A coffee cup as the starting point for innovative ideas?Curious but true: In the case of KRUG, an everyday meeting led to the spark of a project idea that we developed into a high-tech coffee cup that requires no spoon or spills, is recyclable, and yet still virtually indestructible! Learn below how we stumbled upon one of our most successful product ideas through chance and observation, or dive directly into the exciting development process, which is explored in more detail under "Making of KRUG" .
The idea
A classic meeting situation in the model-making workshop, nestled between a circular saw, CNC milling machine, workbench, and sandblasting booth. One by one, everyone arrives at the designated meeting place. Almost everyone already has a coffee in hand – a few people are still missing – precisely for this reason: they, too, are getting a cup of coffee.
One could complain about the wait until everyone arrives! But everyone knows – meetings are practically unthinkable without coffee. Just like the entire workday in general – without coffee and the welcome break with social interaction – it's simply not the same! And it's the same in our private lives: just getting up in the morning without the usual ritual – unimaginable.
It's actually quite interesting: Coffee enjoyment has an impressive place in our everyday lives and in our society in general.
A glance around the room reveals that five out of seven participants are holding a cup.
However – not quite: Two people present are currently slightly stressed as they try to find a place to put their drinks, as their fingertips are getting quite hot.
Reason: A colleague's mug handle broke off. Her hand on the rim of the mug is literally sweating. Our model maker's mug still has a handle – but his fingers are clearly too big to hold it properly, so he too wants to get rid of the mug as quickly as possible.
Interesting.
The gaze wanders further. Right next to the drill, someone is taking a hearty swig – the spoon still in the cup narrowly misses the drinker's nostril, instead pulling their eyelid into a slight grimace. A brief grumble ensues, followed by the removal of the dripping spoon, which lands in a small puddle of coffee on the workbench.
Interesting.
It's noticeable: Our intern is doing it much more politely. She stirs a few times and then wedges the spoon between the cup, her hand, and the saucer she brought with her, so that while there's a slight clinking sound, at least no other office equipment gets dirty. Her little finger is clearly suffering a bit from the task of supporting the cup, spoon, and saucer, but minor sacrifices have to be made for the enjoyment of coffee.
Interesting.
True to stereotype, the last thing I look at is my own hand. A thin but top-heavy porcelain cup with a pale blue and pink Art Deco print – absolutely unworthy of a design studio. And the coffee inside is cold – over ten minutes old.
Interesting.
A new product
Minutes later: A discussion ensues – enthusiasm is sparked. Coffee enjoyment is a completely neglected topic, especially when it comes to the drinking vessel. There is agreement: A highly interesting area to work on for innovation.
A surprising range of requirements and starting points quickly emerges around the development of an innovative cup that can do justice to the ritual of coffee enjoyment and significantly improve as many related aspects as possible.
The spontaneous brainstorming session shows - we need:
- a state-of-the-art design with an ergonomic and appealing layout
- the ability to mix and stir without spilling any additional dishes
- Protection against overheated fingers, but also prevents them from cooling down too quickly.
- an ideal development of the coffee aroma in fragrance and taste
- significantly higher stability and durability than conventional cups
- Easy cleaning in the dishwasher and ideally also the option to heat in the microwave.
- A pleasant feel, both in the hand, but especially on the lips!
Think outside the box
As soon as the schedule allows, we'll begin development. Fortunately, we're starting with the spoon and the associated coffee stirring process. In retrospect, this aspect had a central influence on all subsequent topics, from material selection and production methods to design.
The first approaches were downright crazy from today's perspective – from finger-operated hand levers in oversized handles that rotated a disc under the cup via small belts, which in turn moved a magnetic stirring rod inside, to strange 2-in-1 handles that were suitable for both stirring and then holding the cup, everything was there.
At this stage, the rule is: don't question things too much immediately and let creativity flourish first.
As so often happens, the infamous phrase "think out of the box" ultimately brought us the decisive step forward:
Instead of stirring the coffee in the cup, why not take the opposite approach and let the cup rotate "around the coffee"? After such an idea, it often seems as if many components of the entire project suddenly fall into place as if by themselves.
A rotating cup would be a great tactile feature, and who doesn't love keeping their hands busy with a playful object at all times!
The former stirring rod or spoon – now simply an integral part of the cup itself! A stylishly curved rib that emerges organically from the rim and creates the mixing turbulence.
The issue of the handle, which is always somewhat of an odd element in cup design, resolves itself: a rotating cup would only be disrupted by a handle. We eliminate it and instead give the vessel itself a basic shape that is comfortable and, above all, secure in the hand. The distinctive conical shape is born!
At the beginning of a development project, progress often seems incredibly fast, and the product quickly takes shape, whether it's a coffee cup, an engine component, or a gift item! In reality, however, the innovative idea and the initial design only lay the foundation for a thorough development process. In the case of KRUG, this process has led us much deeper into high-tech and materials science than seems necessary on the path to the perfect coffee experience! We offer fascinating insights into these clever solutions in detail in our "Making of KRUG" series!
