From Then to Now: Celebrating Zojirushi’s Innovative Carafe Designs

Posted on February 23, 2024 by Zojirushi America Corporation

Take a stroll down memory lane with us today, all the way back to where Zojirushi’s innovation in thermal carafes began. Thermal carafes—or “Pots” as they are affectionately known in Japan— weren’t just vessels for pouring drinks; they were statements of ingenuity and style that have left a lasting impression. Let’s peek into how these carafes have shaped our warm sips and cool refreshments through the years.

The Clock Pot: Timing Your Brew to Perfection – 1983

Remember the Clock Pot? Launched in 1983, this industry-first carafe with a built-in digital clock was the talk of the town. Using integrated circuit technology (also known as the microchip), we saw the rise of digital clocks that were both durable and affordable and could be incorporated right into the thermal carafes. The Clock Pot had three display options in the digital clock: month/date, hour/minute, and seconds. This stylish carafe met the era’s love for digital with gusto. Available in red, green, and white, it was a chic addition to any space. This kind of clever thinking continues to inspire Zojirushi’s designs today—blending practicality with a touch of fun.

The Ramen Pot: Keeping It Hot – 1985

The Ramen Pot had unparalleled heat retention power among 1-liter carafes of its time. This allowed instant foods such as cup noodles to be enjoyed quickly and without hassle. Additionally, this carafe featured a vacuum glass liner, which provides premium heat retention to the carafe’s contents – and this technology is still utilized today in our carafes.

Back then, the ramen pot was lightweight and thus easy to carry. The body of the pot was made of resin, and it was 170g lighter than the standard 1-liter pots of the time. The stable flask-shaped form and pop coloring gave it a casual feel and a very fresh appearance.

Naturally, the heat quality, paired with its small footprint, made it convenient for use in public offices and for coffee. This pot became indispensable for students studying for entrance exams, professionals working late, and those working hard into the night.

In the pursuit of the highest heat retention, Zojirushi developed a new high-neck medium bottle with a smaller mouth and a much longer neck. It exhibited excellent heat retention that exceeded conventional 1-liter carafes in the 80s. Today, this same dedication to maintaining the temperature of your hot foods and chilling your cold drinks persists in our products.

The Elephant Pot: Small Pot, Big Personality – 1982

The “Elephant” Pot was a charmer in its day. Tailored for tabletop use at the time of its release, the mainstream air pot was this “elephant style” air pot with a low spout. In 1982, Zojirushi newly developed this popular 1-liter size with increased production in red, blue, and white options. Fast forward to now, and Zojirushi’s products continue to bring that personal touch to your daily routines, offering a variety of choices to fit your unique style.

Our Enduring Craftsmanship

Zojirushi’s commitment to quality has been unwavering. The robust stainless-steel carafes of yesteryears set the stage for the resilient and stylish products we create today. We’re still all about marrying durability with designs you’ll love showing off. Every Zojirushi product is a nod to our past, blending timeless innovation and current trends. Those funky carafes of the past? They’ve evolved into today’s sleek lineup, but the essence remains the same: to make your daily life a little easier and a lot more delightful.

As we reminisce about these iconic thermal carafes, we celebrate the inventive spirit that’s been part of Zojirushi’s DNA from the get-go. Whether it’s the first sip of coffee in the morning or a comforting cup of tea at night, our carafes have been there, and we’re excited to see where they’ll go next.

Got a vintage Zojirushi carafe or a story to share? We’d love to see it and hear it! Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, and let’s keep making memories, one cup at a time. #ZojirushiHistory

Redefining Rice Service: The Zojirushi Thermal Rice Warmer Delivers Superior Quality

Posted on February 16, 2024 by Zojirushi America Corporation

Maintaining consistency in food quality is paramount in the fast-paced world of commercial kitchens. Rice, a staple in many global cuisines, requires particular attention. The Zojirushi Thermal Rice Warmer RDS-400/600 is our non-electric, eco-friendly answer for occasions requiring large amounts of perfectly cooked rice. It promises quality and efficiency in rice preparation, a hallmark of the commercial rice cooker warmer experience.

Features and Benefits

The standout feature of the Zojirushi Thermal Rice Warmer is its remarkable ability to keep rice at its ideal serving temperature for up to 6 hours, all without the need for electricity. This unique attribute not only makes the rice warmer portable and adaptable for various events but also marks it as an eco-friendly choice. Its stackable design makes it an excellent option for catering and outdoor events, where space optimization and power availability are often challenging.

Moreover, the construction of the rice warmer is meticulously engineered to resist the effects of acidity. This makes it particularly suitable for holding sushi rice, an integral component of Japanese and various fusion cuisines. The resilience of the warmer ensures that rice, even when combined with vinegar-based seasonings, remains fresh and palatable for extended periods.

Ease of Use and Maintenance

Consistent with Zojirushi’s legacy of user-friendly designs, the Thermal Rice Warmer is a model of convenience. It features a reusable and replaceable dew-collecting sponge and its holder on the lid, making maintenance straightforward and ensuring hygiene. The design’s simplicity is especially beneficial in the hustle and bustle of catering environments, allowing for hassle-free operation.

ETL Sanitation Listed

Adhering to safety and sanitation standards is crucial in commercial food service. The Zojirushi Thermal Rice Warmer proudly meets these critical requirements, being ETL Sanitation listed. This certification is not just a mark of compliance but a testament to the product’s commitment to maintaining the highest food safety standards.

Versatility in Use

The versatility of the Zojirushi Thermal Rice Warmer extends beyond traditional restaurant settings. Its portability and non-electric operation make it ideal for a variety of food service scenarios, including outdoor banquets, pop-up food stations, and even in settings where traditional cooking facilities are unavailable. Want to see the rice warmer in action? Watch our product video on YouTube.

Reflection on Quality and Innovation

At Zojirushi, we understand that the tools and equipment used in food preparation play a vital role in the overall dining experience. The Thermal Rice Warmer reflects our dedication to enhancing this experience through innovative solutions. Whether elevating the dining experience at a high-end sushi bar, streamlining service at a bustling buffet, or bringing convenience to outdoor culinary events, this rice warmer is designed to meet the demanding needs of professional chefs and caterers.

We’d love to hear from our professional culinary community. How have our commercial rice warmers impacted your service? Share your experiences and thoughts with us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. #Zojirushi #ZoFan

Love Bites

Posted on February 4, 2024 by Bert Tanimoto

Chocolate chip cookies and coffee must be a match made in cookie heaven, agree? I decided to combine the best of both worlds for Valentine’s, using the Recipe of the Year from King Arthur Flour^® and Zojirushi’s newest coffee maker. The King Arthur Flour company claims to have baked over 1200 cookies to perfect this chocolate chip cookie recipe, and used over 38 pounds of butter in the process.

I didn’t use that much butter, but I did use a cookie cutter and my Zojirushi Toaster Oven to bake these lovelies.

I was worried about the cookie dough spreading out into an unrecognizable blob when it baked, so I simply baked them right in the mold. All it took was greasing the sides of each cutter, then baking like any batch of cookies.

If you like your cookies on the cakey side, this recipe is for you—you can find it on their site. I like mine chewy more than cakey, so I’ve had better IMHO. But they go great with coffee, so let’s segue into my new coffee maker, shall we?

First impressions — Zojirushi didn’t mess around with the design; it’s compact as can be for a 12-cup coffee maker. Fantastic use of optimal height, width and depth in a no-nonsense, sleek, small footprint design. I was happy to see a setting for brewing small amounts of coffee, which I experimented with immediately for my first test. I used grounds that I consider to be a cut above old school 1st wave but lower than craft coffee 3rd wave. If you’re a coffee snob you’ll know what I mean, and you’re probably into a 4th wave yourself.

I brewed only 4 cups, and the coffee was delicious! I tested the Taste Tuner feature that controls the brew strength and that worked too, turning my mid-level coffee beans into a pretty rich blend. I love the sound of percolating coffee.

A few years ago I reviewed my Zojirushi Breadmaker by baking a crazy looking Rainbow Bread with it, kinda going overboard with the food coloring in the process. I decided to tone it down for this Valentine’s, but not by much — ha ha!

I just used the Homemade Course on my Breadmaker to make the dough first, then flattened it out and rolled the two colors together as tightly as I could.

The dough should look something like this when it’s rolled up.

The Homemade Course allows you the time to do this step in between the knead and rise cycle, so when you’re done you simply put the dough back into the baking pan and start the baking cycle again. I would advise you take out the kneading blade at this point because it’s no longer kneaded (get it?). You want to minimize the hole at the bottom of your bread.

Bake according to regular White Bread instructions and the Breadmaker does the rest. Look…look into my bread…are you getting sleepy? Watch the pretty pink spirals go round and round and round. When you wake up you can eat it for breakfast; trust me, it’ll be delicious.

What do you guys have planned for Valentine’s? How about a picnic or a brisk hike in the woods; maybe you have kids who play sports like we did and you spend a lot of time following them around, sitting on cold metal bleachers while you watch them for hours. The good ‘ol days! I don’t regret them — it was fun. We didn’t have Zojirushi Food Jars back then, but I wish we did. We would have made clam chowder like here, and packed a hot soup snack.

I’m not gonna lie, I was already expecting the thermal insulation to be top notch (it’s Zojirushi after all), but I didn’t expect it to blow me away like it did. We heated and packed this soup in the afternoon at around 2pm, and we had it for dinner at 6:30. It was literally too hot to eat without blowing on it to keep it from burning my tongue. Maybe it was the type of soup too—clam chowder is thick and retains heat well. We also pre-heated the food jars which also probably helped.

Are these the perfect His & Her food jars? These might be the best designed jars that Zojirushi has made yet—minimalistic yet very sleek, in muted colors for sophisticated boys and girls. Lots of features in these new food jars; a better insulated, one-piece lid that’s easier to clean, and it’s designed to relieve the pressure build-up from hot foods when you open it. I even liked the octagonal packaging. Pretty cool.

Well, that’s it for me this month–have a great Valentine’s everyone!

Products used in this post: Micom Toaster Oven ET-ZLC30, Home Bakery Maestro® Breadmaker BB-SSC10, Dome Brew Programmable Coffee Maker EC-ESC120, Stainless Steel Food Jars SW-KA40 and SW-KA52H

Please note that these recipes were not tested by Zojirushi America.

From the Zojirushi Vault: The Pelican Pot

Posted on January 26, 2024 by Zojirushi America Corporation

Hello Zo family! Are you ready to delve into a bit of history, infused with the charm of our vintage water pots? Let’s travel back to the late 1940s when Zojirushi introduced a marvel of innovation to Japanese dining tables: the Pelican Pot.

This wasn’t just any thermal carafe; it marked our foray into vacuum-insulated technology in the post-WWII era, offering a symbol of comfort and luxury with every pour. Join us in this nostalgic journey to when the Pelican Pot became an integral part of our heritage.

Meet the “Magic Jar”

The “mahobin“ or vacuum flask, also known as the “magic jar” in Japan, is a key household item with its roots deeply embedded in Osaka. Osaka first domestically produced the mahobin around 1912, leveraging the region’s expertise in glass and lightbulb production, originating from European innovations.

These flasks were initially largely exported, particularly to Southeast Asia, because of the high demand from European colonists. This export boom led to the development of brand identity in Japan, with Zojirushi emerging as a notable player. Founded in 1918 by the Ishikawa brothers, Zojirushi began as a bottle workshop. It later evolved into a mahobin wholesaler, and introduced the iconic elephant mark as their trademark.

Luxury Turned Everyday Comfort with Insulated Carafes

In post-war Japan, people considered vacuum bottles and insulated carafes a luxury. But Zojirushi, driven by Shigeyuki Ichikawa’s visionary approach, transitioned this luxury into a daily comfort. By 1948, our innovative tabletop pot, designed for the Western dining experience, found its place in countless homes. Known for its unique shape, we called it the “Pelican Pot.”

Its popularity soared, making it a bestseller by 1956. These products, along with the introduction of designs like the floral print flask, cemented Zojirushi’s position as a market leader. The company also ventured into other product lines, notably transitioning to stainless steel vacuum flasks and developing the cook-and-keep-warm rice cooker, marking its evolution into a comprehensive manufacturer of everyday goods. This was a testament to our commitment to blending practicality with luxury, using materials like stainless steel for durability and quality.

Celebrating Our Roots: From Glass Lined Pots to Thermal Carafes

Jumping ahead to 1988, our 70th anniversary, we celebrated by reviving the iconic Pelican Pot, integrating a touch of history into modern dining experiences. Those interested in our legacy can visit our headquarters in Osaka, Japan. Here, you’ll discover a range of innovations, from glass-lined pots that preserve flavor to advanced thermal carafes. We even showcase the Mahobin, the water bottle that supported an Olympic victory – a testament to our technological advancements.

Zojirushi Today

Since the days of the “Pelican Pot”, Zojirushi has continued to innovate, leveraging its vacuum technology in various fields, including space exploration and sports. The company’s mahobin technology has been adapted for extreme conditions, such as withstanding high speeds in space and maintaining temperature for Olympic athletes.

In fact, in 2004, Zojirushi’s stainless-steel bottle was used by the long-distance runner Mizuki Noguchi, during the race she took home gold. Carrying the drinking water that hydrated her during her run, this bottle was a work of craft that kept the liquid temperature at 10° C (50° F). The bottle committed to its job perfectly, enough for Noguchi herself to say, “This bottle saved me.”

These advancements not only demonstrate Zojirushi’s commitment to innovation but also underscore the global impact and versatility of the mahobin, as it continues to be a beloved and essential item in households and industries worldwide. The technology has evolved into today’s coffee pots, water boilers, kettles, and glass lined vacuum carafes.

Do you have cherished memories of the Pelican Pot during family gatherings? Or stories of how Zojirushi’s range, from the traditional water pot to the modern stainless-steel pot, has been a part of your life’s moments?

Share these memories with us by tagging Zojirushi on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. Your stories are not just cherished but are a vital part of our history too. #Zojirushi #ZoFan

Zojirushi Thermal Gravity Pot®: The Perfect Hot Beverage Dispenser

Posted on January 16, 2024 by Zojirushi America Corporation

At Zojirushi, we’re not just about creating products but about crafting experiences that enrich your everyday life. Our lineup of Thermal Gravity Pot® Beverage Dispensers, including the SY-BA60, SY-AA25, and AY-AE25 models, are a testament to our century-long commitment to quality, innovation, and meeting the unique needs of our commercial customers. These thermal beverage dispensers use the force of gravity to dispense beverages so that our thermal pots keep beverages tasting fresh for hours while minimizing oxidation at the same time. To ensure they comply with industry standards, they are all NSF certified. Here’s a closer look at what makes our different models of commercial coffee thermal dispensers unique and special from each other.

Thermal Gravity Pot® SY-BA60/60N: Excellence for High-Volume Needs

Our Thermal Gravity Pot® Beverage Dispenser SY-BA60 is a reliable partner for your bustling family gathering, restaurant, or catering service. This appliance is a superb hot beverage dispenser, and an excellent choice to keep beverages tasting fresh for hours. The commercial coffee/tea thermal beverage dispenser is also packed with easy-to-use, easy-to-clean features:

Large Capacity: With an extra-large 1.5-gallon capacity, it’s designed for high volume, ensuring you’re always ready to serve a crowd.
Durability and Heat Retention: Its high-quality stainless steel vacuum liner and durable plastic body, resistant to dents and corrosion, guarantee longevity and consistent performance. The impressive heat retention keeps beverages like coffee, tea, or water, hot and fresh for hours.

Ease of Use and Cleaning: The fold-down handle with a name tag holder, lever-style dispense mechanism, and easily detachable parts for cleaning, make it highly user-friendly.
Design and Aesthetics: Its sleek design is functional and enhances the aesthetic appeal of any serving area.

Watch our product video to learn more:

Thermal Gravity Pot® SY-AA25: Tailored for Versatility

Our Thermal Gravity Pot® SY-AA25 model, another excellent thermal beverage dispenser, takes versatility to the next level. This model offers unique features, such as a detachable serving base that allows it to fit under most brewers. The fold-down handle has a name tag holder so that you and your guests always know which kind of brew is available, and the removable drip tray keeps the dispensing area clean. It features our Brew-Thru® lid (BTL for short) with a mesh filter that helps catch rogue coffee grounds that may filter through some brewers. Here’s why you’ll love this thermal beverage dispenser for your smaller-scale or on-the-go events.

Compact and Efficient: Ideal for smaller spaces while still boasting an impressive 84 oz. capacity, it’s perfect for diverse settings.
High Heat Retention: The stainless-steel vacuum liner ensures beverages remain at the ideal temperature for hours, making it a reliable insulated beverage dispenser for long events.
Customization: With optional features like a taller serving base, it’s customizable to fit your specific service needs.

Thermal Gravity Pot® AY-AE25/25N: The Epitome of Zojirushi Craftsmanship

The Zojirushi Thermal Gravity Pot® Beverage Dispenser AY-AE25/25N is designed to keep beverages fresh for extended periods using the natural force of gravity for dispensing, which minimizes oxidation. Zojirushi is known for our high-quality vacuum insulated glass liners, and this Gravity Pot® features our best high-capacity vacuum-insulated glass liner, ensuring excellent heat retention. It has a capacity of 84 oz. / 2.5 liters and features a high-impact plastic body that resists dents and corrosion. The fold-down handle with a name tag holder, removable drip tray, and an optional taller serving base (7-1/2 inch opening) make it versatile and user-friendly. It also fits under most commercial coffee brewing machines, making it ideal as a commercial coffee thermal dispenser.

Get a closer look at our Thermal Gravity Pot® AY-AE25, along with our lineup of commercial products here:

At Zojirushi, we understand that in the fast-paced world of food service and hospitality, you need solutions that are not only efficient and reliable but also embody a sense of style and sophistication. Our Thermal Gravity Pot® Beverage Dispensers are designed with these principles at their core, ensuring that you can serve your guests with confidence and ease. Now that you know everything there is to know about Zojirushi’s commercial Thermal Gravity Pot®, which one is for you? Make sure to show us how you use your thermal pot at your events by sharing your comments and tagging us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. #Zojirushi #ZoFan