From the first electric coffee machine to today's models: BSH brands have totally transformed how we enjoy coffee
Reading time for this article: 6 minutes
Coffee is one of the world's most popular hot drinks because freshly ground coffee is a treat at any time of day. We wanted to know when the first electric coffee machine was invented and how the BSH brands have shaped coffee enjoyment over the years. Here are the answers.
It was almost exactly 350 years ago that coffee made its way from Istanbul and Venice to Germany as we know it today. The first German coffee house opened in Bremen in 1673. Coffee connoisseurs back then still ground the coffee by hand, measured it by eye, and brewed the powder loose in water. It wasn't until the 19th century, when industrialization took off, that a bunch of fancy coffee machines started popping up all over Europe. Think percolators that used steam or vacuum makers.
The first electric coffee machines
People had to wait until the 20th century for the first electric coffee machines or even fully automatic coffee machines. In 1882, a Berlin chef who was eager to get things moving wrote to Werner von Siemens: "You've already come up with all kinds of great electrical devices, while we still have a lot of work to do in the home. If you're already inventing, then please invent right away that everything in the household can also be done electrically."1 In 1911, the first coffee machines from Siemens-Schuckert-Werke hit the German market. From 1925 on, Siemens' electric coffee machines, coffee grinders, and other home and small appliances were sold under the brand name "Protos." The consumer base was still pretty small at the time. Up until 1927, only about half of all households in Berlin had access to the electricity grid. For a long time, electrical home appliances were considered luxury items.
The early electric coffee machines from Siemens, like the EMK 300, EMK 400, and EMK 500, were percolators. The basic principle is based on an invention by Parisian tinsmith Joseph-Henry-Marie Laurens from 1819. In electric percolators, water is heated in a metal container with built-in heating elements and then fed through a riser pipe to the coffee filter at the top of the appliance. The water drips down through the filter, and the cycle starts again. You could control the strength of the coffee by adjusting the circulation time, which was significantly more caffeinated than today's filter coffee. However, the coffee in the percolator quickly lost its flavor.
In the US and England, coffee from the percolator was a popular way to make coffee for a long time. In 1933, Alfonso Bialetti came up with the Italian mocha pot, which is still a popular choice today. It took another two decades for consumers in Germany to find the perfect coffee solution: in 1954, the world's first filter coffee machine was patented in Germany. Siemens launched the first filter coffee machine, the TC 12, in 1967, the same year the company was founded.
Portafilter Machines & Fully Automatic Machines
There's been a big change in the variety of appliances since the 1990s. Portafilter machines came onto the market in 1994, the first fully automatic coffee machines in 1999, and the portion coffee machines from Siemens and Bosch in 2004. Siemens has been developing fully automatic machines since 2008. Over the years, they've been released in the EQ.5, EQ.6, EQ.7, EQ.8, and EQ.9 generations, as well as the EQ.300, EQ.500, EQ.700, and EQ.900. From espresso to cappuccino to latte macchiato, modern fully automatic coffee machines have made a huge impact on the German coffee scene, thanks to their ability to brew a wide range of coffee specialties made from freshly ground beans. In 2012, for the first time, more fully automatic coffee machines were sold in Germany than filter machines.
Here's a link with more info on the origin of the coffee: For more info on where the coffee comes from, check out the Siemens website.
Enjoy your coffee your way, with all the convenience you need.
The latest addition to the EQ family is the EQ900 plus, which has everything you need for the perfect coffee moment. baristaMode lets you set and adjust the amount of water and coffee, the grind, the brewing temperature, the brewing speed, and the amount of milk to suit your own preferences. If you want to get to know the different settings, just choose comfort mode and you'll get perfectly balanced coffee at the touch of a button. The fully automatic coffee machine offers coffee drinkers a choice of up to 10 specialties from eight different countries and even up to 21 country-specific drinks when operated via Home Connect app, in addition to up to 9 classic drinks. You can choose between two types of coffee at any time thanks to the separate bean containers, each with its own electronically adjustable grinder. If you get stuck, the intelligent beanIdent system is there to help. This optimizes all the settings to match the selected coffee beans and gets the best out of them. The EQ900's cutting-edge technology makes the preparation process a breeze, including the automatic cleaning afterwards.
Product History Overview
1914: The first coffee machines from Siemens The first coffee machines from Siemens were made before there was enough electrical energy to go around. And they're reasonably priced, too. This meant that only small appliances with a short service life could be used. But the first iron, the first water and coffee stove, the first hotplates and ovens gave rise to the best hopes for greater comfort and quality of life.
In 1931, the Sintrax was launched as part of the Protos line of home appliances. It was manufactured by a glassworks in Jena and distributed by Siemens-Schuckert Werke.
The Siemens EMK 300, EMK 400, and EMK 500 coffee machines (center back in the picture) were promoted as great gift ideas in 1932. You could pick one up at a store for just 17.40 to 37.50 Reichsmark.
In 1967, the year BSH was founded, the TC 12 was launched on the market with the following advertising text: If you often have visitors, if you have a large family, or if you appreciate good coffee, you'll love the Siemens coffee machine. It may be small and light, but it packs a punch. This nifty little machine can make up to 10 cups of deliciously aromatic filter coffee in just 8 minutes, so you don't even have to stand in front of it. All you have to do is add water and coffee grounds to the conical filter. The coffee stays hot on the warming plate until you're ready to drink it. Once the water tank is empty, the heating is automatically turned off. The Siemens coffee maker has a plastic housing and a coffee carafe made of Jena glass. It comes with 10 paper filters and a coffee measuring spoon.
The Bosch espresso machine lets you enjoy a heavenly aroma with a devilishly hot drink. The TKA 4900 espresso machine from Bosch can make up to 20 cups of espresso at once. The machine works using a thermo-pump system and is also suitable for professional use.
With these machines from Bosch and Siemens, you can make perfect coffee or espresso quickly and easily at the touch of a button. You can also heat milk, froth it, or heat water for tea or instant products. The integrated grinder with a container for whole coffee beans guarantees a full coffee aroma, with fresh coffee ground for each brewing process. There's a big water tank that holds enough for several brews. You can adjust the settings to get the perfect aroma, like how finely you grind the beans, the brewing temperature, and how much coffee you want. The full-text display is simple to use and shows all the functions and processes. The TC55001 also came out on top in the December 1999 test by the German Stiftung Warentest magazine, where it took first place in the fully automatic machine category.
The premium fully automatic coffee machine from Siemens, the EQ.7, is great for enjoying a quick cup of coffee with full aroma. The intelligent heating system in this machine ensures you get the perfect brewing temperature every time, so you can enjoy a full espresso with ease.
The Tassimo range is a game-changer in the world of coffee preparation with its innovative hot beverage system and T DISCs. The Bosch Tassimo was developed in collaboration with Kraft Foods. It has the shortest heat-up times, is the most energy-efficient, and is the most compact appliance on the market.
With the EQ.5, Siemens is launching the innovative milkPerfect system onto the market. It makes every milk foam a success with the simplest operation. The slim, elegant design doesn't take up too much space in the kitchen and also looks great! There are also many exclusive designs available, such as the Indian-style diamond design on the spout. 2014: It's an experience you'll enjoy.
Siemens introduces the EQ.6, the latest addition to the EQ family that makes coffee-making a breeze for coffee lovers. It's simple to use and has everything you need to satisfy even the most discerning connoisseurs. You can set the individual cup volume to your own preference for whatever size beverage you like. Aroma Double Shot is perfect for those who love extra-strong flavors, giving you more taste with less bitterness. Plus, a variety of sophisticated features guarantee thorough cleanliness. These include the removable brewing unit and the Milk Clean System, which cleans the milk system really easily and makes sure everything is super clean with a final steam blast.
The EQ.3 entry-level model rounds out the Siemens range of fully automatic coffee machines. It's compact, it's high-quality, it's easy to use, and it makes great espresso.
Today's connoisseurs drink their coffee in more ways than just black. The EQ.9 Connect is Siemens' first freestanding connected fully automatic coffee machine, and it's ready to meet all your coffee needs. Hosts can use it to make their guests' drinks just the way they like them, with great precision. The Home Connect app lets you plan your guests' coffee preferences in advance, using the coffee playlist. You can also use baristaMode, which you may know from the EQ.9 s700. Thanks to superSilent, the grinder and pump are much quieter than before. In fact, the EQ.9 is the quietest fully automatic coffee machine from Siemens to date.
Following the launch of the highly acclaimed and innovative EQ.6 fully automatic coffee maker in 2014, Siemens Home Appliances continues its winning streak by presenting another highlight in the coffee maker segment: the EQ.6 plus. With this new addition to the EQ range, even more international coffee creations are now available at the touch of a button.
The EQ.500 fully automatic coffee machine with the coffeeSelect display guarantees intuitive operation and exceptional coffee enjoyment at the touch of a button for coffee variety even in fast-paced everyday life. Whether cappuccino or latte macchiato - the practical autoMilk Clean function automatically restores perfect cleanliness and hygiene with steam cleaning.
The EQ.700 is a new model in the EQ series, featuring the latest technology and even more coffee varieties. The EQ.700 brings the wide world of coffee into your home - intuitively via the full touch display. Simply select your coffee, let the machine prepare it, sit back and enjoy.
1Kurt Wicht: Elektrogeräte im Haushalt. Düsseldorf 1974, S. 5.
