Espresso Yourself

There are no lengths to which a coffee lover will not go to get the perfect cup of joe. From carefully selecting the finest beans grown at just the right altitude to experimenting with different brewing methods, the pursuit of that ideal balance between flavor, aroma, and strength becomes an obsession. Some will invest in high-end espresso machines or grind their beans right before brewing, while others seek out the perfect water temperature and extraction time to unlock the rich, complex notes hidden within. For the coffee enthusiast, it is not just about caffeine — it is a labor of love.

Now coffee lovers can take their obsession to a whole new level with an espresso machine called the diyPresso. It comes as a do-it-yourself kit requiring assembly, which is definitely not for everyone. But for those that want to experiment with the brewing process and have the ability to tweak every possible parameter to their heart’s content, there might be no better way to go. It may not be as pretty as a typical off-the-shelf commercial product, but what it lacks in polish, it more than makes up for in customizability.

The kit comes with a step-by-step assembly guide and only requires a screwdriver and wrench to put together, so just about anyone should be able to handle the build. It does require about five hours to finish the kit, which might be off-putting for many, but is it too much to ask for a perfect cup of coffee?

A quick look at the components will reveal a lot of parts that are immediately familiar to electronics hobbyists. The diyPresso is controlled by an Arduino MKR WiFi 1010 development board and an Adafruit PT100 RTD Temperature Sensor Amplifier is also included in the kit. The software is all open source, and the machine can be programmed using Arduino IDE. The housing of the machine is made from laser-cut stainless steel, and it also sports a custom-made copper boiler and an analog pressure gauge.

Over 20 settings, including temperature, extraction weight, extraction time, PID setting, and more can be adjusted using the onboard LCD character display and a dial/button combo. This interface also allows the user to monitor these parameters while the machine is brewing.

Another nice feature of the diyPresso is that every component in the machine is individually replaceable, so you will not need to toss the whole machine in the trash at the first sign of trouble. That is good news for both our wallets and the environment.

Speaking of our wallets, the diyPresso does not come cheap. At almost $1,400 one would have to be very serious about their coffee to purchase such a machine. But for the coffee aficionado, that may be a small price to pay for a daily cup (or two, or three!) of perfection.