Many coffee professionals share a common dream. It includes a coffee machine and the open road, and coffee is served at all stops along the way. For Nicki Langethis dream has become a rather stunning reality. The entrepreneur and ultra-distance runner started cooperation with the company Germany, La Marzocco AND Officine Fratelli Bambi for a unique combination of Linea Mini and Pico that has to be seen to be believed.
Before receiving his custom espresso machine, Lange strapped a white Linea Mini to the passenger seat of his 1979 Porsche 911 and took it around the world. And that Porsche and Lange’s ultra-distance running served as the inspiration for his recent kit.
In collaboration with designers Stefano Della Pietra and Lisa Gigli of Officine Fratelli Bambi, La Marzocco’s in-house machine atelier, both the Linea Mini and Pico are available in Oak Green Metallic, the same color as the 911 Lange, and feature gold accents similar to those on the car, including a custom gold “La Marzocco” on both sides of the coupe.
The most striking feature, however, is the upper part of the rear panel. It is made entirely of hand-forged brass, giving a finish that is “imperfect by design, giving the material a texture that feels alive and completely one-of-a-kind.” Below is a winding gold line representing one of the longest routes Lange has ever run, the Speed Project, an unsupported 340-350 mile ultramarathon starting at the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles and ending at the “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign.
Up front, the “what if, why not” mantra has been incorporated into the steam wand knob, and both the Linea Mini and Pico are finished with walnut wood accents.
“Sometimes the most extraordinary partnerships start with a uncomplicated idea and the courage to reach out,” says Lange. “This machine is proof that if you ask the right question, the answer can change everything.”
This is one of the most stunningly stunning espresso machine and grinder combinations we’ve come across in a while, and it’s very much in line with what we’ve come to expect from the Officine Fratelli Bambi. And it makes me dream of what they could do with my own vehicle. Could they match the silver of a 2010 Subaru Forrester, and how would they match all the door dents and bumper scratches that strangers have graciously given me in various parking lots over the years? How will they translate the feel of a stereo system that doesn’t always connect to Carplay into a design element? Will the Linea Mini also come with a check engine lightweight that won’t turn off? OFB, call me and we will arrange the details.
