Titanium Kafiy Ruwaq Makina by Carl Mertens

Titanium Kafiy Ruwaq Makina by Carl Mertens is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Quri Premiu in Wasi Llamkana Kamay Competition Category.

QuriWasi Llamkana· 2026

Titanium Kafiy Ruwaq Makina

by Carl Mertens

Client: Carl Mertens

A' Design Award Quri Premiu Winner in Wasi Llamkana Category

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Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #181848

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Titanium Kafiy Ruwaq Makina

Titanium nisqaqa huch'uy semiautomática kafiy ruwaq makinam, pisi kancha kaq kusina hawankunapaq ruwasqa. Muyu ukhun injección nisqawan moldeasqam, pisi saturación cyan llimp'iwan llimp'isqa, hinaspa llusk'achisqa acero inoxidable nisqawan sumaqchasqa. Huk ch'uya rikuchiq zona hinallataq k'anchay ruwaykunapas makinapa kayninta sut'ita rikuchin. Portafiltro churanapaq pusaq k'anchaykunaqa allin churayta pusanku. Ducha rejilla hinallataq filtro canasta nisqakunaqa ch'uya titaniomantam ruwasqa kanku, chayqa bacteriakunata hark'aqmi hinaspa ismuymanta amachakuqmi. Huk hurquy atina kutana partiqa pichayta hinallataq allinchayta pisillaman tukuchin.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Quri Premiu

Titanium Kafiy Ruwaq Makina A' Design Award Quri Premiu mishak kan, ancha jatun yupaychay, kayta ñawpak kallari, sumak shinallatak mancharina diseñukunaman kun. Quri mishak kashkakunaka mushuk yuyay achka, ñawpakta rikuk shinallatak achikyaska rurashkakunami, paykunata rurakkunapak yachayta, yuyayta shinallatak ushayta rikuchinku. Titanium Kafiy Ruwaq Makina ashtawan alabashka, mushuk ñankunata churak shinallatak hatun valorta kuk yuyay kanata munanku. Kay Quri Premiu japishka diseñuka hanak, yupaychashka rurashka kan, arti, siensia, diseñu shinallatak tekinolojía ñawpak ñankunata kichuk. Titanium Kafiy Ruwaq Makina munayta kallarichin, yuyayta kallarichin, ruraytapash kallarichin shinallatak kuyaychin.

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