The PERK is a new way to brew coffee that automates a process that is typically done as pour over coffee. I have talked about pour over coffee before, and it is without a doubt one of the most popular forms of brewing coffee in what is called Third Wave coffee.

What is “Third Wave” coffee?
The “first wave” of coffee began in the early 1900’s when roasters provided convenience to home consumers by packaging coffee to be affordable and ready to brew (think Folgers and your grandma’s coffee dripper.) In the 1960’s, with the growth of coffee shops such Starbucks and Peet’s the “second wave” ushered in a movement that focused on espresso drinks, delivering consistently drinkable coffee along with a social experience.

The “Third Wave,” began in the early 2000s and focuses on delivering coffee so bright, sweet and fruity that it no longer needs cream or sugar. Third Wave purveyors focus on precision in every step of the coffee production process, from sourcing to roasting, but the final step in the process, brewing, has remained the most difficult—until the revolutionary introduction of PERK.

The PERK was designed and created by Jakub Svec while trying to develop a coffee machine for low gravity and space environments. I am not entirely sure why he was designing for space, but the result is a beautifully designed machine that makes coffee in a precise and consistent manner.

The PERK is currently on Kickstarter and unlike many projects that I have seen on Kickstarter, the PERK has toured the country with their prototype to share, test, and gather feedback with a number of coffee shops west of the Mississippi. The reviews and comments that Jakub has gathered is really quite remarkable and impressive. The reviews show that the PERK brews an incredible cup of coffee in an easy consistent way.
Check out the PERK on Kickstarter to learn more about how PERK works and about the brother Jakub and Svec as they launch this innovative product.