Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Editor, Associate Professor, Engineering Fundamentals, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Single-serve coffee machines and pods have gained popularity in recent years for ease of use. While these machines can save energy and water in the long run, especially in business settings, the conse..
Single-serve coffee machines and pods have gained popularity in recent years for ease of use. While these machines can save energy and water in the long run, especially in business settings, the consequences include billions of disposable coffee pods being thrown into landfills around the world each year. Although companies, such as Keurig®, have made reusable pods to fix this problem, the current designs are incompatible with many machines and they use hard plastic, making them difficult to clean. According to a survey conducted by the Go Clean Cup project, 63% of consumers would buy a new reusable single-serve coffee pod of equal price as the others if it was easier to clean. The Go Clean Cup is a reusable single-serve coffee pod that is flexible and eversible for easy cleaning. The pod can be partially or completely everted for coffee grounds to be wiped out without hassle and will be universally compatible with single-serve beverage machines. With a pending utility patent on the design, the Go Clean Cup project is currently focused on developing the best manufacturing method, including molding and laser drilling, to get the product on retail shelves for the lowest cost.