Coffee machines

The Atomic coffeemaker is a good example of conceptual design which uses exaggerated simplicity of line to create visual impact at the expense of a meaningful function. It is physically unable to make a good-quality cup of coffee due to its reliance on heating water to boiling temperature. The water is so hot by the time it passes through the ground coffee that it imparts a burnt taste to the results – every time.

The correct instrument to make coffee at home is an espresso machine which does not burn the coffee, since it uses motor-driven pressure to drive water of the correct temperature - about 90 degrees celsius – through the ground coffee. A rugged and well-designed example of an espresso machine for home use is the Rancilio Silvia, shown below.

Espresso machines with this form factor show the benefits of functional convergence. This is the opposite of designs that try to do two different things at once. The cups that fit on the recessed tray forming the top of the unit will be warmed by heat rising from the heating element. The cups have everything to do with making coffee and so does their being heated before use. There is a natural fit between the physical fact that heat rises and the placement of a recessed area for cups on the top of the unit rather than, say, on a shelf underneath it.