PC roasts coffee beans (not by fire)

(Credit: Hackedgadgets)

We never thought we'd see the day when two of our passions--technology and coffee--would be combined. But that day has arrived, thanks to the brilliance of one Matthew Williams.

This obviously homemade contraption uses a Fuji temperature controller hooked up to a laptop's USB port and a fan to control the roasting process, according to Gizmowatch and Hackedgadgets. At the bottom of the cylindrical chamber, which is made of bakelite and glass tubes, is a screen that catches the beans as soon as they're roasted to perfection--ensuring a tailor-made cup o' joe, inventor Williams says. We'll take his word for it.

In the meantime, we'll be perusing Sweet Maria's, an entire site devoted to DIY coffee-making technologies. Who knew?