Coffee People: Stephan von Muehlen, CEO Steady Equipment Co.

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Guest: Stephan von Muehlen
Company: Steady Equipment Co. maker of the Poursteady
Role: CEO
Based: Brooklyn, NY
Online: poursteady.com • @poursteady
What they drink: A rich, creamy cappuccino.

FOLLOW THE POURSTEADY NEWSLETTER

Brew a cup (or five) with the Poursteady.

VISIT POURSTEADY IN COPENHAGEN

Poursteady at the World of Coffee convention in Copenhagen, June 27-29 at booth: CE-014.

KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE PODCAST

Stephen’s introduction into the industry wasn’t through specialty coffee. It was as a designer whose colleagues—primarily engineers, had an idea to improve consistency and efficiency in the act of making coffee based on their experiences waiting in lines.
After building a prototype and displaying the first machine at a maker's faire, they knew they had something when they saw the delight and joy in the faces of the people getting coffee.
Like many classic success stories. they started manufacturing products in what was essentially a garage space in Brooklyn, NY. Not the traditional route for new coffee tech, but it domestic manufacturing proved to be a boon when the pandemic decimated supply chains worldwide.
The purpose of the Poursteady is to provide consistent water distribution and allow for a barista to spend time on service as opposed to concentrating on replicating a recipe.
Best quote: 18m17 second - baristas are the hero - working with baristas led to app development
Keeping it simple, albeit using more expensive, higher quality parts, allows for a build using less parts. The benefit is that there is also less room for error and more room for the theatre of coffee production.
The product is continually being improved and adapted with direct feedback from the customers.
When asked for advice, Stephan stresses the value of building his network (over years, even decades) leading to opportunities to be seized if you are able to recognize it in the moment.
I found this descriptive column in Curbed from 2022 describing the influx of weed stores in NYC. It gives a sense of what has come, and despite licensing in effect, so many stores already had their doors open. Read the Article.
That automated coffee shop in Wisconsin is called Octane Coffee. Daily Coffee News reported on it in April of 2023. Read the Article.

“We need to make sure the baristas are getting the benefit, and are the hero.”
• Stephan von Muehlen

COFFEE SMARTER

Chris O’Brien of Coffee Cycle Roasting, joined the Coffee Smarter Podcast to discuss the value of relationships between roasters, baristas, and customers.

ROAST! INDUSTRY PARTNERS

A huge, on-going thank you to all of this show’s industry partners.

Roastar • Zumbar Coffee & Tea • Steady State Roasting • Mostra Coffee • Coffee Cycle • Camp Coffee Company • Ignite Coffee Company • Ascend Coffee Roasters • Marea Coffee • Cape Horn Green Coffee • Hacea Coffee Source • Crossings Coffee • Sivitz Roasting Machines • Craft 42 Roasters • Me and My Uncle Coffee Roasters • Cozy Canine Coffee

CHECK OUT THE SIMPLY GOOD BREWER

Affiliate marketing: I don’t do a lot of affiliate marketing. This particular product, the Simply Good Coffee Brewer, is one I’ve agreed to promote because I use it almost daily. The original review was written before accepting any sort of affiliate marketing payments. If you click through using our links and end up purchasing a brewer, it will help support R!WC.