Titanium Igwe Kọfị by Carl Mertens is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Ọlaedo in Nhazi Ngwá Ụlọ Eji Eme Ihe Competition Category.

ỌlaedoNgwá Ụlọ Eji Eme Ihe· 2026

Titanium Igwe Kọfị

by Carl Mertens

Client: Carl Mertens

Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Ọlaedo Winner in Ngwá Ụlọ Eji Eme Ihe Category

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Colors

The Design

About Titanium Igwe Kọfị

Titanium bụ igwe kọfị semiautomatic dị kọmpat nke emere maka kichin nwere oghere counter dị mkpirikpi. Ahụ ya gbara gburugburu bụ nke emere site na injection molding ma tee ya agba cyan dị nro, wee jiri ígwè na-adịghị agba nchara e hichara ehicha mee ya mma. Mpaghara ngosi na-ahụ anya na mmetụta ọkụ na-egosi ọnọdụ igwe ahụ nke ọma. Ọkụ ngosi ndozi portafilter na-eduzi ntinye ziri ezi. E ji ezigbo titanium mee ihe nyocha shawa na nkata nzacha, nke na-egbochi nje ma na-eguzogide nchara. Ngwa ịkwọ nri a na-ewepụ ewepụ na-eme ka nhicha na nlekọta dị mfe.

The Recognition

About the Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Ọlaedo

Titanium Igwe Kọfị meriri A' Design Award nke Ọlaedo, nnabata dị oke ugwu e nyere design ndị dị n'ọkwa mbụ, dị ịtụnanya ma pụtara ìhè. Ndị meriri na Ọlaedo bụ ihe e kere eke dị oke ọhụrụ, nwere ọhụụ ma na-egbu maramara nke na-egosipụta ọgụgụ isi, amamihe na nka nke ndị designer ha. A na-atụ anya na Titanium Igwe Kọfị ga-abụ ihe e mepụtara kacha enweta otuto, na-edu ọnọdụ ma bụrụ ihe ncheta nke na-enye uru na-adịbeghị mgbe ọ bụla. Design a meriri A' Design Award nke Ọlaedo bụ ọrụ dị ebube, a na-asọpụrụ nke na-erite uru buru ibu ma na-ebuga oke nka, sayensị, design na teknụzụ n'ihu. Titanium Igwe Kọfị na-eweta mmetụta ọchịchọ siri ike, na-akpali agụụ, na-akwado nzụlite ihe ma na-adọrọ anyị adọrọ.

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