Designer Craighton Berman is willing to be inconvenienced for the sake of a good cup of coffee—and he’s not alone.
The founder of Manual, a budding housewares line that emphasizes mindful food preparation, Berman just launched the Manual Coffeemaker No. 1 (MCM for short) on Kickstarter a few weeks ago and has already raised more than $50,000 toward the production of his unique concept: a pour-over coffee maker that is both pretty and functional.
But, the catch (as diehard coffee makers know) is that you can’t just press an “On” button and walk away. To make coffee the Manual way, you must gradually pour hot water through a filter containing fresh-ground beans, and watch as your brewed coffee slowly drips into the provided carafe (or your own mug).
In fact, the MCM was designed to have a slightly slower extraction speed than other manual brewers to allow water and grinds to come in contact for a longer period of time. The point, according to Berman, is not to get a fast cup of Joe, but to relish in the craft.
Want to demo this lovely appliance? Manual is hosting a pop-up coffee bar this Friday, April 4 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, April 5 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Rational Park Gallery (2557 W. North Ave).
Complimentary coffee and donuts will be served. But you’ll have to be patient. This ain’t Starbucks.
Check out the Kickstarter campaign here.