We have been hard at work fabricating the Espresso Yourself cafe structure.  Imagine deciding to build the most complicated room in your home, the kitchen.

In this article I’d like to show the many great things you can learn when you are working on a fun, creative project.

So many details to consider.  We started with a Gypsy wagon look.  Kind of Tiny home-ish, and then Reality jumped in. When you have several workers making coffee inside, they ALL need to be able to turn around!

So our 16′ long by 8′ wide, became 10 feet wide.  No problem for this prototype unit. It won’t be traveling.

We went with a 1.5″ x 1.5″ steel tube frame.  Easy to weld, easy (sort of) to shape, and easy to adapt. (You always have to adapt on a prototype, issues come up. )   Like the roof. Our plan and the look requires a curved fabric roof.  light and airy feeling, whimsical, and yet enclosed.  Ok so far.  Steel ribs (bent nicely on our tubing roller) give the shape.  yes, it looks great. Now the fabric.  Must be 701 fire retardant rated, no problem.

opps.

When it’s inside our fire-sprinkler building; it must have sprinklers IF THERE IS A CEILING.

Ok, no enclosed fabric roof.  Too bad, and it will still look good. (the fabric roof will just have to wait for the real traveling wagon.) Plywood counters in place? check.  Wait, Health & Safety says, “No bare wood.” Ok, time to price out Formica surfaces. (Good thing we know how to apply and router the edges of Formica.) Now we just have to pick a smooth, washable surface and color.  Water lines (both hot & cold), stainless steel main sink. commercial frig, coffee brewer, grinders, blenders, water filter, water conditioner, cash register, coffee mugs, ice maker, all set!

Wait, we also need a good ESPRESSO MAKER!! Ok, we got that too.

hmm, all those machines need electricity.  Time to buy wire and outlets and GCFI outlets. and start bending EMT conduits.  New 100Amp sub-panel installed? check!

Paint.  (Yes, all surfaces from ground up to 4′ must be smooth & washable.)  Glossy paint in hand.

When the “working ” parts are done, then we’ll still have to do the “artistic” parts.  If our members wanted coffee from a simple kitchen, they could have THAT at home.  This needs to look WONDERFUL. (It shall!) Plus we will be serving Thanksgiving Coffee and tea from Mendocino Tea Lady.

hmm, our customer/members will probably want to put down their coffee cups while eating their snacks.  Better buy some table rounds (to place on the oak barrel tables)
We hope to be serving you members in about 3 more weeks in time for our summer classes.

Come join us now to see the work in progress. You can help or watch and learn (while having fun).

– Roger

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