Press Release
Keven Wu, Yujun Wu and Paolo Piuri Receives the Silver A' Design Award for Co2ffe Espresso Coffee Machine in Home Appliances Design
Keven Wu, Yujun Wu and Paolo Piuri recognized for home appliances design by the international grand jury of the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 15, 2026 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has confirmed the Silver A' Design Award in the Home Appliances Design category for Co2ffe Espresso Coffee Machine by Keven Wu, Yujun Wu and Paolo Piuri, designed for Co2ffe. The result belongs to the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition and was reached through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who scored anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
What the Silver A' Design Award Means
The Silver A' Design Award celebrates top-tier designs that embody excellence and innovation. This award acknowledges creations that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional, reflecting the designer's deep understanding and skill. Silver A' Design Award recipients are recognized for their contribution to raising industry standards and advancing the practice of design. Their work often incorporates original innovations and elicits a strong emotional response, making a notable impact on the improvement of everyday life.
About Co2ffe Espresso Coffee Machine
The Co2ffe espresso machine is a semi-automatic domestic system that uses standard CO₂ canisters, such as SodaStream, to generate 9 bar brewing pressure required for espresso extraction. The replacement of a conventional vibratory pump reduces noise and vibration to a soft hiss. This alternative pressure system allows an open structural layout that avoids a closed, box like housing and makes the brewing process visible during use. The design integrates patented technology developed to produce crema in line with Italian espresso formula, 25 ml of water, 9 bar, and 7 grams of coffee.
About Keven Wu, Yujun Wu and Paolo Piuri
Keven is an Italian industrial designer born and raised in central Italy. At the age of 19, he moved to Bologna to pursue his academic journey in Industrial Design. Throughout his studies, he embraced international experiences in Prague, Stockholm, Shanghai, and Delft, gaining a global perspective on design practices and cultures.
Award Record
With this recognition, Keven Wu, Yujun Wu and Paolo Piuri is a winner of 1 A' Design Award.
About the A' Home Appliances Design Award
The A' Home Appliance Design Award is an international competition recognizing good home appliance designs by best appliance designers and brands worldwide. It is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to home appliance designers, industrial designers, product engineers and appliance brands from all countries. Typical entries include refrigerators, dishwashers, microwaves, washing machines, dryers and ovens. The awarded home appliance designs are published at https://dezigners.org/design-category/home-appliance
About A' Design Award & Competition
Organized annually since 2008, A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The philanthropic mission of the A' Design Award is to advance society through good design, by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Nominations are peer reviewed and evaluated anonymously by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. Eligible laureates receive the A' Design Prize, which includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, uploading a work and receiving a preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. More information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://dezigners.org/175541
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/175541
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!175541
- Laureate Profile: https://dezigners.org/d/371899
- Further Information from the Laureate: https://co2ffe.it
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
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Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Co2ffe Espresso Coffee Machine
- Function
- Espresso Coffee Machine
- Category
- Home Appliances Design
- Discipline
- Industrial Design
- Industry
- Electronics & Appliances and Furniture & Home
- Images
- 5
- Client
- Co2ffe
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Keven Wu, Yujun Wu and Paolo Piuri
- Country
- Italy
- Recognition
- Silver A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2025 - 2026
- Design ID
- #175541
Credits
- Team
- Yujun Wu, Paolo Piuri and Keven Wu
- Image Credits
- Photographer Keven Wu (Visual Designer), Espresso Machine Campaign, 2025.; Photographer Keven Wu (Visual Designer), Espresso Machine CO2 Integrated, 2025.; Photographer Giovanni Baracchi (Videomaker) User Interaction with Espresso Machine, 2025.; Model Luca Trevisani, Edoardo Anastasio (Videomaker), Espresso Machine Lifestyle Scene, 2025.; Photographer Keven Wu (Visual Designer), Espresso Machine Lifestyle, 2025. Video Credits: Directed by Keven Wu (Visual Designer), Filmed by Edoardo Anastasio, Edited by Keven Wu, Model Luca Trevisani, Soundtrack Cristof Manzini, 2025.
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- Co2ffe is a semi-automatic domestic espresso machine powered by CO2 canisters capable of delivering constant 9-bar pressure. Replacing the traditional ULKA pump eliminates noise and vibration, leaving only a soft, controlled hiss. Freed from the constraints of a conventional boxed housing, Co2ffe features an open and transparent design that reveals the entire brewing process. Espresso preparation becomes quiet, tactile, and intentional, shifting from "click and go" to a more involved and sensory experience.
- Inspiration
- The inspiration came from the need for a portable espresso machine that uses CO2 to make coffee, which was later scaled into a domestic version. After multiple prototypes and tests, the engineering was refined. Co2ffe draws from a minimalist aesthetic, intuitive, free of superfluous elements, and designed for soft visual appeal. Its form and function are grounded in the principles of portability and simplicity.
- Research
- After completing the first functional prototype, a qualitative research study was conducted with 16 participants aged 23 to 38, all regular coffee drinkers with diverse preparation habits. Through 45-minute structured interviews, the study explored perceptions, associations, and overall user experience. The findings revealed a strong appreciation for the machine's modern aesthetic, material choices, and transparent design. Participants valued the ritualistic brewing process, describing it as more engaging and intentional compared to conventional push-button machines. The quiet soundscape was also perceived as calming and distinctive.
- Challenge
- One of the greatest challenges came after the first working prototype was completed. Refining the final 10% of the machine required months of technical adjustments, calibration, and iteration to achieve the desired balance between performance, safety, and simplicity. Another key challenge was communicating the product's dual value: not only its functional innovation, but also its emotional dimension. Co2ffe is designed to work efficiently - yet its true strength lies in transforming espresso preparation into a sensory, intentional ritual.
- Realization and Technology
- Co2ffe is built from aluminum, stainless steel, and high-performance polymers selected for durability and thermal stability. The integrated CO2 system connects through a secure TR21x4 threaded valve, ensuring safe and consistent pressure delivery. Core elements including the rotary lever, heating chamber, CO2 transfer tube, and pod holder are designed for clarity and precision. Structural components such as the frame and drip tray are injection-molded for efficiency, while pressure-bearing metal parts are CNC-machined or cast for strength and longevity.
- Operation and Interaction
- Press the power button at the base, and a soft red LED signals readiness. Lift the top lever, add fresh water, and insert a coffee pod beneath the heating chamber. Close the lever to secure it in place. With a gentle downward press, CO2 pressure is released, and extraction begins quietly, with only a subtle hiss. Moments later, your espresso is ready
- Specifications
- Dimensions: 156 mm (W) x 433 mm (D) x 193 mm (H). Weight: 6.9 kg. Materials: aluminum, plastic, stainless steel. Water tank heats to 95 degrees Celsius. Power: 400W (EU) / 110W (US). Cup capacity: 25 ml. CO2 connection: diameter 21 mm – 6 ACME 2G threaded valve. Compatible with SodaStream-type CO2 canisters. Power plug: Type A. Designed for compact countertop use.
- Keywords
- espresso machine, coffee maker, industrial design, barista tool, home appliance, compact espresso machine
