Makase-tei by Thanko
An automated instant noodle machine
So you thought preparing a pack of instant noodles couldn’t possibly be made easier? Think again! Sure, all you have to do to make instant noodles is add hot water and wait, but Makase-tei lets you skip that laborious “add hot water” step.
Let’s break it down this way: You’re hungry and you want to make some noodles. First, you boil some water. Then, once the water is boiled, you pour it on the noodles, using a plate or something else to keep the instant-noodle container closed while the hot water cooks the noodles. You wait three minutes or so and—finally!—you are ready to eat.
With Makase-tei, you just add water, remover the lid from your instant noodle container, and press “start.” Makase-tei does the rest.
Makase-tei can hold up to 2.5 cups (600ml) of water, which the machine quickly boils. The machine has scale marks so that you can easily tell how much water you need. The machine can adjust to different-sized noodle containers anywhere from 2.5 to 5 inches tall. The machine itself acts like a lid, keeping the water hot. The timer can be set to anywhere from 30 seconds to 9 minutes. Once the water is dispensed into the noodle container, the timer automatically starts.
Through trial and error, the engineers figured out how to make a machine small enough to sit in your desktop. Your workday just got a lot more fun! The small size was achieved by combining the slide and lock functions of the machine. It’s a perfect kitchen appliance for those hardworking people out there, and all for just about $60.
Here’s the website (in Japanese only):
