Practical Presentation Meets Smart Design in a Custom Café Tool
The Client
Following the success of their custom coffee stencils, a Nottingham café owner returned to Protomolecule Ltd with a new request: a custom coffee stencil dispenser to store and quickly access multiple stencil designs during busy café service.
They needed something compact, clean, and efficient that matched their aesthetic while protecting the stencils between uses.
The Challenge
The dispenser needed to:
- Fit a specific set of circular stencils made previously
- Allow for quick, one-handed access
- Be easy to clean and stable on a countertop
- Look professional enough to sit on a barista station
- Be modular for future expansion
This wasn’t an off-the-shelf product—it had to be designed and prototyped from scratch with both form and function in mind.
The Solution
We worked closely with the client to understand their workflow and storage space. The result was a vertical dispenser with the following features:
- Stacked tray design to hold 8+ stencils
- Finger slot cutouts for easy access
- Weighted base for countertop stability
- Smooth, rounded edges for cleaning
- Printed in Steel Grey PETG to match the café’s aesthetic
- Optional lid for mobile setups or display use
We delivered two prototypes within a week and finalized the design after a few minor tweaks.
The Results
- Durable and sleek stencil dispenser in café use daily
- Helped staff work faster and keep the station organized
- Matched the branding and tone of the café
- Currently being developed into a limited-run product for resale to other independent cafés
Services Used
- Product Concept & CAD Design
- 3D Printing (FDM – PETG)
- Rapid Prototyping
- Batch Production (in progress)
“The dispenser is exactly what we needed. It keeps everything clean, tidy, and fast—plus it looks great on the counter.”
— Café Owner, Nottingham
