Capsule Replenishment IoT

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Amazon’s Dash Replenishment Technology is beginning to penetrate the beverage market with an innovation that combines the internet of things (IoT) and the convenience of a delivery service.

In January illy North America launched Illy Y5, a single-serve espresso and coffee maker that tracks coffee usage via an app, and automatically reorders more capsules before they run out.

“Our new illy Y5 DRS system and app work seamlessly to empower coffee connoisseurs to enjoy all that illy has to offer, and automatically reorder capsules with dash replenishment,” said Barry Sheldon, president and c.o.o. of illy North America. “The potent combination of remote operation, custom-tailored coffee and espresso options, and simple capsule reordering through dash replenishment means loving every cup without the worry of ever running out,” he said.

A company spokesman said that “by early summer, we had reached close to 40% of the yearly sales goal for this machine.”

During the past 85 years, illy has reimagined many aspects of coffee culture, starting with its introduction of the Illetta in 1935 – the precursor to the modern-day espresso machine which, for the first time, separated pressure and heating elements, and was the first to use pressurization to protect coffee from excessive heat during preparation to preserve its vital aromas and flavors. Illy capsules feature Iperespresso, a technological innovation protected by five patents that was conceived and developed for home espresso and drip coffee brewing at the illycaffè research & innovation labs in Trieste, Italy. Unlike the traditional preparation process in which espresso is brewed all at once through percolation, in each Iperespresso capsule, coffee is extracted in two phases: first infusion, then emulsion. This two-stage process ensures optimal extraction of the coffee’s aromas, creating espresso with full-bodied aroma and a long-lasting crema. Coffee never comes into contact with any part of the machine, for easy clean-up.

The illy Y5 DRS coffee and espresso system is Bluetooth enabled and sells for $299.00 on Amazon.com along with illy Iperespresso and drip coffee capsules at $19 (21-count tin of espresso capsules) and $16.50 (18-count cube pack of drip capsules), in medium roast, dark roast, and decaffeinated varieties.

The machine works with or without the app.

— Dan Bolton