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Melitta Bentz

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Entrepreneur

The Resume

    (January 31, 1873-June 29, 1950)
    Born in Dresden, Germany
    Birth name was Amalie Auguste Melitta Liebscher
    Invented the paper coffee filter (1908)
    Founded the company Melitta to sell filters and coffee makers

Why she might be annoying:

    Her first employees were her husband and her two sons.
    Business was disrupted during World War I by paper rationing and by the British blockade cutting off coffee imports.
    During World War II, Melitta produced military supplies as a 'National Socialist model plant.'

Why she might not be annoying:

    Before her invention, coffee drinkers either put up with grounds in their drink or used cloth and linen filters that had to be washed out between uses.
    Her invention was an immediate success, with 1,200 filters selling at the 1909 Leipzig Trade Fair.
    Her invention won a gold medal at the International Hygiene Exhibition (1910).
    After World War II, the company contributed to a fund to compensate forced laborers.
    The company has stayed in the family, with her grandchildren Thomas and Stephen running the business as of 2022.
    Most Melitta locations have her picture hanging on the wall, with a company spokesperson noting, 'Every employee knows Melitta Bentz and her exceptional role as the mother of the corporation.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 5 Votes: 0% Annoying