple types of coffee drinkers. The enthusiasts will love the unique coffee brewing process – and the new flavors it unlocks in each brew. Casual drinkers will love the grab-and-go convenience. And environmentally conscious consumers will love the biodegradable pods that are available for purchase. My one minor gripe with the product? The container might be a little too small for my coffee-addicted tastes … but I suppose this means I’ll be carrying extra coffee pods on my commute to work.
A Starbucks Reserve roastery, unlike its standard locations, is more than a pitstop on work commute or a place to write this article (in a pre-pandemic world). It looks like a high-end bar or brewery, with comfy couches and long, empty wooden counters. A Starbucks Reserve is not just a cafe: it’s an experience, one that invites the drinker to observe and appreciate the coffee-making process.
The first thing that hits us, even before entering a Starbucks store, is that intoxicating smell of coffee which acts as a siren to all the caffeine addicts. It is this anticipation and vibe that Starbucks captures, not just with its setting, but with its espresso-making tools, like the IVY Pourover coffee maker. Its clean, elegant design fits its environment perfectly. The holder is the same shade as the Starbucks paper cup and complements the brand’s overall color scheme. Also, unlike bulky metal espresso makers that block your hardworking baristas from view, the IVY lets you watch the coffee drip down into the cup. The Starbucks Reserve also fosters this behind-the-scenes brewing experience with its minimalistic Phantom Espresso maker, which Yanko Design previously covered. The IVY Pourover was designed to brew a top-notch cup of coffee. The metal cone helps distribute heat evenly, which ensures that each brew is consistently high-quality. The grooves inside allow for optimal airflow between the paper filter and the cone’s walls, allowing the coffee to bloom and release more flavor. There’s even a small lip on the funnel that helps create the perfect stream of coffee, avoiding any rough splashes or drips.
The best part about the IVY Pour-over is that you can take it home with you. It’s available for purchase at Starbucks Reserve locations and, more importantly, is designed to adapt to your coffee-drinking routine. You can display the stand proudly on your kitchen counter or, if you prefer a more mobile coffee-filter, detach the metal cone and place it on your mug. Simple. The IVY doesn’t fully capture the ambiance of a Starbucks Reserve, but it is a worthy substitute to satisfy homebound coffee fans.
Look at the Morning Machine and tell me that isn’t something you would see Tim Cook unveiling, claiming it makes the “best coffee experience you’ve ever had”. The Morning Machine is a technological step above your Keurig and Nespresso, and a convenience step above having your own Barista in your kitchen. Designed to brew coffee ‘with purpose’, the Morning Machine has the ability to analyze the coffee pod you put in it and configure the exact way to brew it. Different beans come from different places, and require different techniques – the Morning Machine recognizes these nuances and applies bean-specific brewing mechanisms to make sure the coffee tastes exactly how it was intended to be consumed.
The Morning Machine comes with three areas of hardware that give it a superior edge over your standard pod-based coffee machine. This slick, matte-black hunk of beautiful metal comes with the ability to precisely control temperature, pressure, and quantity (weight) of the water required in the brewing process. While the Morning Machine itself comes with thousands of profiles for brewing different styles of coffee, you can create your own profiles too, adjusting the blend through a smartphone app to create your own ‘recipe’. The device works with Nespresso OriginalLine capsules among others, and can even be used with cold-shot capsules, tea-capsules, or even with single-use drip bags. You can either control the machine via its slick, intuitive, Nest thermostat-inspired jog-dial, or even via the app. The machine is even capable of sensing when your cup’s near the outlet or not, immediately cutting the flow once you lift your cup off the machine. The level of sensibility, sensitivity, and sleekness remains unrivaled, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the guys behind the design cited Apple as a reference.
Developed by passionate caffeine-heads Leon and Andre, the Morning Machine comes at a pretty unique time, especially considering how more people are consuming their coffee at home rather than going to the nearby barista, or having to deal with their local café shutting down due to the pandemic and economic aftermath. I wouldn’t go as far as to say that the Morning Machine is a barista replacement, for starters it probably can’t smile at you and ask you how your day’s been (yet), but if you’re the kind of person who just craves that perfect cup of coffee in the morning (without the chit-chat or waiting in line), the Morning Machine is a pretty incredible alternative. Moreover, it’s more than just a slick looking machine… it’s a marketplace too. Partnering with some of the best coffee roasters across UK, EU, Australia, and South East Asia, the Morning Machine brings world-class beans and roasts to your doorstep, your cup, and finally your tastebuds. Yeah Tim Cook, it could easily be “best coffee experience you’ve ever had”.
The Morning Machine is the world’s first coffee capsule machine with barista-approved controls.
By pairing a growing variety of high-quality coffee capsules with customizable recipes, the Morning Machine allows you to explore new flavors and roasts from the comfort of home, while enjoying it just how the roaster intended it.
Key Features
The Morning Machine has a built-in scale that helps provide you with consistent brews. There are also two thermal sensors coupled with a PID (Proportional Integral Derivative) controller, allowing you to set your brew temperature to highlight each coffee’s nuances. Lastly, you can control the brew pressure via the Intermittent Wave Brewing System (patent pending) to enhance your coffee’s mouthfeel and texture.
Weight-based Brewing
There has been a shift in coffee brewing with the use of scales. Compared to simply relying on volumetric measurements (from a flow meter), scales provide you with accuracy, which leads to repeatability and room for experimentation. Instead of simply eyeballing the liquid espresso and crema, a scale provides weight-based brewing, where the output is instantly measured and displayed. This allows you to brew to more consistent-tasting cups of coffee.
Temperature Precision
Another factor that affects the coffee’s flavor is its brew temperature. According to the Specialty Coffee Association’s The Coffee Brewing Handbook by Ted Lingle, various coffee flavor components such as malic acids, citric acids and sucrose, each require different temperatures for a balanced cup. To prove this, they did a blind taste-test with seasoned coffee professional, Adryll Lin, from Mercanta Coffee Hunters.
They took the same coffee and brewed with three varying temperatures on the Morning Machine.
After revealing to Adryll that he was drinking the same coffee brewed in different temperatures, he was pleasantly surprised that his chosen cup, Cup C, was the one brewed with the lowest temperature, as he felt that it was the one that had the most balanced flavors. Hotter coffee does not always equate to better coffee; and while coffee preference remains very subjective, exploring how temperature can affect its flavors is just the tip of the iceberg.
Pressure Profile
Many coffee professionals debate the effect of pressure profiling on the cup. Some say that a slow ramp-up would even out the extraction process, while some prefer to lower the pressure at the end of the brew to mute out some of the bitter and astringent qualities of coffee.
A quick experiment on Total Dissolved Solids.
The third key feature of the Morning Machine is the Intermittent Wave Brewing System, which is used to control pressure. This system affects the coffee’s Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and allows exploration of how pressure can affect your coffee’s taste.
One of the Morning Machine’s capabilities is the Bloom & Brew, which uses the Intermittent Wave Brewing System. In this process, the coffee is pre-wet, followed by a short pause, and then the brew finishes with a low pressure.
For the full breakdown of the process, coffee capsules were punctured with the lowest pressure setting, then the brewing was paused for 20 seconds. Then, the Morning Machine automatically kicked in to half the brew pressure capacity of the pump (about 10 bars) for the remainder of the brew, as it hit 25 grams of output for the coffee.
The result was a noticeably different and stronger cup of coffee. They tried the Bloom & Brew method across various capsules with different roasts (from light to dark), with consistent results in the increase in TDS—and that’s only the beginning.
The Morning Machine is Purposefully Connected
Create your own custom pressure profiles (via the Morning mobile app).
Going back to the ritual and the home brewer in mind, the Morning Machine is purposefully connected to allow you to get the most of your brewing and tasting experience.
Less mess with the “Cup Detection” feature.
Designed for the Home Brewer
Interactive OLED Dial Interface – Select your favorite recipes via the dial interface and watch the progress of your brew.
Works with Nespresso® OriginalLine Capsules – The Morning Machine works with the most popular single-serve coffee format.
A Compact Design for Your Home – The Morning Machine sports a sleek and compact design with a multitude of coffee brewing features built-in.
Brew Modes
Quick-Brew – Brew coffee recipes on the machine or via the Morning mobile app with one-touch brewing. You can use our pre-set recipes or browse through our partner roasters’ recipes.
Brew Your Coffee, Your Way – Tweak the coffee output, brew temperature and pressure profile to achieve your desired coffee flavor profile.
The latest in single serve coffee brewing style, “Eden” aims to immerse the user in their personal brewing process by stimulating the visual, tactile and olfactory senses! Beautifully designed with materials primarily consisting of raw wood and glass, it encourages the user to experiment with their desired taste to get the perfect cup each time.
How it works: Fill one side with water. Fill the center connection with coffee and set the filters. Finally, assemble the other container. Then, flip and allow the coffee to drip. Once it’s finished, simply unscrew it and doctor it up or enjoy the coffee as is directly from the container! Easy stuff, huh?!
