Pu’er Coffee

 Lately, I seem to keep coming back to the topic of espresso crema separation. Just as debates are heating up over whether crema should be preserved or filtered out, I came across a crowdfunded product on Kickstarter some time ago that offers a surprisingly elegant answer: young people don’t do multiple-choice questions—we want it all. The reason this cup truly delivers on that “no need to choose” idea is its ability to offer multiple tasting experiences from a single cup. This dual-chamber espresso cup allows you to enjoy a classic espresso with crema, then—by rotating the base—separate and filter out the crema to taste an espresso without it. You can even drink it midway through the process, experiencing a uniquely balanced in-between state. Setting everything else aside, I think this cup is especially well suited for espresso tasting. On a theoretical level, we often say that crema contributes aromatic compounds, but also introduces bitterness. With this cup, you can directly c...

 The world of coffee gear is inseparable from product design, and product design, in turn, is inseparable from innovation and aesthetics. To some extent, there is always a tension between emotional appeal and rational utility. I can accept that an original design object may carry a premium beyond its material value as a way of honoring the effort and creativity behind it. What I find harder to ignore, however, is a more practical question: What tangible benefits does this product bring to my daily use? And more importantly, what problem does it actually solve? If I can’t find convincing answers to those questions, I tend to classify the product as “nice but unnecessary,” and switch into a mode of evaluating whether it’s truly worth the price. Today, I want to talk about an espresso cup made from an unusual material, and use it as a starting point to discuss a broader question: when it comes to original design, do you place more value on form or on function? The espresso cup in q...