Printing a book as fast as preparing an espresso?

Jason Epstein, a book publishing authority and currently with On Demand Books, referred in a recent speech to the Espresso Book Machine (EBM). This high speed duplex printer produces library quality pocket books in seven minutes. The University of Alberta has one installed and prints about 100 books a day, seven days a week at a penny a page for consumables. Epstein sees great potential for the successor of Gutenberg as the cost of the hardware will eventually be comparable to that of an office copier. In his view the EBM can find its place in bookstores and other book selling outlets, as these stores do not carry sufficient stock.