From Europe with Love #41 👀February 9, 2025

Buonasera from Coromandel!

Welcome to this week’s edition of what’s hot in European brands & products!

If this is your first time here — welcome!

Every week, I share five of the coolest things from Europe I’ve stumbled across in the past seven days. No fluff, just great finds.

Family nomad trip update: We’ve swapped the camper for an apartment in Devonport, Auckland. With the kids in school, weekend trips are our only escape — this time to the Coromandel Peninsula: stunning beaches, forests in a hundred shades of green, pure wow.

But what stuck with me just as much as the landscapes were the names. Whangamatā, Hahei, and Tairua, rich in Māori history, contrasted with Coromandel — named after a British ship, which borrowed its name from India.

I think about names a lot — not just out of curiosity, but because it’s part of what I do. Whether for brands, products, or entire businesses, a great name sets the tone for everything that follows.

If you’re stuck on one (or just want a fresh take), hit reply — I’d love to help.

Speaking of things that stand out — here are five brands that do just that.

Let’s get to it.

With love ☀️
– Jakob

Stuzzi Hot Sauce [🇮🇹]

Merano represent! Created by chefs Jakob Zeller and Ethel Hoon in my hometown, this three-ingredient hot sauce is simple, bold, and just as fun as its branding. And if they’re behind a food product, you know it’s going to be top-tier. Spice up your life here.

Pleomorph Candelabra [🇬🇧]

Inspired by molecular structures and biomorphic forms, Abid Javed’s work blurs the line between art and science. This pink ceramic candelabra feels like organic chemistry meets interior design. If aliens had dinner parties, this is what they’d use for mood lighting 😉 Explore the shape-shifting beauty here.

Nunc Espresso Machine [🇩🇪 | 🇨🇭]

Designed in Germany and built (mostly) in Switzerland, this espresso machine takes precision to a new level. If you appreciate good coffee but don’t want a spaceship-like machine taking over your counter, this one’s for you. Minimalist, powerful, and engineered like a Swiss watch. Brew perfection here.

Shino Mug [🇬🇧]

Once you’ve got the perfect espresso, you need something worthy to drink it from. Enter: this beautifully glazed mug by Iona Ceramics. Designed by Iona Crawford-Topp in North Yorkshire, England, it brings that ‘slow morning, perfect sip’ kind of vibe. Drawing inspiration from the vast, sweeping lines and ever-changing colors of the coastline, each piece captures the essence of the coast. Elevate your coffee ritual here.

Hutschn Swing [🇩🇪]

We had this exact swing in the middle of our Berlin living room, and let me tell you — it got a lot of use. (Right now, our ceiling height situation doesn’t quite allow for it, otherwise, I’d hang one here too.) Handmade in Bavaria and built to last, this is nostalgia with a modern twist. The name Hutschn comes from the Bavarian dialect, meaning ‘to swing’ — which is exactly what you’ll want to do once it’s up.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE FIND THIS WEEK? HIT REPLY WITH #1, #2, #3, #4 OR #5 – I’D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS!