Mr. Coffee, the First-Ever Drip Machine
The key to the idea that created the Mr. Coffee Machine was simple: water. Instead of boiling water (212° F) through the grounds as the traditional percolator coffee makers did, the Mr. Coffee drip machine percolated water through at just 200°. In the beginning, the coffee didn't necessarily taste as good as percolated coffee, but this was the fault of coffee that was ground for percolators. It did, however, eliminate the burnt taste common with percolated coffee, and as the coffee bean grinds became appropriate for drip machines, the coffee continued to get better.
Variety in Mr. Coffee Coffee Makers
Far from the days when Mr. Coffee was the only product available, Mr. Coffee brand now offers nearly 50 types of coffee makers, including everything from basic, standard home coffee makers in sizes from 4 cup up to 12 cup, to the especially popular single serve as well as an especially high-tech industrial programmable 12 cup machine. Their thermal brew coffee makers are known to brew faster and hotter than typical home coffee makers, providing richer and fuller flavor extraction. Mr. Coffee is synonymous with quality and lasting coffee makers that easily meet the needs of traditional home coffee making needs.
Humble Beginnings of Mr. Coffee
With a $500 loan from his dad, Vincent G. Marotta partnered with Samuel Glazer in 1968, and founded North American Systems, Inc. (NAS), a simple coffee delivery service. It was just two years later in December, 1970, while Marotta was recovering from a brain tumor operation, that he came up with idea for "Mr. Coffee" the first automatic drip coffee maker and the product that put the brand, Mr. Coffee, on the path to becoming a common, household name. With some work and production processes in motion, the company was producing the coffee maker by 1972 and by just 1974, there were already one million sold. Mr. Coffee was already taking up 10% of the entire coffee-making business in America. NAS established a factory in 1975, and upped their employment from 300 to 1,000 over the course of the year 1974-1975 and to 2,300 by 1977. As constant innovators, Mr. Coffee invented coffee filters in 1975, and in 1977, when the economy was struggling, they invented coffee brewers that made the same amount of coffee but with fewer grounds. Their latest additions include: Mr. Coffee brand coffee in 2007; Mr. Coffee & Keurig joint effort single-cup coffee makers, 2009; and Cafe Frappe, the first-ever home appliance model that brews and blends all in one machine.
Mr. Coffee Espresso Makers
In addition to standard coffee makers, Mr. Coffee has branched out into the espresso market and offers espresso machines for the home. They are easy to use and are combined with capabilities to make cappuccino and steamed espresso quickly and professionally. The Steam Espresso/Cappuccino Maker makes just 1-4 cups, which is ideal for one person and cuts down on waste. It's also small and compact and takes up very little counter space. If you need higher capacity or more options, Mr. Coffee offers a very elegant Pump Espresso/Cappuccino/Latte Maker, seen at left, that steams milk quickly and produces a deep, rich espresso with crema. And, for those who want both regular coffee and espresso, Mr. Coffe has an excellent two-in one option. Not only does it feature an automatic drip coffee maker that makes up to 8 cups of coffee, it can also make 1-4 cups of espresso and steam and froth milk in addition.
Mr. Coffee's Four tips to Brewing the Best Espresso:
- Grind daily. Coffee must be made with just-ground coffee beans to maintain coffee integrity.
- Use the correct grind. Rule of thumb: More than 1 oz. of espresso after 25 seconds equals a grind that's too course. Less than 1 oz. is too
fine.
- Accurate measuring. Get the right amount of coffee by piling it in the filter just slightly higher in the middle than around the rim.
- Pack coffee gently. If you pack coffee too loosely, it can create a bitter taste. Too densely and the water will not pass through at all.