Introducing The Volkswagen Coffee Machine

Whether you enjoy it plain, hot, cold or boosted with an extra shot, there’s no denying our collective thirst for a cup of joe; coffee is one of the world’s most popular drinks, with over two billion cups of coffee consumed every single day. 

We love a good cup of java at JCT600, which is why we have bean-to-cup machines in all our dealerships so that our customers can enjoy a complimentary coffee when they visit. 

It’s estimated that the UK knocks back roughly 98 million cups of coffee a  day, with younger age groups accounting for the sharp rise in ‘café culture’. In fact, it’s estimated that 80% of café-goers visit weekly and 16% of the population grabs a coffee from the high street on a daily basis.

For coffee connoisseurs looking for a barista-quality cup at home, a good coffee machine is a must. As peak shopping season approaches, we couldn’t help wondering what it would look like if one of our best-loved car brands designed one themselves. 

So, we teamed up with industrial designer Jarim Koo to create a Volkswagen coffee machine concept. 

A capsule espresso machine for the home or office, Koo’s design is inspired by the iconic Volkswagen Beetle; its personality is instantly recognisable to any VW owner. 

Klaus Bischoff – Volkswagen’s Head of Design – describes the brand’s design philosophy in 3 words: “Simple, sophisticated, and different.” 

We tasked Koo with embodying the brand’s unique image, reputation, and style, whilst maintaining the core features of a great product. 

The shape of the machine was an interpretation of the coupe-style loop line, frameless door and the alloy wheel that followed the curved slope of the Beetle side.

The VW coffee machine concept comes in three vibrant and dynamic colours, injecting life into any modern interior. This gives the customer the flexibility of choosing a model that complements their interior ambience. 

The sliding wing cover was designed to be able to slide in both directions. Moving the sliding cover to the right allows you to insert a coffee capsule. A feature which would be more useful than ever as coffee pods are becoming increasingly popular amongst millennials who make up 16% of the market.

By moving the sliding cover to the left, you can easily fill the built-in water tank.

The ‘Barista Beetle’ is designed to hide as much complexity as possible so users can enjoy an elegant and streamlined experience. The capsule container and the water container are positioned on the rear side to enhance that machine’s aesthetics. Its flexible design enables the body to be easily rotated, so users can access the rear-positioned elements. 

The magnetic module cup-support can be moved according to the size of the cup. It also allows users to extract hot water separately (at a range of different temperatures) so any ‘Barista Beetle’ owner can enjoy a completely customised coffee. 

You can choose from four different cup sizes including:

• Ristretto
• Espresso
• Lungo
• Americano

The ‘Barista Beetle’ concept has built-in Bluetooth functionality that allows you to easily set up an automated process. You can even control the amount of water and the temperature when connected to the ‘Barista Beetle’ app. 

The ‘Barista Beetle’ has inherited and developed the unique classic sensibility of the Beetle car, with its curved shape, primary body colour and chrome detail. 

We hope you’ve enjoyed this Volkswagen/coffee machine mash-up, and can only apologise that this beautiful piece of design won’t be available to buy any time soon.

However, if you’re looking to buy a used Volkswagen Beetle, you’ve come to the right place. We also offer an extensive range of other Volkswagen models, if you’re looking for something a little more modern-day.

*The ‘Barista Beetle’ is a concept and has not been produced in association with Volkswagen. *