308a Machine à café by Nicola Zanetti and Federico Bosque

308a Machine à café by Nicola Zanetti and Federico Bosque is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award de Fer in Design d'Appareils Ménagers Competition Category.

FerAppareil Ménager· 2026

308a Machine à café

by Nicola Zanetti and Federico Bosque

Client: Segnoinverso

A' Design Award de Fer Winner in Appareil Ménager Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #181434

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The Design

About 308a Machine à café

La 308a est une machine à café multicapsule conçue pour un usage domestique et professionnel. Elle accepte les capsules, les dosettes et le café moulu, et prépare des espressos, des cafés allongés, des thés et des boissons lactées. Une pompe à pression et une chauffe rapide assurent une extraction régulière et une crema constante. La température et le volume peuvent être ajustés selon les goûts de chacun. Le corps est réalisé en ABS moulé par injection, avec des surfaces continues et des transitions douces qui réduisent la complexité visuelle. Il suffit d'insérer la capsule, de refermer la poignée supérieure et de sélectionner la boisson via l'interface tactile.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award de Fer

308a Machine à café est lauréat de l'A' Design Award de Fer, une reconnaissance prestigieuse décernée à de bons designs qui répondent aux exigences professionnelles et industrielles attendues de créations bien conçues. Les lauréats Fer démontrent la grande compétence, la haute spécialisation, la compréhension experte et la capacité créative de leurs créateurs. 308a Machine à café est censé être une création très estimée, admirée et chérie, pratique et innovante. Ce design lauréat de l'A' Design Award de Fer intègre les meilleures pratiques de l'industrie et présente des caractéristiques techniques compétentes associées à un savoir-faire et à du talent. 308a Machine à café est respecté pour sa rigueur et est conçu pour apporter des améliorations de la qualité de vie qui contribuent à faire du monde un monde meilleur.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: This coffee machine stands out for its exceptional versatility, combining multiple brewing systems in one compact device. It is compatible with a wide range of capsules, ESE pods, and ground coffee, allowing users to prepare espresso, long coffee, tea, and milk-based drinks. A 19-bar pressure system and fast heating ensure rich extraction and consistent crema, while adjustable temperatures and volumes offer a highly personalized brewing experience for different tastes and beverages.
Dimensions & Packaging: 124x317x290h 1400 W 20bar pump
Tags: multicapsule, capsule, pod, espresso, cappuccino, coffee, machine
Production Technology: ABS injection molding
Design Challenge: The creative challenge was to design a coffee machine that feels friendly and approachable while standing out in a crowded market of technical-looking products. The goal was to achieve a fluid, compact form with continuous surfaces that visually soften the object and reduce perceived complexity. The design avoids aggressive geometries, aiming instead for a balanced and timeless aesthetic that can naturally fit into different environments, from domestic kitchens to office spaces.
Research: The design research began with a detailed benchmark analysis of existing single-serve coffee machines, identifying limits in compactness, visual coherence, and user perception. Early concepts were explored through sketches to define proportions and fluidity, followed by 3D models to refine volumes around internal components. Prototyping was used to validate ergonomics and visual balance. CMF studies finalized the design, enhancing surface continuity, tactile quality, and integration in different environments.
Inspiration: The design is inspired by the idea of fluidity and the expressive nature of liquid in motion. Soft, continuous surfaces flow seamlessly from one volume to another, creating a sense of natural continuity and visual calm. The form avoids sharp interruptions, favoring smooth transitions that recall the movement of water and coffee extraction itself. This fluid geometry conveys lightness, precision, and harmony, transforming a compact machine into an intuitive and elegant object.
Project Duration: Italy, 03/2022 to 06/2022
Operation Flow: The machine is designed for intuitive and seamless operation. The user inserts the preferred capsule or coffee pod, using the dedicated holder, close the top handle, selects the desired beverage setting through the touch interface, and starts brewing with a single action. Visual indicators guide each step, while automatic dosing and flow control simplify the interaction, creating a smooth and effortless coffee-making experience.
Team Members: Nicola Zanetti and Federico Bosque