UK-based designer Atticus Durnell developed various interior products, varying from tiles to furniture, made with recycled coffee grounds.

In the UK alone, more than half a million tonnes of coffee grounds is generated, most of which ends up on the landfill. In turn, this generates almost 2 million tonnes of CO2 emissions.

With his project That’s Caffeine, Durnell gives his own spin to the ongoing trend of using coffee grounds to make things, ranging from ink to products.

The recycled coffee waste material is handmade in London using local coffee grounds. Being a composite of bio-binders, minerals and plant-based resin, It looks like granite stone, but is much more lightweight. After use, the material is biodegradable.

The material is water- and heat resistant, making it suitable for the use in kitchens and bathrooms, for instance in the form of a tile. It has similar properties as petrol-based plastic, without being toxic or otherwise unsustainable. The coffee material can be cut using standard hack and table saws.

As a proof of concept, Durnell designed various products using the material. A floor lamp called Raise was one of the first self-directed projects at the end for Durnell’s Industrial Design Degree. Using the coffee grounds material, Durnell also redesigned his Urban Buoy, street furniture that wobbles but always stays upright. The earlier version was made out of concrete. A similar design was used to make a table, and the collection also includes cups.

Lastly, Durnell developed a range of tiles, available in five colour variations and with a gloss finish. Currently, Durnell is working on a matt finish. The That’s Caffeine Tiles were awarded Design Guild Mark Award in 2019 in the 2D Category.

Photos: Atticus Durnell