alexander shayle’s coffee grinders emulate agricultural grain silos structures

silo/mill playfully captures industrial architectural forms

Alexander Shayle infuses a touch of whimsy to the world of coffee products with Silo/Mill — a conceptual grinder and vacuum storage jar that draw inspiration from the industrial charm of grain silos and agricultural architecture. The project embodies and transforms identifiable visual elements from these structure structures, such as corrugated steel paneling, robust structural support beams, and raw materiality. As a result, the utilitarian bulk storage concept of grain silos is reinterpreted into a vacuum-sealed container for freshly roasted coffee beans, while the electric grinder, designed to process these beans, takes inspiration from traditional Windmills used for milling grains in households.

alexander shayle crafts the domestic products from aluminum

Designer Alexander Shayle conceives a bold and contemporary aesthetic that preserves the character of its industrial muse while scaling down to a domestic product size. Crafted from a high recycled content aluminum alloy, the Silo/Mill utilizes die casting and CNC machine processes to ensure precision in its parts, contributing to an extended product lifespan. The assembly of both Silo and Mill employs bolts and threaded elements, allowing for disassembly and easy repair, promoting sustainability in product maintenance. The Mill, with its user-friendly interface, features a large, tactile textured dial that enables users to achieve micron fine or coarse grind sizes with ease. This flexibility proves especially useful when transitioning between various coffee brewing methods.

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project info:

name: Silo/Mill
designer: Alexander Shayle

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