What if you could make a cup of freshly roasted coffee with your smartphone. Or you could say “hey Alexa, make me a cup of coffee”. The ultimate in coffee freedom with no timers to set, no pressure to get up in advance. Adjust the water temperature for brewing and length of pre-infusion for a fully customized cup of joe – all from the comfort of under cover, should you so choose. The coffee made with these robot baristas will not only satisfy your inner geek, but also deliver you a caffeine fix with both flair and good taste. There are a number of smart coffee makers on the market to turn this wet coffee dream into a reality.
Smart coffee makers have been floating around kitchens for a while now. The good thing about them is that they offer superior control and convenience over the traditional non-connected coffee makers out there. You’ll be able to wirelessly connect via Bluetooth or Wi-fi and app.
Not all coffee makers are created equal. You know that saying, if you’re born a rose you can’t be a daffodil? Okay maybe that’s not exactly how the quote goes, but the same is true for these coffee machines. It’s best to understand the type of maker that interests you before buying. For example, some of the smart coffee makers are geniuses high bean IQ – they can make espresso-based drinks in addition to regular coffee. Others can actually roast, grind and brew from virgin beans in refillable pods.
A cup of coffee usually tastes the same whether its creation has been triggered by a smart-phone app or not, but smart coffee makers can definitely help with timing that freshly roasted and brewed great first cup to kickstart your day. Here’s a list of some of the best that are currently on the market at the moment.
Behmor Brewer Connected Coffee Maker
Pros: This machine can be controlled from your smartphone and makes a fantastic cup of coffee. It has a nice aesthetic design and looks good sitting on kitchen countertops.
Cons: The drawbacks include a lack of timer programming and the inability to save custom brew profiles.
$299
Philips Saeco GranBaristo Avanti
Pros: This luxury smart coffee making machine is advanced. But the good news is that it makes a killer cup of coffee worth its weight in price. The product is feature rich with a host of customization options and excellent app control. Great conversation point to boot – you can be the first among your friends with not only a smart coffee maker – but with one of the best.
Cons: You may need to start a savings plan for this maker.
$2,299 (the price is not a typo)
Illy Y5 Iperespresso Espresso & Coffee
Pros: This rather compact ‘smart’ coffee maker has the smarts and versatility to make regular coffee or a cup of coveted espresso with the press of an app button. Remember, there’s no difference in the beans, only in the roasting and brewing process. The coffee or espresso made by this machine is delicious.
Cons: Let’s just say that it’s not a racehorse speeding out of the gates at the track, it requires a few minutes to get its smart gears going. There aren’t many coffee adjustments to choose from, only Illy coffee can be used, and the coffee cup tray is small and requires the Illy Iperespresso capsules.
$149
Bonaverde Berlin
Pros: Cool because it has fully automated roasting, grinding, and brewing functionality and produces an excellent cup of coffee.
Cons: The controls are somewhat limited and the coffee cannot be brewed without roasting first. A chatbot is used instead of an app.
$799