Smeg Acquires Classic Italian Espresso Machine Maker La Pavoni

The La Pavoni Romantica manual lever espresso machine.

Italian appliance manufacturer Grupo Smeg has acquired the classic Italian espresso machine brand La Pavoni.

While offering a range of equipment in both the home and commercial categories, both of the Northern Italian companies have become best known in the high-end home market, touting uniquely vintage design in their products. La Pavoni, which was founded in 1905, in particular, has built a devoted following through its chrome manual lever espresso machines.

Neither Smeg nor La Pavoni have disclosed the terms of the deal, although Smeg said the acquisition will “make it possible for the two companies to share their manufacturing know-how and expansive product lines, with the all-important ‘Made in Italy’ philosophy, key to both companies, pushed forward.”

A La Pavoni Diamante model commercial espresso machine.

The move marks a major step in the coffee category for Smeg. Founded in 1948, the company achieved international acclaim in the 1990s upon the launch of its vintage-style refrigerators, with deeply curved edges and candy-like colors. The company has since applied a similar vintage aesthetic to numerous other appliances in its home division — while finding distribution to retailers such as Williams-Sonoma — including a small coffee line that includes drip brewers and home espresso machines.

La Pavoni, meanwhile, is preparing to show off its line of home and commercial gear — including single-group manual machines, semiautomatic machines, grinders and more — at Italy’s biggest hospitality and foodservice trade show, HOST Milano, taking place Oct. 18-22.