B3 Coffee Accessible Measuring Clip

Accessible volumetric measuring clip for B3 Coffee

For my EGR 101 design course, I worked in a five-person team with B3 Coffee, a Chapel Hill nonprofit that employs people with and without disabilities. Their existing stainless-steel milk pitchers relied on low-contrast volume markings that became difficult to see as they wore down, creating accessibility challenges for employees with visual, cognitive, and motor disabilities. Our goal was to create a measuring aid that was accurate, durable, easy to manufacture, and simple to use during real café operations. We began by understanding how B3 employees currently measured milk and where errors occurred. The design needed to work with the existing pitcher rather than replacing it, avoid interfering with the steamer wand, and provide clear references for 4 oz, 10 oz, and 12 oz pours. Our final concept was a transparent acrylic clip that slides beneath the pitcher handle and positions a visible reference marker inside the pitcher. The geometry included an offset stem, 180° and 90° bends, and a honeycomb-style base. Separate clip heights were created for different fill volumes. We laser-cut the acrylic, used a strip bender to form the required angles, and repeatedly refined the geometry based on fit and usability. The final prototype was tested against six design criteria. It survived more than 35 drops, retained its shape after 200 uses, maintained measurement error below 2%, survived 60 seconds in hot water, and was positively evaluated by B3 employees. Most importantly, employees using the clip poured milk **46% faster on average** than without it. This project showed me how engineering decisions change when accessibility and real users are central to the design process. **Skills developed:** user-centred design, CAD, laser cutting, acrylic forming, rapid prototyping, testing, accessibility design, and client collaboration.