PennyBrew:
Fall 2025
As objects age, their surfaces begin to tell stories, yet we usually perceive this wear as damage. PennyBrew embraces the beauty and intelligence of aging, using material wear to trace the rhythms of daily coffee making and deepen the relationship between user and product.
The Problem
Product aging doesn’t equate to an object no longer being functional. So often products “don’t age well” and become trash prematurely creating unnecessary waste.
Understanding Aging
Through surveying, observing, and reading.
Aging is context specific. The story behind a product ultimately dictates whether its aging is perceived as good or bad.
1
Material use matters. A product’s rigidity or fragility (therefore its ability to last) is deeply tied to the materials it’s made from.
2
Aging is a response to human behavior, it reflects how people interact with an object.
3
The concept of aging is shaped by social behaviors. This is seen in things like the path of least resistance worn into the ground or the tradition of rubbing statues for good luck.
Inspired by…
Age spectacularly + intentionally
While the powder-coated metal stand is resilient to scratches and visible wear, the copper basin, lever and tray deepen in richness as they patina with every espresso shot made.
PennyBrew’s simple form highlights the patina that develops with every cup, capturing the beans used, the hands that brew, and the unique habits of the community around it. Each espresso shot leaves a trace, building a story over time.
Communal Storytelling
Knurled sections of the parts indicate where to hold and interact with the press. As the press is used more and more, the texturing from the knurling helps capture moisture and grime that expedites patinating.
Teach Through Use
PennyBrew uses a straightforward plunger-and-lever system that relies on human force to generate the pressure needed for a proper espresso shot, making it intuitive to learn, simple to use, and easy to clean.
Making a shot of espresso
Product Positioning
Material study
Testing how coffee ages different materials over time (copper, wood, leather).
Visual Inspo
A focus on simple forms that allow for the materiality to be highlighted.
Prototyping
Experimenting with how the press appears at rest versus in use.
Experimenting with the lever’s form, contrasted with the body, and how it rests and connects to the stand.
From elementary shapes to a form that is both functional and visually interesting, creating a product that tells a story through aging and serves as a visual point of interest.
