Prototype Coffee

In conversation, Matt discussed how the flow of his creative process often felt like through a dense forest, feeling unsure of where he was in the process and then the discovery slowly revealing itself as if entering a light filtered clearing in this forest. The design of the interior intended to represent this process as one moves through the long narrow space from the entry through to the cupping station.

Matt grew up in a family of scientists and went on to study music and philosophy. His process of discovering innovative coffee taste experiences melds both a rigorous scientific approach with a creative artistic process of trusting intuition and undertaking ongoing iterations.

What makes Prototype’s roasting style most unusual is that they have designed the production roasting around a roasting bar in the same space where they brew all their coffees.

All their roasting for brewing, retail, and wholesale happens in three small Aillio Bullet R1 roasters located right behind the counter in the tasting room. The design language of the space including lush moss walls, warm wood screens and hot rolled steel are used to create an atmosphere of discovery and idea exchange in a hidden space tucked away from the busy street.