A strong brew at housewares show

CHICAGO -- Each year, the International Home & Housewares show here plugs into what matters most to American consumers: help around the house that works fast, saves space and looks cool.

Bob Barnard, senior vice president of Hecht's, was among store executives and buyers scouring the aisles last month for the latest must-have appliances and gadgets. He was impressed by the bloom of color in small electrics, as well as the many products designed with commercial quality and professional styling. High on his list were upscale toasters, blenders and food processors that take their cue from restaurant kitchens.

"People are spending a lot of time in their homes, and, when they entertain, everyone ends up in the kitchen," says Barnard. "So they want what's on their counters to look good."

He took note of a particularly eye-opening trend in the marketplace: Pods -- as in coffee pods, not iPods -- that promise pre-measured one-cup coffeehouse quality for home use.

Rodman's Discount Gourmet President Roy Rodman, also trolling for new products for his three Washington area stores, was intrigued by the selection of well-designed, bagless vacuum cleaners, as well as lower prices on George Foreman's ever-popular new indoor and outdoor grills.

Judy Newman, Rodman's housewares buyer, meanwhile, focused on finding the latest innovations in home water-filtration systems. Newman says Rodman's sales of Pur and Brita water-filtering units quadrupled in February and March, as alarm grew about high levels of lead in Washington's water.

"We were screaming for special shipments," she says. From vendors at the show, Newman ordered upscale-looking styles in faucet-mounted filters. And she is expecting delivery soon of the new Pro-Lab series of home test kits for measuring lead in water and in paint.

The 1,700 exhibitors at McCormick Place lured 60,000 attendees with products emphasizing time-saving on chores and bolder design. At every show, there are things that set buyers buzzing. This year, these included Hoover's garage utility vacuum, Koziol's toothbrush timer (dentists encourage three minutes of brushing) and Tide's Buzz Ultrasonic Stain Remover.

One of our favorite best-of-show new products: the Doghouse Pet Dryer. Did you know that a high-wattage blow dryer designed for people is too hot for dogs and can dry out their coats or burn their tender skin? This unit, made by the Metropolitan Vacuum Cleaner Co., claims to cut the drying time of Shih Tzus by 75 percent, while making hair straighter for a "neatly groomed look."

Amid the chopping, sweeping and filtering crowd, three trends stood out : multi-tasking microwaves, small electrics designed to cater to households of one; and countertop kitchen appliances from upscale manufacturers better known for refrigerators, ranges and dishwashers.

Multi-tasking microwaves

The new generation of microwaves is doing more than rewarming coffee and zapping moo shu pork. Daewoo has introduced units that have a separate pull-out oven for baking pizza with crispy crust or a built-in toaster for bagels. Sharp's Warm and Toasty stainless steel microwave has a toasting function built inside so you don't see it on the outside. And LG Electronics is offering a model that includes a one-liter coffeemaker tucked in next to a 1.2-cubic-foot microwave. Another LG unit has an FM radio built in.

"People want to use their space more efficiently, especially in smaller kitchens," says Daniel Lee, director of marketing communications for LG Electronics. Lee says they expect the units to be big sellers for home offices, RVs, dorms and upstairs bedrooms.

Coffee by the cup

Call it the revenge of the coffee pods. Machines that dispense single-serve coffee using the technology of individual pods -- filter discs filled with premeasured ground coffee -- seem to be brewing everywhere. While some of these machines have already been popular in Europe and in offices or restaurants, the first consumer-size units (at prices starting at about $50) are just showing up in American stores. At the housewares show, Senseo, an eye-catching pod unit in blue, white or black was introduced by Philips Electronics. Another, Black & Decker's Home Cafe, which uses Folgers coffee pods, will be in stores this summer. The machines make a cup in about one minute. And the pod is then easily thrown away.