Purdue-affiliated startup launches new type of coffee maker

Simple Life Cycle's Mason Jar French Press Coffee Maker (Photo provided by Simple Life Cycle) Download image

LAFAYETTE, Ind.  – Lafayette-based Simple Life Cycle is selling its Mason Jar French Press Coffee Maker on Amazon.com.

Purdue Foundry client Evan Rocheford co-founded the company last year with a childhood friend to create coffee products using simple materials that are designed to eliminate avoidable waste, one of the main components being Mason jars.

"We try to use high-quality materials that are durable and reusable, like stainless steel and glass," he said. "We're not big fans of glass components that are easy to break and difficult to replace, that's why we've chosen to use Mason jars for our products. When it comes to durability and availability, nothing beats a Mason jar." 

The company's French press-style coffee maker includes a 24-ounce Mason jar, a silicone spout adapter, a silicone lid, a steel plunger and a silicone sleeve with attached steel handle.

The new product comes about one year after the company started selling its first product, a Mason Jar Cold Brew Coffee Maker & Iced Tea Maker, which also sells on Amazon.com. The cold brew system consists of a Mason jar, a steel filter and a decorative lid.

Since its launch the cold brew system has averaged over 500 units sold per month and has a 4.7 star rating based on more than 350 reviews.

"We're very pleased with its performance, so far," he said. "We've been as high as the fifth product in this category competing against $50 million brands."

Components for both products are assembled at Greenbush Industries, a division of Wabash Center that provides employment opportunities to adults with special needs in Lafayette, Indiana.

With only two products available right now, Rocheford said, "we are focusing on product development and e-commerce sales, but once we have more products to offer we plan to expand by wholesaling to retail stores."

Rocheford received assistance through Purdue Foundry to help him start the business. Purdue Foundry is an entrepreneurial accelerator for Purdue-affiliated entrepreneurs.

He went through Purdue Foundry's LaunchBox program when he co-founded another business with his father, a Purdue professor in agronomy. That company, Nutramaize, is looking to bring a unique variety of more nutritious orange colored corn to market.

"Going through the whole Purdue Foundry process has been extremely valuable in my training as an entrepreneur," he said. "The lessons I learned there have helped me a great deal in starting this business."

For more information, click Simple Life Cycle.

About Purdue Foundry

The Purdue Foundry is an entrepreneurship and commercialization accelerator in Discovery Park's Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship whose professionals help Purdue innovators create startups. Managed by the Purdue Research Foundation, the Purdue Foundry received the 2014 Incubator Network of the Year by the National Business Incubation Association for its work in entrepreneurship. For more information about funding and investment opportunities in startups based on a Purdue innovation, contact the Purdue Foundry at foundry@prf.org 

Writer: Curt Slyder, 765-588-3342, caslyder@prf.org

Source: Evan Rocheford, Evan@simplelifecycle.com