Funky Coffeemaker Lets You Grow Mushrooms From Old Grounds

Adrian Perez and Mauricio Carvajal
Adrian Perez and Mauricio Carvajal / Adrian Perez and Mauricio Carvajal
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Americans drink a lot of coffee. According to a 2013 survey, we consume approximately 587 million cups of the stuff a day. But after our morning pot has been brewed, the coffee grounds used to make it often end up going to waste. This innovative coffee machine concept spotted over at Yanko Design provides an alternative fate for your coffee grounds: giving them new life as mushroom fertilizer.

The top half of the HIFA coffeemaker functions like a regular French press. The major distinction is the bottom compartment. Once the leftover coffee grounds have been added, mycelium (the root-like part of fungus [PDF]) and a spritz of water create the perfect environment for mushrooms to flourish. After giving it time to grow, the opening in your HIFA should be bursting with coffee-fueled mushrooms ready to harvest for your next meal.

The concept is the brainchild of Columbia-based designers Adrian Perez and Mauricio Carvajal. There’s no word yet on when (or if) a commercial version will be available for purchase, but you can get a better idea of how the product would work from the images below.

[h/t Yanko Design]

All images courtesy of Adrian Perez and Mauricio Carvajal.

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