Overview
Coffee consumption poses significant environmental challenges, contributing to emissions and high energy use. As sustainability becomes increasingly important, there is an urgent need to rethink conventional everyday appliances.
This project aimed to reimagine a daily essential, the coffee maker, by designing a more sustainable alternative that minimizes environmental impact.
Discipline
Industrial Design
Context
Academic Project
Timeframe
8 Weeks in 2022
The Opportunity
Reimagining the Coffee Maker
Traditional coffee makers are often bulky, equipped with numerous functions that go unused, and consume more electricity than necessary. Our goal was to design a new coffee maker with reduced material footprint, less wasteful components, and better energy efficiency while maintaining ease of use and functionality. The intended end users are students, representing a generation increasingly committed to
eco-conscious choices.
eco-conscious choices.
Research
Understanding Needs and Issues
To assess the environmental impact of coffee brewing and consumption, we conducted a thorough analysis of a standard coffee maker (Electrolux EKF7700). This involved disassembling the device and weighing each component to perform a Life Cycle Inventory Analysis (LCIA). This approach gave us insights into the environmental impact across various stages of the coffee maker's lifecycle.
Additionally, interviews were conducted with intended users (n=5) to understand their needs and attitudes toward sustainability and consumption, gaining valuable information about their daily routines and preferences for kitchen appliances.
Insights
Key Drivers for Sustainable Design
Based on the research, we created a user persona capturing the key findings that later shaped the design of the more sustainable coffee maker.
Environmental Aspects
The LCIA of the standard coffee maker highlighted several inefficiencies. It used excess materials, had energy-draining features like a heating plate, and was difficult to recycle due to the complexity of its components. Furthermore, the LCIA revealed that:
The materials used in manufacturing the coffee maker accounted for 50% of the total CO2 footprint and 35% of the total energy usage.
Brewing and heating coffee contributed to 42% of the total energy usage.
Design Goals
Consequently, the goal for the new design was to address these environmental challenges and user needs by creating a more sustainable coffee maker, focusing on:
‣ Reducing material usage.
‣ Enhancing recyclability, ability to clean, maintain, and repair by designing for easy disassembly.
‣ Lowering energy consumption by eliminating unnecessary features.
‣ Designing with a 600ml capacity and 50cm height to fit small student kitchen spaces.
‣ Allowing users to take their coffee on the go.
Ideation
Developing a New Coffee Experience
During ideation, two main concepts emerged: Minimal and Dispenser. Both focused on reducing material and energy use while still addressing user needs effectively. Minimal was selected for further development due to its simplicity and better alignment with the design goals.
Final Design
Minimal
The final design Minimal has a modern yet timeless appearance, characterized by strong visual elements that make it stand out without being bulky.
Streamlined Design
Minimal focuses solely on essential functionalities for coffee making, reducing complexity and unnecessary technology. It features only an on/off button that automatically turns off once brewing is complete.
Reusable Filter
The design incorporates a stainless steel filter, replacing disposable options and significantly minimizing waste.
Modular Components
Minimal is built with modular parts for easy disassembly, cleaning, and replacement, enhancing lifespan and maintenance.
Thermos Integration
The coffee brews directly into an insulated thermos, eliminating the need for a heating plate and allowing users to easily transport their coffee.
Impact
Transformative Results
A Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) was conducted on Minimal, confirming its success in meeting sustainability targets. Key improvements include:
‣ The thermos removes the need for continuous heating, significantly cutting energy use.
‣ Modular components facilitate repairs, extending the product’s lifespan.
‣ Material and design adjustments led to a 36% reduction in material-related CO2 emissions.
‣ The stainless steel filter eliminates disposable filters, minimizing waste.
Summary
Key Takeaways and Learnings
This project showcased the potential for achieving significant environmental benefits through thoughtful design. By focusing on material reduction, modularity, and energy efficiency among other things, the coffee maker was transformed into a more sustainable product that still met the practical needs of users.
The most significant insight I gained from this project was the realization that pursuing a minimalist design, focused solely on essential functions, can result in a more elegant and user-friendly product. The principle of less is more often holds true in design, emphasizing the value of simplicity.
