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Launch HN: Sudden Coffee (YC W17) – Instant coffee that doesn't suck

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Re: Launch HN: Sudden Coffee (YC W17) – Instant coffee that doesn't suck

#301

Post by lazyasciiart »

Johnnybe wrote: post #237
Balgair wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The decrease in air pressure and humidity also have big effects on your sensation of food(smell and taste) http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20150112-why-in-flight-food-... https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9408563

Not true, I took an Aeropress on an international flight and made fresh coffee throughout the flight. It tasted great. The hot stewardesses had no problem letting me use their hot water which was nice.

You're actually arguing that the environment of a plane doesn't have any effect on people's sense of taste because one time you totally liked your cup of coffee on a plane?

Re: Launch HN: Sudden Coffee (YC W17) – Instant coffee that doesn't suck

#302

Post by apapli »

For some Australian context, being in Melbourne, a place full of coffee lovers (and something we jokingly say our city is better at than Sydney) I can't say I see a market for nice freeze dried coffee.

I'd almost go so far as saying it's become a very established cultural past time to go out and buy a fresh coffee from a local cafe - even when there may be Nespresso on offer in the office for free. I don't see how this product would make it here - the taste of the coffee is simply one (very important) part of the coffee experience.

Where I do see a market however is outdoor activity stores; camping, caravanning, fishing, boating etc. Sell them in large boxes so we can take them away for trips.

I know it's not a "monthly" transaction then, but I fail to see how that model will work here. Perhaps some of our other states such as Queensland, NT or WA where it's a bit harder to consistently find a good coffee somewhere nearby.

Re: Launch HN: Sudden Coffee (YC W17) – Instant coffee that doesn't suck

#303

Post by erikb »

I want to challenge your idea with the question of whether it's really needed. True, having good instant coffee would be an improvement. But I guess we have just accepted that it is as it is. If you want good coffee you sit down, take your time, it's also a culture a thing. If you just need something warm to drink at the bus stop or a caffein shock before a meeting, badly tasting coffee is "good enough" for most people. So, who'll buy "suddencoffee"? (and is that really a good name for it? sudden doesn't feel like high quality)

PS: Btw I really think if this thing has a market you are probably the guy to make a product for it. I can believe that. Great. But if there's no market, better focus on other stuff, e.g., how to get the premium locations were people come to get great coffee.

Re: Launch HN: Sudden Coffee (YC W17) – Instant coffee that doesn't suck

#304

Post by hellofunk »

chrismartin wrote: post #202
uptownfunk wrote: post #157

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Downvote me to hell, but I think people drink too much coffee (and caffeinated drinks), it's just not necessary and is an addictive substance. I think it's a toxic substance honestly, tires the adrenals and heart out. Anyone else on here who abstains from caffeine?

Uptownfunk, I also severely limit my caffeine intake (right now zero). It's a tool that mitigates fatigue at the expense of anxiety, irritability, and sleep disruption. Through an anthropologist's lens, caffeine helps adapt unreliable human mental concentration to an industrial/capitalist society. (Just like ritalin and adderall!) See ern's comment regarding "forced to take coffee to keep up with my fellow developers…

There is widespread evidence that coffee provides nutritional benefits not found in any other plant or food. And moderate caffeine can be a sum positive effect on the body, as long as you don't go overboard. The anxiety you mention is not the norm if coffee is handled responsibly, and actually it can help stabilize anxiety over time if used consistently.

Re: Launch HN: Sudden Coffee (YC W17) – Instant coffee that doesn't suck

#305

Post by jb1991 »

freese wrote: post #166
uptownfunk wrote: post #157

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Downvote me to hell, but I think people drink too much coffee (and caffeinated drinks), it's just not necessary and is an addictive substance. I think it's a toxic substance honestly, tires the adrenals and heart out. Anyone else on here who abstains from caffeine?

I think you're making a great point - coffee is the legal drug at the moment. Personally, I drink coffee for the flavor, not for the caffeine. I'm a big fan of high-quality decaf coffee and it's something we're looking to do with Sudden.

Coffee is no more a drug than sugar.

Re: Launch HN: Sudden Coffee (YC W17) – Instant coffee that doesn't suck

#306

Post by Qwertious »

zloof wrote: post #205
truthexposer wrote: post #133

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Who is your target? If people want good tasting coffee, like a connoisseur, one would like the option of selecting the type of bean, where it is sourced from, how it's roasted, how it's ground, how it's brewed etc. People even vehemently oppose and stand by brewing methods, which to an ordinary person who doesn't care about coffee, wouldn't care about. And if someone is buying instant coffee anyways, I doubt they car…

+1 for RussianCow's comment. Our target customer is the average person who goes to Philz, Blue Bottle, Stumptown as well as Starbucks. These people aren't really buying instant coffee - they spend $2-10 on coffee per day. Some of them buy 2 x $5 latte drinks at a cafe. 100% of these people drink their coffee for the taste (although they have different taste preferences). The average person who goes to Blue Bottle dai…

I'm probably in the target market too - I've never really gotten into coffee because it tasted like crap. Except, occasionally I get a coffee and it's actually not bitter for once, and I'm like "oh that's actually kind of nice". But frankly, I'm not willing to go out of my way to pay $3.50+ for it. That really adds up over time.

If it were cheaper, I'd be all over it. Like, $1.50/cup, say. I mean, it still adds up over time, but by an order of magnitude less. Plus, it doesn't add up in terms of sugar like soda does. https://xkcd.com/1793/

...so, maybe I'm not in the target market just yet. Hopefully you'll get a decent economy of scale going. ^_^

Re: Launch HN: Sudden Coffee (YC W17) – Instant coffee that doesn't suck

#308

Post by elxavit0 »

brusch64 wrote: post #296
zloof wrote: post #257

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Would love for you to try it - if you go here, you can do a 2-cup mini subscription as well: https://www.suddencoffee.com/?trial=true We have a lot of customers who go through a similar experience. They use Sudden maybe 1-3 days a week when really busy and then pour over on others days when they have time. The pour over is still pretty enjoyable if you have the time.

I don't like your subscription model and I don't like how your positioning yourself in the market. It feels like the Nespresso (I think that's Keurig in the US with a similar model) of instant coffee. But I would like to test a couple of cups of your coffee with friends. I never drank a good instant coffee so I really wonder how a good instant coffee tastes.

I'm not a fan of this model (yet) either. It's a big reason why I haven't cycle-"automated" other services I use. But if there's an on-demand sales model available, I'd love to try it out as well. I enjoy good coffee, but I also drink lots of bad coffee - I'd go broke on coffee alone otherwise.

Re: Launch HN: Sudden Coffee (YC W17) – Instant coffee that doesn't suck

#309

Post by elxavit0 »

ccameron wrote: post #132

I'd like to echo a huge need for this in backpacking and travel areas. For instance I went on a cruise recently and could not get a decent cup of coffee for a week. I would have loved this option for travel. If I saw this at a premium price and it was marketed and positioned properly as a much better alternative than Starbucks Via at REI or some other outdoor retailer I'd definitely buy it. I wouldn't subscribe for i…

Another thumbs up for backpacking and back-country camping with little amounts of gear. I load up on the "slim" packs of coffee for these trips. Looking forward for Sudden if I can ever buy it without a subscription.
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