[Mania] "A Space Exploration Robot in My Home"... LG Targets Gadget Enthusiasts with Coffee Machine

Tried LG's New Coffee Machine 'Duobo'
Spaceship-Inspired Design and Charming Animation
Unique Coffee Experience with Two-Capsule Blending
Drawbacks: Price and Size; Strengths: Rich Flavor

What would it feel like to brew coffee in a lunar lander? On May 9, I had the chance to experience LG's new coffee machine, "Duobo (DUOBO)," which stood out from other coffee machines with its spaceship-like appearance. The machine uses two coffee capsules to create custom-blended coffee, giving off a strong sense of advanced technology. In the era of artificial intelligence (AI), it felt as if I had brought a robot barista into my home.

The new coffee machine model "Duobo" by LG Electronics, Photo by Park Juni

Duobo is a new product from LG Electronics, scheduled for release on May 12. It was planned by LG Labs, the product and service marketing platform of LG Electronics. This is the first time LG Electronics has launched a coffee machine. The product was first unveiled at "CES 2024," the world's largest electronics and IT exhibition, last year, where it attracted significant attention. At the time, Duobo received an "Innovation Award."

By entering the already stagnant coffee machine market, LG Electronics appears to be targeting so-called "gadget enthusiasts." From the first impression, Duobo's appearance was closer to a robot than a typical coffee machine. Its design resembled the coffee robots now commonly seen in public institutions and university campuses. As a result, the main unit measures 357mm in height, 285mm in width, and 312mm in depth?more than twice the size of standard coffee machines. It seemed that securing enough space would be necessary for home use.

A comparison of LG Electronics' new coffee machine model 'Duobo' (right) with other companies' coffee machines. Photo by Park Juni

Duobo consists of three legs reminiscent of a lunar lander, a display (LCD) that shows charming animations, and a capsule-extracting head. Despite its complex shape, the clean combination of white, black, and metallic colors ensured it would not disrupt interior aesthetics. Notably, as soon as the product was connected, an animation of a moon landing appeared, accompanied by a cute melody, adding a fresh touch. LG Electronics explained that the design was inspired by the "Apollo 11 Lunar Module," the first spacecraft to land on the moon, to deliver a "taste of the universe" never before experienced. The display, which serves as a cup stand during coffee extraction, features a 10.1-inch Full HD IPS (In-Plane Switching) display. The enclosed character figurine and the round-shaped dedicated cup also reinforced the astronaut concept.

By downloading the "Duobo" application (app) on a smartphone, users could connect to the device. However, it was somewhat inconvenient that a separate Duobo app, rather than the existing LG "ThinQ" app, had to be installed. Once the app was installed and connected to the device, various functions could be set. For example, users could adjust the duration and brightness of the mood lamp on the capsule section and the lower LCD, as well as open and close the capsule compartment. However, it was not possible to manually adjust the LCD brightness directly on the device without the app.

The coffee extraction part of LG Electronics' new coffee machine model 'DUOBO' opening, Photo by Park Juni

The capsule compartment at the top of the main unit could be opened and closed via the app or by pressing a button on the control panel. Pressing the button produced a soft mechanical sound, and the lid lifted upward like a real lunar lander, revealing the capsule compartment. This feature seemed likely to appeal to gadget enthusiasts. Inside the compartment, there was space for two capsules. Duobo's standout feature is its ability to blend two capsules to suit individual preferences. By pressing the "BREW" button in the app, users could enter the capsule brands and set the blending ratio for each. The app also offered recommended recipes from professional baristas. The machine is compatible with standard Nespresso capsules.

After filling the water tank on the lower left side of the main unit, I accessed the blending settings through the app. I set the blending ratio for the two capsules, selected the capsule temperature and volume, and started the coffee extraction. The blending method allowed the espresso volumes from the two capsules to be layered. Capsule temperature could be set to low, medium, or high, and coffee volume could be chosen between espresso (80ml) and lungo (220ml).

LG Electronics' new coffee machine model, 'Duobo (DUOBO)', allows users to set coffee blending ratios, temperature, and quantity through its application. Photo by Park Juni

For those who wanted a single shot of coffee, placing one capsule in the first compartment allowed for a single coffee extraction. The extraction settings included four options: espresso single, espresso double, lungo single, and lungo double. If custom blending was not desired, these options could also be selected using the control panel buttons on the main unit, in addition to the app.

One drawback was that brewing coffee took longer compared to regular coffee machines. For a lungo, it took about 2 minutes and 30 seconds to 3 minutes from the start of extraction. Even brewing a single-shot lungo with one capsule took over 1 minute and 30 seconds. Some patience would be needed to brew coffee quickly on a busy morning.

Coffee capsule tray of LG Electronics' new coffee machine model 'DUOBO', Photo by Park Juni

On the other hand, using two capsules made the coffee taste noticeably richer than that from a standard coffee machine. Although I am not a coffee expert and could not detect subtle differences, blending two flavors allowed a hint of caramel aroma to come through the typical capsule coffee scent. For those who are bored with the standard flavors of commercial coffee capsules or find a single capsule insufficient, the ability to experiment with different blends should be satisfying.

The new coffee machine 'Duobo (DUOBO)' by LG Electronics extracting coffee, Photo by Jun Lee

However, the advanced technology comes at a significant cost. The launch price is set at 840,000 won, which is considerably higher than the average price range of 100,000 to 200,000 won for other coffee machines. As this is a first-of-its-kind technology, it should be considered a premium appliance in terms of pricing.

The new coffee machine model 'Duobo' by LG Electronics, Photo by Park Juni