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Makita's Coffee Maker Runs on Power Tool Batteries

Artisanal coffee made possible anywhere thanks to cordless power tool batteries.

 & Matthew Humphries Former Senior Editor

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Making a great cup of coffee requires the right equipment, the majority of which is located in a kitchen. Alternatively, you can head to your nearest coffee shop and have one made for you. But what if you're in the middle of nowhere, or stuck on a construction site desperate for an artisanal caffeine hit? Japanese tool maker Makita has you covered.

Makita realized it could manufacture a coffee machine that's powered by the same rechargeable lithium-ion batteries it uses for its cordless power tools. You already have the power source, so just add the coffee-making gadget!

As The Asahi Shimbun reports, the Makita CM501D coffee maker will work with the same batteries used by Makita's range of cordless power tools. The company has been making portable coffee machines since 2015, but this latest, much more rugged and portable model, will produce up to 5.3 cups of coffee from one fully-charged power tool battery. It can be used with ground coffee or dedicated coffee packs Makita offers and includes a very useful carry handle.

At $112, it isn't too expensive if a good cup of coffee is important to you. That price doesn't include a battery or charger, but then you'll already have access to those from your power tools. And if you don't, then see this coffee maker as the perfect excuse to buy yourself a new Makita power drill.

About Our Expert

Matthew Humphries

Matthew Humphries

Former Senior Editor

My Experience

I started working at PCMag in November 2016, covering all areas of technology and video game news. Before that I spent nearly 15 years working at Geek.com as a writer and editor. I also spent the first six years after leaving university as a professional game designer working with Disney, Games Workshop, 20th Century Fox, and Vivendi.

I hold two degrees: a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and a Master's degree in Games Development. My first book, Make Your Own Pixel Art, is available from all good book shops.

My Areas of Expertise

  • PC components and system building
  • Raspberry Pi
  • Software development
  • Storage technology
  • Video games and gaming hardware

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