Tafée Bowle Vaporizer

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In a call with Bruno Baker, founder and lead designer of the Tafée Bowle, I posed a series of questions to gain perspective on the design ethos and other aspects of the device.

As we’ve seen with the advent of units like the Volcano Classic, MiniVAP, VapBong, and even Hammer vape, there lies many (valid) criticisms and thoughts on consuming cannabis in different ways.

Now we have tiny oil pens, gigantic balloon-inflating machines, and everything else in between. Still, the design of the Tafée Bowle is so full of animosity and confusion that only the creator could properly address it. So we went to the source.

Note: All discussion below was extrapolated from a lengthy vocal discussion and paraphrased to be concise. The quotes below are not verbatim.

Each Q & A is extrapolated from said discussion. Personal discussion points are added below.

How was cannabis viewed 20 years ago?

All of us reading will know how dramatically the opinion of cannabis use has shifted under the public eye. In the cannabis vaporizers to change social stigma article, Jorge of MiniVAP articulates how in Spain, cannabis was viewed as equal to hard drugs like heroin in most regions, likewise with most places in America.

In places like Canada with federally legalized cannabis, we’re rapidly seeing people who never once considered cannabis begin to dabble in its viability for medical and recreational use.

Still, many modern nations like Germany and Sweden are very far behind in legislation, normalization, and social stigma. This sets the stage for the questions upcoming.

Q: Where did inspiration for the Bowle/Minivap design come from?

A: The inspiration actually pays homage to the German “Bowle”. Usually filled with a punch-like concoction of herbs, fruits, and oftentimes alcohol, this centerpiece is what sets the stage for the design.

These fruits & herbs formed a terpene-rich mixture with aromas and flavors around. Our Bowle was initially intended to be an aromatherapy device to maximize efficient terpene extraction.

Discussion: In much of Germany, cannabis is still very taboo and punished heavily. The bowle is often found around Oktoberfest and other festivals – alcohol being the focus. This is a keen dig at using established tradition/convention to shift social stigma.

Q: How big of a factor is the medical cannabis scene when it came to designing the unit?

A: It was quite big, however to be honest the initial focus was on aromatherapy, cannabis. At first it was natural herbs, and then cannabis (CBD) ended up being one of them.

“How do we get the maximum amount of terpene, cannabinoids, and organic compounds from these herbs to conduct out aromatherapy session.”

Bruno Baker – Founder of Tafée

It translated into how can we arrive at an impactful design across a broad spectrum?

Discussion: It was fascinating how it once was (and still is) originally intended for aromatherapy. Conveniently, the excellent terpene extraction and flavor turn it into being an excellent cannabis vaporizer.

Q: What was the fundamental reasoning behind the design of the Tafee Bowle/Minivap.

A:

As time edges forwards and the normalization of both medical and recreational cannabis continues, the design of the Bowle is geared to improve acceptance and integration in society.

Cupwear is so integrated and natural in culture that this evolution is an organic step.

Classically, vaporizers and cannabis products have been constrained by a school of design thought. Nowadays it’s all about concealment & accessibility – hidden from law enforcement and tiny oil pens to allow easy indulgence.

“If I were using this as a parent, what would I like my kid to observe. What vessels allow us to feel wholesome, or organic?”

It’s supposed to feel like it belongs. At ease in hand and at the table. That’s why we use drinkware – no matter what goes into a cup, it’s accepted.

We also want to promote the notion of sustainable, long-term tolerance. Oil vaporizers and incredibly high THC level concentrations are so easy to use, it’s been a race to easy excess.

We’re not looking for the biggest bowl or discreet design. We want utility which is more than the sum of its parts.

Discussion point: I couldn’t agree more. The quicker we push the normalization, the faster the world will accept cannabis. Look at alcohol and drinks in a cup. Just the mental image is enough to sway someone.

There’s real concern about extreme accessibility with 90% THC oil vapes easily hidden in the palm of the hand. It’s not sustainable for use nor conducive to health.

Q: Which main doubts or criticism was there when designing the Bowle

A:

“Why aren’t you making a pen? Why the heck would I want something that doesn’t go in my pocket?”

There were constant doubts and criticism about the design, especially among the established cannabis community.

To turn concept into reality is a struggle. There was dozens of prototypes, small changes, and big costs involved. It started back in 2017 and took a long time to refine.

However, when the Bowle has shown to non-users the reaction was often “Yeah, this makes sense!”. If someone is averse to a typical joint, bong, or vape, how can we capture their interest?

To the soccer moms there were motivations like:

“My friends are always smashing their faces with wine and the moment I go to consume (smoke) my cannabis I’m the odd one out.”

To the baby boomers – people over 60 years of age and not easily adoptive of new technology, it made sense – no screens, no apps, two buttons. Just push a button, inhale, take a drink.

Even still, there is much backlash and critique over the design, mostly among existing cannabis users.

From an aromatherapy standpoint we wanted to be a lot more wholesome and organic so the first time you use it, you don’t feel abnormal.

So yes, doubts were nonstop and there was not much support or encouragement from the general group of people we would expect support from.

Discussion: Clearly, the Bowle has generated tons of controversy over the cup and design. Offensive even, this bold approach of a seemingly ‘useless cup’ demonstrates how must resistance there is to innovation in any industry.

We’ve all seen gimmicks before and of course, why re-invent the wheel? Well, why have a device that inflates balloons of vapor, seems absurd no?

Q: What is the future for Tafée and the Bowle

There are some ambitious ideas in the pipeline for the future, but right now the focus is to listen, observe, and integrate feedback into the current design. This is only the first released unit and there’s a bright future ahead.

Discussion: I can only imagine what comes in the future if the Bowle is a ‘toe in the water’ in terms of design. We’re at the very beginning of the cannabis renaissance and in 20 years we’ll be living in a completely different world.

Summary

In the many years of using cannabis, we haven’t seen something develop so much animosity so quickly among a rather tight community. In the end, the Bowle is one of those things you need to have in front of you and try out before accurate judgment can be made – the value of the whole is more than the sum of its parts.

Still, it’s definitely a unit that’s not for everybody and shiny new toy syndrome can warp the perspective of buyers. We’ve seen units like the Hydrology9 fizzle out after what seemed like a genius design. Had it had the performance of the Bowle, it’d be a completely different story.