Linje - The Nordic Espresso Machine
Linje is a collaborative effort with Øystein Helle Husby, Mariko Kurioka Rohde and Åsne Kydland.
Project brief
We were contacted by the Norwegian coffee production house Solberg & Hansen to design an espresso maker for the Norwegian market for whole coffee beans. Existing whole bean espresso makers are often complicated machines requiring skill to operate. The machine itself should have a low threshold of use, meaning the process of making coffee should be very simple while allowing for manual settings. The aesthetics had to communicate high quality and ease of use, all while suited for the Norwegian market and most importantly - brewing a high quality cup of coffee.
The product
The espresso maker “Linje” is the result of a Norwegian approach to coffee - a world by and largely dominated by Italian influences.
Through the process we defined some of the core values of Norway and Scandinavia. We have a unique landscape of mountains and vast forests and thus the shape of mountains and use of wood became our inspiration. We transformed these values into a design language, and the result is a truly unique product.
Existing espresso makers usually have a very distinct appearance, a good thing because they are immediately recognized as espresso makers, but a bad thing since they often disappear in the big plastic/metallic mass that is espresso makers. The final product is a completely different approach to the traditional espresso maker. Through its use of new materials and esthetics the product is a breath of fresh air in the market of espresso makers. This is combined with a focus on ease of use, and most important - the ability to brew an excellent cup of coffee.
Building it
The digital CAD model was divided in to cross sections. These cross sections were then plotted out and laid atop the multiple planks of wood. After marking off each profile the cross sections were cut out, glued together
to a big block and sanded down to a smooth finish. Holes were cut out for the bean tray on top of the machine and the water tank and brewing area in front.
