A Legendary Espresso Machine Just Got a Home-Friendly Upgrade

With a simple update, the commercial-grade Faema E61 espresso machine finally belongs on the kitchen counter.

Published July 15, 2024

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Beauty may rest in the eye of the beholder but Louis Vuitton and Yves Saint Laurent certainly have a say. So when both fashion houses, along with Panerai and Prada, decide to outfit their boutiques with the same commercial-grade espresso machine, well, let’s just agree that it’s probably pretty darn classy.

Italian innovation

The machine in question is the Faema E61, introduced in 1961 as the first espresso maker to use a volumetric electric pump. Unlike lever-based machines, the pump guarantees consistent pressure throughout the entire extraction process.

As such, the E61’s signature shape, chrome body and distinctive backlit panel have been markers of quality for over 60 years. No wonder you will see it in some of the world’s most prestigious coffee shops, fashion boutiques and, soon, even your own home.

That’s because Faema just released a kitchen-optimized version of the E61, called the Cult, that’s sure to be the envy of coffee lovers the world over.

Faema E61 Cult

$5,764 at Faema

Optimized for the home

Faema has several versions of the E61 in its catalog, however, the new Cult swaps out the typical tri-phase electrical circuit for a single-phase one, making it the first variant truly suitable for a non-commercial setting.

That means the machine is “ready to adapt to new contexts and needs,” said Andrea Clerici, the global business director of Faema’s parent company, Cimbali Group — like, say, a home kitchen.

“It is a legendary espresso machine that is evolving and renewing itself with its single-phase version,” Clerici added.

True to form, the E61 Cult comes with its classic backlit panel, translucent cup guard and chrome body but Faema added wooden details on the knobs and lever to soften the aesthetic.

Availability and pricing

Exclusive to the UK for now, the E61 Cult costs £4,440.00 (about $5,764 USD). If that sounds like a lot, remember that commercial versions of the E61 — which java heads have long been converting to single-phase circuits for domestic use — start at $7,500 and quickly escalate from there.

Factor in a roundtrip to London to sort out the shipping and you might still come out ahead.