The GE Café series blends functionality and aesthetics to create the ultimate kitchen appliances.

Not long ago, the idea of a "smart appliance" was pretty much unheard of. But by 2020, it's estimated that over 30 billion devices will be connected to the Internet of things (IoT) — or, the network that allows electronic devices to exchange data. Smart appliances, especially those activated by voice control devices like Google Home, can save time and create convenience for busy families.  

Nowhere in the house is this more useful than in the kitchen. Gone are the days when baking times were tracked with a wind-up timer, or water for a cup of coffee had be boiled on the stove. New appliances now make it possible to track your cooking from your smartphone and turn your oven on before you're even home from work.  

The GE Café Series is one of our favourites when it comes to high-performance, smart home appliances. In addition to their functionality and tech-savviness, GE Café appliances have a black slate, smudge-proof finish that is versatile enough to match any kitchen's décor and other stainless-steel appliances. Kitchen trends have seen black slate and matte finishes rising to popularity over recent years and taking center stage for many homeowners. 

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Cooking dinner is often one of the most time-consuming activities that goes on in a family home, but the GE Café™ Black Slate Double Oven Gas Range has all your meal scheduling needs covered. One of the trickiest parts of preparing multiple dishes at once is trying to find a place for everything on the stove. The edge-to-edge six burner cooktop on the GE Café range makes cooking large meals a lot easier, as you can have several large stockpots on the go at the same time. Plus, the voice assistance function ensures that if your hands are full and you need to turn off the oven, all you have to do is ask Google Home.

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Having a meal fall flat — or simply turn out inedible because you've burnt it to a crisp — seems to be a rite of passage for most aspiring at-home chefs. The tri-ring burner on the GE Café Gas Range lets you precisely control cooking temperature, so you no longer have to worry about overcooking your next meal. And with a double oven, you can bake two dishes of completely different temperatures at the same time.  

Best of all, your smartphone can control all the oven's key functions. Pre-heating and timers can all be Wi-Fi activated, and getting cooking status alerts directly to your phone makes it possible to pop out and run a quick errand without having to worry about leaving the oven on.

Photography by Best Buy Canada

Cooking meals is a key part of everyday life, and there's even more that smart technology can offer to streamline the process. The GE Café™ Black Slate French Door Refrigerator now comes with a Keurig® K-Cup® Brewing System. This smart fridge gives you the ability to schedule your morning cup of coffee in advance and have it ready for right when you get up. The coffee brewing system is part of the appliance, clearing up space on your kitchen counter that would previously have been occupied by a coffee maker or kettle. Its sleek black slate exterior complements the rest of your kitchen, and a smudge-free finish makes the outside of your fridge fingerprint free.  

Best Buy is our go-to source when it comes to a one-stop shop for smart kitchen appliances. We can't wait to see what else the GE Café Series introduces to make cooking even more convenient for seasoned pros and aspiring chefs alike.