Do not disturb my coffee zen

DESIGN: Jana Potiron

Slovakia

make me!  2021

I am fascinated by the popularity of coffee around the world and the culture associated with it, its taste, aroma, and stimulating effect. The ritual of drinking coffee is linked to life history. It can be an individual experience, but also a reason to meet up. It can be the start of a conversation with a stranger, but also an excuse to take a break. Probably no other drink is associated with so many cultural customs and rituals.

I decided to preserve coffee grounds in everyday objects. The process of casting using coffee and a binding agent begins with drying and sifting the used but still aromatic grounds through a fine sieve – this is the most enjoyable part. Thanks to this, and thanks to a range of objects useful during the coffee drinking ritual, extraordinary sensory experiences become easier to achieve, and these objects can also improve concentration, awaken creativity, and encourage play. I have created Zen gardens with a relaxing effect – similar to drinking coffee itself.

Coffee Zen Gardens combine Western and Eastern cultures; they provide visual, tactile, and olfactory experiences. Coffee is used in liquid, powdered, and bean form. The construction of the objects, which combine coffee and wood, reminds us of recycling, sustainable development, traditional craftsmanship, and promotes personal development.

Material: coffee grounds pressed with polyvinyl glue, air-dried; maple wood (in the second series, the cups were made of porcelain); rice straw. Additives: paper, plant roots (e.g., thyme).

I experimented with many natural binding materials (mineral, plant, animal). I was looking for the ideal characteristics of a hard wooden board: strength, durability, and the ability to preserve the aroma of coffee. In the end, I decided on an eco-friendly version of the commonly used inorganic polyvinyl glue, which is non-toxic and biodegradable.

The material was made entirely by hand, without the use of special machines or molds. Only when finishing a few objects did I use traditional carpentry techniques such as turning, cutting, and sanding.