You know that fun guy who’s always scheming, always working on some new crazy idea and always has a good story to tell? The kind of person you always make sure to invite to a party? I’ve never met him in person, but I am pretty sure Zac Tuckett is that guy.
Better known by his Instagram handle @six_impossiblethings, Tuckett is certainly invited to my next party—because from now on I want all my parties to involve things like juggling water kettles and wearing coffee helmets. Who wouldn’t want that?
Even the name “Six Impossible Things” comes with (and from) a good story: it’s a line from the White Queen in Lewis Carroll’s “Through the Looking-Glass.” “Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” Tuckett simply “thought it could be a good name for a cafe or something.”
That something is Tuckett’s fun and quirky feed, which features everything from him brewing directly into his mouth to doing yoga poses with coffee devices. (Might 2016 be the year of coffeega? Tuckett just might hold the key.)
While he used to work in coffee at the Abbotsford Club in Melbourne, these days he’s busy as a podiatrist (no joke) there. Tuckett took some time to catch up with us and share a little bit about himself and his process—no podiatrist talk, just coffee.
How would friends of yours finish the statement, “Zac is…”?
Zac is curious, interested in the world. Zac is calculating and random. Zac is in quite a bad way without coffee.
How did you get started doing your work? How has it evolved since then?
I started posting on Instagram as a means of promoting work I was doing building custom pour-over stands, and to also convey and share a deeper interest in coffee…at the time [I was] attempting to apply for a job as a coffee specialist with Coffee Supreme. The evolution of the account has led to meeting a lot of great people and having a lot of great opportunities, allowing me to learn a great deal more than I ever originally imagined. These days my work is more just about having a good time, not taking too much too seriously.
What are some of your favorite pieces from the last few months?
Perhaps my favorite has been the pour-over cap. I do also enjoy coffee outdoors.
Tell us a little more about your creative process.
Most of the pieces I’ve shared through Instagram have been for a bit of a laugh; I’ve attempted to produce something different, something that would easily generate interest, [something that] hadn’t been done to death. Generally the creative process for me only goes as far as the creation of the content; I don’t really spend much time editing or even shooting the photos, I know what I want it to look like because I’ve already seen it in my head.
A summary of the thought process behind some of my photos:
Having a bath: “I wonder if anyone has ever had a bath in brewed coffee?”
Observing my cat do all sorts of weird shit: “Yeah, but let’s see if you can make a coffee m’boy.”
Standing on my head in the middle of a yoga class: “Mmm, I would love a coffee right now, I wonder if I could brew one in this position.”
I think of [something] and often can’t do away with the thought until I’ve at least tried it.
I love the yoga poses. What inspired them? Do you have a regular yoga practice?
Ah! The inspiration for my yoga poses—a girl! At first I thought it would be funny to gain her attention through combining yoga poses with the brewing of coffee. Funnily enough she couldn’t really care less when it comes to coffee, and to this day I’m yet to make her coffee, which has her convinced I’m no good at brewing.
By no means would I say my yoga practice is regular. However, I do like to throw asanas in among exercising, and have become more interested in philosophy when it comes to yoga. Though asanas do make for entertaining photos.
You also have a thing for photos of you brewing directly into your mouth—what’s that about?
That is me joking around, I certainly don’t believe in this brew method! I may as well just skip straight to eating the roasted beans if this were the case (which I used to actually do in ultramarathons, chocolate-covered coffee beans, mmm).
Did you really build a double-brew coffee helmet? More importantly, does it work, and if so, how often do you use it?
Oh, the cap certainly works. [But] I didn’t make the device, I simply tweaked it. It’s more commonly used for presumably raging alcoholics. I have used it twice only! For coffee. ; )
What inspires you?
I appreciate originality, and perseverance in one’s goals. I truly admire deep passion no matter the [area of] study. I love intelligence and find it truly attractive. [A few of the folks who inspire Tuckett]: Josh Jones @odin_josh; Dan Schonknecht @specht_design; Nathan James Johnston @nathanjamesjohnston and the @cartelroasters team; Matty De Angelis @mattydeangelis; David Dev Ald @devald; Mr. Bryan Schiele @letsbrew.coffee
What coffee are you drinking right now?
Big ol’ fruit bomb from Cartel Coffee Roasters: Ethiopia Guji—muhaba natural. Raspberries and blackcurrant.
Favorite coffee shop?
Cartel again [in Geelong]. Such a passion and buzz around it. Never left a place so well-educated and well-caffeinated. The team are sensational.
If you could drink coffee with anyone in the world, who would it be and why?
So hard. Perhaps my girlfriend. Why? Because she doesn’t care for it and therefore cannot be convinced she’s human.
Anna Brones (@annabrones) is a Sprudge.com staff writer based in the American Pacific Northwest, the founder of Foodie Underground, and the co-author of Fika: The Art Of The Swedish Coffee Break. Read more Anna Brones on Sprudge.
