Petite Power

Introduction

Product refinements and new introductions at the International Home + Housewares Show signal the future of small kitchen electrics. Incremental changes or totally revamped products reflect a growing interest in easy-to-operate, multi-functioning devices that occupy a small footprint. These advancements aim to encourage more people to cook, with many manufacturers exploring connectivity and automation to engage the home chef.

Build a Better Brew

The quality of drip coffee machines continues to improve with new functions like controlled water temperatures, a feature that was novel just five years ago. Enhancing the quality of small-batch brewing increases the versatility of drip machines, which were often overshadowed in the craft coffee boom by manual pour-over and espresso brewing systems. Cuisinart, Krups, Oxo, and others presented new devices with adjustable brew strength, water temperature controls, and both thermal and glass carafes. Krups introduced a turbo function to its Savoy brewer, resulting in a 35 percent faster brew time.

Certifications provide clarity for consumers and retailers. Since 2013, the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) has certified home brewers that meet its exacting protocol for water contact time and brew temperature. According to Mary Rogers, director of marketing communications at Cuisinart, SCAA certification "adds value." Currently, only six companies offer SCAA-certified brewers. Cuisinart is pursuing certification for its Pure Precision 8-cup Pour-Over brewer.

Some established brands are targeting the millennial market with product relaunches. Mr. Coffee, described by its marketers as an "authentic" and "established" brand that resonates with millennials, has a new logo and new products, including a single-serve espresso maker.

Braun is re-entering the U.S. market this fall after an 8-year absence with a line of appliances, including a drip coffee brewer, that are "more accessible" to the millennial demographic, according to Eddie Moye, a spokesperson for Braun.

Image shows a modern digital coffee maker with a black display and a silver and black hand blender with various attachments.

Evergreen Popularity of Blenders and Juicers

With the wellness lifestyle trend firmly established, the demand for reliable home juice-making solutions is strong, evidenced by cold-pressed juices selling for up to $10 at juice bars. The recent $120 million in venture capital funding for Juicero, a $700 juicer requiring an app and proprietary produce packs, highlights the market's interest in juice extractors.

Several houseware companies are introducing new juicers. Phillips claims its new patented slow-masticating Micro Juicer extracts 90 percent of whole fruits into juice, emphasizing easy assembly and small footprint for simple cleanup.

For fans of mid-century style, Smeg added a 43 RPM slow-extraction juicer to its retro-inspired line, available in cream, black, pastel blue, and red.

Smooth Moves

Year-round consumption of smoothies is at an all-time high, with Americans preparing 3.6 billion smoothies at home in 2015. More than 74 million households own a countertop blender, and 31 million own a single-serve unit, according to Vitamix.

This trend explains the influx of new entries in the blender category. KitchenAid's Proline Blender boasts the highest power "transfer capacity" and the "most powerful" 3.5 HP motor on the market, as stated by Jenna Llewllyn of Digitas. Kuvings demonstrated its 1500-watt high-speed machine with a digital display and six presets. Blendtec's Connect Food Prep System, scheduled for a fall release, will feature Bluetooth connectivity, a scale, 100 speeds, and 6 presets.

The Smart Power Blender Objecto by Bughatti attracted attention for its sleek design and joystick control, priced at $1,500. This high-speed blender exemplifies the trend towards ultra-premium kitchenwares.

Vitamix aims to differentiate its offerings with its Blend Quality Index (BQI), developed with a third-party lab to evaluate blend texture and smoothness. A higher BQI indicates a smoother product. Vitamix hopes this rating system, available to all, will become an industry standard for comparing products.

Size Matters

New product releases cater to diverse household needs, from diminutive single-cup coffee makers to supersized pressure cookers. Dash Brand introduced Mini Makers for cooking single waffles or pancakes. Aroma Housewares' individual digital rice cooker, available in fresh accent colors, makes two to three cups of rice. Bella's individual coffee makers and new 1.5-liter slow cookers appeal to those seeking compact solutions. KitchenAid's Mini, a 3.5-liter stand mixer, is another prominent launch catering to smaller spaces.

Miniaturization does not imply fewer functions. Consumers want "live large" in smaller spaces, requiring appropriately sized appliances that perform. KitchenAid's small food processor, slated for fall release, is a redesigned model with the same settings as a larger one.

Millennials often prefer spending money on experiences over objects. Crowd-feeding kitchen electrics align with the entertaining trend and consumer demand for experiences. Cuisinart's new multi-function glass-topped electric countertop steamer has a 5-liter capacity. Nesco's latest countertop roaster can cook a 22-pound turkey.

Countertop ovens are also responding to the desire for "live large" in small spaces, offering expanded temperature ranges and greater stability. Dash Brands offers a countertop oven capable of proofing and baking bread, dehydrating, or broiling. Delonghi's Livenza Oven with ThermoShield System promises multi-rack cooking. Designers are creating products that harmonize consumer needs for "health, joy, and ease." The Tovala, a smart oven and food delivery hybrid, allows users to order meals prepared in the company's kitchen, with the oven scanning bar codes to select the proper cooking method. Panasonic's prototype Countertop Induction Oven is another multi-functioning device designed to simplify home cooking, featuring a removable non-stick plate for bake, broil, or grill settings.

Manufacturers are expanding the functionality of slow and multi-cookers with new features. Sautéing, browning, and grain/rice cooking settings are standard. Zojirushi added a steel-cut oats setting and a brown rice setting to its popular Micon rice cooker, now available in a petite 3-cup raw rice capacity.

Precision Cooking Takes Center Stage

Sous vide cooking has driven significant product innovation, with brands like Hamilton Beach and Chantal promoting circulating water bath techniques. Millennials, familiar with sous vide from television, are eager to adopt it. Hamilton Beach's Sous Vide Slow Cooker doubles as a slow cooker.

Innovations from crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo are reaching market potential. Tribest presented its Sousvant, a freestanding, countertop water bath. Sansaire Sous Vide, an early home sous vide circulator, "empowers" home cooks by eliminating the need to worry about timing, making it ideal for entertaining and achieving unique textures.

Retailers should monitor demand for devices supporting this precision cooking method.

Connected Cooking

Housewares manufacturers are integrating features like touch screens, built-in recipes, and pictograms for ease of use. T-Fal's new Optigrill Plus XL includes a fin-fish icon for seafood cooking.

In line with the "Connected Home" theme, manufacturers are offering innovations in connectivity and automation. Coffee machine advances include the Saeco Gran Baristo Avanti, which connects to a mobile app via Bluetooth for ordering specialty coffee beverages. Nespresso's Prodigio espresso machine uses an app to brew single cups and alerts users when cleaning or pod refills are needed.

Multi-Tasking Mavens

Companies like Black and Decker and KitchenAid are exploring multi-cooker devices. Black and Decker's cooking pot steams, stirs, and automatically turns off when rice is done. KitchenAid plans to release its Artisan Cook Processor, a 4.5-liter bowl device for beating, stirring, sautéing, steaming, puréeing, and mixing dough, with an optional food processor attachment.

Gourmia introduced its 10-in-1 Multi-Function Robotic Cooker, a programmable device that weighs, preps, blends, and cooks food, featuring a digital touch-screen display with videos. This "internet of things" cooking device is described as a "smarter Thermomix."

These intelligent or guided cooking devices are seen as potential breakthroughs that could bring more people back into the kitchen.

Professional Results at Home

Hamilton Beach's Professional line offers high-speed blenders and snap-lid food processors, bringing commercial-grade expertise to home chefs. The trend is towards specialized equipment, from countertop chamber vacuum machines to chocolate-making equipment, allowing home cooks to emulate restaurant chefs.

The Premier Wonder Grinder with a Chocolate Maker is a bench model commercial grinder/concher for making bean-to-bar chocolate. Belgian manufacturer Croquade presented its Chocolatière, a 3-liter tabletop chocolate tempering machine.

Home chefs are seeking restaurant-quality results, inspired by professional bakeries and dining out.

Build Repeat Sales with Consumables

New or established small kitchen electrics are being complemented by consumables. KitchenAid partnered with Franzese for gelato and pasta mixes. Bosch offers Best Bread dough enhancer. Sansaire created a steak aging sauce for sous vide cooking. Salton's Easy Bread Maker offers a capsule bread machine for consumers daunted by ingredient preparation.

Consumables add value and encourage repeat customer visits. Cuisinart introduced its first branded K-cup compatible coffee pods. Consumables also tie into the gifting trend, driving traffic to independent housewares stores.

At the Crossroads of Color

While not the primary story, color is emerging in small electrics, with brands like KitchenAid adding new hues. Appliances are increasingly offered in copper, rose gold, and brushed aluminum finishes, with even traditional items like grain mills appearing in blue, red, or green.

Pantone's color forecast highlights how color can elevate products. The acceptance of "power clashing"—unexpected combinations of discordant colors—reflects a changing aesthetic. This reflects the state of small electrics: technologically advanced devices alongside artisan products, catering to diverse consumer needs and demographics.

New Products