Roam & Roast Coffee Set
Roam + Roast is a Cafe Cubano set (cafecito for short), tailored specifically to the wants, needs, and aesthetics of overlanding.
Duration - 5 weeks
Skills Used - Research/Demographic Analysis, Analog Sketching, Prototyping, CAD, Keyshot
Overview
Overlanding and cafecito both honor resilience, ritual, and connection. One brings self-reliance on the open road, the other Cuban comfort and community. Together, even a simple sunset cafecito beside a 4x4 becomes a moment that blends solitude and togetherness, enriching the journey through how it’s shared.
Inspiration
Important to bring in a sense of intimacy, could be in the form of the amount of cups shared
Cafecito and community go hand in hand in Cuba, so incorporating elements that reflect that is important
Well-known for its continued use of classic cars, using materials associated with them is important
Cuba is known for its tobacco industry, so introducing colors/materials involved with cigars should be captured
Sketch Phases
The first two elements that I needed to focus on sketching were the moka pots and mugs. I focused not only on the aesthetics but also functions like detachable parts that can save valuable space.
With space-saving being the name of the game, the housing case would need to be small enough where the user would value dedicating a spot on the outside of the rig for it.
With the goal of creating a rugged aesthetic suited for overlanding, I focused on blending that functionality-driven vibe with the classic colors and materials inspired by Cuba.
As I was moving closer towards a final moka pot and mug design, I began exploring how to design a component case that securely houses the pot and mugs and bolts directly onto the side of the rig.
I also needed to consider places where a jar and a spoon could be contained to add sugar to create a Cafe Cubano, so incorporating the spoon into the housing was another key element.
Form Validation
Set 1
Set 2
Set 3
Final Direction
3D Exploration
Things I Found:
- Diameter of mugs and pot is too large. Hand fit around the pot ok, but in order to save space and make more comfortable, this needs to decrease
- Overall scaling of the models is too large. This would be too large and annoying to carry to consider packing as an addition
Processes & Constraints
I had to carefully consider my materials, ultimately choosing stainless steel and vintage brown leather.
This creates a clean, classic finish that mimics the patina steel from the classic cars of Havana, while also instating the colors of freshly rolled cigars.
Since I would be using spun stainless steel, I needed to focus on the process of metal spinning.
I would be spinning the base forms of the moka pot and its components, and the base forms of the mugs.
There are some constraints that come with metal spinning. It is not realistic to have a form with no fillets, and completely sharp edges.
Courtesy of Tallmadge Spinning & Metal Co., I found the minimum radius of a fillet can be 0.3mm, so I later applied this to my models.
Initial CAD
Since saving space is such a large factor when overlanding, this version of the housing case was still too large. Downsizing is key for the next stage.
Changing the initial moka pot model to comply with metal spinning constraints regarding fillets was important.
CAD Refinement
The attachments on the top of the case are slot holes that are designed to be screwed through to attach the case to a bed rack.
The new design of the case slims down on the previous size, and orients the pot and mugs effectively to keep them secure.
Made case compliant with Backwoods bedracks. 3in tall, 0.25in thick.
Printed Models
Orthographic Renders
In-Context Renders
Credits & Disclosures
Photos used in the inspiration board are for reference purposes only and are not my original photography.
Photos used in the Overview slide are sourced from the Squarespace stock photo library and are not my original photography.
All in-context render scenes were entirely set up and rendered by me in KeyShot. ChatGPT was used as a supplemental tool to assist with render refinement, including lighting and shadow adjustments.