Steampunk Coffee Machine

A collaboration with Erkin Salmorbekov and Sammy Sords for Introduction to Physical Computing

Concept

We wanted to make a device that would give a steampunk feel to the process of brewing coffee and provide guidance to the user on which and how much coffee to use. By answering a few questions about your current state and coffee preferences (1. How are you doing today?, 2. How strong would you like your coffee?, 3. Which roast profile do you prefer?), the machine would tell you which coffee beans to select (for the presentation, it was out of three options from La Colombe: Mexico, a light roast; Haiti, a medium roast; and Monaco, a dark roast) and how many grams of coffee you need to measure for a perfect cup (in a 10 oz. mug) using ideal coffee to water ratios.

After the machine displays your coffee type and number of grams, you scoop out the grounds until the weight on the scale matches the recommended amount. From there, you pour water into the bucket, place your coffee grounds in the filter (paper filter not pictured), pull a lever down – and voilà! The steampunk coffee machine begins to heat your water and drip it right above your filter, preparing a cup of coffee for your enjoyment.