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As a design student in South Tyrol, Italy, Julian Nachtigall-Lechner enjoyed drinking coffee. When he found there was no use for coffee grounds, and they just went to the trash, he set himself the goal of creating a new material from that waste. Years of research eventually proved fruitful, and in 2015 he launched Kaffeeform, crafting coffee mugs and other products from discarded grounds.
Could you share with us a little about your background and what initially inspired you to create Kaffeeform?
My background is in product design. I used to live in a small town in the north of Italy, near the Austrian border, in South Tyrol (Alto Adige). I stayed in Bolzano for four years, where there’s a unique blend of Italian coffee culture and traditional Austrian coffee shops. I spent a lot of time in the local cafes, starting each morning the Italian way with a cappuccino and a brioche. I’d then go to my studies, take a break for an espresso, and so on.
At some point, I became very curious about what happened to all the coffee waste I was generating daily. When I asked the barista, he was surprised by the question and mentioned that there was no use for the coffee grounds—they just threw it all away. Seeing the sheer amount of coffee they discarded each day intrigued me. I began to explore the potential of repurposing that coffee waste. From that moment, I was hooked on the idea of creating a material from the used coffee grounds and transforming it into a valuable product. That’s where it all started, back in 2010 during my studies. But it was a long journey before I set up the company and fully developed the material process.
I first worked as a product designer in Berlin, gaining essential experience in turning product ideas into reality. I worked with sketches from my former boss and managed the production side to bring them to life.
Throughout this period, I dedicated myself to extensive research for Kaffeeform, sought out the right partners, and overcame numerous challenges—all while working on the project as a side endeavor.
After a few years, I realized it was time to fully commit to my vision. I decided to leave my job and focus entirely on refining the material recipe and developing a product from it. By 2015, I began actively working on the Kaffeeform brand, and we launched our first products a year later.
What is the meaning of your brand’s name and what does it signify?
When I founded Kaffeeform in Berlin, I wanted to incorporate a bit of its German origin into the name. In German, we write coffee as “Kaffee.” The word “form” is quite versatile and is understandable in many languages. It can represent various shapes, products, or materials. By merging “Kaffee” and “form,” I created “Kaffeeform.” This name signifies that you can create any type of form from coffee.
As a brand, what core values and beliefs does Kaffeeform embody, and how do these principles influence the design and manufacturing of your products?
One of our main values is circularity. This approach involves collecting coffee waste, specifically coffee grounds from local coffee bars, and giving it a second life. We dry and prepare the grounds for material manufacturing, transforming them into products like reusable coffee cups. These cups can be used repeatedly, replacing single-use cups. After several years of usage, the cups can be recycled and turned back into material for new products.
Another core principle is simplicity in design. Our products are focused on core usage and have a timeless quality. When you look at our cups, you can’t easily tell if they are from the 1980s or the 2020s. The colors are inspired by nature and are slightly muted so they can pair well with other colors, whether in your outfit or daily style. This ensures they don’t stand out too strongly but rather complement your look.
Locality is also crucial to Kaffeeform. We recycle and collect all the coffee in Berlin, drying and preparing everything here. Our two manufacturing partners are also based in Germany. We ship and work with many local coffee bars in Germany and Europe, but the manufacturing remains mostly local. This ensures I can closely monitor and collaborate with all my partners, following the process and developing new products. These are the main principles I follow for Kaffeeform.
Can you explain the process of upcycling old coffee into new durable coffee cups?
It all starts at the coffee counter in our neighborhood coffee bars, where people enjoy their morning coffee. Every day, a group of bicyclists with a cargo bike collects the used coffee grounds from that day and brings them to a central location in the middle of Berlin. There, we dry the coffee grounds on the same day and store them in large boxes for a few weeks. We repeat this process continuously until we have accumulated a substantial amount of coffee grounds.
Next, we combine the dried coffee grounds with biological binders to create a very solid material that resembles small beans. Once we have these “beans,” we can mold them into any shape imaginable. In our case, we primarily make reusable coffee mugs, but we also collaborate with another brand to create wristwatches.
In the same warehouse where we process the coffee, we finalize our products and prepare them for shipping. We send these products directly to end consumers or supply them back to the coffee shops we work with, allowing them to sell the products and share the story of their involvement in the recycling process. This often inspires customers, who realize that their morning coffee has been transformed into a new cup.
It takes about one month from the coffee bar to the final product.
Please, tell us more about the watch collaboration.
The watch collaboration was with another Berlin-based brand that I met here. We discussed the idea of using coffee powder material for the watch casing. Our goal was to demonstrate that a waste product could be transformed into something valuable, challenging traditional perceptions of materials like gold or metal by incorporating coffee.
We launched a successful crowdfunding campaign to fund this project. Since then, we’ve been producing these watches annually and offering them to our audience. Both brands sell the watches together.
Are there any meaningful moments in the history of Kaffeeform that you would like to share with us?
Some of the most meaningful moments were in the early days when I was developing the idea and vision for Kaffeeform. At that time, I was working alone from my apartment, and although I had a concept, I lacked a proof of concept. I needed to find partners for professional experimentation because transitioning from personal experiments to industrial production required access to specialized machinery and expertise.
It was a memorable experience to find German companies willing to collaborate. They were open to conducting tests on their machines, even stopping production or opening their factories on weekends. Their willingness to support and trust in my idea was crucial. Without these partners, turning the idea into a viable company would have been nearly impossible. The biggest challenge was moving from a concept on paper to affordable industrial production.
Another significant moment was in 2016 when I first exhibited our products at a coffee fair for professionals in Amsterdam. I had a very small booth and brought 200 espresso cups. It was my first time showing the products publicly, and I was prepared for mixed reactions. I was thrilled to see that many people were genuinely interested in and enthusiastic about the product. They were willing to pay the price I hoped for, and journalists also appreciated the concept of coffee recycling. This event was a pivotal moment for Kaffeeform, as it helped establish our presence and gave us a strong start.
Among the most iconic brands with a strong legacy, what is your favorite one and why?
My favorite is Gramicci, an American streetwear label from the 1980s. Although it has grown significantly, it originally started in the climbing world, similar to Patagonia. Gramicci developed a range of products specifically for climbers, focusing on functional items with technical features.
What I find appealing is how Gramicci has evolved. It combines a retro style with a strong focus on outdoor trends and playful elements. Their products often feature fun illustrations and cheeky designs, merging functionality with a playful aesthetic.
This approach resonates with me. Our products are also highly technical, with complex production and materials, but I believe it’s important to infuse some emotional and playful elements to engage people with the brand. I appreciate their not-so-serious approach in brand language, which contrasts with the more serious aspects of technical products.
Is there a book, a movie, a trip or a place that has inspired your life or the creation of the brand?
I draw inspiration from many sources, but one significant influence has been Berlin itself. The city is renowned for its vibrant street art scene, with numerous talented street artists creating captivating works. I started observing this street art and found it fascinating. The patterns, colors, and the creative spots chosen by these artists offer a rich source of inspiration. The competition among artists, the challenging locations they select, and the political or social messages conveyed through their work all contribute to a unique and compelling art form.
This hidden art, often overlooked, has inspired me greatly. I also appreciate the textures—such as the walls and wooden surfaces—that are integral to these artworks. If you look at our products, you’ll notice that we incorporate small wood grains into our material, alongside the coffee grounds. The cups sometimes change in color, reflecting this local artistic influence.
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