The Ligre Youn espresso machine (right) and matching Siji grinder. All images courtesy of Ligre.
A new high-end home espresso machine and companion grinder from the German boutique brand Ligre are attempting to cut through the visual clutter of classic countertop equipment.
The striking designs of the Ligre Youn espresso machine and Ligre Siji grinder do away with the many dials, levers and flashy chrome pieces typical of traditional equipment, with flat, angled front panels aligning almost seamlessly between the two machines.
Behind their flat facades of satin-finished anodized aluminum, mechanical intricacies abound. The Siji grinder includes a scale for grinding by weight with accuracy down to 0.1 grams, according to Ligre. The grinder’s case is designed to muffle the noise of beans being crunched by its 55-millimeter flat burrs, while the adjustment mechanism is fine-pitched and stepless.
Extending from the Youn espresso machine’s front panel is a 58-millimeter group made of 2.2 kilograms of solid brass. A cool-touch steam wand next to it dispenses steam from a dedicated 1,300-watt boiler for manual frothing, or milk can be aerated automatically by the machine using an air pump and sensors.
Dual vibratory water pumps drive fresh water through the system, one for refilling the steam boiler and the other directing water either towards the coffee or to a dedicated spout for americanos or teas. That water is heated through a flow-through heater and by additional heating cartridges embedded within the brass.
Sensors throughout the machine allow users to adjust brew pressure between 8-10 bars and water temperature from 86°C (186.8°F) to 99°C (210.2°F). Hot water is dispensed in preset volumes of either 40 or 80 milliliters.
In easy mode, users can choose from three different automated espresso brewing profiles. In “nerd mode,” users can craft their own by interacting with the subtle black-and-white touchscreen that is intentionally designed to be visually non-obtrusive.
“[The design] conveys luxury whilst being sleek, sensual and minimalistic,” a Ligre spokesperson told DCN. “And at the same time it showcases the pioneering spirit of Ligre.”
Ligre was founded in 2019 by Lina Gebhardt-Gronbach, whose family owns the Gronbach Group, a Germany OEM supplier that develops and produces household appliances for numerous premium brands. Gebhardt-Gronbach led the initial product design for Ligre, while collaborating with numerous coffee experts and the Munich-based design firm Relvãokellermann.
Both products are currently only available in Europe, with the Ligre Youn selling for €3,980 ($4,200) and the Siji for €1,180 ($1,245). Alongside the machines, Ligre also sells a selection of private-labeled roasted coffees roasted by Bavarian coffee company Baruli.
“We intend to offer more coffee beans and roasts in the future,” the company told DCN. “We’ll be pushing the awareness for our machines in Europe, and keep on getting better every day.”
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Howard Bryman
Howard Bryman is the associate editor of Daily Coffee News by Roast Magazine. He is based in Portland, Oregon.
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