A NEW WAY TO TASTE ESPRESSO

The Better Vessel™ is a post-extraction tool designed to remove the crema on espresso shots, revealing the natural sweetness, clarity, and subtle flavour often hidden underneath.

Developed by two-time Philippine National Barista Champion and World Barista Championship Semi-Finalist Michael Harris Conlin, and co-designed by his then 14-year-old son Liam Conlin, the Better Vessel™ represents generations of curiosity, craftsmanship, and passion for espresso.

Why remove the crema?
Crema is the universal symbol of espresso. While this frothy, caramel-coloured layer looks appealing – and is a sign of a proper extraction – it actually contains a concentration of emulsified oils and bitter compounds that contribute to harsh, astringent flavours.
The Better Vessel™ allows you to enjoy the benefits of a well-extracted espresso shot without the layer of crema or the bitterness. Perfect for adventurous home baristas, educators, and coffee professionals seeking to refine their sensory skills, this new tool helps reveal the natural sweetness and clarity of espresso.

How the Better Vessel™ works
The Better Vessel™ allows you to pull the espresso shot directly into the chamber. After crema naturally settles to the surface, place the vessel overtop your cup. The precision ball-lock valve then releases everything you want (i.e., the espresso body) while retaining the layer of crema inside.
The result? A sweeter, less bitter shot, with improved flavour clarity and a well-rounded body.

Get more brewing flexibility
With the crema removed, you can pull longer, higher-extraction shots without having to worry about muted flavours and overwhelming bitterness.

Made for the home and café
A durable, injection-molded design makes the Better Vessel™ an excellent fit for any workflow or environment, including full-service cafés, barista training labs, and home setups.

Food safe
The Better Vessel™ is manufactured using high-performance copolyster engineered for clarity, durability, and food safety. It's also heat resistant, built to withstand the temperature of freshly brewed espresso.

Generous capacity
The Better Vessel™ can handle approximately 50g (1.76oz) of espresso, allowing use with naked portafilters and high-volume shots.