The Squeaky Esplorer espresso cup. All photographs courtesy of Squeaky.

Thailand-based specialty espresso equipment maker Squeaky is launching a novel espresso tasting cup designed to separate the layers of a shot for clearer analysis.

Known as the Esplorer, the glass cup debuted final week on the SCAJ World Specialty Espresso Convention in Tokyo.

It encompasses a central partition, a silicone valve on the backside and a chrome steel base. After pulling a shot into one aspect, customers twist the bottom to open the valve, draining the bottom contents into the other aspect earlier than twisting it shut once more. One aspect holds the latter portion of extraction with crema, whereas the opposite comprises the earliest crema-free liquid.

“The Esplorer Cup is a brand new approach to expertise espresso, a reimagined shot,” Squeaky Co-Founder Kullapha Sangaunkiat advised Each day Espresso Information. “It’s not about chasing ‘the one most scrumptious style,’ however about letting drinkers see the layers and select how they sip.”

Screenshot

Past taste stratification, the Esplorer’s main focus is isolating crema. Whereas crema elevates unstable aromatics, it additionally provides bitterness and astringency. Its extra refined impact, Sangaunkiat mentioned, is coating the palate and muting sweetness and finer taste notes.

“With out crema, the black liquid solely is cleaner, clearer, sweeter, and the espresso’s taste notes present extra distinctly. Its physique could also be lighter, however stability and definition are improved,” mentioned Sangaunkiat. “Separating crema makes sweetness and hidden taste notes ‘pop.’”

The Esplorer encourages sampling either side individually or sipping from the partition ridge for the complete conventional expertise. Customers can even fill all sides with totally different coffees for comparability, modify the valve for customized mixing or experiment with scorching/chilly splits.

Squeaky — whose playful equipment have received a number of SCA Greatest New Product awards — positions the Esplorer as a instrument for sensory schooling, for analysis and improvement and high quality management, and for cafes searching for to speak with prospects about taste nuances.

“It’s additionally for house baristas and low fanatics wanting to discover espresso extra deeply, and for skilled espresso competitions,” Sangaunkiat mentioned. “Baristas can current three views from one shot or create signature drinks that management separation and recombination of taste.”

Preorders for the Esplorer Cup opened at $45, with shipments starting by late November. A Tritan model will promote for $30.

Sangaunkiat additionally emphasised the significance of ordering genuine merchandise from their makers and avoiding cheaper imitations.

“We wish to emphasize, supporting counterfeits or copies means undermining the center of the inventor who invests ardour and energy into creating these improvements,” Sangaunkiat mentioned. “Please assist unique merchandise so we will proceed growing new concepts for the espresso trade.”

Feedback? Questions? Information to share? Contact DCN’s editors right here. For all the most recent espresso trade information, subscribe to the DCN e-newsletter. 

Associated Posts