There’s something really exciting and awe-inspiring about when two different worlds collide to birth a new one. But when an automobile company gets inside the kitchen, you can rest assured, something wild is cooking; a lesson we learned not long ago from the Smeg x Porsche collab. Ducati is following suit as the brand, associated with some of the most fantastic motorcycles ever made, celebrates its centennial with the Barista M3 espresso machine.
With a mouthful of a name, the Barista M3 1926 Limited Edition Carbon Fiber by Ducati is a wonderchild of the automotive and caffeine industry. Marrying Swiss precision with Italian racing spirit, each unit of the limited-edition espresso machine comes hand-assembled. Ducati tapped the Swiss espresso brand Cuisine Barista for the centennial countertop appliance special, a collaboration resulting in the world’s first and only carbon fiber capsule machine with a composite carbon fiber build.
The Ducati-coded coffee machine brings motorheads and caffeine enthusiasts together. To the utmost joy of bikers, the front and back panels are wrapped in the same twill-weave carbon fiber as the brand’s track bikes.
If you are wondering about the special part of this, aside from the fact that Ducati is involved, the Barista M3 comes outfitted with a proprietary heating element, making it brew-ready in seven seconds with no warm-up routine. You just walk up and pull a shot, a trick you’ll need when you have to race.
Before we delve deeper into functionality, let’s talk form. The espresso machine features three precision-laid layers of 1.5mm twill carbon at the front and rear panels. The rest of the appliance is finished in stainless steel under a PVD coating. It flaunts a red Ducati badge front and center. The backlit red plate on the rear looks as if lifted off a superbike tail section. Three tactile dials alongside a small digital readout call back to the brand’s iconic bikes.
As for the functionality, the highlight is the proprietary heating element. It warms up the machine in seven seconds and gets to work in no time. The espresso machine gives you precise control over temperature, ranging from 70 degrees Celsius to 99 degrees Celsius. It includes three extraction profiles: light, standard, and strong; while the adjustable pre-infusion coaxes every bit of flavor from the grind.
The Barista M3 by Ducati pumps up to 19 bar and comes with an impressive lineup of 12 preset drinks at the touch of a button. It pairs with a companion app for descaling alerts and consumption stats. Additionally, Cuisine Barista has included an in-cup milk frother, which it bills as the world’s first. You simply pour milk into the included Ducati cup, put it under the head, and induction does the rest. It is quite clever if you think about it: no carafe, no second device, and no extra parts to wash and clean.
Also Read: KitchenAid Launches Three Automatic Espresso Machines With Mastery Over Iced Coffee
If you want more of a hands-on approach, there is also a traditional steam wand with the same pressure path as a commercial bar, offering you convenience and control. The machine also features a built-in water filter and a large used capsule tray, accommodating up to 20 Nespresso-style capsules.
Available for €2,599 (roughly $3,000), the Barista M3 is a capsule machine and runs on Nespresso-style pods, which might be a turn-off for some people who enjoy grinding their own beans and using them for extra depth. Capable of brewing a dozen drink types, from espresso to latte to macchiato, the Barista M3 1926 Limited Edition Carbon Fiber by Ducati becomes a bridge where love for coffee and motorbikes converges.
Via: Gear Patrol
