Minnesotans are serious coffee drinkers. I have owned dozens of coffee makers and they all failed. Some failed in a few months and one failed in a week. Yep, I am afflicted with the Coffee Maker Curse, something I would not wish on my worst enemy.
The curse started with my Norelco coffee maker. It made excellent coffee, but the coffee maker kept breaking. Twice, I sent it to the factory for repairs. By the time I had packed the coffee maker in a box, cushioned it with newspaper and bubble wrap, and paid the postage, I had almost bought the coffee maker again.
My large Norelco was followed by a series of small coffee makers. I had a Proctor Silex, a Mr. Coffee, a Braun, and odd-named coffee makers from Europe. Every time I unpacked a new coffee maker I was filled with hope. At last, I would have a coffee maker that worked and kept on working. I was wrong.
Following the instructions did not help. I bought white filters, brown filters, gold filters, and cleaned my coffee makers regularly. Some manufacturers recommend a vinegar solution, a process that makes the whole house smell like bad pickles. Other manufacturers recommend commercial coffee maker cleaners. These cleaners are pricey and one cost just a few cents less than the coffee maker.
I am not blaming manufacturers for the pots I dropped. That was my fault. But coffee makers that break in a few weeks are not my fault. The seam on one coffee maker cracked and water spilled all over the counter. The most common failure, however, is the pumping tube. Despite my cleaning efforts the tubes plug up.
A simple design change -- removable pumping tubes -- would solve this problem. Pumping tubes, whether they are flexible or rigid, should only cost pennies to make. Enclose a free replacement tube with each purchase and customer satisfaction ratings will soar.
Though I hoped the Coffee Maker Curse would go away in time it did not. No such luck. My daughter gave me a coffee maker for Christmas. The coffee maker broke two months later. I bought a new one, an inexpensive model with a drip-prevention valve. You guessed it, the valve doesn't work. When I remove the pot to pour coffee liquid splatters on the warming plate. The warming plate hisses at me and I hiss at it.
So here is the challenge for manufacturers: Produce durable coffee makers with replacement pumping tubes. This would be better for the environment and better for consumers. Do this and I will be your friend for life. I will become a walking ad for your product. Let's discuss it over coffee.
Copyright 2007 by Harriet Hodgson
