The Pleasure of Coffee Design

The espresso coffee maker Pulcina, designed by Michele de Lucchi is is the product of intense research into the optimisation of the shape of the coffee pot in order to improve and enhance the organoleptic properties of coffee. Thanks to the internal shape of its special heater, Pulcina automatically stops filtering the coffee at the right moment.

This interruption helps to eliminate the eruption phase, the final filtering stage that generates a burnt and bitter aftertaste, ensuring that only the finest qualities of the coffee are preserved and enhancing its full-bodied and rounded aroma.

The spout is quite pronounced. Its typical ‘V’ shape, reminiscent of a baby chick’s beak, is specially designed to perfectly cut drops when pouring. Practical and functional, making coffee with the Pulcina is just like making it with a traditional coffee pot.

Born in Ferrara in 1951, Michele De Lucchi graduated with a degree in architecture in Florence. Among the favourite students of Ettore Sottsass, during the period of radical architecture, he became a leading figure on the Alchymia and Memphis movements. He was responsible for design at Olivetti from 1992 to 2002 and developed experimental projects for Compaq Computers, Philips, Siemens and Vitra, indicating a strong interest in design for work environments.

His professional activity is today divided between architecture (both private and public), design, technology and craftsmanship. It is reflection on craftsmanship and manual production which has in fact guided most of his research in the last 20 years.