ALEXANDER SHAYLE STUDIO

Silo/Mill

2023



Silo/Mill is a coffee grinder and vacuum storage container.

The project aims to capture the forms of agricultural architecture and the functions these structures are designed for. Grain silos are used for bulk storage, and Windmills traditionally ground grains for further domestic use. These have been translated into a vacuum sealed container for coffee beans, and an electric flat burr grinder to process the stored product.

Key visual elements of these large structures, such as corrugated steel panelling, structural support beams and raw materiality have been reimagined and refined to a smaller domestic scale. This process of careful refinement has resulted in a bold yet contemporary aesthetic, that retains the character of the structures that inspired the design.




A large textured dial and laser etched bezel with adjustment markings allows for precise control of the grind size. This tactile, analogue control surrounds the bean inlet of the grinder.


The construction of the Mill housing is a die-cast aluminium frame, supporting a CNC turned upper body which houses the motor and grinding burrs. The lid is also die cast, and all parts are sandblasted to a fine textured finish.


Silo has a modular construction of rings – informed by how grain silos are assembled. This allows for different sizes of container to be assembled using repeated parts.

The central threaded shaft allows for an inner plate to be raised as beans are used up, reducing the amount of oxygen in the container to prevent oxidisation of the stored coffee.






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