Automating My Morning Routine: How I Hacked My Coffee Machine with Raspberry Pi


I’ve always been a huge coffee lover. The smell of freshly brewed coffee in the morning is something I can’t start my day without. However, like many others, I often find myself pressed for time, especially in the mornings. The usual process of making coffee with my machine, while not overly time-consuming, involved pressing a few buttons and waiting around for about three minutes. It’s not a lot of time, but enough to make me think: "Can this be done faster?"


So, I decided to take on a fun and slightly geeky challenge to automate my coffee-making process using a Raspberry Pi. What started as a simple idea for a hackathon at work has now become a fully functional setup that I’ve been using for over six months!

The Coffee Machine Hack


Here’s how I turned my regular coffee machine into a remote-controlled, automated coffee-making station:

Step 1: Disassembling the Coffee Machine


The first step was to carefully disassemble my coffee machine. I needed to access the internal controls to see how I could automate the process. My plan was to control the power and coffee-making buttons electronically.

Step 2: Integrating Raspberry Pi Zero


I decided to use a Raspberry Pi Zero to control the coffee machine. The Raspberry Pi Zero is a versatile, tiny computer that I connected to the power button and the coffee-making button via relays. Relays are essentially electrically operated switches that allowed me to control these buttons programmatically.

Step 3: Automating the Cup Change


One of the trickiest parts was figuring out how to automate the process of changing cups under the coffee nozzle. I solved this by building a simple moving belt powered by a 5V motor. The motor, just like the buttons, was also controlled by the Raspberry Pi Zero. This way, when the coffee was ready, the belt would move the cup away.

Step 4: Coding the Automation


With the hardware in place and the Raspberry Pi connected to the local Wi-Fi network, it was time to write some code. Using a Python library, I quickly set up a local HTTP server on the Raspberry Pi. This server allows the Raspberry Pi to receive commands, such as when to start making coffee.

Step 5: Building the Android App


To make this setup even more user-friendly, I created a simple Android app. The app’s only function is to call the endpoint on the Raspberry Pi’s server, which triggers the coffee-making process. Now, I can start making my coffee from the comfort of my bed, knowing that by the time I get to the kitchen, my coffee will be ready and waiting.

Conclusion: A Successful (and Delicious) Hack


What started as a fun project for a hackathon has now become an integral part of my daily routine. This little project saved me a few precious minutes each morning, and I have to admit, there’s something incredibly satisfying about knowing that I automated the entire process.

Plus, it’s a great conversation starter! Not many people can say they control their coffee machine with their smartphone. While this project might seem over-the-top for some, it perfectly represents my love for coffee and tech.

You can find the source code here: https://github.com/mbodis/coffee-machine










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