Coffee Roaster c. 1935

Karl Joubert rendered this depiction of a Coffee Roaster using graphite and watercolor, presenting a functional object as a vessel of deeper symbolism. The rounded form of the roaster—a sphere cut in half—immediately evokes primordial images of the cosmos divided, of containment and potential release. Consider the alchemical retorts, cauldrons used not only for practical transformation but as symbolic wombs for rebirth. Here, the coffee roaster is not merely a kitchen tool but an instrument of transformation. We might reflect on the cyclical journey of the coffee bean itself. From the earth, through the fire, culminating in the daily ritual of coffee preparation. Fire has always been a double-edged symbol, of destruction and also warmth, and in the context of the Coffee Roaster, it invites contemplation of this duality. The roasting process, much like life itself, demands a delicate balance and constant attention.