Packaging Whore: The Intelligentsia Coffee Pour Over Set

Now, Umamimart has never really been "in" on the "scene". We don't really get invited to hip opening events or get star attention from restaurants when dining. We have never paid too much attention to those kind of things -- we just like to talk about food and drinks -- whether it be gross, pretty, silly or tacky. Or all of the above. Always in good fun. Umamimart is a forum for all of life's important discussions (like getting really bad diarrhea from eating fish like this).

But I won't lie -- it always feels good to get schwag from our friends at Intelligentsia Coffee, headquartered in Chicago. Timothy Breen, the on-site designer for Intelligentsia, is an Umamimart fan, and lucky for us, sends us stuff sometimes (like the gyokuro tea they debuted last year).

Timothy had been telling me that they were working on some new coffee items, and I eagerly awaited what he would come up with. He is so talented -- from illustrative designs, to sleek packaging, he really thinks about everything in its completeness. As I've mentioned before, the coffee cup Timothy designed for Intelligentsia was the original inspiration for our own Umamimart mug!

So how delighted was I, when I received a heavy package in the mail from Chicago.


What's a "pour over" I wondered.

Look, it's an owl! The iridescent gray on textured Kraft cardboard gives a cozy, snowy snowy scene in the woods.

The design on the back of the box reminds us to give gifts more often.



The side of the box tells us what's inside.


Look, there's a bear!

Velcro tabs for easy opening. Smart!



And inside...



COOL! A single drip coffee set!

Made-to-order single drip coffees are all the rage these days at coffee shops and restaurants. It takes a few extra minutes to wait for your coffee, but nothing beats a freshly brewed cup, just for you. Right?

So this gift set comes with a Hario brand porcelain dripper.



Made in Japan!



This dripper fits perfectly over the cup's simple, sleek design.



The Intelligensia star at the bottom of the cup...



... and the logo on the other side.



The set is complete with a box of filters for the dripper. Timothy even designed the box!



More logo action.



The filters are also by Hario from Japan.



The set also comes with an easy-to-follow instruction booklet with nice drawings, where it tells me how to make a proper cup of coffee at home.



Knowing there are no Intelligentsia shops in the Bay Area, Timothy was kind enough to send me a bag of the shop's house blend, so I ground it up. First, you wet the filter with hot water, then add the coffee.



Boil the water, then I usually measure it out in my Pyrex. I was taught about 6 oz. per every tablespoon. Something like that.



I let the water settle a bit in the Pyrex for a few minutes to cool it down. Then, I slowly begin pouring the water into the dripper.



I don't have a lot of patience, so I just pour all the water into the dripper. You're not really supposed to do this -- ideally, you're really supposed to add it a little at a time. But who's got time for that???



Cocka-doodle-doo! My perfectly brewed cup of coffee, just for me, is ready.



I have to say that I love this cup. See how the handle comes up a little bit? It is a very snazzy little detail to a minimal coffee cup design.

Thanks Timothy for this awesome coffee set! He really did such an amazing job with all the graphics and packaging for this set. And making coffee this way really makes the entire process more enjoyable. And of course, aesthetically pleasing.

Get your own Intelligentsia pour over set here. Enjoy!