BeanScene – August 2019

beanscenemag.com.au 39

TECHNOLOGY PROFILE

The Nexus One espresso machine from Aremde removes

the wall of steel that traditionally separates the barista from the

customer, revealing the secrets of coffee making.

A

ustralian manufacturer

Aremde has created an

open theatre experience

in which the barista

can perform for the

customer, and nothing separates the coffee

maker from the coffee buyer.

Netherlands-based designer Rempt

Van der Donk says Nexus One’s see-

through structure opens up the craft of

coffee making, which is beneficial to

both sides of the bar.

“The barista can show off their skills

while creating a memorable experience

for the customer,” Rempt tells BeanScene.

An architect by trade, Rempt had no

experience in product design prior to

working on the Nexus One. He says the

project first came his way while working on

a building in Saudi Arabia.

“I was building a new headquarters for

Raqtan, one of the largest food services

equipment companies in the country,”

Rempt says. “The owner of the company,

Muthanna Raqtan, recognised a problem

with traditional espresso machines. They

were either between you and the customer,

or had you standing with your back to

them. He asked me, ‘can you design a

solution?’ I knew nothing about coffee

machines but took the challenge.”

Rempt says in his design process,

inspiration can strike at any moment. In the

case of the Nexus One, it was while driving.

“I looked through the window of my

car and thought, ‘this is what I want to

create’. I stopped the car and sketched

the initial design on my steering wheel,

showing the flow between the barista

and the customer. That drawing became

the Nexus One,” he says. “I showed

the design to Muthanna, who thought

it was a great idea. Then, because the

machine had to be realised, we had to

find someone to build it.”

A window to

coffee making

beanscenemag.com.au 39

TECHNOLOGY PROFILE

The Nexus One espresso machine from Aremde removes

the wall of steel that traditionally separates the barista from the

customer, revealing the secrets of coffee making.

A

ustralianmanufacturer
Aremdehascreatedan
opentheatreexperience
in whichthebarista
canperformforthe
customer,andnothingseparatesthecoffee
makerfromthecoffeebuyer.
Netherlands-baseddesignerRempt
VanderDonksaysNexusOne’ssee-
throughstructureopensupthecraftof
coffeemaking,whichis beneficialto
bothsidesof thebar.
“Thebaristacanshowofftheirskills
whilecreatinga memorableexperience
forthe customer,” Rempt tellsBeanScene.

Anarchitectbytrade,Rempthadno

experiencein productdesignpriorto

workingontheNexusOne.Hesaysthe

projectfirstcamehiswaywhileworkingon

a buildingin SaudiArabia.

“I wasbuildinga newheadquartersfor

Raqtan,oneof thelargestfoodservices

equipmentcompaniesin thecountry,”

Remptsays.“Theownerof thecompany,

MuthannaRaqtan,recogniseda problem

withtraditionalespressomachines.They

wereeitherbetweenyouandthecustomer,

orhadyoustandingwithyourbackto

them.Heaskedme,‘canyoudesigna

solution?’ I knew nothing about coffee

machinesbuttookthechallenge.”

Remptsaysin hisdesignprocess,

inspirationcanstrikeat anymoment.Inthe

caseof theNexusOne,it waswhiledriving.

“I lookedthroughthewindowof my

carandthought,‘thisis whatI wantto

create’.I stoppedthecarandsketched

theinitialdesignonmysteeringwheel,

showingtheflowbetweenthebarista

andthecustomer.Thatdrawingbecame

theNexusOne,”hesays.“I showed

thedesignto Muthanna,whothought

it wasa greatidea.Then,becausethe

machinehadto berealised,we had to

findsomeoneto build it.”

A window to

coffee making