Coffee has luxury food status around the world. In Italy, it is considered a life elixir and its preparation is celebrated with passion. The Franke Mytico, a fully automatic coffee machine for the catering industry, was developed with that same passion. It boasts a charming design, state-of-the-art technology and delivers consistently high in-cup quality. This coffee maker marries Italian design with Swiss precision, merging function with aesthetics. Durability and high-quality materials were the top priorities in the development of this professional machine. The design process was also inspired by architectural history to ensure that the Franke Mytico blends perfectly into different environments. The appealing colour palette supports the retro look of the housing, as do other fine details: Interesting elements such as the short, slanted feet, the cup rail with rounded corners and the industrial-look screws on the side panel were incorporated into the design – all of which provide a fleeting glimpse into the past. With all of these retro features, it is astonishing how the touchscreen display and the various operating elements are harmoniously integrated to create a modern industrial look. The designers focused on a simple operating concept to maximise work process efficiency. This aspect is more important than ever in the hospitality industry due to the skilled labour shortage and lack of staff. They solved it with an ergonomic arrangement of elements and the incorporation of two coffee modules that can brew up to four cups simultaneously. The straightforward UI design also facilitates intuitive operation. A low height was selected for the Franke Mytico to enhance the interactive experience between barista and customer. “The Mytico is a perfectly executed blend of the traditional and the modern,” the jury agreed. “It unites a contemporary industrial look with charming details from bygone days in a very sensitive way. The result is an appealing, aesthetic machine with affectionately crafted details, such as the height-adjustable cup platforms and the elegantly shaped Barista Levers.” With its individual brewing temperature setting, iQFlow technology and automatic cleaning system, the Franke Mytico stands for consistently high in-cup quality. Un altro caffè?