WE HAVE BIG NEWS
You asked, we listened! Today we are excited to announce the launch of Brava’s V3 software—our most significant update since 2021. We’re answering what our community of users has been asking for, and this update brings transformative improvements to accessibility, convenience, and user experience. We’re breaking down a few key features you won’t want to miss in the press release below, and we’ll be diving deeper into all of the new features in the coming weeks.
San Francisco (October 30, 2024)—Brava, a technology company changing the way people cook at home, proudly announces the launch of its groundbreaking V3 software, delivering significant enhancements to accessibility, convenience and overall user experience. As the first major technological update since its last combo builder software, Brava is taking a notable leap forward in fulfilling its mission to simplify cooking, accelerate meal preparation and ensure consistently delicious results for all users—regardless of their abilities.
In recent years, Brava has actively listened to feedback from its community of users, many of whom have requested additional improvements to accessibility and ease of use. A key focus was expanding user control by allowing more comprehensive management of Bravas via mobile phones, introducing voice-enabled and portable alternative interfaces, to cater especially to those with varying physical abilities. Recognizing the potential to make a meaningful difference in the lives of elderly individuals and people with disabilities, Brava dedicated the past year to completely overhauling its software. The result is the V3 software update, which now supports full control of the Brava oven from a mobile phone, making the device more accessible and user-friendly than ever before.
“We’ve always believed that technology should enhance the cooking experience for everyone, and with this new V3 update, we’re taking accessibility to a whole new level,” said John Pleasants, President & Co-Founder of Brava. “By giving users full control from their mobile phones and improving the ease of use for individuals with physical limitations, we are making the joy of cooking more inclusive and empowering for people of all abilities.”
The new update introduces several key features, starting with full oven control from mobile devices. Previously, Brava users could search recipes via their phones, but crucial steps such as ingredient selection, doneness, and recipe instructions still required interaction with the oven’s touchscreen. With V3, all of these parameters can now be managed entirely through the Brava app, and the only action required on the oven itself is pressing the green button to start cooking—an essential improvement for individuals who are blind or have low vision.
In addition, the V3 update, which is compatible with all existing Bravas, enables full manual mode control from mobile devices, allowing users to seamlessly manage modes like toast, sear, air fry, and slow cook. Creating custom cooks—once a cumbersome task on the touchscreen—can now be easily programmed in the app, enhancing convenience for individuals with mobility limitations. The V3 software also offers increased transparency and customization for recipes. Users can now see the exact steps behind Brava’s chef-programmed recipes, including light intensities and durations. This transparency empowers users to personalize and modify recipes with confidence or create their own custom recipes with a better understanding of the cooking process.
In support of this new software launch, Brava is partnering with the Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired in San Francisco. This collaboration optimizes the Brava app for screen readers like Voiceover and Talkback, ensuring that blind and low-vision users can fully control their Brava ovens through their mobile devices, further enhancing the inclusivity of Brava’s technology.
“If you’re blind or have low vision, there’s a lot of guesswork that goes into a cook,” said Fernando Macias, Access Technology Specialist at San Francisco Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, “Using the Brava takes all the guesswork out.”
With the new V3 software fully cloud-integrated, Brava is excited about future opportunities to incorporate AI technologies for conversational and voice-controlled cooking, as well as further advancements in recipe development, reinforcing Brava’s ongoing commitment to making cooking more accessible for everyone.
Since its launch in 2018, Brava has empowered tens of thousands of home chefs to cook faster and more efficiently. With the introduction of the V3 software, Brava is updating its mission to ensure that individuals of all abilities can enjoy the benefits of modern home cooking. By embracing accessibility and inclusivity, Brava is dedicated to creating a kitchen environment where everyone—regardless of age or ability—can thrive. For more information on Brava and the V3 software update, please visit www.brava.com.
About Brava: Brava is a revolutionary smart cooking device that cooks with light, changing the way people prepare food at home. Brava makes cooking at home easier, faster and tastier than ever before. There’s no preheating required and it can cook an entire meal (up to three different ingredients) all at the same time. It also serves as more than eight appliances in one, as it can sear, bake, air fry, dehydrate, toast, slow cook, reheat and more. Brava cooks up to four times as fast as a traditional oven and comes loaded with thousands of chef-tested recipes — enabling people to eat smarter while giving them confidence in the kitchen and more time to do the things they love the most. Brava is a wholly owned division of the Middleby Corporation, a global leader in the foodservice equipment industry, known for its innovation in cooking technologies, automation, IoT, and sustainability. Middleby operates across three segments: Commercial Foodservice, Residential Kitchen, and Food Processing, and has established itself as a major player in electrification and ventless cooking solutions for professional and residential kitchens. For more information, visit brava.com.