Cumin Co. Pressure Cooker

The pressure cooker is a staple in the Indian kitchen. Vital for speeding up the cooking of dal and enhancing flavour of meat curries, cooking at pressure also saves on fuel. A recent entrant to the cookware market, Cumin Co. challenged Morrama to elevate the pressure cooker to a stylish new level. 
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Patented innovation

Focusing first on user experience, the challenge was how to make the cooking method less intimidating to first-time users. In India, cooks rely on the whistle - a valve that pops up, releasing steam when pressure reaches a certain level. 'Counting the whistles' gives you an indication of cooking progress, and many recipes will state the number of whistles instead of a time period. Needing to keep this function, but wanting to bring additional control, we developed the innovative patented MaestroValve™ with three cooking modes: express, cook and steam, giving the pressure cooker it's name: Treble.

Express mode 

This mode is what most Indian families and cooks are used to. Coming from the traditional Hawkins pressure cooker - famous in the region - most Indian cookers have one pressure mode that requires around 100kPa of pressure built up in the pot to release the whistle. The Cumin Express mode was engineered to replicate this powerful and quick cooking experience. Higher pressure cuts cooking time for dense ingredients and bigger portions, and it works with traditional whistle-based recipes, so cooks can rely on the rhythms and intuition they already have. 

Cook Mode 

The trade-off with Express mode is a louder, more aggressive whistle and more risk of residue escaping through the vent - exactly what Cook mode addresses. For a more controlled cooking experience, Cook mode only requires 80kPa to lift the weight up and release the steam. This amount of pressure is more commonly used on western pressure cookers, such as Tefal. People still want speed, but they increasingly expect more control over the experience allowing them to keep delicate foods like moong and masoor dal, vegetables, paneer and fish curries in better shape. Steam releases more gently, with less foaming and starch overflow, so everyday cooking is less messy. It also fits the timed, pressure-level recipes that induction hobs and instant pots have made common. 

Steam mode 

Whilst the Steam mode's main function is to release the pressure built up in the pot when the user has finished cooking, it also turns the cooker into a broader everyday tool. Allowing the pot to be used as a regular saucepan or steamer, it then works with an ecosystem of idli steamers, steam baskets and stackable inserts. 
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Designed for safety and longevity

A key requirement for a pressure cooker, the Treble has been designed with safety at the forefront. Vertical steam venting and a steam release valve that doesn't require holding up until the pressure drops, reduces risk of injury compared to pressure cookers common in the region. If the main regulator gets blocked we designed in two back-up pathways for the steam via a safety valve and gasket release. To prevent the need for this we ensured the regulator components can be easily removed for cleaning to remove residue build up and maintain long term safety and performance. For a deeper clean, or repair, users can unscrew the pressure regulator from the lid using a kitchen knife and clean each individual part. The handles can also be removed and replacement parts are available to ensure customers can keep their Treble pressure cooker in use for longer.

Creating a kitchen icon

At the start of the project, we set out to create a pressure cooker that felt less like an appliance and more like an heirloom a family would keep and pass on. Drawing reference from heritage cookware and contemporary homeware we wanted a silhouette that was iconic and recognisable at a glance. Rather than adding detail, we kept the body to one simple, generous form and let the regulator crown become the product’s signature. We also wanted to respect the pressure cooker Indian families grew up with while making it feel lighter and more joyful. Warm colour on the touch-points and friendly, rounded geometry turned a familiar tool into something people would be proud to leave on the counter and hand down the generations. And finally we focused on the interaction points. The regulator dial, handles and knob were shaped to be rounded, almost pebble-like and clear markings on the dial meant anyone in the family could switch between high, low and steam modes confidently.

Taking inspiration from Cumin Co.'s existing colour palette, the pressure cooker comes in classic stainless, Moringa Green and Kulhad Rust and comes in both 5 litre and 3 litre.