As a certified coffee addict, my dream is to have all sorts of coffee making things in my kitchen. For now, I have the usual more affordable ones like french press, pour over, mini coffee maker, and a coffee capsule machine. Eventually I would love to have an actual espresso machine and other gizmos and gadgets that can give me the best brew I can have. There are also times when I’d like to have something that can bring a more aesthetic look to my kitchen and at the same time make me coffee the way I like it.
The Brew is an automatic coffee maker that makes you look cooler as you make your caffeine fix not just because of its design but also the way it brings you your pour-over coffee. The main purpose of the machine, aside from actually making coffee, is to give you the whole sensory experience including the aroma, the visuals, and the taste. The machine should feel at home in a coffee shop and in your kitchen.
Because it has an open dripper, the aroma that comes from your coffee beans will spread within the room, which is what coffee lovers prefer. And since the top is open, you’ll be able to have a good view of the entire process, which includes an indicator light and then a series of chimes to add to the aural experience. Operating the machine is supposedly easy enough as you will be able to choose between regular, strong, and iced options.
The other design details added to The Brew increases its appeal for both casual coffee drinkers and coffee connoisseurs. The water tank is detachable and can fit with filtered-water spouts and can also be placed on the counter. The dripper cone can also fit in a standard dripper stand so you can have the prefect measurement of your beans. It also uses the bypass technique which adds water to the carafe after the entire brewing cycle. Basically, this is something I’d like to add to my collection as both a functional and decorative coffee device.
Coffee is an essential part of my daily routine. For me, a fresh cup of coffee is a must during the day’s work or while out in the wilderness. However, given the busy lives we lead, it can be challenging, for coffee enthusiasts like me to find the time to make a fresh cup of coffee. Our best bet is a coffee shop down the street or a cumbersome brewing setup. This is where POCO steps in: The innovative portable speaker-like device lets you brew and enjoy fresh coffee anytime, anywhere.
POCO: Portable capsule coffee machine is a compact and lightweight device that can easily fit into your bag or backpack with the required coffee pods. It’s rechargeable using a USB-C: You can charge it on the go using your laptop or a portable charger. This makes it an ideal device for people who are always on the move.
The coffee machine has two tactile buttons – including the power button – and three light indicators. The top lid of the device is openable, allowing you to put in your ground coffee capsules. The device comes with roasted coffee ground in air-tight capsules, which maintains the coffee’s freshness; leaving you to enjoy your coffee without the hassle of measuring the right amount of coffee.
One of the best things about the portable capsule coffee machine is its built-in thermal insulation function, which keeps water warm, so a separate thermos is not required to brew a fresh cup of Joe instantly. You can enjoy hot coffee anytime, anywhere, without the need for electricity or a stove. The portable machine also has dual nozzle that dispenses hot coffee directly into your cup – while you adjust the amount of water – making it a convenient and mess-free option for coffee lovers.
The capsule coffee machine is not just functional but also stylish. It’s available in a range of colors (with standout blue) that add a touch of elegance to your coffee-drinking experience. The device looks like a cylindrical Sonos speaker, making it a sleek and modern coffee machine that can be a game-changer for coffee lovers who are always on the go.
With its compact size, built-in thermos, easy-to-use options, and rechargeable design, the portable capsule coffee machine is a must-have for anyone who loves fresh coffee. So, whether you’re in the office, camping in the wilderness, or out on a road trip, this coffee machine has got you covered.
For some reason, it seems that the market has decided that coffee makers need to have an imposing industrial motif and are covered mostly in black with a few silver accents. Capsule-based coffee machines, however, are challenging that tradition, with many incorporating more curves and colors. Some still adhere to the common coffee machine aesthetic, perhaps to reinforce the image of being a “regular” member of that family. Fortunately, the mechanics of capsule machines leave some room for experimenting with different designs, such as this concept that, as its name seems to imply, exudes a feeling of warmth and comfort that is perfect for your morning cup of coffee.
Everything about the Woolly capsule coffee machine concept is meant to exude a sense of softness and approachability, unlike the sometimes daunting personalities of typical coffee machines. The design language makes use of very few straight lines and employs a more muted color palette that goes avoids blacks and reds. The wooden panel and metallic accents contrast nicely with the textured plastic surface of the body, creating a composition that’s pleasing to the eyes from every angle.
Woolly also has a tactile aspect to it, inviting people to feel its warmth instead of just seeing it. The wooden panel and texture plastic already provide a stimulating touch experience, but the embedded touch-sensitive buttons on the panel take that interaction to the next level. The icons for this interface are backlit, but they fade and disappear into the background when not needed in order to minimize visual distractions.
In terms of functionality, the concept also offers a few unique features. It has, for example, a large bin that can hold up to ten empty capsules, letting you delay cleanup for a while. The bowl-shaped spill tray almost looks like a separate part, and it is actually only attached magnetically to the body. It could probably be used on its own as a tray for a cup or mug, allowing you to bring that aesthetic with you wherever you will drink your coffee.
Woolly bucks the trend of coffee machines to offer a comforting experience that goes beyond just serving coffee. While the usability of embedded touch buttons might raise a few concerns, the concept still offers something worthwhile as a whole. Even better, such a design is completely within the realm of possibility, presuming there are coffee machine manufacturers willing to take the plunge in designing something different yet appealing for this market.
Kitchen appliances have gotten more sophisticated and more advanced these days, yet their design language has remained mostly the same. Although they definitely look elegant and refined, most kitchen equipment, from refrigerators to ovens, often have sharp edges, shiny metallic surfaces, and an almost cold demeanor. There are exceptions, of course, but this design DNA seems to be the most prevalent, even for smaller appliances like toasters and coffee machines. That, in turn, dictates the overall aesthetic of the kitchen, at least if the appliances’ style doesn’t clash with the theme you already have going. That doesn’t always have to be the case, and this capsule-based coffee machine challenges those established traditions to bring a device that greets you with a calming and somber ambiance that helps ease you into the day.
A lot of people depend on coffee to get their day started or even get through the rest of the day. While businesses like Starbucks can be found almost everywhere, many households today would have their own coffee machine, whether using beans or capsules. Despite the popularity of these appliances, few owners probably notice how their designs affect how people see and approach them, which is to say they see coffee machines are veritable machines that are elegant yet clinical rather than something approachable and personal.
Breeze, designed for the South Korean coffee brand Dongsuh, tries to change that attitude by drastically changing the appearance of a capsule coffee machine. This comparatively newer breed of coffee makers often have more stylish and less industrial designs, but they still can’t get rid of that shiny metallic luster common to kitchen appliances and tools. In contrast, Breeze applies a refreshing and softer color palette, favoring pastel variants of white, charcoal, and pink to convey a gentler personality.
The shapes are also distinctly different. While the modular blocks are admittedly more geometric, their rounded corners add to the overall softer aesthetic of the machine. A ridged surface wraps around the base, contrasting with the smoother texture of the head. Another point of contrast is the tall water tank at the back, a transparent container that projects an image of clarity that, when taken together with the more subdued hues of the machine, seems to send a message of calm.
Beyond just the visuals, the design also includes a more tactile interface to operate the machine, using clearly marked LED-backlit buttons at the top of the head. Made from simple shapes and with a simple way of operating, Breeze gives the coffee machine a gentle and almost comforting identity, which is probably the kind of character you’d want to meet when you get your coffee first thing in the morning or in the middle of a tiring day.
While I’m a certified coffee addict and cannot function well without a cup of caffeine, I’m not really that particular with where it comes from. Whether I get it from the coffee shop across the street or I make it on my own, all I care is that it wakes me up. How the coffeemaker or the espresso machine looks is not really a big deal for me but of course, there are a lot of good-looking and well-designed machines out there. If I could have one in my kitchen that’s pretty and can give me my coffee for the day, then that’s a bonus.
Designer: Odo Fioravanti for Moak
Espresso machine manufacturer Moak commissioned the Italian industrial designer to create a machine that are modernist and minimalist and is actually brutalist in its final render. The CJ (Coffee Jockey) is made up of various geometric shapes that are put together into something simple and beautiful that produces something beautiful as well for caffeine-addicted users. The soft, pastel color shown in the renders adds to the simple but classy look of the espresso machine.
The design shows off a pretty big water tank at the bag that’s easy to remove and fill in. So you can actually put two coffee cups in front and get two sizable espresso shots out of one process. The machine has three main parts that can be assembled and disassembled easily by slatting in the various shapes. It also seems to be easy to clean because of this, which is sometimes my main issue with a lot of the espresso and coffee machines I’ve tried out over the years.
The commissioned design for the machine is for an upcoming new line from Moak which will show off a new coffee blend and capsule system. The renders don’t show where the system comes in since it’s probably still in the early stages and is considered “proprietary”. The clean lines and shapes that we see from the CJ should hopefully translate well once we see the final product when it will be announced and sold commercially.
Who knew Polaroid and espresso were unlikely companions? This concept rather cleverly combines the two into the ‘ultimate coffee machine for amateurs’. If Polaroid brought great retro photography (and photo development) to the masses, the Polaroid Express does the same for instant coffee. Plus, can we just take a second to appreciate how clever the name Polaroid Express is?! (as a play on Polar Express and Espresso)
The coffee machine looks like a massive camera, with the signature friendly rectangular form and the clever use of colors to create that friendly appeal associated with the instant camera company. Designed to be portable (it IS a concept, after all), the apparatus has a rather simple form factor and feels intuitive to operate. All you really have to do is select how many cups you want (the machine can make as many as 4), and hit the ‘shutter’ button and the Polaroid Express gets to work, filling coffee from a set of pre-fed pods into cups at the base of the machine. Lift the top off to reveal the base tray and voila! You’ve got your cups of coffee, freshly made and ready to consume… in an instant!
The Polaroid Express accepts a 2×2 tray of coffee pods, making a total of 4 cups of coffee.
The Polaroid Express’ simple design models itself on the cameras, which only require you to compose your shot and hit the shutter button. Here, all you do is select the number of cups you want to be made and hit the red button and the machine does all the work. It works similarly to how a Keurig or Nespresso machine might. Pods fit into the area right beneath the control panel, and the upper reservoir is filled with water. Once you hit the button, it heats the water up (the rainbow strip on the front acts as a temperature indicator), and as soon as it reaches the right temperature, the machine brews the coffee and dispenses it in the cups right below.
Designed to be perfect for amateurs, the Polaroid Express isn’t just simple to use, it’s fun in its own way too. The rainbow color scheme brings a certain joy to the coffee-making experience (it’s something teens and tweens will appreciate for sure), and the machine’s base comes with a variety of colored trays, allowing you to add a pop of color to your kitchen counter. The trays are paired with matching colorful-base glasses too!
Coffee lovers and their friends often joke about how the world actually runs on coffee, but there’s no denying how much of the drink is made and consumed on a daily basis. Unfortunately, it’s a kind of human fuel that does have its own negative effects on the environment, even if indirectly. Used coffee grounds are thrown away and wasted by the tons, cups either increase plastic waste or paper use, and coffee machines get broken and disposed of indiscriminately. While there are already attempts to address the first two problems, there are very few solutions when it comes to the sustainability of coffee machines. Just like every other appliance, not much thought is given to their life cycles, which is what makes this modular coffee machine design rather revolutionary while also being aesthetically interesting.
Appliances are made for human convenience, not only in their use but also after they can no longer be used. While repairing broken appliances is ideal and more cost-effective, chances are people simply dispose of them and buy new ones. Whichever path they take, most appliances end up in landfills, and only a fraction of their parts can actually be reused or recycled because of their composition. Either way, it’s not a sustainable situation for our future.
Coffee machines might not be the most common consumer electronics in homes, but their widespread use and the way they operate make them ideal for a thought experiment. Kara is the result of one such process, resulting in a modular coffee machine that’s meant to last forever, even when the manufacturer has stopped producing replacement parts. The secret is that these parts can be 3D printed if access to the original is no longer possible. The more technical components can be replaced or substituted with other electronics, presuming those are still in production.
Unlike most designs that promote repairability, Kara doesn’t require advanced knowledge or skills to make that possible. Some parts are connected using magnets, making it trivial to take the coffee machine apart and put them back together again. For those parts that need a bit more handling, a small screwdriver is also included with the machine and replacement parts. The process is easy enough for anyone to do, but the machine also offers step-by-step instructions through its built-in screen or a connected smartphone.
Different parts of Kara use different materials, and these use different colors for easier identification. It also creates a unique visual of the coffee machine, which easily makes it stand out from other coffee makers that usually embrace black and silver motifs. It is definitely an interesting solution to the problem of sustainability, one that coffee enthusiasts can embrace to make them feel good while they sip their cup of Joe.
Think of your Nespresso pod and imagine if it were just a thousand times better. I’m talking whole beans, ground and brewed on the spot, with an automated procedure occurring all within the same machine. What the xBloom does isn’t completely different from any average coffee machine, however, the method it employs and the underlying technology it uses is simply remarkable. A Tesla isn’t different from other cars – they both transport you from A to B… but one of them is just much more visually, technically, and emotionally sophisticated. That’s why we’re calling the xBloom the Tesla of coffee machines.
Designed to elegantly sit on your countertop, the xBloom is an all-in-one coffee machine that handles grinding, brewing, and dispensing all within one device. It does so in a manner that’s almost entirely automated and expertly tuned, so you really need to do nothing once the machine takes charge. Just pour the beans in, sit back, and watch your coffee get made as if a robot barista was at work. Its overall design is just sublime too, with simple geometric forms that break down the coffee machine into its separate functions, and a metallic finish that feels luxuriously pristine.
Place the Pod on the sensor pad to activate bean recognition.
Pour the beans into the grinder and place the empty pod on the Dock.
Press the Dock and let the machine take care of the rest.
The xBloom follows the pod-based model popularized by Keurig and Nespresso, but instead of having tiny metallic pods filled with pre-ground, pre-flavored coffee powder, each xBloom comes with actual coffee beans inside, measured out for a single serving. The pods are curated by expert roasters, with special coffee types from around the globe offering the entire world of coffee right on your kitchen countertop. How do you brew these pods? Well, that’s perhaps my favorite part!
It isn’t often that kitchen appliances and RFID tags ever intersect, but they do with the xBloom. Each pod comes with coffee beans inside it, but on the underside of every pod is also an RFID tag that allows the xBloom to identify the coffee type. Just tap the underside of the pod on the xBloom and it instantly sets the grind size, brew temperature, coffee-to-water ratio, and even pouring style. Once the xBloom identifies the coffee, just peel the lid off the pod, add the beans to the device’s inlet, and place the empty pod in its designated holder for later.
The professional-grade grinder features 48mm Titanium Nitride coated conical burrs, allowing 20 automatic grind size adjustments perfect for pour-over (each step is as precise as 18.75µm).
Super easy to clean.
The beans enter the grinding chamber, where the 48mm conical burrs grind it to the perfect consistency. The grounds are then dispensed back into the empty pod (which also comes with its own built-in filter lining). The xBloom then automatically carries the pod from the grinder to the brewing area, almost like a robot on a factory line. It’s quite entertaining to watch as the machine literally choreographs the coffee-making process. The xBloom then introduces heated water to the coffee, brewing it right in its pod (so you don’t need a separate filter), with holes in the pod’s base letting coffee drip through right into your empty cup or glass. Unlike any coffee machine I’ve seen in the past, xBloom even possesses the ability to pour in different patterns, mimicking a straight pour, a slow spiral pour, and a rapid spiral pour based on roasters’ preference. The pouring is quite unlike any other machine, with the laminar water stream being electrostatically controlled by 4 energized electrodes, resulting in a curved flow of water that seems almost magical to look at. Moreover, the pod’s holder can even agitate the pod, helping the coffee brew more evenly. The most remarkable part of all this isn’t that it’s possible – it’s that it happens with just one simple RFID scan and absolutely no human intervention on your part.
A weighing scale built into the pod holder detects how much water’s still in the pod. This prevents the xBloom from accidentally overfilling the pod and having water spill over. Different grinds filter coffee at different rates – a coarser grind lets water pass through faster than a fine grind, and the xBloom can detect that by weighing the pod. It then automatically controls the water’s dispensing rate to ensure there are absolutely no mistakes. Water filters through the pod right into your cup or glass below, leaving you with a fresh cup of coffee. The pod, which now contains your used coffee grounds, can easily be lifted out of the xBloom and disposed of elegantly.
It should come as no surprise that xBloom’s design team consists of tech veterans including ex-Apple product designers. With the level of sensitivity to design, detailing, and user experience, the xBloom literally turns a coffee machine into a luxurious ritual that is bound to delight absolutely any coffee drinker. The device is simply a piece art that houses technical magic underneath, echoing exactly the kind of sophistication seen in Apple’s own products.
The user experience is put at the absolute forefront – there are no buttons, knobs, wires, or even as much as screw details visible on the device. It looks as if Jony Ive sculpted the machine with his own hands. The xBloom’s interiors use high-quality parts, relying on suppliers who also supply to Apple and Tesla. The pods are expertly curated with a wide variety of coffee bean types, and each pod is made of sugarcane and bamboo fiber, so you can discard it in its entirety (with the coffee grounds) and not worry about generating plastic waste (the RFID tag is mostly biodegradable too, being made from paper with very small traces of aluminum). Maintaining your xBloom is remarkably easy too, with a pop-out magnetic cover that collects any stray remnants of ground coffee from the grinder.
The xBloom stands at 16.9 inches tall, like a slick, metal Obelisk. It comes in two colors, Obsidian Black and Silver White, with a 700ml water reservoir inside its main chamber, letting you brew almost 3 cups of coffee on a full tank. While the true mark of xBloom’s excellence is its ability to automate the entire process for consistent, expert results every time, each xBloom also comes with a smartphone app that allows you to play with the brew settings, creating and saving recipes that are unique to your taste, preferences, and mood. The xBloom starts at $449 for early-bird backers, with 32 pods included along with the machine. Once depleted, you can either buy more pods through xBloom or get the reusable dripper cup that’s compatible with Kalita Wave 155 filters.
While comparing the 2013 Mac Pro to a trashcan may have been a little mean in hindsight, its shiny cylindrical exterior translates well to a coffee machine, as per this concept by Young Geon Ahn.
Meet Apple Drip – a conceptual caffeine distributing machine that brews “the best coffee Apple’s ever made” if Tim Cook had to ever take to the stage to introduce such an appliance. It flips Jony Ive’s unique design over and turns an ill-received desktop computer into a tabletop brewer, complete with a dispenser nozzle that slides out to dispense coffee, and slides back into the machine, sitting flush against the cylindrical surface when non-operational.
Designer: Young Geon Ahn
The Apple Drip officially becomes the first Apple concept we’ve seen that’s designed for the kitchen. Truth be told, Apple’s brand of minimalism fits pretty much anywhere, after all, a HomePod looks pretty darn good in a kitchen, right?
The Apple Drip has a style that’s comparable to the Ember Mug (fun fact, Ember’s lead designer Robert Brunner worked extensively at Apple) with a slick, black design that looks equal parts mysterious and approachable. Uncomplicated, yet professional. The black cylinder comes with a touchscreen interface on its upper rim, with just three buttons – a power button, a temperature button, and a coffee dispensing button. Designed to work (one assumes) with an app or even with Siri, the Drip dispenses coffee into a sleek looking mug that sits in its designated place on a larger rectangular platform. From the looks of it, the Drip even comes with a home button on its nozzle, although what that does is anyone’s guess.
While clearly conceptual, the Apple Drip is a fun design prompt for hackers and YouTubers, giving them an opportunity to turn existing (and obsolete) products into fun alternatives. Anyone planning on building this? If you do, just fo me a favor and call it something clever like the iCedLatte Pro or something…
There are hardcore gamers and there are casual gamers. It doesn’t matter which group you belong to but I’m certain if you are, you will love this Nintendo FP Coffee Machine.
For people who grew up playing Super Mario, you won’t have a problem identifying the inspiration. No, this coffee machine won’t churn out Super Mushrooms or Fire Flowers. It can make your favorite cuppa joe and top it off with latte art of your favorite Nintendo game character. Mario? Pikachu? Name it. The Nintendo FP can print it.
Turkish industrial designer Sergen Çağlayan has a knack for turning ordinary devices into something fun. We’re guessing he grew up playing Nintendo games on his NES or maybe his Nintendo Switch. He used this passion to create something coffee lovers will be interested in. And sure, if this concept becomes a reality, we know stocks will quickly disappear off the shelves as fast as Pickachu’s Volt Tackle.
The Nintendo FP isn’t your usual coffee machine. It doesn’t brew coffee grounds as it only accepts coffee capsules or pods. This one takes after the aesthetics of the Nintendo Switch. The signature red and blue colors were used. The play screen and buttons are reminiscent of those on the Nintendo Game Boy Advanced SP from the early 2000s.
The “FP” in the name means Froth & Play. You can’t exactly play any game but the froth printer lets you play the latte art game. With milk foam or coffee drop, you can have an image of your favorite game character on your coffee.
The Nintendo FP Coffee Machine is easy to use. Pour water on the plastic tank. Add milk on the separate milk tank if you like for froth. Lift the small LCD screen up to power on the machine and start heating. Insert your choice of coffee pod for the day on the capsule slide. Choose the image you want on your coffee. Wait for the 3D-like printer to do its job.
Once done, you can start enjoying your coffee with Yoshi smiling back at you. It’s that convenient and fun. Warning: the screen may show you you’ve been having too much coffee for the week.
The concept capsule coffee machine looks more like a toy than a kitchen appliance. The choice of blue, red, gray, and white makes the device fun to look at and hold especially with its soft-touch rubbery feel.
Die-hard Nintendo fans will find joy in this thing even if some may not be coffee drinkers. We’re imagining you can get your young children prepare the coffee for you with the Nintendo Froth & Play. Just don’t let them play with it too much. And don’t let them drink the coffee.
