Mission

The Black Cat Project™ is by design a pursuit of something we’ll never catch: the perfect espresso in all of its manifestations. But that doesn’t mean we’ll ever stop chasing it. This project is rooted in our belief that espresso brewing is still coffee brewing and that only the best coffees can make the best espressos. We want to push the boundaries on flavor. We want you to experience amazing single origin, Micro-Lot, and seasonal espressos with truly distinct flavor profiles that reach far beyond “chocolate” or “caramel.”

You can also watch our Espresso Video on Vimeo. This video and others were made by Department of the 4th Dimension.

Black Cat Project Barista Tools

We are committed to developing the tools for the craft of the barista, from those that are an extension of their hands, to competition-honed training, to machines they will revere, to the perfect vessels for all things espresso. Ultimately, we hope to bring all of these disparate pieces together and leave you with the beautiful simplicity and complexity you’ll find on the other side of a great shot of espresso.

The Cappuccino Cup

Two years ago we gave ourselves the mandate to create a cappuccino cup that was iconic, memorable and beautiful, while at the same time delivering the highest levels of functionality possible for both barista and coffee drinker. Frank Clementi of Rios Clementi Hale Studios had been instrumental in the creation of Illy Cafe’s iconic line of cups and partnering with this firm and designer brought our goal within reach.

When drinking from the cup, it might be easy to overlook all the details that went into heightening your sensory experience of the coffee...

We kept the top opening wide to allow the nose to easily capture the aroma of brewed coffee. We combined this wide opening with a gently sloping interior wall to allow a cappuccino to retain its delicate balance of espresso, milk, and foam from the first sip to the last.

The handle is integrated from the top because we don’t like how most are typically clumsily glued to the side of the vessel. The barista can also comfortably grab the cup by the thumb rest to pour without grabbing the cup by the body, which makes the cup easy to hold when drinking or pouring latte art into it.

To study the dynamics of pouring beautiful latte art, we set up video cameras that captured baristas pouring into several different vessels in slow motion. This led to an interior shape and opening that allows the professional barista to easily execute stunning latte art with every pour.

The base of the cup dovetails with the saucer and eliminates the annoying rattle of inferior serve ware.

The high-quality, defect-free glossy porcelain eliminates odors from previous drinks and allows beverages with micro-foam to glide out of the cup effortlessly.

None of these elements are a coincidence. They are the result of hard work, detailed observation, and most of all, collaboration with talented designers and porcelain craftspeople.

After two years, thirty-six 3D models, and repeated testing, tasting, extracting, pouring, smelling, and touching, we are proud to present the first in our line of Black Cat Project porcelain ware: the Cappuccino Cup.

Espresso Tamper

The Black Cat Project Espresso Tamper is the result of a collaboration between the baristas of Intelligentsia and the craftsmen of Espresso Parts of Olympia, Washington.

After several different iterations, we've landed on this simple and elegant design. The handle is made of a durable, light-weight aluminum that has been anodized in black and is adorned with the Black Cat Project logo. A simple brass fitting between the handle and the tamper base extends the length ever so slightly, leading to the steel Espresso Parts convex base.

Ergonomically and practically speaking, this tamper is nearly perfect. The elegant curvature of the handle rests comfortably in the hands of baristas of all sizes while nearly perfect weight balance allows those working a busy bar to endure the morning rush without experiencing fatigue.

Finally, this tamper is just plain beautiful and will serve as a treasured tool for both the espresso enthusiast and coffeebar professional. Purchase the Black Cat Project Espresso Tamper