Tiger Takes on the World of Coffee: Behind the Scenes of Developing the “Ideal Cup”

The flavor of a cup of coffee can change dramatically with even the slightest variation in brewing conditions, such as temperature. In this article, we spoke with Keisuke Kukino from Product Development and Satomi Kantani from Product Planning about the technology they are pursuing to create a coffee maker that allows anyone to brew a delicious cup, and their passion for product development.

Uncovering the Secret of “Delicious Coffee”

I was selected to develop coffee makers around 2020. I didn’t know much about coffee at first, so I gradually expanded my knowledge once I took charge of development. First, I bought some beans, ground them, and brewed them. I noticed that the aroma and taste varied depending on the equipment and brewing method. I realized that coffee is highly dependent on personal preference, and because there is no single “right answer,” it can be enjoyed as a hobby at any level.

However, as a developer of products purchased by customers, I felt I needed solid evidence, not just my own senses. Therefore, to acquire specialized knowledge about coffee—such as the characteristics of beans by region, distribution channels, and quality control—I obtained the Level 1 Coffee Instructor Certification.

When I re-examined coffee makers after acquiring this knowledge, I became more aware of how the flavor and taste change depending on the water temperature, pouring angle, and pouring location. I realized there are endless aspects to explore: What is the optimal brewing process? How can we broaden the range of flavors? What is the best brewing method for each variety of bean?

Fortunately, Tiger has an absolute mastery of technology developed over many years: the ability to precisely control heat and hot water. We use this technology to draw out the maximum potential of coffee beans. I find developing coffee makers with this goal in mind to be an incredibly rewarding job.

Tiger Coffee Makers Optimized for Various Needs

Let me introduce a few of our main products. First is the “ADC-G060,” a model designed for casual users. It’s a simple model that brews with just an ON/OFF switch, capable of brewing up to six cups. The server is made of easy-to-wash, unbreakable stainless steel.

Its standout feature is the “Taste Meister” located between the showerhead and the filter. When set with the convex side up, hot water is poured mainly from four peripheral holes, resulting in a clean taste with reduced off-flavors. When the same part is flipped over, the water gathers in the mortar-shaped center, creating a richer, bolder flavor. The filter case is designed with deeper ribs to create space between the filter paper and the case, allowing the coffee grounds to bloom properly.

This product is especially popular among families (couples with children). Since it can brew up to six cups at once, it’s the perfect size for sharing. While coffee makers are often black, we receive requests for colors that match kitchen decor. Thus, we introduced white for the ADC-G060 and dark brown for the ADC-H060, which features a glass server.

This “ACJ-B120” is a large-capacity model that can brew up to 12 cups at once. It’s used by those who frequently have guests, or those who brew enough in the morning to drink at home and take to work in a thermos. Generally, brewing a large amount takes time and tends to result in uneven extraction, but this model pours hot water in a shower-like stream for even extraction.

Additionally, one of the crucial steps in developing a coffee maker is selecting the heater responsible for heating the water. Using a high-output heater in a small model doesn’t allow enough brewing time, resulting in a weak, watery taste. Conversely, using a low-output heater in a large model leads to more off-flavors.

For this model as well, we selected a heater that prevents off-flavors even when brewing 12 cups.

The “ACT-E040” features a vacuum-insulated server. It can be left on the table while keeping the coffee warm, and since it doesn’t use a heater to keep warm, the coffee won’t become bitter or lose its flavor. You could say this is a quintessential Tiger product, given our expertise in vacuum insulation technology.

In addition to regular drip brewing, where steam is applied to bloom the grounds before extraction, it is also compatible with commercially available drip bags and UCC Drip Pods.

Enriching “Coffee Time” Through Usability and Design

To ensure a comfortable coffee time, we also strive for easy-to-handle components. For example, this “ADF-A060” has magnets built into the filter attachment area, allowing it to be easily removed with one hand. We struggled to adjust the magnetic force to achieve the perfect amount of suction.

In other models as well, features like removable water tanks or dishwasher compatibility largely reflect the requests we receive from customers through user surveys. Because coffee is a matter of personal taste, we are expanding our lineup so customers can choose a product that suits their needs.

Although these aspects aren’t directly related to flavor, they contribute to overall comfort, so we are constantly mindful of balancing design, functionality, and ease of maintenance.

We hope that having a coffee maker in the kitchen or on the dining table will spark conversation. For instance, the previously mentioned ADF-A060 uses a glass server because we want people to enjoy watching the coffee brew, much like an hourglass. We’d be delighted if people spent time with their loved ones while watching the coffee slowly drip and accumulate in the server.

We hope Tiger coffee makers enrich our customers’ time. It’s wonderful to drink together as a family, but taking time to slowly savor a cup alone is also important. To accommodate these different ways of enjoying coffee, we offer everything from compact to large-capacity models.

Furthermore, because coffee makers cater to specific tastes, they need to be compact enough to blend into everyday life. In kitchens where large appliances like microwaves and refrigerators often take priority, we are increasing our range of slim products that can be placed in any available space.

Spreading Coffee Makers Not Just in Japan, But Around the World

In the future, we hope to develop models with built-in grinders and authentic models that pursue the ultimate taste. By further improving water temperature control and pouring methods, we want to deliver products that fully satisfy even coffee aficionados.

There are still countries in the world where coffee makers are not widespread, or where drinking coffee at home is not a common habit. We want to provide the joy of happy gatherings using Tiger coffee makers not only to people in Japan, but to people all over the world.

A wide variety of coffee makers are available on the market depending on preferences, such as how much coffee you want to brew at once, whether you need a keep-warm function, or what brewing method you prefer. We truly hope you find the one that perfectly fits your lifestyle.