Slow By Slow Coffee
Designer | Eric Corbett and Gabe Watkins
Location | Boise, Idaho USA
Launch Date | September 1st, 2025
Slow by Slow Coffee in Boise, Idaho was redesigned around a simple idea: curiosity should be rewarded. As a showcase for some of the world’s best coffee roasters, curiosity is central to our company and something we hope to pass along to every guest.
Coffee preparation sits at the center of the experience. A walnut burl brew bar shaped from the café’s elongated “O” logo anchors the room, allowing guests to watch coffee being weighed, ground, and brewed in full view. Tools are integrated directly into the bar so the craft stays visible without visual clutter.
The architecture encourages movement through the space. The main floor is energetic and social, while a piano-shaped stair tower wrapped in vertical rods leads to a quieter second level designed for longer visits. Lighting intentionally breaks from the bright white norm of modern cafés. Focused spot lighting and warm backlighting highlight the bar, tables, and architectural forms, creating areas that feel bright and social and others that feel dim and intimate.
Small details reward attention. Hand-carved walnut and brass brew plates contain embedded NFC chips that guests can tap to learn about the coffee they’re drinking, access giveaways, or connect to WiFi. Artwork rotates through floating frames with magnetic dowels, allowing the space to evolve without renovation.
Most elements were fabricated locally, including metalwork, upholstery, woodworking, concrete tiles, ceramics, and artwork. Durable materials—walnut, steel, brass, masonry, and concrete—were chosen so the space can age gracefully.
The room reveals itself gradually. The more attention someone gives it, the more it offers in return.
Our sustainability strategy focuses on longevity, adaptability, and local craftsmanship.
The historic brick structure was preserved rather than replaced. Primary materials—walnut, steel, brass, masonry, and concrete—were selected for durability and the way they age.
Tabletops use recycled paper and bamboo composite. Ceramic mugs were custom designed to showcase drinks and produced locally.
The design is also adaptable. Magnetic art frames allow the space to evolve without renovation. NFC-enabled brew plates deliver educational content digitally, reducing printed materials and allowing information to change without replacing physical components.
Nearly every element of the space was fabricated locally, supporting regional makers and reducing transportation.
The goal was to build a place that grows with its community rather than being redesigned every few years.
