Edmund Abel
Edmund Angel Abel, Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 12, 1921 |
| Died | April 21, 2014 (aged 92) |
| Occupation | Engineer |
| Known for | Designed and patented the heating element for Mr. Coffee |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |  United States Army |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Edmund Angel Abel, Jr. (May 12, 1921 – April 21, 2014) was an American
Biography
Early life
Abel was born in
Career
He became a student pilot and an amateur radio operator as a high school student.
Business partners Samuel Glazer and Vincent Marotta of North American Systems Inc., which was headquartered in Cleveland, originally conceived the basic idea for a consumer, automatic drip coffeemaker for home.[3] Glazer and Marotta soon hired Abel and another former Westinghouse engineer, Erwin Schulze, to create the machine.[1][2] Abel developed a new type of coffeemaker which used water heated to a lower temperature than traditional percolators.[1] The new brewer also produced a more mellow, lighter taste than a percolator.[1] The new machine, which was patented by Edmund Abel, came to be called Mr. Coffee.[1] In addition to a less bitter flavor, Abel's heating element for Mr. Coffee could also brew coffee much faster than any, similar machines available at the time.[1] Mr. Coffee could brew one cup of coffee in just 30 seconds and ten cups in just five minutes.[1]
Abel's heating element for the coffeemaker was unveiled at the National Housewares Show in Chicago in 1971.[1] It went on sale in 1972 for $39.99, effectively revolutionizing the home brewing market.[1] Beginning in 1973, sales were bolstered by TV advertising that featured New York Yankees baseball great Joe DiMaggio, who became the face of Mr. Coffee for over 20 years.[6]
Abel received very little credit or attribution for his patented heating element for the coffeemaker.[1] Though he held the patent for the heating element for Mr. Coffee, Abel assigned the patent to Mr. Coffee's manufacturer, North American Systems.[1][4] The co-owner of North American Systems Inc., Vincent Marotta, often took full credit for the complete conception and design of Mr. Coffee in interviews, which reportedly annoyed Abel.[1] Edmund Abel received very few royalties from his patented invention.[1]
Abel died from old age at his home in Rocky River, Ohio, at the age of 92.[1][2] He credited his long lifespan with a natural diet supplemented with grapefruit seed extract.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y Miller, Stephen (2014-05-01). "Edmund Abel, heating element creator for Mr. Coffee Who Shunned Brew, Dies at 92". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 2014-05-15.
- ^ a b c Galbincea, Barb (2014-04-29). "Edmund Abel, Rocky River resident who helped create Mr. Coffee brewer, dies at age 92". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved 2014-05-15.
- ^ a b c d Hevesi, Dennis (2012-03-21). "Samuel Glazer Dies at 89; Popularized Drip Coffee". The New York Times. Retrieved 2014-05-15.
- ^ a b "Automatic Drip Brewer Inventor Edmund Abel Dies at Age 92". Daily Coffee News. 2014-05-01. Retrieved 2014-05-20.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Mythbuster: Ed Abel - Inventor, pilot, sailor, rock-hound". Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging. 2011-09-08. Retrieved 2014-05-15.
- ^ "Mr. Coffee and Joltin' Joe DiMaggio". npr.org. October 29, 2005. Retrieved 2024-02-26.