Hello everyone,
Last Thursday, January 16th 2025, we started the Take-Apart Lab! The objective of the lba was to break down consumer electronics and explore their internal components, materials, and their design. My team consisted of Sradha, Abby and I!. We were assigned the BEC-110 Coffee Maker by BrewExpress.
Here is a picture of the machine below!
Brew Express – BEC-110 Countertop Automatic Water Filling Coffee System Link
We started by fill out a pre-survery, reflecting on our experiecnes with electronics and disassembly. Then, with our instruction sheet in hand, we gathered the necessary tools to begin our process.
We picked up the following tools to begin with:
| Philips (varying driver sizes) |
| Torx screwdriver (varying driver sizes) |
| Pliers (the smallest tool available) |
| Wrench (the smallest tool available) |
| Wire Cutters (the smallest tool available) |
| Scissors (average size with thick blades) |
We began with the back panel, removing six screws using a Philips head and a Torx screwdriver (T10 size). But even with the correct rools, the screws were extremely difficult to remove. We asked Dr.Wettergreen for guidance, and he posed a though-provoking question.
“Was this machine ever meant to be taken apart?”
This made us reflect on intentional design choices that might have been used to discourage disassembly. We experimented with different approaches – switching to smaller screwdrivers, using flatheads, and even forcefully popping the screws out. After some struggle, we finally succeeded by using small pliers and a flathead screwdriver.
Our team removing screws from the back panel using a wrench.
Moving on to the base of the coffee machine, we encountered the same issue: screws that were jammed in tightly. Even after loosening them, they required prying out with pliers and a flathead. At this point, it became clear that the coffee maker was not designed for easy disassembly. It was primarily held together by traditional fasters like screws, rather than snap joints or tool-free mechanisms. It seems durability was prioritized over repairability making it difficult for users to replace internal mechanisms.
From left to right: our team removing screws from the base panel and collecting them in a plastic container. Water pump line pictured inside as well.
As we removed the back panel and separated the machine into sections ( back panel, middle panel, and front panel), we divided the components among ourselves for further breakdown.
By examining the internal components, we noticed a mix of of the shelf parts and custom designed elements. The control circuit board, LEDs and wires appeared to be standard components found in other appliances. The water pump and heating elements seemed specifically designed for this model. This suggested to us that while some parts were mass produced for multiple coffee machines, some were specifically tailored for the exact specs of this coffee machine!
Images of the Back Panel, Middle Panel, and Front Panel
In addition, it seemed that the water filter and drip tray could be replaced or have minor maintenance.
Final breakdown of all components from the Brew Express BEC-110 Coffee Maker. Each part has been separated and labeled according to its function, material, and role in the overall system. Key components such as the control circuit board, heating element, water pump, and fan are laid out alongside fasteners, wiring, and structural panels.
As we continued to disassemble our coffee maker, we documented each component and its corresponding material.
- Control Circuit Board
- Water Valve/Pump, (later identified to be a Water Line after watching a Amazon review video tutorial)
- Heating Element
- Coffee Grounds Holder
- Temperature Sensors
- Drip Tray
- Power Supply Components
- (4x) Housing and Frame,
- Alot of Wires and Connectors
- Fan
- Various LED strips
- 60 Phillips screws + 18 torques screws
This information was compiled into our worksheet, which includes the weights of the combined components and potential materials they could be made of. The Second worksheet contains 3 component part + design feature analysis
Link to our Worksheets:
1) https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-3Joh8I3sE5etItOifDsXji_kKLHfx4u/edit?gid=624383293#gid=624383293
2) https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jETUWn3Ypbs3a8NoCgrVYU0VLDwL_M-uLrxtFHinHxM/edit?tab=t.0
One of the most interesting aspects of this disassembly was considering whether this coffee maker was designed for recycling. Several components, such as the metal casing, wiring, and plastic parts, could essentially be recycled. However, the combination of multiple materials made the process less straightforward. Components like the control board and heating element would require specialized facilities for proper disposal.
My final thoughts are that this lab deepened my appreciation for product design and engineering. Even simple household appliances involve careful material selection and electronic integration. One major takeaway was that not all products are designed to be repaired and makes me question the sustainability of this design. Overall, this hands-on-experience gave me an understanding of how everyday objects are made. I look forward to applying this knowledge in future projects!
Here is a picture of our workspace post tear-down!
