6 Coffee Apps to Help You Savor Every Sip

 

Coffee is just a means to an end for some; it's a way to wake up and stay that way. But to others, coffee is a way of life, an art form, a drink to be savored with each sip. Here are six of "our" favorite apps for coffee making and drinking.

Although coffee and technology haven't always been a great match (think pourover coffee fanatics who do everything by hand), at April’s Specialty Coffee Association of America Expo in Boston, a new piece of tech was what generated the most buzz. The Modbar could transform the modern coffee bar. The laboratory-like system hides all but the coffee, milk and water taps under the counter. The system is both modular and customizable and uses a touchscreen to control all of the elements.

Technology has advanced the art of coffee making on a smaller scale as well –- from apps that help you find a local fair-trade-grown cup o' joe, to those with timers and video tutorials for making coffee drinks at home. Read about a few of them..



CoffeeGuru

The creators of this app pride themselves on serving the "third wave" of coffee connoisseur-ship. The app lists more than 6,000 indie coffee shops with an emphasis on direct trade and fair trade shops in the U.S., UK, Canada and Ireland. Plus, the app's flavor wheel, which provides words to describe your coffee, is sure to impress your coffee date.

For: iPhone
Cost: $1.99



Barista

This app is perfect for the new gourmet-coffee addict. Learn espresso machine basics and common coffee terms. You'll also get straightforward recipes for everything from lattes to ristretto (a sweeter espresso shot made with less contact with the grinds).

For: iOS
Price: $2.99



Great Coffee App

This app is the sleek and sophisticated digital cookbook for coffee. It contains 18 beautifully illustrated recipes and tutorial videos for making everything from caffe mocha to Irish coffee.

For: iOS
Price: $2.99



Intelligentsia Coffee

This coffee company has a cult-like following and regularly finds itself on every best-of coffee list. Here it takes its signature attention to detail and turns it toward the app. Learn about different brewing styles, find timers for brew processes and find out what's in season (yes, coffee has a season) with this whimsically illustrated app.

For: iPhone
Price: Free



Beanhunter

This app utilizes user reviews with editorial oversight to list more than 8,000 independent coffee shops around the world. With a heavy focus on Australia (where the creator is from) and Asia, this might be the perfect travel companion for the coffee lover. You won't find chain shops listed here. Independent, specialty shops give visitors a better feel for the city, according to the creators.

For: iOS and Android
Price: Free



Instant Barista

This app includes 75 brief recipes for coffee-shop style drinks, but what we really love is the latte art section (you can learn to pour a heart shape in your cappuccino) and that the app doesn't discriminate against tea drinkers. Instant Barista includes steeping times for various teas.

For: iOS
Price: Free or $0.99 for HD and iPad

Data source: Mashable (BY Gloria Dawson)