CES 2024: Upcoming Tech Changing Mixology And Craft Beer
by Gary Catig
At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), all sorts of tech was on display for numerous applications including smart homes, audio equipment, and cleaning robots. Some of the more intriguing companies, maybe because we enjoy imbibing an adult beverage here and there, looked to automate the mixology and craft beer experience.
XOXO Beverages hopes to bring you on a new cocktail journey. They create machines that deliver bartending quality drinks quickly and efficiently. The basic machine can hold up to 16 different ingredients such as spirits and mixers, but simple modifications can include even more. The use of medical industry pumps can measure very precise amounts of each ingredient and the vortex mixing platform results in well stirred drinks in 40 seconds. There is a built-in database of over 500 recipes that can be modified according to tastes, and you can even add your own concoctions.
Unfortunately, XOXO Beverages’ cocktail machine is currently available only in Hong Kong, and it is marketed towards businesses such as bars and restaurants. Hopefully in time, they will be sold on our side of the Pacific Ocean, and even if the price point is too high for your regular consumer, there is an option to rent so they can be useful at parties and social gatherings.
If craft beer is more your bag, you should look into Exobrew’s Craft Gen 3 products. They are nice and compact if you don’t have a lot of space in your home. Unfortunately, that also affects the volume you can produce, which is 1.6 gallons. The accompanying app has 12,750 different recipes with step-by-step instructions for a variety of different styles from sours to IPAs to stouts and everything in between. Once you get the basics down, then you are free to experiment with your ingredients and process. This can lead to more natural and eco friendly beer compared to what the bigger brands create.
The brewing process can be from 3-30 days and occurs in a temperature-controlled keg you can drink directly from when you’re done. The sealed environment limits the odors during fermentation, and the machine is easy to maintain and clean. The Craft Gen 3 models begin at $879, and are expected to ship later this year.
