Brew Your Own Buds

At first glance, the LEVO could easily be mistaken for a single-serve coffee machine or any other functional, yet unassuming kitchen appliance sitting on the counter. Except this sleek machine (the culinary equivalent of a little black dress) can turn any ordinary cooking, homeopathic or aromatherapy oils into cannabis-infused ingredients with just a press of a few buttons.

For the lucky residents in states that legally allow cannabis sales, many have moved from infusing their own butter or oils to conveniently purchasing infused butter and oil and pre-made, infused treats at local dispensaries. Still, there are others who must go through the timeless process of making their butter or oil on the stovetop — but not without some trial and error — until the rite of passage is perfected. (If that ever happens.)

Christina Bellman, the founder and CEO behind the Denver-based company LEVO, has been a firsthand witness to the pitfalls of stovetop infusion after an experience living abroad in shared student housing. When a group of male students decided to make special brownies for a Super Bowl party, they argued the whole time about the best way make the infused butter and then left the communal kitchen a complete, reeking mess after finishing their concoction. Tickled and curiously inspired by their misadventure, Bellman began doing research on the infusion process and started to conceive of an easier, streamlined way to achieve more control. This was back in 2011.

Though her professional background is in finance and managing projects for Fortune 500 companies, her passion for natural foods and remedies is what has fueled her years-long journey to create an efficient and thoughtfully-designed infusion machine that levels the culinary playing field. The LEVO is designed to give everyone the opportunity to create their own fresh, small batch infusions in the convenience of their own homes.

Using the LEVO really is just as easy to use as making coffee. The top of the machine opens to reveal a small reservoir or compartment where the measured amount of the oil set to be infused is poured. There is also a cylindrical pod or basket to insert your cannabis, which rests in the butter or oil while the machine does literally all of the work. You select the settings and go on about your day.

LEVO stirs the products using the magnetic technology found in scientific laboratories to transfer the flavor, scent, color, and nutrients of the cannabis and has an automatic dispensing and filtration system that takes care of straining the infusion and getting it into your chosen container (LEVO highly suggests using a glass mason jar) without the risk of spilling or dripping. There’s also a child lock for added safety as well as a built-in ventilation system to cut down on telltale odors for parents concerned about using the machine around their kids or users who just want to be a little discrete.

The specific time and temperature settings are user-controlled to help manage the potency of the infusions and LEVO also offers bundle packages that includes tCheck, a mobile cannabinoid tester, that can almost-instantly measure the potency of butter, coconut oil, olive oil, or alcohol within 45 seconds or less. The LEVO can make up to 16 ounces of any infused product at a time with a minimum of at least 5 ounces per use.

Cleaning the machine is also a simple and painless process, thanks to the removable, dishwasher-safe reservoir that easily pops in and out as needed.

When customers order their LEVO, a detailed manual with instructions on how to operate the machine is included and there is a time and temperature calculator available online to help tailor the experience to the specific ingredients.

The machine isn’t just limited to food infusions, either. It can be utilized to make natural beauty products as well as homemade topicals. It can also make tinctures, though it is advised to be in a well-ventilated area (because of the alcohol) and set the temperature between 130-160 Fahrenheit to ensure the best results.

The convenience of this machine really gives users the space to be in complete creative control with their infusions. Try enhancing the raw cannabinoid THCA in a strain by using low temperature or play with the ratios of flower alongside other herbs to find the perfect medley of flavor profiles for a dish. Regardless of your culinary skill level, LEVO was made to be accessible to users of all experience levels from the appliance-savvy person that is already comfortable in the kitchen to the person still finding their footing with new recipes and techniques.

Originally published in Issue 28 of Cannabis Now. LEARN MORE

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