The product: Granos espresso machine
The puff: 'Bodum's 50 years in coffee brewing have culminated in a pump-espresso machine that combines functionality and beauty. Making a great espresso requires a great machine.'
The look: Bug crossed with a spaceship. Its futuristic aura helped win it the Chicago Athenaeum's prestigious Good Design 2003 award.
Wow factor: Fully programmable, this high-gloss stainless-steel product supposedly guarantees a cafe-quality espresso, with crema in every cup. As all coffee geeks know, crema is the caramel-coloured foam that appears on top of a shot of espresso during the brewing period and helps retain flavour intensity.
At the touch of a button, you can choose between a single or double espresso, or programme the machine to suit your taste, so next time it will remember just how you like it. The unique water system expels used water rather than letting it flow back into the fresh-water reservoir.
Other frills include a steam wand for making cappuccino and latte drinks.
The damage: About $5,000
The product: the DeLonghi Magnifica fully automatic espresso/cappuccino maker.
The puff: 'The first one-touch cappuccino machine in Hong Kong. Right from Italy, the model [EAM3500] has a patented automatic cappuccino function. With a single touch of a button, a cup of steaming hot cappuccino is ready within a minute.'
The look: Like a hi-tech block of granite.
Wow factor: The Magnifica features a tubeless system and yet is versatile, enabling you to adjust every aspect of production you can think of. Catch the free-tasting session of Italian-style coffee at city'super in the IFC Mall until August 15.
The damage: About $11,500