CoffeeCup Software started in 1996. Their first product was an HTML editor apparently developed to help them develop a website for yes, you guessed it their coffee house. Their HTML editor is still a major part of their product portfolio but it has been joined by about 30 other applications.
CoffeeCup software products have a number of common features. They are all web-related tools, available for free download from the web for a trial period, but requiring a licence fee for ongoing use. On the other hand, once a licence has been purchased, the user is entitled to free upgrades for life. Also, users of a number of products can save money by purchasing a software bundle. The most expensive product is the HTML editor at $49US, but a bundle of eight of the most popular products costs $129. Three bundles are available:
Developer Pack, including HTML Editor, Web Form Builder, Direct FTP, Flash Website Font, StyleSheet Maker, Website Color Schemer, Google SiteMapper, Flash Blogger
Designer Pack including Visual Site Designer, Firestarter (Flash application builder), Photo Gallery, Web Video Player, Ad Producer, Web JukeBox, Flash Menu Builder, Image Mapper, GIF Animator
Web Utility Pack including Web Video Recorder, RSS News Flash, Live Chat, Password Wizard, Web Calendar, WebCam, Flash Website Search, PixConverter, MP3 Ripper & Burner, LockBox.
The products are generally easy to use, and can be downloaded for trial which enables you to see whether the product is suitable before purchase. The bundles represent good value for money, reducing the cost of individual products to $13-$18. They can enable inexperienced users to access features that they would find difficult to use otherwise.
On the downside, some of the products are very specific in purpose and this can make some of them of questionable value unless you really need exactly what that product does. The bundles are good value but only if you will use all of the applications in the bundle.
Finally, the CoffeeCup website has a cutesy, folksy feel, which spills over sometimes into the products themselves. As a Brit with a good stiff upper lip, I do not want my software to sing at me when it has installed, and I prefer OK and Cancel buttons to Cool! and No way! But that could just be personal taste.