Simply Good Coffee has sold out its production runs more than once since releasing its plastic-free drip coffee brewer last year, according to a WIRED review by Matthew Korfhage published August 7, 2026. The review profiles two machines that remove plastic from the brewing path: the Ratio Eight Series 2 at $799 and the Simply Good Coffee Plastic-Free Brewer at $480. WIRED noted that plastic can leach tiny particles called microplastics into coffee or water, and while the science on health risks is not settled, the concern has created a niche for plastic-free hardware.
The era of plastic-free drip coffee has finally arrived.
Two Machines, Two Price Points
According to WIRED, the Simply Good Coffee machine is the only drip brewer Korfhage has tested that completely avoids plastic, including on the cold water tank. The Ratio Eight Series 2, by contrast, never brings hot water into contact with plastic, but the review does not claim it is plastic-free on the cold side. Korfhage reported that the Ratio Eight produces drip coffee that rivals the best pour-over and is the best drip coffee he has tasted, while the Simply Good machine delivers what he called "generally light-bodied" coffee, brewing in six minutes even on full 40-ounce batches. Its results beat most basic drip coffee makers but trail the "best-of-the-best" machines from Moccamaster, Fellow, and Ratio, he wrote.
The Simply Good brewer carries the following specifications, as reported by WIRED:
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Reservoir | 40 ounces |
| Dimensions | 13.7 x 7.8 x 14.6 in (L x W x H) |
| Weight | 8 pounds |
| Features | Bloom cycle, coffee warmer, manual drip stop |
| Carafe | Borosilicate glass |
| Warmer | Automatically on, timed shutoff |
| Brew time | Six minutes for full 40-ounce batch |
| Warranty | 5 years |
Korfhage described the operation as "dead simple," with just two switches: one for the brewer and warming plate, the other for the pour-over style "bloom" function that wets the grounds before a full batch. The unit turns itself off after 40 minutes unless manually switched off.
Materials and the Manufacturing Trade-Off
The plastic-free positioning rests on material substitutions, according to WIRED. The Simply Good Coffee frame is made of 304 "food grade" stainless steel, while the reservoir, carafe, and boiler tube are borosilicate glass. Critical connections, including the drip stop, use medical-grade, sand-based silicone fittings that "are not thought to produce nanoparticles easily," Korfhage wrote. The result, he said, is "the least plasticky drip coffee machine I am aware of," with no plastic contact on hot or cold surfaces and very minimal silicone contact.
That material selection carries a manufacturing cost penalty. WIRED reported that both plastic-free machines "cost significantly more than machines made with injection-molded plastic parts that are easier to manufacture." Injection-molded plastic is a standard high-volume process for small appliances; stainless steel and borosilicate glass require more expensive metal forming, glass fabrication, and precision assembly. The historical baseline for the category, WIRED noted, dates to the first Mr. Coffee machines in the 1970s, where nearly every drip coffee maker included plastic at some point in the brewing process.
Company, Supply Chain, and Production
Simply Good Coffee was founded in 2022 by Laura Sommers, former CEO of Bonavita, a known brand in precision coffee equipment. According to WIRED, Simply Good was initially a "reasonably obscure brand" focused on more affordable takes on premium machines such as the Bonavita and Moccamaster, whose design the Simply Good machine somewhat resembles.
The plastic-free model "rocketed Simply Good into sudden prominence," Korfhage reported, and the company has sold out its production runs more than once since its release last year. That pattern points to a brand running limited, made-to-demand production rather than the continuous high-volume lines typical of conventional drip coffee makers. The machine is "tested, but not certified, to maintain precise brewing temperatures throughout the entire brewing process," according to WIRED — a distinction relevant to OEM sourcing teams evaluating certification requirements in food-contact equipment.
Production Timeline
WIRED's review, published August 7, 2026, noted both machines arrived on the market in the past year. The Simply Good machine has been in production since its release last year, while the Ratio Eight Series 2 is offered at a higher price point. WIRED's review did not disclose production capacity, lead times, or factory locations.
For manufacturing executives and procurement teams, the demonstrated market pull for plastic-free brewing is the headline: a small company with limited capacity has repeatedly sold out production runs on the strength of material substitution alone. The trade-off between low-cost injection-molded plastic and the higher cost of stainless steel, glass, and medical-grade silicone has now become a visible product strategy in a category previously defined by molded plastic parts.
Sources:
