Let’s kill a Shark Tank myth right here: a fancy prototype and a compelling story don’t guarantee you’ll leave with a deal (or even a real business). No one knows this truth better than Brümachen’s team. When civil engineer Kweku Larbi and viral prankster Ross Smith pitched their portable coffee maker to the Sharks in Season 12, they brought energy and ambition. Did they leave with cash or just a lesson? That’s where things get gritty.
What Sets Brümachen Apart
Portable coffee makers aren’t new, but most are slow or just glorified thermoses. Brümachen hustled onto the scene promising fresh, hot coffee anywhere—think dorm rooms, job sites, road trips, you name it. This gadget brews six ounces of coffee in five minutes, heats water to 195°F, and uses both standard K-cups and their own biodegradable pods. You’re supposed to plug it into a car, a wall outlet, maybe even a USB port if you’re desperate.
Here’s the hook: it’s not just about portability. Brümachen added the eco angle with those biodegradable pods, chasing a bit of the guilt-free caffeine crowd. For travelers who need their fix fast—not lukewarm and stale—this was supposed to close that gap. The retail price? $120 a unit. Not cheap, but not Starbucks-every-day expensive, either.
The Shark Tank Pitch: Aiming High
If you’ve ever watched cocky founders ask for fantasy money, you know where this is headed. Larbi and Smith came in swinging, asking the Sharks for $1 million bucks for 10% equity—a $10 million valuation. That’s classic big swing before the data’s there energy. They pitched the travel-friendly machine, demoed the brewing process, and positioned Smith’s massive social media following as their secret growth weapon.
Did they sound ambitious? Sure. Did they sound grounded in numbers? Not so much. When the founders pointed to their Kickstarter—a single crowdfunding campaign netting around $41,000—they started to lose the room.
Brümachen’s Net Worth After Shark Tank
Let’s translate that $10 million valuation. In startup game terms, that’s what you ask for if you’ve got a gold mine or a major sales hockey stick. Brümachen, at pitch time, had sub-$50K in sales—all from early adopters on Kickstarter. There was zero proof of scale. The $10 million number was pure projection, banking on what if we go viral instead of what they’d actually done.
Did their net worth ever hit that level? I’d bet my last cup it didn’t. No Shark bit, sales didn’t explode, and they faded from headlines. Can’t find signs of active business or major distribution deals, either. Inflation-adjusted, their valuation is arguably, well, coffee grounds.
Shark Reactions: Tough Questions and Hard Truths
Here’s where it got brutal (and honest). The Sharks liked the product concept. Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner both dug the coffee for people who move angle. Kevin O’Leary even looked at the biodegradable pod idea. But numbers talk, and hopes walk.
The Sharks tore into the $10 million valuation. Kevin asked, Are you out of your mind?—and that’s as real as boardroom talk gets. No one was buying the social follower = sales hype, either. Influencer marketing is great, but if you can’t translate views into dollars, the math just isn’t there. Throw in Lisa Simmons noting the complexity of using the brewer (it’s not a quick push-and-go for everyone) and the excuses fell away.
This wasn’t a Bombas sell a story and get a deal moment. The Sharks smelled fiction, not traction. Every Shark passed. No one wanted team coffee at those numbers.
Sales Numbers: From Kickstarter to Real Market
Kickstarter is a tease for a lot of founders—money comes in, excitement buzzes, but that’s not real revenue. Brümachen’s Kickstarter moved $41,553 worth of product, and that was it. That’s not a proven business—it’s a test market. After the episode aired, there’s no evidence of big retail movement, Amazon rankings, or growing DTC numbers.
In founder circles, we call this the Shark Tank bounce—sometimes you see a huge surge in sales, sometimes you don’t. Brümachen? They had their fifteen minutes and didn’t ride the TV wave profitably. Compared to Scrub Daddy post-Shark Tank, or even the slow-and-steady rise of Cup Board Pro, there’s just no sign Brümachen cracked mainstream sales.
Is Brümachen Still in Business?
Let’s talk now. It’s pretty quiet. Their online footprint has all but disappeared. No active website sales, no viral TikTok campaigns, and their social handles are pretty much ghost town. Try to buy a Brümachen portable coffee maker today—you’ll hit dead links or out of stock messages at best.
In my experience, if you can’t find multiple seller listings, as seen on Shark Tank traffic, or clear leadership updates within two years, the company is done. Brümachen had a solid idea, but it just couldn’t survive the leap from TV pitch to actual business. That’s the sharp edge of the game—sometimes the grind eats the hype.
Lessons from Brümachen’s Shark Tank Experience
Here are some street-smart truths you pick up after years in startup trenches:
Don’t price on dreams, price on proof. That $10 million ask with $41K in sales? Classic rookie mistake. Investors buy tomorrow’s potential, but only if today’s numbers don’t stink.
Sales > Social Hype. Followers don’t equal customers. I’ve seen YouTubers roll out merch drops that tank. If you claim influence as an asset, show receipts—not just reach.
Complexity kills. Easy to use wins every sector, especially when you’re up against coffee habits and morning brain fog. Brümachen needed a one-button, one-minute brew, not a tiny chemistry set in a travel mug.
All pitch, no grind is fatal. The best Shark Tank stories show founders hustling pre-show, building sales and ops in the shadows. Brümachen had hustle, but not enough years behind it when they pitched.
Eco sells… if it’s simple. Biodegradable pods are great, but only if your main product is sticky and easy to replicate.
Real talk: If you can’t stand up to skeptical Sharks, you’re not ready for retail buyers or direct customers. The Tank is just the first gauntlet—it gets tougher out there.
Conclusion: The Reality Behind the Pitch
Brümachen is proof that a big ask and a fanpro\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\cy prototype aren’t enough. TV exposure gets eyes, not longevity. I’ve watched plenty of Shark Tank brands flame out when they bet on valuation over validation. Hustle helps, but without numbers, repeat customers, and rock-solid usability, your business is just another pitch that didn’t land. SharkWorth has seen this story before—and will see it again.
If you’re dreaming of your own Shark Tank moment, take Brümachen as a lesson: Know your numbers, simplify your product, and never let hype replace homework. The Tank is real, the follow-up is tougher, and only the most grounded founders stick around for a second serving.
FAQs
1. Is Brümachen still in business after Shark Tank?
No. All signs point to Brümachen being out of business. The website and socials are inactive; you can’t buy one today.
2. Where can I buy a Brümachen portable coffee maker?
You can’t. Inventory looks sold out or unavailable everywhere—your best bet is eBay or old Kickstarter listings.
3. Did any Shark invest in Brümachen?
No. All the Sharks passed, mostly due to the high valuation and thin sales record.
4. How much has Brümachen sold in total?
Roughly $41,500—almost all from Kickstarter. No evidence of significant sales after Shark Tank aired.
5. What was Brümachen’s valuation on Shark Tank?
They asked for $1 million for 10% equity—a sky-high $10 million valuation with no real sales to justify it.
6. Who are the founders of Brümachen?
Civil engineer Kweku Larbi and social media influencer Ross Smith.
7. What made the Sharks pass on Brümachen?
The unrealistic valuation, lack of sales, product complexity, and over-reliance on influencer marketing.
8. Did Brümachen change its business strategy after Shark Tank?
There’s no public evidence they pivoted or saved the business post-episode. The product faded from the market.
Want the gritty truth behind more Shark Tank pitches? Check out SharkWorth, where we track the real deals and the real fizzle.
