In the second film from Port and Sage’s The Art of Duality series, chef Thomas Straker opens his kitchen and home life to show how discipline, intuition and the Oracle™ Dual Boiler guide his daily creative flow. From high-energy service to content creation and team briefings, we hear about how Straker’s work is shaped by balance
Thomas Straker, the chef and entrepreneur behind Straker’s in Notting Hill, is best known for his playful ‘All About the Butter’ videos. These short-form clips showcase Straker crafting a variety of compound butters – from classic garlic and herb to inventive flavours like miso and Biscoff – demonstrating how a simple ingredient can be transformed into something extraordinary. He trained under culinary legends at Dinner by Heston and Elystan Street before opening Straker’s in 2022, where he blends technical rigour with a sense of spontaneity, a philosophy reflected in every dish he produces. Over 18 years in kitchens, he has developed a reputation for creativity and leadership – running multiple ventures while mentoring a growing team. Coffee is part of that rhythm, a moment at the start of the day that gives him space to think and prepare for what’s ahead.
Straker’s days are usually “jam packed”, juggling work, creativity and family. “The first thing I would do in the morning is have a coffee,” he says. “Today, I had a cortado, and I had a bit of time. So I made it on this manual setting, and you have a bit more of that creative freedom… where I’m just like, ‘this is the key to life today’.” The manual side of the Oracle™ Dual Boiler lets Straker take full control of every element of extraction – from pre-infusion pressure and flow rate to milk texture – so he can make a cup that’s entirely his own. The dual boiler system keeps the temperature perfectly stable, giving each espresso or cortado the same precision and care as a dish he’s crafting in the kitchen. Then, after a run or a session at the gym, he takes his children to school before cycling across London – a moment of clarity and a chance to prepare before the chaos of service begins. Once he arrives at work, he spends 10 minutes jotting down ideas or having a coffee before diving into back-to-back meetings. From there, his day unfolds at pace: a team briefing, menu testing – perhaps a new langoustine dish on the barbecue – then reviewing service flow and restaurant design. “My creative process is very simple – like, what’s good? How can I do the least amount to make it exceptional? And then we’re away,” he explains.
He balances these daily demands with creative projects beyond the kitchen – meetings, brand collaborations and filming for his social channels. “I plug into a design meeting, thinking about materials and how the space looks and feels, and then it’s suddenly, ‘oh, you’ve got to go and make pasta for Instagram’,” he says. “Turn the brain off, then back on again.” Despite the constant shifts in pace, Straker thrives on the variety, learning to find calm in small rituals. “Half my life was spent working,” he reflects. “My first ever job at the Dorchester was also difficult, because you don’t know where you’re going. Now I have such a clear direction of where I want to take my brand. You’ve got to work out what it is in your life that you need to put in there to make you hungry, driven and feel good.”
For Straker, making coffee with the Sage Oracle™ Dual Boiler becomes a moment to ground himself, before diving back into the day’s creative demands. The machine’s ability to switch between automatic and manual modes means he can opt for a quick, effortless espresso when time is tight, or slow down for a more tactile, hands-on ritual. Its new Auto Dial-in system monitors each extraction and automatically adjusts the grind for the next cup – ensuring every shot is perfect.
This is the second film in Port x Sage’s The Art of Duality. Relive Rejina Pyo and Jordan Bourke’s story here, and keep an eye out for the final film in the series, featuring Max Radford, releasing on 30th October.
Production Studio Union
Exec producer Dan Pickard
Director & DoP Theo Tennant
Lighting & camera assistant Matt Bramston
Hair & makeup / groomer Margherita Lascala
Port producer Jack Stacey
Port editor Ayla Angelos
Production assistant Annabelle Brown
Barista / drinks stylist Luke Lane
Edit Ned Donohoe
Edit David Tse
Colourist Lucrezia Pollice
Dub Tom Guest
EMEA PR & Partnerships manager Kira Schacht
Breville Group General manager, global communications Lucy Martyn
Concept agency John Doe
