I cant believe that it was something like five years ago that I bought my first Pullman tamper, a very early model that was quite unlike what Greg is even offering now. Ever the thinker, Greg had come up with the idea of having a very long handle that could be gripped in a fist. I mentioned to Greg that I would like a shorter handle and Greg volunteered to make it so. Over the coming years, I ended up with a few more handles and Greg put up with an in-box full of gripes and suggestions. To his credit, rather than dismissing it all as criticism, Greg took it all on board as part of the creative process. Some of the comments and suggestions were kind of stupid, whilst some were taken on board, like my idle note that levelling lines would be cool or Greg Kaans suggestion that a chamfer around the top edge of the base might make it easier to use. The Deluxe evolved and got better, but Greg still kept on soaking up feedback like a sponge, doubtless from many, many more people than just the Victorians. Eventually, Greg decided to start the project that led to the new "barista" tamper, and packages of prototype tampers with many interchangeable parts came into the equation. Along with some of Australias top baristi, I filled in forms only slightly less complicated than the multiple choice on my final year organic chemistry exam, lost the odd part and tamped, tamped, tamped. The packages travelled around, racking up frequent flyer miles, more feedback was collected and more prototypes produced. Pullman the man became Pullman the company, Robin came into the picture and Greg came up with some pretty schmick packaging. I am very sure that Gregs rather amazing amount of research established at least one thing - its impossible to please everyone! The Barista tamper hit the market and Greg offered me a tamper as a thank you. What was a very simple and generous offer then got complicated. We delayed to find out about paint for the engraving, work out which basket I wanted to use, settle on my logo, convert it to vector, etc, etc.
And then this morning, a package turned up on my doorstep.
I doubt that this is the end of the story. Im sure that Greg will continue to come up with innovative stuff in the world of tampers -- what, exactly, Ill leave to him to work out. Im already eyeing the acetal handle, an innovation of Gregs that I suspect might actually be the sleeper hit in the world of tampers ...
Thanks, Greg!
Luca

And then this morning, a package turned up on my doorstep.
I doubt that this is the end of the story. Im sure that Greg will continue to come up with innovative stuff in the world of tampers -- what, exactly, Ill leave to him to work out. Im already eyeing the acetal handle, an innovation of Gregs that I suspect might actually be the sleeper hit in the world of tampers ...
Thanks, Greg!
Luca

Comment