Unpacking Coffee with Kandace and Ray: Ozo Coffee Company

Each coffee from Ozo Coffee comes with its own set of glyphs that communicate various elements related to the coffee’s origin and flavor. Needmore Designs photo.

In this week’s episode of Unpacking Coffee, Kandace and Ray explore the creative new packaging of Boulder, Colo.-based Ozo Coffee, which, as we reported late last year, has recently completed a major production expansion, and soon plans to open its fourth retail bar.

Ozo partner and operations director Greg Leftcourt shared with Kandace and Ray the ideation behind the packaging, which builds upon the company’s existing logo with a series of custom glyphs that communicate various elements such as country of origin, processing method, elevation and tasting notes. In essence, the company has created its own artistic language that recalls ancient wall paintings, communicating each coffee’s unique characteristics while also forging a kind of primordial connection between coffee and consumer.

Unpacking Coffee is a weekly show discovering new coffee roasters one episode at a time led by Kandace and Ray of the Portland-based studio Needmore Designs, which specializes in coffee, wine and lifestyle brands.