Coffee and myself go back a long way. In the early days there was simply very little choice of prosumer equipment. The idea of buying a colour coded machine and grinder was unheard of. If you had asked for a 58.55mm tamper you would have received a slap! Now a lot of the emphasis seems to be on style. Having the right coffee area with matching equipment, jugs, cups, kettles, scales and the list goes on. You look on Instagram and see endless pictures of such stuff. There is nothing wrong with that, but, is it just the latest fad? Will the 'fadders' turn their attention to another fashionable must have in a couple of years and move on?

My recollection of the 'early days' was a percolator & whirly blade grinder in the kitchen cupboard. We 'ooh'd & aah'd' when my grandparents gifted us a drip filter machine in the 80's. I think you hit the nail on the head with your observation regarding the amount of choice that people have today, if they want to colour match then they just can. Probably helps to get purchases past the 'significant other' too. That choice isn't limited to coffee either, nowadays you just have to conceive of a product or an idea & lo & behold, it's already on Amazon.

As a designer this is a fascinating topic for me and I definitely think you're pretty much spot on. People have always been somewhat interested in style and design. Artistic movements go back hundreds of years. There's also the marketing element, which arguably also goes back hundreds of years, ensuring the general public typically like to 'keep up with the Jones's'. I'm also a believer that design isn't as subjective as people think. Of course there'll be preferences but it's not accidental that some things are universally admired; certain sports cars, iconic furniture, buildings etc I think the internet and social media have brought design to an exponentially wider audience to the point most of us, even if we don't acknowledge it, know good design when we see it or at least have tastes and preferences. Before the internet, trends and fashions spread solely through broadcast and print media and word of mouth, or simply visiting someone else's house, or things you'd see on holiday etc. These days, you can see the interior tastes of someone 5000 miles away with a few words typed into a search box. It's also meant previously 'niche' hobbies like coffee can easily spread to the point they become mainstream. As a result, I think far more people put more thought into what goes in their house (Kitchen in this case), so the demand for different coloured/styled machines is there just like it is for cars or sweaters. Whilst coffee is definitely having its moment in the spotlight, we must be 20 years into the 'third wave' so I do think coffee as a hobby is here to stay. I think the faddiness of it will pass, and we'll see less of the influencer content as they move onto other trends. At the moment it's self-perpetuating because it's lucrative to spotlight trending topics.

Even though I'd always choose performance over how some equipment looks, it's good to have choices about colours etc. so you can fit it in with the rest of your kitchen if you wish. They take up so much room and become such major fixtures of you kitchen that it makes sense to have the option at least. Companies like ACS have the balance right, having a standard cheaper option for most customers then offering powder coated or wood accented customised versions for those wanting to pay extra.

@"DavecUK"#p66172 just take some panels off and send them to @"Cuprajake"#144 , witness the real thing not Photoshop 🫣☕😜

@"HarveyMushman"#p66180 Or grey painted walls

> @"Adrianmsmith"#p66177 just take some panels off and send them to [@Cuprajake](https://coffeetime.freeflarum.com/u/Cuprajake) , witness the real thing not Photoshop 🫣 I wouldn't afford his prices, and they would probably arrive back damaged…because he is lucky that way!

@"dfk41"#p66182 Most exteriors of new houses are now grey as well

The fashion of coffee

HarveyMushman

FadedFrontiers Companies like ACS have the balance right, having a standard cheaper option for most customers then offering powder coated or wood accented

La Marzocco do this too but it’s the ‘Standard expensive version’ and the ‘ridiculously expensive’ version 😂

DavecUK

It does seem that the standard stainless steel finish seems to be falling out of favour. I remember in the 90s kitchens with loads of stainless in them, even splashbacks, countertops and especially sinks…but I guess that starts looking too much like commercial kitchen.

Same trend seems to have been happening with espresso machines over the last 5 years

I have often idly wondered how an ACS Evo 2 would look in red or kingfisher blue powder coat (with a steel drip tray). Might have to have a play in Photoshop

Adrianmsmith

DavecUK just take some panels off and send them to @Cuprajake , witness the real thing not Photoshop 🫣☕😜

DavecUK

Adrianmsmith just take some panels off and send them to @Cuprajake , witness the real thing not Photoshop 🫣

I wouldn’t afford his prices, and they would probably arrive back damaged…because he is lucky that way!

HarveyMushman

There was a trend a few years ago where red kitchens seemed to be everywhere. When we were looking for a new house recently on Rightmove the number of high-gloss red kitchens, especially in properties built about 10 years ago was quite high.

What’s weird is that it was only red.

Similar to how 99% of people doing a kitchen reno these days seem to do navy blue Shaker style. I wonder if that will become the new ‘red kitchen’.

dfk41

HarveyMushman Or grey painted walls

Dusk

dfk41

Most exteriors of new houses are now grey as well

dfk41

Dusk Yep, grey is certainly the in colour……but for how long? Manufacturers have cottoned on to this fact. In the case of grey houses, it will be identifiable as belonging to a certain era and therefore need to be repainted in a few years

simonc

dfk41 just as I thought grey was over done by it’s (over) use in houses I’m seeing it everywhere on mat grey cars.

nickr

Is cold brew still a thing?

MediumRoastSteam

Shame they don’t do magnolia coffee machines. That would suit me well. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Adrianmsmith

MediumRoastSteam magnolia on woodchip, to die for 😎🥳