A coffee maker for $11,000? Will it save Starbucks?

Starbucks thinks so: they bought the company. The machine, the Clover, was developed by a group of Stanford grads and is the ultimate in tweakable coffee makers. The description in the article of how two minor tweaks: increasing temperature from 205 to 207f and adding 6 grams of beans totally changed the taste of the cup, was impressive. But that is cup -- singular. One cup at a time. For $11,000.

Starbucks has other problems, such as having to order so many tons of coffee that it's not possible to get it distributed before it gets a little stale, and it's questionable as to how rapidly these machines can be produced. It's unquestionable that it's an amazing machine, but it's like a Stratocaster or a Stradivarius, it is going to depend upon the skill of the operator -- also described in the article.

http://www.wired.com/gadgets/miscellaneous/magazine/16-08/mf_clover?currentPage=all

An interview with an Executive VP of Nintendo

on stuff regarding the Wii and DS. There are some serious games coming for the Wii, apparently Call of Duty is forthcoming. Interestingly, DS sales in Japan are declining in Japan but still increasing in America. I know my wife and I use ours pretty much daily.

http://blog.wired.com/games/2008/07/nintendos-cammi.html