May 2026 ertonline.co.uk


“It was back and forth,” says Mr Groth. “Consulting, then investing in tooling, then back again.” After nearly three years,


they finally had a 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 built out their engineering team, tracked down the right manufacturing partners, and learned the production process from the ground up. “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.


working product. Then came the challenge of actually selling it.


“Like any first-time manufacturer, we had to


figure out the full chain,” says Mr Ljungh. “From tooling and production to logistics and getting product into market.” 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, take them all, but you need to deliver


we’ll before Christmas.” The tight deadline pushed production to its limits.


“It tested everything we had,” 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.”


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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