Text up a steaming espresso with this coffeemaker (pictures)
Zipwhip's Textspresso concept espresso machine uses some clever hacks and Zipwhip's cloud-based texting platform to literally dial up a cup of Joe.
Jessica Dolcourt
Jessica Dolcourt is a passionate content strategist and veteran leader of CNET coverage. As Senior Director of Commerce & Content Operations, she leads a number of teams, including Commerce, How-To and Performance Optimization. Her CNET career began in 2006, testing desktop and mobile software for Download.com and CNET, including the first iPhone and Android apps and operating systems. She continued to review, report on and write a wide range of commentary and analysis on all things phones, with an emphasis on iPhone and Samsung. Jessica was one of the first people in the world to test, review and report on foldable phones and 5G wireless speeds.
Jessica began leading CNET's How-To section for tips and FAQs in 2019, guiding coverage of topics ranging from personal finance to phones and home. She holds an MA with Distinction from the University of Warwick (UK).
Zipwhip's Textspresso concept coffeemaker is exactly how it sounds. After texting your drink order to the one-off machine, it makes your brew and texts you back to let you know when it's ready for pickup.
How is Textspresso possible? With some clever hacking and rigging, of course. Zipwhip peeled back the panel of an off-the-shelf De'Longhi espresso machine and stuffed in components of its own, including a circuit board, a memory card, and plenty of cables.
Zipwhip CEO John Lauer credits his company's foray into text-controlled caffeination on recent advances in computing, in particular the tiny, ridiculously cheap Raspberry Pi computer that's stuffed into every rigged device.
Instead of using a $700 computing center, Lauer said, his model of Raspberry Pi cost just $25.
As important as the hardware is, software also plays a major role in making hot text-order drinks happen. A Wi-Fi connection is what lets the computer interpret text messages as brewing instructions, and text you back a response when it's done.
Believe it or not, Zipwhip isn't in the bean business. Instead, the startup builds the cloud-based platform behind the texts. Its Texspresso machine remains a prototype device for now, but if the company succeeds at spreading its message and selling its product, we could conceivably see connected espresso machines like this in the future.
