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Coffee art reaches new, personalised, slightly ridiculous heights

Tulips, hearts, ferns – these are just some of the “basics” in the world of latte art. Now, you can produce all of that and more, with the Ripple Maker.

It’s a machine that certainly makes your daily morning coffee a whole lot more pretentious, as it prints messages and images onto a cup of coffee with ease not even the most skilled barista can match (although it can’t do 3D coffee art—yet).

Using special cartridges that are filled with a natural coffee extract so there’s no funky taste, the Ripple Maker prints detailed images on foamy milk using 3D printer mechanics and inkjet printing technology. Taking less than 10 seconds, you can have your own Miley swinging across your coffee on a wrecking ball.

The device comes in three parts – the machine itself, a mobile app, and a website. Customers are able to use the mobile app to place orders and request anything from text messages with a custom font, cartoons, and even high-res photos from their phones.

There’s also a library of stock images customers can browse on the app, as well as Facebook connectivity for more personalised creations. 

It’s a machine that’s targeted at companies rather than individuals, with a US$999 (NZ$1,459.43) price tag, and an added US$75 monthly subscription. There’s no cost for customers who simply want to use the app, with no subscriptions or in-app charges.

The parent company Steam CC has already announced a partnership with German airlines Lufthansa, the first global brand to adopt the technology, and will be introduced to its First and Business Class lounges later this year.

The machine is slated to begin shipping September this year.

But if you’re not into coffee, why not personalise your toast instead. 

According to Mashable, the Vermont Novelty Toaster Corp. has been making image-burning toasters for four years and specialises in sports logos (last year it had a big hit with Jesus toast). But chief executive Galen Dively saw dollar signs in customised designs, including toast with peoples’ faces on it. And while it seems like a gimmick, it actually requires a fair bit of tech to do it. 

  • This is an edited version of a story that originally appeared on idealog.co.nz.

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