Zerno Founder Vel Genov on Coffee Grinders, Burr Geometry, Particle Analysis, & More

Zerno Founder Vel Genov on Coffee Grinders, Burr Geometry, Particle Analysis, & More

Author: BLISTER August 12, 2026 Duration: 1:23:15
Zerno manufactures some of the best coffee grinders in the world, and last week, Jonathan Ellsworth returned to Zerno HQ to get into the weeds with founder, Vel Genov, about coffee grinder burrs, particle analysis, burr geometry, some big updates, and the future of Zerno. If you care about manufacturing in America, or uncompromising craftsmanship, or you love coffee, you need to know the Zerno story. We Want to Hear from You! Have a topic, craft category, or craft company you’d like to see us cover? Email us at: info@blisterreview.com to share those or any other thoughts you have about CRAFTED. RELATED LINKS: Our 1st CRAFTED podcast w/ Zerno Get Yourself Covered: BLISTER+ Enter Our Free Weekly Gear Giveaways TOPICS & TIMES: Catch Up & Refresher on Zerno (5:00) Chasing Retention Reduction (21:00) Updates at Zerno (24:54) Burrs (31:07) Burrs & Price (40:09) How Flavor is Affected (41:07) Consistency in Burr Manufacturing (51:34) Swapping Burrs (57:55) The Z2 Grinder & Lessons Learned (1:02:13) Bikes! (1:16:02) The Future of Zerno (1:17:34) SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: The Blister Vault Blister Cinematic Bikes & Big Ideas GEAR:30 Blister Podcast 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
Podcast Episodes
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A Unified Theory of Cocktails with Dr. Kevin Peterson (Part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:22
For years, the “Mr. Potato Head” theory of drinks was accepted by bartenders to create new cocktails and memorize recipes. But until the release of Cocktail Theory, by Dr. Kevin Petersen, no one had taken the time to pro…
In Pursuit of the Perfect Coffee Grinder: Zerno founder, Vel Genov [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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,…
Zero Gravity Beer: 20 Years of Independent, Craft Brewing in Vermont [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:28
While the overall category of craft beer is currently experiencing a decline, the Burlington, Vermont craft beer maker, Zero Gravity Beer, is thriving. How? To find out, Eli talked with Zero Gravity’s Christopher Costell…