Forgotten Women Inventors: Let’s have coffee

Posted on by Teagan Riordain Geneviene
Wednesday, September 18, 2024
1960s Sanka Coffee ad
1960s Sanka coffee ad
Welcome, everyone.  

UPDATE

Recently I began a post with a reminder that this blog is my sanctuary — a safe place for everyone, without judgement, religion, or politics.  That seems to be beyond the grasp of some politically inclined people.  I usually give those who misbehave the benefit of the doubt. I let things go a few times, but that only seems to embolden them. So let me be clear. No political comments.  “Real Steampunkery Tech: True Contraptions of the Steam and Diesel Eras” is now in Amazon’s publication process. It will be available very soon.  Meanwhile, I wanted to share another of the forgotten women inventors who captured my imagination.  If you like your “cup of Joe,” you will appreciate the woman who invented the coffee filter.

Melitta Bentz

This German woman’s kitchen was a place of trial and error, but when she got the system she wanted, she put her name on it.
Melitta_Bentz
Melitta Bentz, Wikipedia

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Coming Soon!

My Author Tool Chest collection is growing.  This one is a summary overview of unexpected, odd, and downright freakish inventions of bygone days. 

Real Steampunkery Tech: True Contraptions of the Steam and Diesel Eras

Revised cover "Real Steampunkery Tech: True Contraptions of the Steam and Victorian Eras

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Thanks for joining me for coffee.  Friendly comments are encouraged.  Hugs!

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I must include the obligatory shameless self-promotion.
Speak Chuckaboo & Speak Flapper
Speak Chuckaboo & Speak Flapper, by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene
Universal Purchase Links Speak Chuckaboo Kindle:  relinks.me/B0B9W38LDJ Paperback:  relinks.me/B0B9T8MP1K Speak Flapper Kindle:  relinks.me/B083HNK3BB Paperback:  relinks.me/1656168553

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Copyright © 2024 by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

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76 thoughts on “Forgotten Women Inventors: Let’s have coffee”

  1. Pingback: Oct. 22, 2024 by Traci Dowe/Kenworth – Where Genres Collide Traci Dowe/Kenworth YA Gothic fantasy Author

  2. Wow li’l sistah, another couple of books. Thats amazing! You’re up there with those fascinating inventors. Congratulations to you. I mean that wholeheartedly. I already know your caliber so I know this one will be amazing too. Here’s looking at you 🥂 Hugs.

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    1. You are so kind, Selma — heartfelt thanks. Amazon’s KDP is driving me nuts with the paperback. They keep finding bizarre, petty excuses to hold it back. I’m at my wit’s end with them. So thank you even more for your friendly, supportive comments today. Hugs back to you.

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  5. This was an interesting post. I’m both a tea lover and a coffee fan. However, this was something new that I hadn’t knew so good to know about women inventors who have contributed so much without getting the spotlight they deserve. Kudos. Hugs.

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    1. Thanks so much for your kind words, Jan. That means a lot, because right now I’m struggling with a cover for my 1920s paranormal series “A Medium’s Peril.” I’ve spent endless hours just looking for image parts that I can put into one of my collages, and nothing is working for me. Oh well — the right thing is out there somewhere. Hugs.

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    1. Indeed, Liz. I thought so too. “Real Steampunkery Tech: True Contraptions of the Steam and Diesel Eras” has a total of 52 mini-bios on those forgotten women inventors. Haha — and when I started adding them at the last minute, I thought I would only find a few. I simply had to do an entire section for them. Hugs.

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  11. Yahoo!

    A great woman inventor to feature! I do like my cuppa joe in the morning.

    It’s all new to me, so thank you very much!

    Also, congrats on the new book coming out soon!

    Hugs!

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    1. I’m glad you liked it, Resa. LOL, I was beginning to think I was the only one who had not been familiar with her.
      The book is live (published) now, but I won’t be ready with an announcement post until the weekend. “Real Steampunkery Tech: True Contraptions of the Steam and Diesel Eras” has a total of 52 mini-bios on those forgotten women inventors. Haha — and when I started adding them at the last minute, I thought I would only find a few. I simply had to do an entire section for them. Hugs winging back to you. 🙂

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  12. Such a cool story! Very empowering, I love that saying “if you want something said, ask a man, if you want something done ask a woman” As I’m sitting here enjoying my afternoon coffee, I just booked a dumpster rental in Sanibel, FL because I want to redo my driveway landscaping and you bet your bottom dollar I’ll be putting my name (or handprint) in some concrete after I finish!

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    1. Thanks, Rebecca. You were ahead of me — I wasn’t familiar with the name at all. I’m happy you enjoyed the post.
      “Real Steampunkery Tech: True Contraptions of the Steam and Diesel Eras” is live (published) now (and at a one-day low price), but I won’t be able to finish the announcement post until the weekend. Anyhow, the book has a total of 52 mini-bios on those forgotten women inventors. Haha — and when I started adding them at the last minute, I thought I would only find a few. I simply had to do an entire section for them. Hugs on the wing.

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  15. I was first introduced to good coffee and Melitta filters in Germany. When I returned to the US, we were far behind in making a good cup of joe. Thankfully, we’ve caught up with Europe and good coffee filtered through Melitta filters in a Melitta coffee maker is widely available. I adore the subjects of your books and blog, Teagan. You have a wonderful gift of entertaining and educating us.

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    1. You are so kind, Daniel — thanks very much. You were ahead of me, because I wasn’t even familiar with the name. I was “finished” with the book, when I started running into women inventors of those eras in my research. I started adding them to the mini-bios I was using at the beginning of each letter of the inventions. When I kept finding more, I had to create a “bonus” section for them. I appreciate you reading and commenting. Hugs.

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      1. My pleasure, Teagan. I love that women inventors just kept bubbling up from our steam powered history for you. I’m sure they could become an endless parade of remarkable women who contributed to making our angry blue planet a much better place to live.

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  21. Wonderful and interesting history. We have used Melitta coffee products for years. I use a Melitta gold filter to strain the cowboy-style coffee I make for Laurie every morning. I switched to dark roast instant coffee a few years ago because I can make it as strong as I like, one cup at a time. I hadn’t heard of Sanka in years. I assume it’s still around. My dad liked Sanka. “Real Steampunkery Tech” looks like a lot of fun.

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    1. Hi, Tim. I’m in the minority for not being familiar with them. Although the name does seem vaguely familiar. It looks like Sanka is still around, although what I saw was outrageously priced. For about 20 years I drank Kava instant. (I get problems from acidic foods, particularly coffee, and Kava used to claim it was 99% acid neutralized.) It often became hard to get, and went away completely during COVID (although it’s back now — if with a nearly 300% price increase). In the past I couldn’t get ground (or beans) coffee with reduced acid. Happily, that changed in recent years. The Lucy Jo brand reduced acid works best for me and my acid issue.
      “Real Steampunkery Tech” is live as of last night — and for today at a minimal price. I won’t be ready with an announcement post until the weekend. Thanks for visiting. Hugs.

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      1. So many things increased by 300% or more during and after COVID. The 6oz bags of puffed wheat that used to cost us $2 per bag before COVID are now $15 a bag. I have to buy them in bulk to get them down to $8 a bag. Outrageous.

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  22. Cool to learn about another inventor whom I didn’t know — and I cheer her problem-solving! She was creative to come up with a solution to end her frustration over making coffee. Also, I love the illustration in the coffee ad 🙂 Also also, congratulations on your new book, Teagan!

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    1. Thank you for all this, Dave. I’m happy you enjoyed it. By the time I finished the bonus section for women inventors, I had done mini-bios on 52 of them! The book is live now, and minimally priced just for today. But I won’t have an announcement post ready until the weekend. Thanks again. Hugs.

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  25. Congratulations, Teagan. This book sounds fascinating and very useful, so keep us posted. And thanks for the story of Melitta Bentz. I’ve seen the filters but didn’t know how they came about. Another cracking story. Thanks, Teagan, and hugs to you and say hi to the Scoobies.

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  26. We use Melittta Bentz’s filters every day! Thanks for the backstory on this item that we positively take for granted.

    I can’t wait to get my copy of Real Steampunkery Tech: True Contraptions of the Steam and Diesel Eras. I hope you have a great day.

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