Extracting Coffee and Filter Papers
I designed a coffee filter holder to fix my morning routine - sometimes the big things are the little things!
Thursday 19th September 2024, 8.40am
The first thing I do every day is make a coffee. For me, it's a kind of meditation. As I brew a new cup for a new day, I process the upcoming tasks that will slap me in the face because I didn't do them yesterday. Despite how it sounds, it's a peaceful process... except for trying to remove a single coffee filter paper from the packet.
I'm well aware this a totally ridiculous thing to even refer to as close to a problem. It's not a problem and I blame/credit my degree for giving these moments such power. Every design lecture started with "Is this item good or bad design?". 6 years later, I now find myself analysing just about everything in this way, from the counter at the local coffee shop (good design) to the buttons on the intercom at my friend's flat (bad design). I suppose they were doing when it came to creating new designers (good design!).
I guess I'm trying to justify why getting a coffee filter out of a packet disturbed me into the following process. I have no excuse, really, and I don't think I need one: this is what I do. I find the little things that do the opposite of 'Spark Joy' and see if I can create something to fix them. I'm my own client and today's request is to restore peace to pouring the coffee.
The problem has some key features:
Wrestling a single filter from a stack of 40
Navigating the crinkly plastic packaging within the cardboard box
Losing track of how many filter papers are left
Making it 'Spark Joy'
The design criteria were straightforward:
Minimal plastic
Wide enough to attach a command strip to the back
Securely hold the filters, preventing them from slipping through
I created a first version in cardboard, manipulating the dimensions until I found a sweet spot I was happy with. Given they are triangular, the filter papers are smaller in two directions, so a straight-edged design gave too much opportunity for the papers to fall through.
Finally, I landed on a shape that matched the profile of the filter papers, with just enough room to fit a command strip on the back. I drew it up in OnShape, loaded up my 3D printer and watched as the design came into the world.
However, midway through the print, I accidentally disconnected the power from the printer (bad design). While apparently you can start from where you left off, I hadn't turned that setting on (bad design!!) so I took the opportunity to inspect how my design had come out.
The accident turned out to be happy and the design was a bit big. I made a quick adjustment before starting a new print.
25 minutes later, the coffee filter holder was installed. The crinkle of the plastic packaging was gone and wrestling a single paper filter out was over. Peace was restored to my morning ritual.
While I am fortunate to be able to 3D print things like this, a well-made cardboard version could bring me similar if not equal joy. Sometimes the little things make a big difference and the process is fun too.
Speaking of, it's time to start the day. And make a coffee...
For anyone who is interested, my coffee tech stack is:
Aergrind Hand Grinder by knock, Yellow Ceramic V60 and Stove-top gooseneck kettle by Hario with a good mug.I keep my beans in one of these by ROK Coffee, but I need someone to tell me if it’s science or not. Thanks :)