The Atomic Espresso Machine, designed by Giordano Robiatti in 1947, is lauded by many espresso fans as a mid-century masterpiece. The OTTO stove top espresso maker (~$852) pays direct homage to this legendary machine (or outright copies it depending on your perspective) and has been somewhat of a Moby Dick of the coffee world.
After teasing coffee drinkers with its voluptuous form back in 2008, the Australian-designed stove top machine took three more years of additional development before finally hitting the market back in late 2011. Unlike today’s popular push button machines, this one lacks Ottopilot, and still requires hands on attention along with a bit of familiarity to maximize its potential. Luckily, Otto includes a barista instructional DVD on using the machine — which buyers should watch, but won’t — along with two Italian latte glasses, a stainless milk jug, and a custom tamper. They even throw in a robust premium travel case for those with espresso machine separation anxiety, which you’re bound to have after paying $800 for it. If we’ve whet your appetite chrome-domed-extraction beyond the point of no return, the good news is there’s a video on how to use the machine after the break.
Buy Now: ~$852
