Titanium Кафемашина by Carl Mertens is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Златна награда A' Design Award in Дизайн на домакински уреди Competition Category.

ЗлатоДомакински уреди· 2026

Titanium Кафемашина

by Carl Mertens

Client: Carl Mertens

Златна награда A' Design Award Winner in Домакински уреди Category

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Colors

The Design

About Titanium Кафемашина

Titanium е компактна полуавтоматична кафемашина, създадена за кухни с ограничено пространство на плота. Заоблената форма на корпуса е изработена чрез шприцоване и е боядисана в слабо наситен циан, с акценти от четкана неръждаема стомана. Прозрачна дисплейна зона и светлинни ефекти ясно показват състоянието на машината. Индикаторни светлини за подравняване на портафилтъра насочват прецизното му поставяне. Душ екранът и филтърната кошница са изработени от чист титан, който е антибактериален и устойчив на корозия. Подвижен мелещ модул улеснява почистването и поддръжката.

The Recognition

About the Златна награда A' Design Award

Titanium Кафемашина е носител на Златната награда A' Design Award — неимоверно престижно признание, присъждано на първокласни, чудесни и забележителни дизайни. Златните победители са изключително иновативни, силно визионерски и блестящо поразяващи творби, които отразяват гения, мъдростта и майсторството на своите дизайнери. Очаква се Titanium Кафемашина да бъде високо възхвалявано, задаващо тенденции и монументално изобретение, което носи безпрецедентна стойност. Този дизайн, спечелил Златната награда A' Design Award, е впечатляващ, уважаван проект, който силно ползва и разширява границите на изкуството, науката, дизайна и технологиите. Titanium Кафемашина поражда силни чувства на желание, буди страст, насърчава творчеството и ни очарова.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: This compact semiautomatic coffee machine breaks from the traditional boxy form, combining rounded vintage lines with modern lighting effects to create distinct retrofuturistic aesthetics. Features such as a transparent display zone, portafilter alignment indicator lights, and a removable grinding unit simplify operation and elevate user experience. The overall design allows coffee enthusiasts to enjoy a professional, convenient, and ritualistic coffee making experience even in limited spaces.
Dimensions & Packaging: 285mm*321mm*345mm
Tags: Retrofuturistic Aesthetics, Transparent Display Zone, Interactive Lighting, Pure Titanium Antibacterial Components, Removable Grinding Unit, Professional Experience, Compact and Space Friendly
Production Technology: The body is injection molded, polished, and spray painted for a smooth texture and an elegant cyan color. Drip tray and group head are made of brushed and polished stainless steel for a professional look. Key parts including shower screen and filter basket are made of pure titanium, which is antibacterial and corrosion resistant, ensuring safety. The top transparent bean hopper and removable grinding unit show coffee bean status, preventing clogging and facilitating cleaning and maintenance.
Design Challenge: The main challenge was to maintain the core performance of professional coffee machines while reducing overall size. The design team addressed this by reorganizing the internal structure with a modular layout to ensure stable extraction pressure within a compact form. The removable grinding unit successfully balances ease of disassembly with consistent grinding performance, allowing the small coffee machine to deliver professional level performance comparable to larger machines.
Research: Research shows the demand for professional grade coffee is steadily rising, yet urban kitchens often lack sufficient counter space for traditional large coffee machines. This product balances space efficiency and professional performance. With removable components and a compact layout, it preserves core features like professional extraction pressure while reducing its size, bringing professional coffee making into a compact space and delivering a premium coffee making experience.
Inspiration: The exterior draws on the mechanical aesthetics of classic Italian espresso machines with a distinct pressure gauge while integrating modern home aesthetics through a rounded body and a silver track, perfectly balancing vintage charm with contemporary technological appeal. An elegant low saturation cyan body accented with brushed stainless steel reinforces both professional quality and modern style.
Project Duration: The project was initiated in April 2025 in Jinhua, Zhejiang. The design is expected to be completed by April 2026, with its first public presentation scheduled at the CARL MERTENS Distributor Conference. Full production will then begin in June 2026 in Jiangmen, Guangdong.
Operation Flow: The transparent display zone and lighting effects make information and machine status immediately clear. Portafilter alignment indicator lights guide precise placement, simplifying operation. Dual wide angled, ergonomically tilted, antislip detent side levers improve extraction pressure control while the short throw steam lever reduces the risk of scalding. The removable portafilter base supports based and baseless use, while the drip tray with vortex pattern shows the place for cups.
Team Members: Heping Zhou
Jijia Wu
Guitao Mei