A few years ago I reported news of a crowdfunded, open source espresso machine right here on this very blog. While the details weren’t very clear, it sounded promising — a PID controller, a reasonable price, and the design looked very slick.
But like many Kickstarter projects before it, the ZPM Espresso machine has gone bust. The downfall is profiled in a lengthy NY Times article.
If nothing else, failed crowdfunding projects like this should serve as a reminder that you have to be careful with crowdfunding. Manufacturing a custom design is complex. If the people behind the project don’t have experience it’s best to stay away — no matter how good the espresso might be.