TOKYO, Japan –Nestlé Japan Ltd. (“Nestle”) released a demonstration video of its unique “Pythagorean” musical instrument on Monday, December 12, 2016.
The instrument serves as part of the NESCAFÉ GOLDBLEND BARISTA i COFFEE MOMENT ENSEMBLE, which is being held for a limited time from Friday, Dec. 2 to Sunday Dec. 25.
The instrument name itself is derived from popular Japanese “Pythagorean” devices, which are more commonly known as Rube Goldberg machines in the US or Heath Robinson contraptions in the UK.
The Pythagorean instrument is designed as a massive coffee mug that measures roughly 3.5 m in height and 3 m in width.
A wooden ball is released from the top into a staircase-shaped maze that plays Christmas songs as it rolls downwards striking the tuned xylophone steps on its way in a whimsical and entertaining display.
The contraption consists of 180 xylophone keys and 1450 individual parts. Its construction required approximately five months and utilized laser machining as well as a number of other cutting-edge technologies.
Many customers have already been enjoying the Pythagorean instrument, which is part of the NESCAFÉ GOLDBLEND BARISTA i COFFEE MOMENT ENSEMBLE, a limited time Christmas event designed to inject even more interactive fun into Nestlé’s concept of connecting people through coffee-time moments delivered by its NESCAFÉ GOLDBLEND BARISTA i (“BARISTA i”), a Bluetooth®1 capable coffee machine.
1. The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks of Bluetooth SIG, Inc., and used under license by Nestlé Japan Ltd.
Launched on Monday, December 12, the wooden Pythagorean musical instrument demo video shows how brewing a coffee on the BARISTA i with NESCAFÉ App prompts it to play a Christmas songs with enchanting tones.
It also depicts the collection of nationwide ‘coffee moments’ that are displayed on the large screen at the venue.
This allows customers to enjoy a simulated experience of the NESCAFÉ GOLDBLEND BARISTA i COFFEE MOMENT ENSEMBLE.
How the Wooden Pythagorean Musical Instrument works
- Brew a coffee via the NESCAFÉ GOLDBLEND BARISTA i dedicated NESCAFÉ App.
- On the app, select the emoticon that best fits your current mood.
- The emoticon then transforms into a cute bird character and appears on the screen at NESCAFÉ Harajuku.
- At the same time, a wooden ball is released from the top of the wooden Pythagorean instrument to play a melody as it rolls down striking the tuned steps.
- A different melody plays on each day of the event in conjunction with data at the time of brewing from BARISTA i users nationwide who use the NESCAFÉ App to brew.
*The performed songs aim to encourage Christmas spirit, consisting of the following three well-known songs:
“We wish you a Merry Christmas”
“Joy to the World”
“Winter Wonderland”
