This plastic container doesn't look like much, but it could change the way we think about the kitchen of tomorrow.
It has one little job, to make sure you never run out of your favorite snack.
And that could mean big things for Amazon and the future of grocery shopping.
This is the Java Smart Container.
It's made by a startup company called WePlenish.
It has little sensors on the inside walls that detect when an item is running low, and it will automatically reorder that item for you on Amazon.
It can even place the order without needing your confirmation making it totally automated.
As you can probably assume, you need to be an Amazon Prime subscriber for the service to work and there are limits to what it can order.
The replenish team worked with Amazon to make the container compatible with 50 types of snacks.
And 20 of those items are different types of coffee pots, like K-cup Keurig pods or espresso coffee pods.
Makes sense, coffee is one of those things you never wanna run out of.
And you need something to hold all of those little pod thingys.
[SOUND] But if you don't care about coffee pods, maybe you wanna get your fuel from something else, like gummy fruit snacks.
When you set up the container, you use the app to sync it with your home wi-fi.
And you pick a snack or a coffee pod from the approved list.
And the container sensors will check the status of your supply twice, maybe three times a day.
To see it learns over time.
So if you go through something faster, it'll check it more often.
When my fruit snacks got to the bottom sensor, there were about five pouches left and it ordered more for me automatically.
And I got a pop up on my phone letting me know that more were on the way.
[MUSIC]
Yes, I had to eat a lot of gummies for this.
But I did it for science.
So, don't judge me, O.K. And for science.
This is designed for individually packaged goods.
So you can't go putting loose food in here, and it wouldn't do you any good since it doesn't have a lid.
And, yeah, just don't do that.
The Replenish Java is not the first kitchen gadget that goes shopping for you on Amazon.
Brita has a water pitcher that orders replacement filters.
Target is also exploring this space with a service called Target Fetch.
It's testing out a smart paper towel holder.
It'll order more rolls after so many spins.
And there's a Bluetooth-enabled soap pump that will also order refills.
Amazon started this whole auto reorder idea with dash buttons that you press when you need more of something.
The smart container is the next evolution of that concept.
It's battery powered with three AAs, which should last about a year.
The container itself will cost about $40 when it hits Amazon in October.
For now, Replenish is finding its start with the coffee crowd.
[MUSIC]
And those folks that really love their snacks.
[MUSIC]
