Titanium Kafijas automāts by Carl Mertens

Titanium Kafijas automāts by Carl Mertens is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Zelta balva A' Design Award in Sadzīves tehnikas dizains Competition Category.

ZeltaSadzīves tehnika· 2026

Titanium Kafijas automāts

by Carl Mertens

Client: Carl Mertens

Zelta balva A' Design Award Winner in Sadzīves tehnika Category

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View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Titanium Kafijas automāts

Titanium ir kompakts pusautomātiskais kafijas automāts, kas radīts virtuvēm ar ierobežotu darba virsmas platību. Noapaļotais korpuss ir izgatavots ar iesmidzināšanas liešanas metodi un nokrāsots zemas piesātinātības ciāna tonī, papildināts ar slīpēta nerūsējošā tērauda akcentiem. Caurspīdīga displeja zona un apgaismojuma efekti skaidri parāda ierīces statusu. Portafiltra izlīdzināšanas indikatoru gaismas palīdz precīzi to novietot. Dušas sietiņš un filtra grozs ir izgatavoti no tīra titāna, kas ir antibakteriāls un izturīgs pret koroziju. Noņemamais malšanas mezgls atvieglo tīrīšanu un apkopi.

The Recognition

About the Zelta balva A' Design Award

Titanium Kafijas automāts ir Zelta balvas A' Design Award ieguvējs, ārkārtīgi prestiža atzinība, ko piešķir pirmšķirīgiem, brīnišķīgiem un izciliem dizainiem. Zelta ieguvēji ir ļoti inovatīvi, tālredzīgi un žilbinoši spoži darbi, kas atspoguļo to dizaineru talantu, gudrību un meistarību. Sagaidāms, ka Titanium Kafijas automāts būs ļoti slavēts, tendenci veidojošs un monumentāls izgudrojums, kas sniedz nebijušu vērtību. Šis ar Zelta balvu apbalvotais dizains ir lielisks, cienīts projekts, kas paplašina mākslas, zinātnes, dizaina un tehnoloģiju robežas. Titanium Kafijas automāts izraisa intensīvu vēlmi, modina kaislību, veicina radošumu un valdzina.

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