21-27 March 2014 #699

My café

Yantrick

Yantrick’s workdays are littered with coffee breaks, but with the boss raising a skeptical eyebrow from his cubicle, such trips to the office kitchen aren’t always possible. Now thanks to Bunn, a US-based company that manufactures coffee and tea machines, Yantrick has a private coffee maker at her desk that lets her brew a mean cup of joe in seconds and keep the boss happy at one go.

Bunn’s My Cafe MCU (Mobile Coffee Unit), promises quick and easy brewing of whatever hot beverage you want, however you want it, from piping hot tea to fresh ground coffee, and everything in between. Made of just metal and plastic, My Cafe is not much to look at in terms of design, but it is sturdily built and has a simple charm.

The minimalist design translates to the MCU’s interface too. There are just two buttons: a ‘brew’ button and a ‘pulse’ button that you press if you want to brew your drink in slow, controlled bursts to strengthen the flavour. When you first plug in the My Cafe, it will automatically heat up and from there, brewing is as easy as pushing a button. As the machine does not store any extra water, you will need to pour water in before each cup. You simply fill your mug with water and pour it straight into the machine, meaning you will get the perfect amount every time, without ever needing to measure ounces. Cleanup is a breeze, too. Just dump out the used grounds and give the drawer a quick rinse.

What it lacks in style, My Cafe more than makes up for in substance. With a set of detachable brewing drawers that slide in and out of the machine, the machine can brew just about anything you throw at it and that too in seconds. There is one drawer for ground coffee, another one for teabags and coffee pods, another drawer for K-Cups, and a fourth that works as a quick hot-water dispenser, so no matter what you are craving, My Cafe has you covered. You will get the hang of brewing your drink after just a few uses and once you do, making a standard cup of coffee/tea is a breeze.

My Cafe is a brewer built to last with a generous two-year warranty. And retailing for around Rs 20,000, it is also one of the more affordable machines in the market. A mug so good you will forget your favourite barista within weeks.

Yantrick’s Verdict: This Bunn product is pure versatility packaged in a minimalist disguise. As quick-brewed hot beverages go (especially coffee), My Cafe saves you the hassle of making frequent trips to the kitchen or your neighbourhood coffee shop.