[Nespresso via Single Serve Coffee]

If that wasn't hilarious and/or frightening enough, the designers compare holding the device to holding a baby or a musical instrument, i.e. "very affectionately." In doing so we bring about the same closeness for the grinder as we do for the other things we care about. Hmm...baby or grinder...baby or grinder? I mean, I love my kid but this is coffee we are talking about here! All joking aside, this crazy-ass piece of equipment is only a concept, so don't expect to see it advertised at your local Starbucks anytime soon. [Nastypixel via Born Rich]

Besides the spaceship orb on top, it holds more beans than the old machines (more productivity, less sore arms) and actually does give overworked coffee slaves more control over what comes out, like shot length and adjustable steam wands, both of which used to be fixed (from what I know about their current machines). Hopefully, this means better coffee. They'll be in about 30 percent of US stores by the end of this year, and 75 percent by 2010, but I think with a woodier look to them. [Hossli]

As the water heats, the rising air pressure makes it flow upwards from the glass water chamber into the metal brewing unit. Once the coffee is ready, take it off the heat and the coffee will return through a filter into the Kahva's glass bottom via a vacuum that has been created by the cooling of the coffee maker. To pour, simply turn the grip and let the coffee flow. [Yanko]

We didn't have the time, resources, or lack of shame to put some of your better ideas to work [See: here, here, and here], but we managed to try all of the choices in the poll. We cheated a bit on the puke, but our mix was pretty gross. The results—lucky for us—were inconclusive. Of the five liquids we put in the Toughbook, none made it explode or even slow down. After flushing the whole keyboard out with water, it wasn't even sticky the next day. So when it comes to the Y7 our answer to that Question of the Day is "none of the above." But please folks, don't try this at home. [Panasonic Toughbook]

[Thanks to Sam Mindel for the video help, and Communication Corporation for their song "Slimey"!!]

Basically, this blasphemous contraption picks up the gas espresso puts out when warmed, and translates the ion combos into frou-frou meatbag descriptions like "roasted, flowery, woody, toffee and acidity." Since it's a European-produced bolt bucket, for now it only tastes ristretto pulls of espresso, but the goal is to use it as a large-scale quality control agent.

Given the cold, ruthless machine that Starbucks has morphed into, I wouldn't be surprised if they dumped their human taste-testers for these things. Everything else is automated at this point, so why not? Embrace (and taste) the machinic mediocrity. [Analytical Chemistry]

Just add a single-serve pod of finely ground burnt coffee beans and hot water, and it won't be long before your brain starts juking the Watusi like it always does. [Handpresso, via Single Serve Espresso]

Heard while: waiting for a latte. Congratulations, Fat White Guy, you're internet famous.

It's Not Cheap: An equal amount of this coffee at Starbucks will cost you $1.74, while these TDiscs are $9.29 for a pack of 12 single-serve pods, or $.77 each. However, you'll need to buy one of these single-serve Tassimo hot beverage systems made by Braun, which will cost you about $130 at Target. A bit of quick math tells us you'll need to drink 134 cups to make up the price difference.

Noisy: If you're going to be making coffee early in the morning before anyone else wakes up, this Tassimo brewer is as noisy as a motorcycle sitting outside your front door.

Easy: It's convenient. Pop in a pod, push a button and your coffee is ready in just a minute or two. Might be easier than driving to Starbucks and putting up with all those crowds of poseurs with their pseudo-hip herd behavior.

Taste Verdict: Excellent. The coffee brewed with this little TDisc tastes exactly the same as the coffee you'd get at Starbucks.

All this fuss about Starbucks, and we're not too crazy about its coffee, anyway. It's as strong as a shot of popskull, has a slightly burnt, bitter taste and is way overpriced, but if that's your jones, now you can perfectly reproduce all that at home. If someone could just figure out how to accurately and easily create a Starbucks Frappuccino à chez moi, then we'd be really stoked. [Tassimo]

[The Cool Hunter via Boing Boing]

That's a big change for those coffee drinkers who like to use these little single-serving capsules in their Tassimo Hot Beverage System, that was formally made by Braun but now has jumped ship over to rival appliance maker Bosch. Now you can juice up that coffee jones with the following four varieties of Starbucks coffees: Breakfast Blend, Caffé Verona, Africa Kitamu and that old fave, House Blend. Not that there's been a shortage of variety for this method of brewing coffee by Tassimo Kraft, where PR wags now say there are more than 60 "beverage offerings" for the coffeemakers. Just no Starbucks, until now.

We're just wondering if Starbucks isn't diluting its brand even more, after we heard not long ago about the company offering its supposed gourmet blends in vending machines, of all things. It might be hard to keep the price up while becoming so ubiquitous at the same time, and it might prove to be a challenge to remain exclusive when the company's erstwhile exclusive coffee brands can be brewed by cold, soulless vending machines. [Single Serve Coffee]

No price—but Suck fans won't be too surprised by that. Oops—I made a boo-boo. They're 7.50 (that's approximately $15)—as anyone with a functioning brain can see. [Suck UK via Uber-Review]

Jonathan Aspinall created this design concept with a plus-shaped plug on one side of each cup and a corresponding receptacle on the other, letting you pile on the cups until you've reached the maximum self-supporting row of six cups. Now we're just wondering if those plug appendages and receptacles will be sized precisely enough to detach easily, because there could be spills involved if they get stuck. [Yanko Design]

And while the espresso maker only pumps out one to two cups at a time, your third guest will be too busy crapping their pants to request that you fire up the machine for a second go, and otherwise ruining post-dessert conversation. We don't know how much this beauty costs, but like a trip to the gun store, we don't recommend you attempt the five-finger discount. [product via bornrich]

It's a wee device that hangs on the side of your mug, keeping your joe piping hot, just the way you like it. It even has "thermographic ink [that] changes color to indicate when the beverage is hot." Well, it would, at least, if it wasn't just a concept design. Damn you, concept designs, getting my hopes up for products that don't even exist! –Adam Frucci

Yanko Design [via MobileMag]

Personally, I think this is waste of money, since my real concern is if my coffee's hot enough. If my tongue isn't tingling afterwards, no. Really, coffee's only too hot if it makes you blister, and that's only happened to me twice, maybe seven times tops. – Matt Buchanan

Product Page [via shiny shiny]

Porsche Designed Nespresso Espresso Machine [Single Serve Coffee]

Impartial onlookers at the machine's unveiling said its results were "amazing," but we have our doubts. It looks like it's a convenience, though, with its auto-clean function and an adjustable cup platform that lets you choose any container size from coffee cup to tall latte glass. Take the jump to see a video of this upcoming machine in action.

Hey, this looks like it could be a versatile and work-saving device. You'll pay dearly for that privilege, though, at $799 for the satin chrome model with the cup warmer, or $699 for a red or black one. Look for both to ship this fall. – Charlie White

Nespresso Lattissima - One Touch Cappuccinos and Lattes [Single Serve Coffee]

In English, that means if Ethiopia is mentioned 30 times, Kenya 20 and Colombia 50, your brew would be 30 percent Ethiopian, and so on. (You could, of course, fill the respective canisters with all the same bean to make a standard cup, but where's the fun in that?)

On top of flaunting the ever-popular steampunk look, it grinds the coffee fresh before it brews, so you don't need a separate grinder. The only downside is that it's drip—he told me he thought about French press, but the mechanics didn't work out. It still made a pretty damn good cup at the show, though. – Matt Buchanan

News Brews [Project Page]
NYU ITP 2007 [Gizmodo]

Personally, I prefer a French press, which is equally minimalist and probably brews better coffee, if you know what you're doing. No price for the WMF 1 yet, but minimalist + white = not cheap. – Matt Buchanan

Product Page [WMF via Nerd Approved]

The folks at JL Hufford won't describe the "brains" of the machine, though they do note that it could have GPS tracking or RFID technology, so you could even phone in your coffee order from the office. No word on when this digital barista will see the light of day, though I'll be first in line to try one out. – Louis Ramirez

Press Release [via The Raw Feed]

So is it designed with the small apartment in mind? If so, LG may want to think of dropping that price. My poor, studio-living, tuition-paying ass will never buy a $150 combination appliance. Even if it is the most beautiful bagel-toasting, Hot Pocket-nuking, coffee-brewing, stainless-steel appliance ever. Oh, who am I kidding?/me gets out credit card. –Travis Hudson

LG Combination Microwaves [Apartment Therapy]

[via Make]

In truth, it's not a far cry from the automatic espresso machines that reside on baristas' counters in Sbux already, so the decision to go full-blown automaton was probably an easy one, despite Howard Schtulz's handwringing last month—over none other than the "commoditization" of the brand. Gee Howard, what do you think a 'Bucks vending machine in every office will do to the brand? (Not to mention the coffee. Yech.) What do you guys brew with? – Matt Buchanan

Starbucks hot drink vending machines [Slashfood]

If you're particular about how your coffee tastes in the morning, then perhaps the Java Wand is for you. $19.95 buys you a miniaturised French Press filter attached to a glass straw that brews and filters your coffee inside the mug. Fill the filter with coffee, add boiling water and you're done. Me, I prefer to waste valuable work time in the queue at Starbucks. – Ad Dugdale

Product Page [Wisdom Wands via Ubergizmo]

Maybe this is good for those who don't like coffee, or perhaps it will alleviate coffee spillage when stuck in traffic. Just think, McDonald's can avoid additional lawsuits from those who whine about too-hot coffee crotch-burning incidents. Bohannon is knocking on doors trying to sell his creation, hitting the usual doughnut suspects such as Krispy Kreme, Dunkin' Donuts and Starbucks. – Charlie White

Scientist develops caffeinated doughnuts [Yahoo News]

Schultz discusses MP3 potential for Starbucks [Seattle Times]