Have you ever thought that coffee could become leather?
It all started almost by chance, within the Product Design unit. Valentino and Giovanni, MYP5 students, were faced with a seemingly simple challenge: create a biomaterial using organic compost. Just another school assignment, like many others. And yet, among the materials available—mycelium, sugarcane, coffee grounds—a single intuitive choice was enough to turn an experiment into a bigger idea.
“We chose coffee grounds because they were easy to find and surprisingly quick to work with,” they explain. Within a few hours, they were holding a soft, moldable mixture that felt oddly familiar: like leather. That was the moment the project shifted direction. No longer just a task to submit, but a real opportunity to create an ecological alternative to animal leather.
What they had created was a biodegradable, inexpensive, and potentially replicable material. But that was just the beginning. They decided to design a real, usable object—something anyone could use. Their choice fell on a catchall tray: simple, functional, and perfect for testing the qualities of the material.
From there, they began a series of experiments in the lab. Three different sessions, each with technical variations: more oxygenated mixtures thanks to manual whisking, new molding techniques, resistance and waterproof testing.
Valentino & Giovanni, MYP Students
“At first, it was too fragile. We tried using diluted PVA glue, but the structure broke easily. So we thought of using beeswax to increase its strength. We haven’t completed that phase yet, but we’re confident.”
During testing, they discovered that the material was also water-resistant. No small detail—this meant that, with the right refinements, it could be used to make wallets, bags, or even more structured objects like seating.
Their teachers’ support proved essential. The Product Design teacher helped them organize their ideas into detailed design boards, while the lab technician guided them step by step through production and baking using the DP program’s ovens. “Without them, we couldn’t have experimented so much. We were supposed to do just one trial, but they gave us the space to push further, to test ourselves.”
Through the process, thoughts of the future began to take shape. Valentino and Giovanni started to imagine the entrepreneurial potential of their project. “We’re considering turning it into a startup. With larger molds, we could produce more complex objects. We like the idea of a product that respects the environment, but also has market potential.”
More than anything, though, this journey left them with a deeper awareness: the transformative power of small gestures. “We discovered how versatile organic materials can be. And how important it is—now more than ever—to find creative and sustainable ways to make a difference.”
In a world searching for alternatives, they created one with their own hands, starting from the leftovers of a morning coffee. A quiet revolution that smells like the future.
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