The Janus
Drip coffee maker w/ multi brew options
2014 For Mr. Coffee. (Newell Brands)
Mr. Coffee developed variety drip coffee makers with various price ranges and functions.
In 2014, They wanted to develop their new coffee maker with multiple brewing options per different vessel sizes. They defined 3 different target vessels based on target user research which were 128 oz carafe (16cups), travel mug and single mug. They asked this new coffee maker design development to their long-time partner Altitude, Inc.
What will be the ideal form and usability to satisfy variety vessel sizes?
At the beginning of the project, Mr. Coffee asked three strict requirements:
1. New coffee maker should be possible to use with 3 different vessels which were: 128 oz carafe (16 cups), travel mug and single mug.
2. Not prefer to remove carafe from the coffee maker to place travel mug or single mug.
3. Explore 3 different SKUs based on different price range with minimum part changes.
For the form development, #2 requirement was critical challenge and team explored variety possible forms to satisfy this requirement which were extended shelf, dual brewing plate, rotatable brewing head, and etc.
The Janus: Transform its faces for different vessels.
The Janus designed with soft squared shape main body with circular brewing head to emphasize transformable main interactive part. Circular shape brewing head give user hint of transform through shape itself.
Travel mug and single mug plate is also giving user hint of transformable brewing head as well as emphasize itself through different material and pattern on it.
The Janus’s U.I is located in bottom base independently to make it approachable and intuitive.
Simply rotate to brew coffee for any vessel size that you want to have.
To get coffee for different size of vessels with The Janus, you only need to simply rotate brewing head and select vessel size that you want to have. The Janus automatically adjust water volume and brewing right volume of coffee per different vessel sizes.
Upgrade your daily coffee experience with The Janus.
With The Janus, you can now brew any volume of coffees match with your vessels. It will shorten your normal brewing behavior which was brewing in the carafe and pouring to the different vessels.
The Janus will upgrade your daily coffee experience with simple way.
Three different SKUs to satisfy variety price ranges per different retail store.
Based on client’s requirements, team explored The Janus with 3 different SKUs for different retail stores. Simple material trim change approach is giving less part changes, but effective price range options per different material trim.
*The Janus was not in production due to client selected different design concept.
Design Team: Joongoo Lee, Aaron Abroff (Industrial Design Lead) and Philip Leung (Project Manager) at Altitude, Inc.
Design Credit: Mr. Coffee. (Newell Brands) / Altitude, Inc.