April/May 2026 housewareslive.net


moving away from sugary drinks, rethinking single-use packaging. It all pointed in the same direction.”


“Home carbonation made sense,” Mr Groth adds. “Though there is always that question: is there a gap in the market, but is there a market in the gap?” Even so, there was no guarantee consumers would pay for a premium version. “There is always that


question,” says Mr Groth. “There is a gap in the market, but is there a market in the gap?” To secure a small business loan, the pair were forced to write a business plan, something neither particularly wanted to do. In hindsight, it became an important milestone. “It became like a contract between us,” says Mr Groth. “This is what


we’re going to do.” Once development started, they quickly realised the challenge ahead. “It seemed straightforward on paper. No electricity, just gas,” adds Mr


Groth. The answer turned out to be far more complicated. Working with


pressurised gas required a completely different mindset. “We realised we’re not building a design company,” says Mr Groth.


“We’re building an engineering company.” The process became far longer and more technical than expected.


They changed engineers, searched for manufacturing partners and taught themselves every part of the production process. “In Sweden and Europe, we couldn’t find anyone who could do the


deep drawing we needed,” says Mr Ljungh. “They said it wasn’t possible.” Eventually, they found the right partner. “They said, no problem, we can prototype in 10 days,” says Mr Groth. Funding remained tight throughout. Without outside investors,


the Founders continued consultancy work to finance tooling and development themselves. “It was back and forth,” says Mr Groth. “Consulting, then investing in


tooling, then back again.” After nearly three years, they finally had a working product. Then came the challenge of actually selling it. They built out their engineering team, tracked down the right manufacturing partners, and learned the production process from the ground up. Their first breakthrough came via a Swedish gas company that agreed to distribute the product. The company asked how many units were available. “We said 500,” says Mr Groth. “They said, we’ll take them all, but you


need to deliver before Christmas.” The problem was the units were not fully ready. Production became a


frantic race against time. “It was chaos,” says Mr Ljungh. The machines ended up in a large electronics retailer, surrounded


by competing products under bright store lighting. Yet consumers responded immediately. “They sold out straight away,” says Mr Groth. “Then they ordered


more. And more.” For the Founders, it confirmed an important belief. “The product is the best marketing tool,” says Mr Ljungh. “If you get the product right, it sells itself.”


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HOUSEWARES MAGAZINE ON TOUR The products


Aarke’s philosophy is perhaps most visible in the finer details of its products. Rather than overwhelming customers with unnecessary features, the company focuses on refining the everyday experience through thoughtful engineering and subtle design choices. Its temperature-control kettle, for example, includes a smooth-opening lid mechanism designed to reduce splashing and create a quieter, more controlled movement when opened. Inside, a removable stainless steel filter helps reduce limescale while maintaining a cleaner pour. The same attention to detail extends throughout. Double-wall stainless steel construction helps retain heat while reducing boiling noise, hidden heating elements create cleaner internal surfaces, and precision spouts are designed for a steadier pour. Even features such as dry-boil protection and memory temperature settings are integrated discreetly, ensuring the technology never overwhelms the design itself. Aarke’s coffee system follows the same philosophy seen across the


rest of its products: reducing complexity while refining the details that shape the daily experience. The stainless steel coffee maker is designed to maintain the ideal brewing temperature throughout the brewing process, helping preserve flavour consistency, while a “smart hot plate” gradually reduces heat over time to prevent coffee from burning. The wider coffee system has been engineered as one integrated experience. The grinder automatically measures the correct amount of beans based on the amount of water added, while the flat burr grinding system is designed to create more even extraction. Practical details such as a drip-stop filter basket, interchangeable brewing containers and a thermal jug with an intelligent push-and-pour lid reinforce the brand’s focus on usability without unnecessary complexity. The Founders originally expected the audience to be limited to design- conscious consumers in major cities, but demand proved far broader. “We saw that this could be much bigger than we thought,” says Mr


Groth. Despite that success, Aarke resisted expanding too quickly. For nearly


six years, the company focused solely on perfecting the carbonator before moving into related categories including water purification, kettles and coffee systems. “We don’t try to tick every box,” says Mr Ljungh. “We try to remove things that don’t make sense.” For both Founders, the company’s philosophy still centres on combining design, functionality and durability while encouraging consumers to invest in products built to last. Today, Aarke has become a recognised premium brand. “We want to


improve everyday routines,” says Mr Ljungh. “Make them feel a bit more meaningful.” “It’s about taking something ordinary,” concludes Mr Groth, “and making it better.”


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