The previous World Barista Champion is collaborating with designer Sooyeon Shin to carry specialty espresso dwelling.
BY VASILEIA FANARIOTI
SENIOR ONLINE CORRESPONDENT
Photographs courtesy of Homebody Union
After I first spoke with Anthony Douglas, it was within the heady days proper after he claimed the 2022 World Barista Championship (WBC) title in Melbourne, Australia. On the time, he was nonetheless absorbing what it meant to lastly obtain a objective he had chased for seven years.
Right this moment, as we reconnect, the dialog has shifted from competitors to creation. Anthony has launched into a brand new chapter with Homebody Union, a model he co-founded with inventive designer Sooyeon Shin, devoted to bringing specialty espresso into on a regular basis life—superbly, deliberately, and with out intimidation.
On this interview, Anthony and Sooyeon share the spark behind the model, their imaginative and prescient for espresso at dwelling, and the way they hope to rework the way in which individuals expertise their every day cup.
Vasileia Fanarioti: Anthony, you’ve spent seven years competing earlier than lastly successful the World Barista Championship. Now, you’ve launched Homebody Union. What was the spark that made you progress from the competitors stage to creating one thing for individuals’s houses?
Anthony: I felt it was the suitable second in my profession to share my very own expression of espresso. Since I brew and drink a variety of espresso at dwelling myself, I do know the frustrations dwelling brewers face. With extra individuals brewing at dwelling than ever, I noticed a chance to make that have extra significant and simpler.
Successful the WBC places you on the very prime of the espresso world. How did that form your imaginative and prescient for Homebody Union?
Competing gave me not solely expertise but additionally a community of unbelievable individuals. After the win, I wished to channel that data into one thing lasting. Homebody Union grew to become the outlet—a option to translate what I realized on the stage right into a model that shares our imaginative and prescient of espresso and makes it accessible at dwelling.
Homebody Union is constructed on the concept that specialty espresso needs to be approachable. Coming from a high-performance, technical setting, how do you reconcile precision with simplicity?
Good espresso doesn’t should be difficult. We concentrate on sourcing and roasting so the espresso itself is simple to work with. For individuals who love the method, we’re releasing academic content material. For individuals who simply desire a scrumptious cup with out fuss, we’re providing premium drip luggage and freeze-dried prompt espresso. It’s about assembly individuals wherever they’re.
You’ve partnered with inventive designer Sooyeon Shin to construct this model. Anthony, what made you need to collaborate along with her?
Sooyeon has an unbelievable eye for design and understands easy methods to construct a model expertise. I could make cup of espresso, however I’d be misplaced on the subject of design. From the beginning, we wished Homebody Union to really feel intentional—not simply within the espresso however in the way it appears, feels, and is skilled. She’s created one thing particular that I couldn’t have completed alone.
Sooyeon, may you share your design philosophy for Homebody Union?
Sooyeon: For me, design ought to echo the richness of espresso itself—layered, distinctive, and by no means boring. I wished our packaging and items to mirror Anthony’s depth of data in methods individuals can intuitively join with. Each element, from coloration to texture, ought to develop into a part of the ritual. My objective was to seize the heat and complexity of espresso visually whereas conserving it approachable for anybody.
Specialty espresso can really feel intimidating. How do you each hope to interrupt down these boundaries?
Anthony: Belief was the theme of my WBC routine, and it’s the identical right here. We roast for consistency, so each brew delivers on expectation. To simplify selection, we created three classes: Acquainted (easy and balanced), Vibrant (shiny and energetic), and Expressive (advanced and layered). Our coffees, drip luggage, and prompt all include easy guides for freshmen, plus deeper sources for individuals who need to discover additional.
Sooyeon, the model talks about slowing down and creating moments of pause. How does Homebody Union match into trendy every day life?
Sooyeon: After I moved to Australia, my perspective on espresso modified. It stopped being about staying awake and have become about slowing down, having fun with taste, and discovering peace in brewing. Homebody Union is constructed to create that pause within the day—a reminder that espresso isn’t simply caffeine, however an opportunity to breathe.
Anthony, as you already talked about, your WBC routine was about belief. Do you see Homebody Union as an extension of that theme?
Anthony: Completely. At dwelling you don’t have infinite beans to experiment with, so consistency issues. We wish individuals to belief that after they brew our espresso, it is going to style the way in which we mentioned it could: simple, pleasing, and dependable each time.
Trying forward, what excites you most about the place Homebody Union can go?
I’m very enthusiastic about our upcoming drip luggage and freeze-dried prompt vary. The standard has shocked even me, they usually’re really easy to make use of. As a world ambassador for Timemore, I additionally see nice alternatives for collaboration. Our focus now could be on distribution, schooling, and constructing presence at worldwide occasions. The early response has been unbelievable, and we’re grateful for the assist.
Lastly, in the event you may every describe Homebody Union in three phrases, what would they be?
Anthony: Intentional, satisfying, simple. Every thing we do is fastidiously thought of, espresso ought to carry consolation, and it needs to be easy to take pleasure in.
Sooyeon: Intentional, high quality, easy. Each element is purposeful, the usual is excessive, and the expertise ought to at all times really feel approachable.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Vasileia Fanarioti (she/her) is a senior on-line correspondent for Barista Journal and a contract copywriter and editor with a main concentrate on the espresso area of interest. She has additionally been a volunteer copywriter for the I’M NOT A BARISTA NPO, offering content material to assist educate individuals about baristas and their work.
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