Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

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

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

111–120 of 394 posts

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

#111

Post by Balgair »

zloof wrote: post #55
alaskamiller wrote: post #22

I work in the coffee industry and saw Sudden pop up last year so was interested in the technique and hacked it out. Freeze dried coffee is already what Folgers does and sell you. This is the more artisanal version of that since the big brands have big factories that can pump out plenty of instant coffee grounds. So this is a ramped up volume play on existing techniques perfected by the doomsday preppers. Youtube sear…

Happy to answer whatever questions we can disclose! Thanks for starting the thread. It's somewhere in the middle to be honest. We did not invent freeze dried coffee - it's been around for over a century. However, it is quite difficult to make it work at-scale in a way that's profitable/sustainable, and that still tastes good. I have a pretty extensive background in operations, manufacturing, & tech and I had to pull…

Define 'tastes good/bad'

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

#112

Post by freese »

akandiah wrote: post #85

I would love to try this, but having the monthly subscription as the only option is off-putting. You should at least offer an option to 'buy' a trial pack.

We have a trial option available here: 2 cups for $6: https://www.suddencoffee.com/?trial=true

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

#113

Post by freese »

stjarnljuset wrote: post #92

I'm actually a daily instant coffee drinker so I'll definitely check this out. Currently I use the Korean instant coffee packets (includes powdered cream and sugar). Since I get these for about 12 cents a packet, it's unlikely I'll be a permanent convert, but I adore the packaging for Sudden Coffee.

Yeah we definitely won't be able to beat that price. Would you buy a Sudden three-in-one with cream and sugar if there was that option?

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

#114

Post by Balgair »

ryanSrich wrote: post #56
huhtenberg wrote: post #21

Wasn't a problem with "bad" instant coffee largely solved by Starbucks VIA, which too utilizes a novel tech that produces very decent results? Even the mega snobs of /r/coffee were largely OK with it came out few years ago. Also, re: this - Instant coffee is liquid coffee that’s been dehydrated. It’s normally made with the worst beans ... Next, the liquid is boiled down and finally dehydrated by spray drying it with…

Every flight I've been on with Starbucks VIA has been absolute trash. Airplane coffee quite literally tastes like it was made with toilet water. That's honestly the only way I can describe it. I'm bearish on any improvements because I'm convinced the problem is the water they use.

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

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

#115

Post by freese »

mellamoyo wrote: post #103
zloof wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Working on it. We do individual servings because they preserve freshness - that's the only reason we do it. It's hard for us to do compostable since we are still very small compared to your average consumer good, but we are 100% committed to doing it when we are big enough. We even have 2 sustainability advisors involved with the company.

Cool. I'm not the one who originally posted the question but had the same one upon checking out the starting page. Great idea, something I would be interested in signing up for, but too much plastic at this point.

Totally hear that. The tubes are recyclable and we are testing a programme where folks can send the back to us for re-use.

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

#116

Post by wcarron »

Balgair wrote: post #111
zloof wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Happy to answer whatever questions we can disclose! Thanks for starting the thread. It's somewhere in the middle to be honest. We did not invent freeze dried coffee - it's been around for over a century. However, it is quite difficult to make it work at-scale in a way that's profitable/sustainable, and that still tastes good. I have a pretty extensive background in operations, manufacturing, & tech and I had to pull…

Define 'tastes good/bad'

anything Keurig. It's watery gruel that smells awful and lacks flavor.

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

#117

Post by freese »

davidjnelson wrote: post #98

Do the machines that brew these accumulate mold like keurig machines?

Do you mean the equipment we use to brew and dehydrate the coffee? We use CIP process for all the equipment - there's definitely no mold growing in any of our equipment. For brewing - just add the powder to water or milk, no need for brewing

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

#118

Post by freese »

yomly wrote: post #104
freese wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In normal conditions you can only extract up to ≈30% of the coffee beans mass, ie. no matter how fine you grind and long you brew you'll only get 30%. The rest are insoluble solids: cellulose so basically wood. When the big boys brew the coffee in really high temp and pressure (165-190C, 15 bars) the structure of the bean changes and previously insoluble parts of the hemicellulose become soluble. This means you get a…

Ah ok, with you now! Are you guys mainly a hardware company then? Anything cool going on software-wise for you guys?

Yeah, mainly hardware now. We just hired our first dev (and are still looking for a VP Eng!) and have some software stuff coming up. First we're working on making the ordering process better and building tools for our subscribers.

Here's the job posting in case you're interested: https://jobs.lever.co/suddencoffee

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

#119

Post by freese »

abeyer wrote: post #40
zloof wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Co-founder here - it's miles better than Via. Sometimes we include a packet of Via in our shipment so you can do a taste comparison (thinking about making this standard). You'll definitely notice the difference side by side.

That's a fun marketing idea, though maybe not necessary for the people who are already dedicated enough to have signed up for a subscription.

True - good point.

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

#120

Post by DiabloD3 »

pxlpshr wrote: post #105
DiabloD3 wrote: post #37

I don't understand the point of this product. You're obviously targeting people who already like coffee, such as myself: I already buy beans, grind them myself, and manage the process using an Aeropress, and I'm hardly some coffee hipster because I use goddamned Eight O'Clock Columbian Peaks. Yet, you are trying to sell me instant coffee, which I automatically am wary of because instant coffee is the shittiest coffee…

Sorry friend but I just visited your https://www.exelion.net website and the level of arrogance in your comment is really unwelcoming and misplaced.

Last time I noticed, I wasn't seeking YC investment. Also, ad hominem attacks aren't really tolerated on HN.

But hey, lets not help YC companies and let them squander that investment. If there is a market for their product, I hope they succeed; but they aren't going to succeed with the current state of that website.

Post reply on HN