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Why Fork Over $11,000 for a Coffee Machine?

'Clover addict' thinks it could change how we think about our joe

By Kate Rockwood, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 13, 2008 7:18 PM CDT

(Newser) – A cup of coffee brewed with 16 ounces of water at 203 degrees for 44 seconds? Coming right up. The brouhaha over the $11,000 Clover 1s—the ultra-high-tech machine that brews one cup at a time—makes sense, Paul Adams writes in Slate. After two hours test-driving the built-to-order machine, which regulates temperature, water, and brew time with staggering precision, he considers himself “a Clover addict.”

Precision doesn’t immediately mean better coffee, just more attention to it. “It’s the joy of tinkering, really delving into the possibilities of a coffee bean,” writes Adams, who discovered that 206 degrees produced his ideal brew. While the idea of an individual picking up a Clover is "silly," their public use could make way for a "third wave" of coffee—possibly on par with wine and complete with $10-$15 cups.

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The Clover 1s brews one highly precise cup of coffee at at time. (Clover Equipment)

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The Clover 1s controls the amount of water, temperature, and brew time with staggering precision. (YouTube)

At $11,000, the Clover 1s is only sold for commercial use, though a company representative says that a home version ha been discussed. (YouTube)

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Why Fork Over $11,000 for a Coffee Machine?