machine

Not everyone out there is a big espresso fan and even those who enjoy a perfectly pulled shot sometimes just want to have a cup of coffee to sip while they are sitting reading the paper or working away at their desk. The new DeLonghi Primadonna coffee maker gives a coffee-drinker all the options that an expensive espresso maker offers, including an automatic milk steamer, ways to adjust the strength and amount of coffee in each pour and even enables users to regulate the heat of the finished beverage. The grinder is automatic, but you can calibrate it to the appropriate fineness for the beans you are using. It also has an automatic washing cycle. Price: $2,305.

[via appliancist]

Rather than using a vase full of flowers to decorate your table, you can turn your wine service into your centerpiece with the Ercuis Wine Decanting Machine. The beautiful gadget looks like a relic from a different area, one which would have been proudly displayed to all guests. It is made of silver-plated steel with a black wooden base. Price: $270.

Gaggia is one of the most respected names in espresso today, and for the use of home espresso machines we can thank Achilles Gaggia, who patented the first electric pump motor - vital for consistently creating enough pressure to produce good espresso - in 1938. Prior to this invention, the operators of manual espresso machines used pistons to manually adjust the pressure - The Gaggia Achilles is named after the man. It is almost identical to the design used back in the 1930s, a lever-operated machine with a stainless steel body, chromed brass group head and filter and a 32-oz water reservoir. The machine performs best with freshly roasted and ground beans, but will also work with special espresso pods, though if you're going to get a Gaggia, it is worth knowing the intricacies of the coffee bean as well as the machine itself. Price: $1,499.95.

Any avid equestrian will be able to tell you that the initial cost of a horse is not what makes any form of horseback riding such an expensive sport. Horses must be fed, housed and properly cared for - all of which are ongoing expenses, on top of training and general equipment. With one piece of equipment, the Racewood Riding Simulator, a novice rider can now eliminate those ongoing costs while s/he learns to ride.

Such machines were previously only available to large scale training facilities and were limited in scope. This riding simulator is designed to walk, trot, canter and steer realistically, performing all levels of flatwork, a unique feat that is accomplished with the help of programming from Equitech Software.

Audi's concept car, the Roadjet, is getting another state-of-the-art optional accessory: an espresso machine. The espresso machine will sit on the central arm rest, between the front driver and passenger seats. It is made by WMF, which stated that the machine is completely automatic and fully functional, ready to deliver coffee at the touch of a button. It does not appear to have a milk frother, though steaming milk is probably a bit dangerous to do in a car, anyway. No pricing yet, but I can imagine that drivers with long commutes would jump at the chance to have this by their side in the early morning.

[Via New Launches]