Date Added: October 08, 2010 02:01:47 AM

Lavazza has been passionate about coffee for four generations. The company began to consider how people enjoy good coffee at work and at home. In 1989 just as first coffee machines were being produced Lavazza introduced it’s first closed system espresso machine.That is why Lavazza has a intense, passionate relationship with it’s coffee machines. In 2010 the Espresso Point espresso coffee machine project is now about thirty years old.

The story begins with the birth of Uno Per, the first single dose capsule machine based in Gattinara. In 1989 Lavazza bought the Uno Per company which become known as Espresso Point. The first machine was the 1x – a inexpensive, basic box made out of plastic. The first Lavazza designed espresso point coffee machine was developed in 1991 characterised by it’s warmer gold plated handles an d polished steel. It was initially called the Balconcino con Vaporizzatore which later became the Matinee. After five re styles a more modern electronic version of the same machine is still available today.

The next coffee machine / espresso machine in the range was designed by Maurona Zona a external design consultant from EGL . The machine was called the ECL – Espresso e Cappuccino Lavazza. Shaped like a L to represent Lavazza. It was made in white according to the tradition of small kitchen appliances of that time. The machine was designed to use single or double pods. Eventually 13 versions of the coffee machine was made using different size coffee pods / coffee capsules and in different colours.

The next version of Espresso Point Machine was the Pininfarina’s Espresso Point. Pininfarina name is synonymous with Italian design – from cars, furniture, trains and coffee machines. Pininfarina defined the machine as “the gateway to the world of coffee” The machine designed fifteen years is still being sold today in it’s incarnated versions. The design , sophisticated yet austere at the same time with the rivets that might have come from a cargo ship or a Meccano set gives the machine a everyday human dimension.

Then come Lavazza Blue in 2003. Blue stands for “Best Lavazza Ultimate Espresso” A new system of self –preserving capsules, new multi-technology, multi-performance coffee espresso machines. Again designed by Pininfarina and produced by Saeco. The mainstay of the blue system was the LB1000 and LB2200. Then in 2006 the Lavazza e Guzzini was introduced.

Then came a collaboration between Necta and Lavazza. They introduced the first coffee vending machines to use capsules. The Colibri, Astro, Brio, Kikko . This innovation revolutionized coffee vending in public places and industry. Truly good espresso from a vending machine.

Lavazza then developed commercial coffee machines to use the Lavazza Blue Pods. A few machines were developed by Wega and Bianchi. The most important models in this range is the LB4100 Clara and the LB4800. Both Wega and Bianchi are icons in the Italian coffee machine manufacturing industry.

Then in 2008 came the EP 950 produced by Brasilia and designed by Maurizio Ggiordano. It is a fresh minimalistic product but sophisticated with a white on white Lavazza Logo. It has no steamer and is a true espresso machine – coffee short and strong delivered quickly.

Then came the EP Maxi espresso coffee machine designed by Gianluca Nigro. The design follows the L shape of the ECL Looking like robotic egg heads like something from “Star Wars” Side on they look flagships of a mighty fleet of a Espresso space fleet.

In design is the EP time designed by Marco Merendi and EP Plus.