Hiroia Updates the Hikaru Pourover Brewer with Cafes in Mind

A Hiroia Hiraku brewer at a cafe. All images courtesy of Hiroia.

Hiroia is rolling out new hardware, plus software and firmware updates, for its Hikaru automated pourover machine, aiming to boost adoption in commercial settings.

The Taiwan-based equipment company launched the illuminated circular brewing machine in 2023 targeting home users, yet the market had broader ideas.

“What surprised us was how quickly cafes, restaurants, and hotels adopted Hikaru — not because the product changed, but because the market revealed a clear demand for a compact, automated pour-over solution that delivers consistency without intensive barista training,” Hiroia Founder and CEO Aaron Fujiki recently told Daily Coffee News.

Now, the product is changing with higher-volume usage in mind. The company this month revealed an add-on device called the Refiller, which draws water either from a plumbed source or any external jug or container for automated refills of the brewer’s reservoir. Compact enough to hide behind the Hikaru on a counter, the device can also preheat water to 80°C (176°F), reducing the recovery time between brews.

The company has also announced an update that will unlock all the Hikaru’s physical buttons, allowing users to execute more custom brew profiles without interacting with an external tablet or phone. New software launching this month will also open the door to overnight slow-drip cold brew.

In cold brew mode, users can add ice to the reservoir and program an unlimited number of unheated pours, as small as 5 milliliters at a time, at customizable intervals for up to 12 hours. Hiroia said a cylindrical steel cold-brew filter will be sold separately.

After introducing the Hikaru in 2023 and delivering Kickstarter preorders by mid-2024, the company said the majority of customers are using the machine in commercial and hospitality settings.

“This shift was data-driven, not a post-launch repositioning,” said Fujiki. “Today, Hikaru is intentionally positioned as crossover equipment — professional-grade performance in a compact form.”

Current pricing of $799 for the Hikaru brewer is expected to remain stable, according to the company.

The Refiller is slated to make its public debut at World of Coffee Dubai, running Jan. 18-20, 2026, at the Dubai World Trade Centre, alongside a new line of Hiroia grinders. Refiller shipments should begin by midyear, with pricing to be announced as regional certifications and logistics are finalized, the company told DCN.

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