Top Brewer

The Scanomat Top Brewer is the ultimate coffee machine for the homeowner that likes an uncluttered countertop. You can control the grinding and brewing hidden below the countertop with a touch pad controller or by using your iPhone or iPad.

The Top Brewer has dual grinders and a height-adjustable goose neck spout that can brew a cup of coffee from a cold start in 45 seconds. Once warmed up the Top Brewer can deliver a hot cup of coffee in 15 seconds or a shot of espresso in 25 seconds. The refrigerated compartment keeps milk fresh for on demand foaming at the correct texture for Lattes, Cappuccinos, Macchiatos or what ever it is you desire.

Another great feature is that the Top Brewer cleans itself automatically. The cleaning system cleans all hoses with water after each cup.

Two models are available; the Pro and the Compact. The Pro requires a drain so some extra planning is required for installation.

If coffee isn’t your thing, the Top Brewer can be configured to dispense hot and cold water, milk, fruit juices or even just steam for blanching vegetables. Pricing is available upon request.

Be your own Barista

The Top Brewer app is easy and intuitive. Adjusting your coffee strength or amount of milk is as simple as moving the slider to your personal preference. You can also save the customized settings in your app. Scanomat built the app with real-time status so you can oversee the whole brewing process.

Those who own more than one Top Brewer can control multiple machines simultaneously via the app’s favorites screen. It gives you control all of your machines in one view, so you can be churning out a variety of drinks with a few taps, turning you into the ultimate barista.

This appliance has benefits outside the home. Imagine your local coffee shop with a team of Top Brewers that lets you order your coffee drink just the way you like it from your iPhone or iPad while you stand in line to pay for the beverage.

August 11, 2013

Another Useless iPhone Accessory

Range is a cooking thermometer designed to plug into your iPhone, iPod or iPad offered currently only on Kickstarter by Supermechanical.

Range was designed in two variations: The Aqua has a six-inch, rounded thermometer tip and three-foot cord for general use, while the Ember has a two-inch, pointed probe and four-foot cord designed specifically for meat. Supermechanical claims Range can withstand temperatures of up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

The networked thermometer concept isn’t new. Competitors such as the iGrill and iCelsius BBQ also plug into your smartphone or tablet. But Supermechanical says neither have the range of Range’s functionality — such as the ability to graph out your temperatures over time.

What set’s Range apart is its ability to graph temperature changes over time so you can compare the batches of food you are preparing. I know more cooks than candy makers and none have ever expressed a need for graphing temperature. What chefs do need is consistent temperature – or at least the knowledge that they have reached the desired temperature.

Supermechanical makes one mention that this as a convenient tool for Beer makers. If any home brewers are reading I’d like to know if you’d find the emperical data helpful.

So, despite the great graphic readout on your phone or tablet and the fancy alarms, this thermometer is no better than most (IMHO) because you can’t leave the room or your will not hear the alarm. Seriously? Why is this not Wi-Fi or Bluetooth enabled to talk to your phone when you have to step away or are cooking a dish with a long roasting time?

Supermechanical claims they don’t use Bluetooth because it’s not reliable. After doing a little further reading I found that they say you can push your notification to another iOS device as long as you have an internet connection.

If you are a candy maker, do you really want to risk getting your phone or tablet all sticky? I wouldn’t. I also wonder about having your iOS device close to heat. While the probe and heat-resistant cable may be able to withstand 450 degree temperatures how will your tablet fare?

June 30, 2013

Fiat and Smeg Collaboration

Leave it to the Italians to create a new appliance masterpiece. Smeg and Fiat joined forces to create a new refrigerator for the FIAT 500 Design collection.

“I’m really happy that, we’re launching this product. It is the result of years of work, and it reawakens a historical collaboration between Smeg and Fiat, and not forgetting the creativity of Italia Independent – says Lapo Elkann – The Fiat 500 is an Italian icon that from now can even be found in another dimension, in bars and peoples living rooms all over the world”.

Starting in June the ‘SMEG 500’ fridge can be ordered directly on the www.fiat500design.com site and will be available in white, red and green finishes.

June 26, 2013

Dacor Wine Station

Dacor Discovery Winestation| KitchAnn Style

The new Dacor Discovery WineStation is the first automated, temperature controlled, 4-bottle wine dispensing and preservation system designed specifically for the home market.

This innovative wine station allows you to choose the right wine and just the right amount with the simple touch of a button. The must-have for those who don’t always drink a full bottle of wine, the Dacor DYWS4 Discovery WineStation makes a perfect addition to your home.

The WineStation’s Argon gas preservation system allows you to open and enjoy a variety of wines and vintages for up to 60 days without the need to discard or consume unused portions.

Three pour sizes are offered – taste, half and full glass. Pours can also be adjusted from 1/4 to 8 ounces. The programmable display also allows you to show the wine type, wine year and variety – a great feature when you are entertaining.

The WineStation can sit on the counter as a free-standing element or can be built in to cabinetry using the optional DACOR WineStation trim kit.

The Discovery WineStation is also easy to clean. The CleanPour heads and pick up tubes can be rinsed for a quick clean but they are also dishwasher safe if you want to be more thorough.

MSRP is about $5,300.00. This unit looks like it is manufactured for Dacor by California-based Napa Technology, LLC.