AKOM, a new concept of expresso machine

Akom, world premiere at IFA Berlin 2022, is a research project aimed at exploring the future of at-home coffee. For this project, Pininfarina tried to tackle the problem of sustainability from different standpoints. First, the choice of materials, the whole body and the capsules are made of recycled and recyclable aluminum. Second, in terms of maintenance, the machine is easily repairable. Last, in terms of waste, the same capsule can be used multiple times.

Drawing on Pininfarina’s continuous research on users, businesses, institutions & technologies, Akom is much more than just a product. It is a sustainable system concept that embraces product production, packaging, daily usage, servicing and end-of-life recycling. Akom is the result of an evaluative research built on a uniquely broad set of virtual, physical and digital mocking – up and prototyping capabilities.

Akom wants to reproduce the traditional method of brewing an espresso. In order to replicate this experience, the research phase was focused on studying the interaction and experience with the espresso machine, reproducing the manual gestures of making an espresso, but making it effort-less for the user standpoint.