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Tech News
WIRED has compiled a list of early Black Friday deals on espresso machines its reviewers have personally tested, including the Breville Barista Express and Meraki, both discounted by $200, and the Diletta Mio, also $200 off. All three machines previously ranked among WIRED's recommended picks for home espresso brewing.
Keurig has introduced the Alta brewer, which uses new AltaRound pods instead of K-Cups and brews with up to 10 bars of pressure to produce actual espresso rather than concentrated coffee. The pucks are currently wrapped in foil but will switch to curbside-recyclable paper packaging, and spent pucks can be composted or discarded. The machine also features a touchscreen that recommends and customizes drinks like lattes, cappuccinos, and Americanos.
Keurig has released the Alta, a new $500 coffee machine paired with plastic-free pods called AltaRounds, which use seaweed-derived gel instead of hard plastic casings. The machine can extract espresso at up to 10 bars of pressure and features a touchscreen that scans QR codes on the pods to suggest drinks. A CNET reviewer tested the system for weeks, noting strong build quality and brewed coffee but a steep price and large footprint.
CNET surveyed 10 coffee professionals, including roasters, cafe owners, educators and a former Specialty Coffee Association president, asking them to rank seven brewing methods. Pour-over coffee came out on top by a clear average margin, ahead of espresso, drip, AeroPress, French press, moka pot and K-Cup.
CNET tested the 9Barista Pro, a British-made manual espresso brewer shaped like a moka pot but priced at $740 or more. Unlike traditional moka pots, which can't generate enough pressure for true espresso, the 9Barista uses a jet-engine-inspired design to reach espresso-level pressure on a regular stovetop. The product originally launched via Kickstarter before reaching retail.
Lavazza's new Tabli system, a fully compostable single-serve espresso machine, is now available at a discounted price of $58 for Prime members. The device brews authentic espresso using biodegradable coffee discs, eliminating plastic waste associated with traditional pod machines. Coffee expert Nikita Ephanov praised its eco-friendly design and rich flavor, highlighting its ease of use and minimal environmental impact.
Amazon's Prime Day sale includes discounts on coffee equipment recommended by WIRED reviewers, including a super-automatic espresso machine at its lowest price ever, Keurig's K-Café pod machine, the Fellow Aiden drip maker, several Baratza and Kingrinder coffee grinders, and milk frother accessories like the Zulay and Subminimal Nano Foamer. Discounts range up to 50% off list prices, with some grinders dropping to as low as $88.
Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days event includes discounts on espresso machines, pod coffee makers, drip machines and grinders that WIRED's testers have previously recommended, including Breville's Barista Express, the Keurig K-Café, the Aiden drip maker, and a budget-friendly grinder picked by reviewer Matthew Korfhage. WIRED says it will keep updating its broader deals guides throughout the 48-hour sale.
Amazon's October Prime Day sale includes discounts on kitchen gadgets, among them the Lavazza Tabli pod espresso machine for $90 (down $40) and the Zojirushi Micom 3-cup rice cooker for $121 (down $69). CNET testers highlighted these as standout deals after checking price-history trackers, noting the Tabli uses compostable, plastic-free coffee pods instead of aluminum or plastic capsules.
Keurig introduced the Alta, a new coffee and espresso machine that uses compostable 'AltaRounds' instead of plastic K-Cup pods. The rounds, wrapped in plant-based seaweed material, are punctured and brewed under 10 bars of pressure to produce espresso-based drinks like cappuccinos and flavored lattes without manual grinding or tamping. Keurig's Phil Drapeau said the new system was necessary because K-Cups could not achieve the temperature and extraction needed for espresso-style beverages.
AeroPress has released a walnut collection, its first product line to incorporate wood, ahead of National Coffee Day and shortly after debuting a stainless steel version. The lineup includes a brewer and a manual grinder, both featuring solid walnut components alongside stainless steel, aluminum and borosilicate glass, with the brewer's chamber and accessories redesigned to fit the wood accents.
Secondary share sales at OpenAI and Anthropic have turned hundreds of employees into millionaires almost overnight. Many recipients, unprepared for sudden wealth, are reportedly spending on items like high-end computer hardware and espresso machines rather than making major financial changes.