La Cimbali

Overview

La Cimbali is a professional espresso machine manufacturer and the flagship brand of Cimbali Group, a market leader in professional coffee equipment. The company designs and manufactures espresso machines, cappuccino machines, and related coffee equipment for commercial use in cafes, restaurants, and other professional settings. La Cimbali is recognized for over 100 years of product innovation and maintains significant market presence through its Italian manufacturing operations and global distribution network.

History

Giuseppe Cimbali opened a copper-processing shop in Milan in the early 1900s, with La Cimbali coffee machine production beginning in 1930 with the Rapida model, a column machine with a vertically positioned boiler. In 1955, the company introduced the Granluce with a patented hydraulic group that automated espresso extraction and enabled expansion into international markets. The 1962 Pitagora model won the prestigious Compasso d'Oro design award and established the foundation for industrial-scale production. La Cimbali later became part of Gruppo Cimbali (rebranded as Cimbali Group in 2023), which consolidated multiple espresso machine brands including Faema, Casadio, and the U.S.-based Slayer brand.

Product Lines

Manufacturing

La Cimbali operates three production facilities in Italy located in Binasco (Milan), Ghisalba (Bergamo), and Cappella Cantone (Cremona), collectively manufacturing approximately 200 machines daily. Production is conducted in-house across these Italian facilities, maintaining direct control over manufacturing quality and innovation.

Notable Products

• Rapida - The first branded La Cimbali espresso machine (1930), a column machine with vertically positioned boiler heated by coal or wood that established the company's foundation.
• Granluce - 1955 model featuring a patented hydraulic group that automated pressure delivery and reduced barista workload, enabling international market expansion.
• Pitagora - 1962 award-winning machine designed by Castiglioni architects that won the Compasso d'Oro for design excellence and pioneered industrial-scale production methods.
• Q10 - Compact superautomatic machine offering expanded beverage menus with instant beverages and refrigerated milk frothing capabilities.
• S-Lite - Contemporary fully automatic espresso machine designed to address current market challenges and customer needs.

Reputation

La Cimbali is regarded as a heritage brand with strong credibility in professional coffee equipment, backed by over a century of innovation and design recognition. The brand is respected for engineering quality and historical significance, particularly the Pitagora's design achievement. Professionals value the machines for reliability and performance, though the brand competes in a crowded market with other established manufacturers. The company's shift toward integrated solutions and digital connectivity reflects efforts to modernize its positioning beyond traditional machine sales.