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Do You Need a $400 Juicer?

Bloomberg · Youtube · 7 HN points · 2 HN comments
HN Theater has aggregated all Hacker News stories and comments that mention Bloomberg's video "Do You Need a $400 Juicer?".
Youtube Summary
One of the most lavishly funded gadget startups in Silicon Valley last year was Juicero Inc. It makes a juice machine. The device transforms single-serving packets of finely chopped fruits and vegetables into liquid freshness. But is it worth $399?

Video by David Nicholson, Henry Baker

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Not sure that Juicero is a good example good engineering, "Do You Need a $400 Juicer?"

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5lutHF5HhVA

michaelbuckbee
I think you and the parent comment are both partially right - from having watched a number of teardowns, the Juicero was (if anything) massively over-engineered in terms of number of parts, cost of those parts, how they were machined, etc.

It was also kind of clear that it went too far, that a more experienced hardware design and engineering team would have found (not a cheaper), but a more effective way to handle those same challenges.

voxadam
This reminds me all too much of Coffee Equipment Company which back around 2005 built the world's greatest coffee machine, Clover. Unfortunately, at $11k per machine even Starbucks, after buying the company, wasn't able to find a profitable niche for it. Clover machines were, are, beautiful machines that are able to repeatedly and dependably turn out genuinely great cup after great caffeinated cup; the problem is that it was a solution in search of a problem, much like Jucero.
fasquoika
>from having watched a number of teardowns, the Juicero was (if anything) massively over-engineered in terms of number of parts, cost of those parts, how they were machined, etc.

What you mean to say is that the Juicero was overbuilt and underengineered. As the saying goes, "anyone can build a bridge, it takes an engineer to barely build it".

Sep 01, 2017 · hwillis on Juicero Is Shutting Down
Nope; check it out: https://vimeo.com/214030931

That's mostly carrot (+lemon and orange) but still it's very dry. See also AvE's video[1] where he opens a bag and its full of processed but still largely intact pomegranate. You can squeeze most of a first glass out by hand[2] but that's about it. To get the rest out a press really is necessary- but Juicero isn't just a press. It's massive machined aluminum billets and expensive gears and a custom motor. The huge aluminum parts are likely the biggest cost sink- hundreds of dollars, easily. If they had made the things out of extrusions they could have saved 80%+ on the cost. Just goofy all around.

edit: also this... enthusiastic gentleman, who is pretty enthusiastic about the contents of the bag[3]

[1]: https://youtu.be/_Cp-BGQfpHQ?t=30m6s

[2]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lutHF5HhVA

[3]: https://youtu.be/wOmB7H6meUQ?t=22m3s

subcosmos
He says in the video, "Ain't no kill like overkill"

LMAO

microcolonel
> Nope

I don't know about you, but that cleanly fits my definition of "shredded".

> edit: also this... enthusiastic gentleman, who is pretty enthusiastic about the contents of the bag[3]

Yeah, discountjuicers.com guy is a real hoot. Good info too.

Apr 22, 2017 · 2 points, 1 comments · submitted by chenster
woogiewonka
Doesn't this product defeat the entire purpose of a "juicer". What a total waste.
Apr 20, 2017 · 5 points, 1 comments · submitted by ActsJuvenile
Cub3
The full article is pretty good - https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2017-04-19/silicon-v...
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