Hong Kong and Australia-based coffee equipment maker Slingshot Technology recently launched the Chalice Distributor Cup, a multipurpose espresso preparation tool for baristas.
Displayed in its final production form at the 2023 HOST Milan trade show last October, the patent-pending Chalice provides multiple functions, including espresso dosing, leveling and grounds redistribution.
It serves first as a receptacle to catch espresso grounds as they issue directly from a grinder. The barista then places the loaded Chalice on top of a portafilter and spins it, simultaneously releasing and redistributing the grounds into the filter basket prior to tamping. Its height is adjustable to suit different doses and portafilter basket depths.
“This process streamlines the workflow, especially in places where the dosing cup is frequently used,” Slingshot Director Luca Giorgella recently told Daily Coffee News.
Variations of the Chalice now available include the Chalice WDT model, which includes integrated needles that descend to stir the coffee and then retract for safekeeping, and the Chalice Leveller, which levels and slightly compresses the bed of grounds without needles.
Both versions are designed to hold doses of up to 25 grams ground for espresso. The device itself weighs 300 grams (10.5 ounces).
Slingshot introduced its first product, the Dosis volumetric grinder, at the Cafe International Show in Seoul, South Korea in November 2018. The following year, in addition to establishing Slingshot Europe through a joint venture partnership with Italian coffee equipment manufacturer Carimali, the company rolled out the Kilo Precision Automatic Tamper. In 2022 Slingshot first revealed the Chalice as an upcoming concept. It is now available for sale at a price of $118 USD.
The Chalice launch coincides with the recent release of two high-performance commercial espresso grinders from Slingshot, the Sisma and Talis.
Slingshot is also currently working on another professional non-grinder tool currently codenamed “The Equalizer.” Giorgella said the upcoming automatic device is also designed to enhance coffee extraction.
“While we won’t reveal all the details just yet, it represents an innovative addition to the market and promises to improve the coffee-making process in a unique way,” said Giorgella.
In the meantime, the Chalice rounds out the brand’s slate of professional tools for preparing espresso grounds prior to extraction.
“The Chalice is suitable for users in general who seek precise coffee distribution,” said Giorgella. “It caters to both professionals and home enthusiasts committed to achieving the perfect coffee experience.”
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Howard Bryman Howard Bryman is the associate editor of Daily Coffee News by Roast Magazine. He is based in Portland, Oregon.
