Smart personalized coffee: App brews “consistent quality cup that matches consumer preference”

18 Nov 2022 --- DiFluid, a technology company founded by Linus Peng in Shenzhen, China, has launched a system that tailors a cup of coffee to the user’s preference. 

As part of the Brew Control System, Microbalance, a “precision smart” coffee scale, and its mobile app DiFluid Café, can help consistently brew a quality cup of coffee that is tailored to the consumer. It also uses R2 Extract, a professional-grade refractometer that detects how much coffee has been dissolved into the water and gives a readout.

DiFluid Café markets its network of users as a collaborative community that “brings together coffee lovers, techniques and recipes: ones that fit your exact taste preferences using your exact beans.”

“Whether you make your coffee with a drip machine, a pour-over vessel or a pitcher for cold brew, there is one thing that all coffee drinkers can agree on: brewing it well is a coveted skill, and brewing it poorly can result in some quite undesirable flavors,” highlights DiFluid.

That perfect cup of coffee is often elusive to home brewers. There are so many variables – type of bean, temperature of the water, length of brew – that can change the flavor outcome, resulting in an experience that can’t compare to the consistent quality of a barista’s cup. 

How does it work?
While the first iteration of the DiFluid Café app is designed as an extension of the smart tools, future versions will allow users to sign into their own account and search for recipes that match your beans and brewing preferences. 

Coffee scales have been around for a long time, but the level of precision and accuracy can differ.If personalized tweaks and improvements to a drink are made, users can share it with the Café community, get feedback, and track the results of other users. 

Using information from Microbalance, DiFluid Café determines how well a coffee was brewed, and whether or not the user stayed true to the recipe. 

Coffee scales have been around for a long time, but the level of precision and accuracy can differ, notes the company. 

The “microbalance-level” of precision and accuracy in measuring coffee is usually only seen in large pan scales used for commercial trade. DiFluid’s system boasts 0.1 gram resolution and flow rate tracking, while automatically transmitting your results to DiFluid Café. There’s no need to enter the information manually.

Meanwhile, R2 Extract allows users to test the precise concentration of coffee dissolved into their cup. This technology uses a 2D Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor that avoids misalignment and increases durability when compared to old charge-coupled device (CCD)-based refractometers. 

It also has duo temperature sensors that reduce interference from the environment. These sensors must be kept in good condition and scratch free in order to provide accurate readings, notes the company. 

“This might be an issue with other refractometers, especially if the user wipes the lens after every use,” outlines DiFluid. The company solved that problem with the application of a Nano-Scale Hydrophobic Layer that prevents liquid from remaining on the sensor. 

R2 Extract is also IP67 water resistant, allowing you to rinse it under running water for easy cleaning.

Edited by Elizabeth Green