shirty123 Senior Member Joined: 17 Oct 2012 Posts: 2 Location: UK Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Wed Oct 17, 2012, 5:13am Subject: Im a Designer and would like to understand what you love and why you love coffee
Hi, im new to the forum and relatively new to coffee 2-3years over these years I have slowly started to develop an appreciation and understanding of coffee, and have recently purchased a conical burr grinder for freshness!
Personally I use the Cafetiere as I like the practicalities of it, speed, taste and the interaction
I was wondering what do you love about coffee and the products that produce it?
Obviously the flavour is a key element but is there anything else?
Do you like using your device, is it an important experience? / do you get any emotions from operating it?
Why do you use a grinder?
What is the key to a good cup?
And what do you get annoyed with / wish you could improve on your device - cleaning? experience? design styling?
Any input or feedback would be hugely appreciated and you never know it may benefit you in the future :)
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,667 Location: Riverside, Ca, U.S.A. Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ECM Veneziano A1 Grinder: Many different commercial Vac Pot: 40s era Silex Drip: Milita, Bunn&Curtis... Roaster: Cast iron pan, gas burner
Posted Wed Oct 17, 2012, 6:31am Subject: Re: Im a Designer ........
Hi and welcome to the board. It sounds like you are doing research for a project you are doing, good luck We use a grinder because coffee is a product that can and does oxidize. Think of cutting open an apple. After about 15 minutes or so the surface of the fruit develops a brown and oxidized surface. This seriously affects the flavor of the fruit. Now cut that apple into 200 pieces and you will see the volume of oxidation expands vastly over the volume of fruit.
The same thing happens with coffee only it is brown so you can't see the process happening. Older than about 15 to 20 minutes after being ground, coffee has lost a vast amount of the flavor it had to start with and is well down the road to nasty taste. You MUST have fresh ground coffee, there is no way to preserve the coffee once you grind it as the clock is ticking.
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
Not sure what being a designer has to do with it . . . what kind of designer? Interior? Graphic? Industrial?
shirty123 Said:
Hi, im new to the forum and relatively new to coffee 2-3years over these years I have slowly started to develop an appreciation and understanding of coffee, and have recently purchased a conical burr grinder for freshness!
Uh, yes -- taste has a good deal to do with it. But why do people love wine? whisky? beer? Why do some people really "get into it," while others could care less or not even notice?
Without my espresso machine, I would be unable to make espresso. Without my Chemex, I could not brew a pot of coffee. Without my press, I could not make French press coffee. Without my Clever Coffee Dripper . . . and so on. Ergo, these are not only important in and of itself, but also important parts of preparing specific beverages for my family and friends.
Flavor. Or, as a designer, are you less concerned with taste, and more concerned with the material of the cup itself, glass, porcelain, stainless steeel, etc.?
I have little desire to "improve" upon perfection. Rather, I'd change the layout of my kitchen, but not my "device." Then again, a "device" is what the American military calls a nuclear bomb, so -- truly -- I don't have a device. I have an Elektra "Sixties" T1.
shirty123 Said:
Any input or feedback would be hugely appreciated and you never know it may benefit you in the future :)
Liam, I have no doubt that you are attempting to learn something with the ultimate goal of designing a "new and improved" ______________. We are not your ideal focus group, and while I have no doubt that you have noble goals and lofty ambitions, why don't you try being a part of the community, rather than posting questionnaires with the ideal of "making a bundle," as we Yanks would say.
shirty123 Senior Member Joined: 17 Oct 2012 Posts: 2 Location: UK Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Wed Oct 17, 2012, 6:57am Subject: Re: Im a Designer and would like to understand . . . . (Oysh!)
Im an Industrial Designer and therefore concentrate on making a better user experience, design and overall product, this may not be possible and my design will 100% be an alternative to existing products that users may choose to adopt, im not trying to re-design the wheel as it already works, im just trying to make it better for some users..
Althought I value any response I cant help that think you have replied mealy to vent your dislike for "amateur" questions, I started here as the community and users of these products obviously know best and therefore are the obvious place to start when looking for opinions, thoughts and suggestions.
Not sure what being a designer has to do with it . . . what kind of designer? Interior? Graphic? Industrial?
Im a Designer looking to design a new product, hence the question therefore it has a lot to do with it
I was wondering what do you love about coffee and the products that produce it? Obviously the flavour is a key element but is there anything else? Posted October 17, 2012 link
Uh, yes -- taste has a good deal to do with it. But why do people love wine? whisky? beer? Why do some people really "get into it," while others could care less or not even notice?
Im looking into the process the ritual of making coffee, is it the tactile feedback you get when you push down the plunger or hand grind, is it the smell you get as soon as you add the water to the grounds etc..dont think too literal
I was only looking for advice if you just want to critisize or dont understand the questions then please dont reply..
Thanks calblacksmith for your helpful response Liam
Brewing espresso is a Zen like ritual that lifts my sprit into a higher level... No, but seriously, if I didn't enjoy it, I probably wouldn't do it. And like a good golf swing, when everything falls into place the result is just pleasing.
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,667 Location: Riverside, Ca, U.S.A. Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ECM Veneziano A1 Grinder: Many different commercial Vac Pot: 40s era Silex Drip: Milita, Bunn&Curtis... Roaster: Cast iron pan, gas burner
Posted Wed Oct 17, 2012, 8:38am Subject: Re: Im a Designer..........
Liam,
Your welcome. We very often get someone dropping by to do market research for products. In nearly every instance, we are not the market they are shooting for. We push the edge of the envelope, we go through great pains to tweak our equipment to beyond what it was designed for in many instances. We use commercial gear in our homes because consumer grade equipment is just not up to the standards we seek. Many of us have several thousand dollars in grinders alone, espresso machines that were designed for coffee shops and we don't mind the fact that our kitchens are taken over by our gear. Plumb in equipment is often preferred to pour over when the hook ups are available to up the ease of use factor.
In short, we are not the market that you will sell half a million units to, we are not satisfied with average quality, we very often are asked these same questions as you posed. This tends to produce a feeling of being used, if you seek our view, you are better served to become a contrubuting member of the board, engage us in dialog without an market research bent. We are an open and helpful community but often like I said, if we get the feeling of being used for market research, we feel, ..... well used, so if sometimes we get a little short in our answers, please understand.
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
I would not have spent $2500 on the espresso machine alone if it were not important. I enjoy the precision and feel of quality tools of all types including my espresso machine.
Controlling the way water acts on the coffee beans while limiting the effects of oxygen on the beans to Wayne's point which was very well explained btw.
The stainless steel finish on the internal surfaces on parts of the machine seem lacking.
You know those people that want to tell you how to raise your kids but have none of their own? That is how i feel when someone with a kitchen appliance tells me how the merits or dis-merits of my machine or how to use it.
Posted Wed Oct 17, 2012, 8:54am Subject: Re: Im a Designer, etc.
I would suggest you design a Hello Kitty French Press and license the character from the Sanrio Corporation. It is, after all, a proven market.
Or, you could spend a few days actually reading some of the thousands of posts here that talk about exactly the things about which you're asking. That would entail you doing some actual work, though, rather than expecting people to hand you an answer from which you intend to profit.
Posted Wed Oct 17, 2012, 9:11am Subject: Re: Im a Designer wanting to take advantage.
I would also add, as someone who's spent a fair amount of time working in marketing, that it's customary, when asking people to participate in a new product focus group, to offer them something in the way of compensation for their time. I think a bag of Counter Culture Rustico for everybody here would be appropriate.
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