Rocket Espresso and Audi teamed up on the Rocket x Audi espresso machine, a TT-inspired home espresso device featuring sculpted curves and a matt aluminum body with deep black surfaces. The Audi Design Team and Valerio Cometti + V12Design developed the design in Milan, based on Rocket’s Bicocca platform.
The machine pairs visually with a specially developed Spluga grinder and sits on feet that make the aluminum housing seem to float. It has dual stainless steel boilers, a rotary pump and an integrated 3.5-inch touchscreen that controls a 0.5L coffee boiler and a 1.5L steam boiler, plus a 1.8L water tank.
At 409 x 465 x 400 mm and 35kg, the Rocket x Audi is positioned as a precision appliance for discerning home baristas. Its auto-inspired proportions and tactile finishes turn a countertop machine into a sculptural object while keeping technical brewing control front and center.
Image Credit: Rocket Espresso
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Automotive-inspired Appliances
- Cross-category design language from performance vehicles is reshaping premium home products into status-driven objects with stronger emotional appeal.
- Sculptural Countertop Hardware
- High-end kitchen devices are becoming display-worthy interior pieces, creating space for brands to blend utility, decor and collectible design.
- Precision Home Barista Systems
- Advanced brewing controls and professional-grade components are moving deeper into domestic settings as consumers seek cafe-quality rituals at home.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Luxury Home Appliances
- Premium appliance makers can differentiate through material finishes, design collaborations and elevated craftsmanship that turn everyday tools into luxury assets.
- Specialty Coffee
- The rise of enthusiast-grade home equipment expands the market for grinders, beans, accessories and education tailored to serious domestic baristas.
- Automotive Design
- Automakers are extending brand equity beyond mobility by translating recognizable design cues into lifestyle products for affluent consumers.
