Kara Pod

Kara Water's earlier product, Kara Pure, was named one of TIME's Best Inventions of 2022 and appeared at CES, according to the source. Kara Pod is presented as a countertop follow-up, and the company says more than 5,000 customers already use its technology. The concept takes its cue from a Namib Desert beetle that survives by collecting moisture from the air.

Water from air

At the core is what the maker calls AirDrive™ technology. It captures moisture from the air, then runs it through a multi-stage purification process: heat to kill microorganisms, UV light to inactivate bacteria and viruses, and an activated carbon filter intended to remove odors, chlorine and chemical contaminants. Minerals including calcium, magnesium and sodium are then added. The maker rates output at 13 cups of drinking water per day.

Kara Water says the unit needs no installation, plumbing or tools; it plugs into a power outlet and runs automatically. That positions it for city apartments as well as off-grid cabins and seasonal homes. The company also says intake filtering removes dust, allergens and airborne particles, and that relative humidity typically drops only by about 1-5%, depending on room size.

A coffee machine that refills itself

The maker describes Kara Pod as the world's first self-refilling coffee machine, brewing with the same purified water. Separate nozzles for drinking water and coffee pods are meant to keep flavors apart. According to the campaign, it supports original Nespresso® pods and tea pods, and Kara Water cites partnerships with coffee roasters for additional blends.

• AirDrive™ air-to-water generation
• Heat, UV and activated carbon purification
• Added calcium, magnesium and sodium
• Up to 13 cups of water per day (maker figure)
• Dual nozzles for water and coffee
• Compatible with original Nespresso® and tea pods
• Touchscreen controls

The company also claims savings of up to 83% a year, or roughly $1,464 annually based on average US bottled-water consumption, with no plastic bottles involved. It acknowledges typical hardware risks such as supply chain delays and production scaling, and says it works with established suppliers and manufacturing partners.