As Canadians, we are one of the largest coffee drinking nations in the world, which contributes to the estimated 500,000 tons of waste coffee grounds created globally each year. Working with my partner Nicole Charles, we wanted to create a material that could use that coffee waste and formed in our created molds. We wanted a material that would have a solid concrete like feel, but did not involve high end forming machines.
A series of tests were done to try and find the right ratio between the coffee, the other waste materials and gypsum cement to get the highest percentage of coffee possible while still holding the integrity of the material. With the high amount of natural oils still in the grounds, the curing of the material seemed to be effected, prompting multi stage brewing to try and extract some of the oils.
As the material dries and water evaporates, natural staining occurs on the unfinished surface. When sanded down, a terrazzo like finish appears showing the coffee and whatever other waste materials have been added. If left raw, it has a soft stone like feel, but is not waterproof. This finish can be coated with different methods depending on the desired look, allowing it to be water resistant and easily cleaned.
CF01
Milky's - town square
Material Innovation ⋅ Design
Milky’s Town Square was conceived as a solution to way-finding and social distancing during the pandemic, while finding a unique way to utilize some of the waste grounds from the shop.
Designed and created with partner Nicole Charles, the concept is our imagined Milky’s “town square”, where the town is powered by coffee instead of electricity/water. The circles on the the base are a view into the coffee power source underneath the town, which lead up to a coffee fountain in the centre of the square. The top of the sculpture and structures are cast out of mixture of:
⋅ 30% used coffee grounds from the shop
⋅ 10% local construction debris (100 year old brick)
⋅ Gypsum cement
VIDEO CREDITS: Filming, Sound effects: Justin Pape, Nicole Charles | Editing, Music: Justin Pape
CF03
EXTEMPORE - REFLECTION
Sound ⋅ Material Innovation ⋅ Design
Extempore has been a meditative improvisational process allowing me to get back to exploring music and tuning out during a time of loss.
A series of recordings evolved from the first few months of 2021 comprising of live recorded single tracks, sometimes layered with field recordings that capture thoughtless moments in time. The intention of this was not planned to be out in the world, but as it took form, I felt like it was part of the healing process to let it go.
Released through my label Colony Collapse on cassette, a medium that will decay and disappear over time, it is housed inside a small sculpture that is made of:
⋅ Construction debris collected on daily walks
⋅ Used coffee grounds from my daily coffee
⋅ My hair that was grown and cut during this period of time
⋅ One of 10 different hand printed silver gelatine photos by Cristian Ordóñez
⋅ Held together with saved vegetable elastics
All aspects of this release were created locally in Toronto from locally coffee roasters and the acquisition of other materials used to create the sculpture, to manufacturing of the cassettes by Duplication.
In memory of Aneeta, Nano, and Peter
10 different hand printed silver gelatine photos by Cristian Ordóñez
CF04
Safe House coffe Tables
Material Innovation ⋅ Design ⋅ Fabrication
Extempore has been a meditative improvisational process allowing me to get back to exploring music and tuning out during a time of loss.
A series of recordings evolved from the first few months of 2021 comprising of live recorded single tracks, sometimes layered with field recordings that capture thoughtless moments in time. The intention of this was not planned to be out in the world, but as it took form, I felt like it was part of the healing process to let it go.
Released through my label Colony Collapse on cassette, a medium that will decay and disappear over time, it is housed inside a small sculpture that is made of:
⋅ Construction debris collected on daily walks
⋅ Used coffee grounds from my daily coffee
⋅ My hair that was grown and cut during this period of time
⋅ One of 10 different hand printed silver gelatine photos by Cristian Ordóñez
⋅ Held together with saved vegetable elastics
The tables feature an inlaid coffee and construction waste mixture in a design that mimics the almost century old tin ceiling panels that cover the shop.
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