In Pursuit of the Perfect Coffee Grinder: Zerno founder, Vel Genov

In Pursuit of the Perfect Coffee Grinder: Zerno founder, Vel Genov

Author: BLISTER February 4, 2026 Duration: 1:23:01
ACAST Zerno is one of the hottest brands in the world of specialty coffee, and for good reasons. So Jonathan recently met up with Zerno’s founder, Vel Genov, at their brand-new manufacturing center in Chicago, and today, you’ll get to hear their follow-up conversation, where they discuss what led Vel to design & manufacture coffee grinders in Chicago; Vel’s obsession with quality, functionality, and aesthetics (rather than price); burr sizes and why they matter; product design, iteration, and manufacturing; comparisons between the Zerno Z1 and the new Z2; and more. We Want to Hear from You! Have a topic, craft category, or craft company you’d like to see us cover? Email us here to share those or any other thoughts you have about CRAFTED. RELATED LINKS: Blister Craft Collective Become a BLISTER+ Member TOPICS & TIMES: Craft Collective (2:22) Intro / What Vel Drank this Morning (3:10) How Fast is Fast for Pulling Shots? (8:00) How Did He Start Making Coffee Grinders (10:15) Aesthetics & Machining (21:31) Value of Building Products that Last (29:13) History of Making the Grinders: Trial & Concept (35:43) Burr Size & Why It Matters for Clarity (44:04) Listening to Customers & Users (1:03:15) Z2 Update & High-Tolerance Manufacturing (1:04:05) Made in Chicago (1:10:34) Future of Zerno (1:17:03) SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Blister Cinematic Bikes & Big Ideas GEAR:30 Blister Podcast BLISTER NEWSLETTER: Get It & Our Weekly Gear Giveaways Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There's a particular kind of conversation that happens when someone has dedicated their life to making something tangible, driven by obsession over details most of us overlook. CRAFTED, from BLISTER, is built on those conversations. Each episode moves beyond a simple product review to explore the entire ecosystem of creation, whether the subject is a meticulously roasted coffee, a complex whiskey, a precision timepiece, or a bold new wine. You'll hear directly from the individuals who define these fields-brewers, distillers, founders, and artisans who started their ventures not because it was easy, but because they couldn't imagine doing anything else. This podcast digs into the raw materials, the failed experiments, the business risks taken on a principle, and the quiet triumphs that happen long before a product reaches a shelf. It’s about the philosophy embedded in the process as much as the technical skill. Tuning in feels less like listening to an interview and more like pulling up a stool in a workshop or a tasting room, offering an intimate look at the patience, setbacks, and unwavering standards that transform a simple idea into a crafted object. The stories are specific, but the themes of creativity, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit are universal, connecting anyone who appreciates the depth behind a well-made thing.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

CRAFTED
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