A year ago, Amazon, which is perpetually inventing new ways to buy things while using the fewest calories possible, introduced the Dash Button with a single purpose: to let customers order mundane products like garbage bags and toothpaste by pushing a button. At first, many people thought the Dash Button — which is a plastic widget the size of a car key remote — was a joke, since Amazon introduced it just before April Fool’s Day. The idea behind a device that lets shoppers buy one thing, and one thing only, also seemed a little wacky.

The Dash Button is no joke. On Thursday, Amazon said it was expanding the program from the nearly 30 brands whose products have been available for ordering through the devices to more than 100. Now, Energizer batteries, Stayfree feminine pads and Zico Premium Coconut Water will each have their own Dash Buttons. Peet’s Coffee, Red Bull beverages and Orville Redenbacher’s Gourmet Popping Corn are joining the club too, as is Arm & Hammer cat litter.

“What we’ve heard from customers is they want more,” said Daniel Rausch, director of Dash at Amazon. “Brands have been clamoring to be in the program.”

Mr. Rausch said the use of Dash Buttons had been growing at a steady clip. The number of orders customers made with the devices jumped 75 percent during a week in mid-March compared with a week in mid-December, he said, without disclosing the underlying sales numbers. Dash Buttons are now pressed more than once a minute in total by Amazon customers, Mr. Rausch said.

Amazon charges its customers $4.99 per Dash Button, but refunds that same amount after their first order using the device, almost guaranteeing that customers use it at least once. The device is available only to people who pay for Amazon’s $99-a-year Prime service, and items are delivered to customers with Prime’s two-day free shipping.