The ECM Estetika espresso machine. All images courtesy of ECM.
German espresso equipment maker ECM is turning a corner with two new espresso machines and a grind-by-weight grinder revealed at the HostMilano trade show last month.
(Read all of DCN’s HostMilano 2025 coverage.)
With features new to the brand and a renewed focus on commercial use, ECM launched the single-group Estetika espresso machine, its larger commercial counterpart, the Discover, and a grind-by-weight grinder called the Exacto.
ECM Estetika and Discover
The aesthetically and mechanically aligned Estetika and Discover machines depart from ECM’s classic E61 group heads and heat-exchanger systems, introducing a new ECM-designed group head and dual-boiler systems.
ECM Estetika
The smaller, single-group Estetika has a 500-milliliter brew boiler and 2-liter steam boiler, while the Discover offers a 6-liter steam boiler and a single 0.75-liter brew boiler that feeds both group heads. PID-controlled heat cartridges are embedded in the groups to maintain the water temperature as it arrives from the boiler, marking the third point of heat in what ECM calls “Triple C Technology.”
Phases of low-pressure preinfusion and a pause prior to ramping to full pressure extraction are also programmable on both machines, and both machines’ steam boilers operate at 2 bar of pressure.
Given its dual boilers that can heat simultaneously, the Estetika is able to sustain light-commercial use, according to ECM, placing it alongside alternatives such as the La Marzocco Linea Mini or the Synesso ES1. The Estetika steam boiler can also be turned off to save power for users who drink only straight espresso.
ECM Estetika
“The target audience includes offices and small cafes,” ECM Managing Director Michael Hauck said of the Estetika. “This model is our flagship, offering performance comparable to all other boilers, and it can even surpass the Sychronika II.”
The Estetika is expected to cost about $3,900 and to start shipping to the U.S. in the second quarter of 2026.
The Discover, meanwhile, is aimed squarely at commercial use. Though somewhat constrained by sharing a single heated brew boiler, temperatures at each PID-controlled group can be set independently within about 5 degrees Fahrenheit.
ECM Discover
“All our other commercial machines are based on heat-exchanger systems,” said Hauck. “For us, the Discover marks the next step in expanding into the commercial sector, aiming to compete with other manufacturers by combining ECM’s design philosophy with professional-level functionality and performance.”
While pricing for the Discover has not been announced, a limited run will be produced later this year, with full production scheduled for the first quarter of 2026.
ECM Discover
ECM Exacto Grinder
In the 64-millimeter, flat-burr Exacto grinder, a motorized stepless adjustment system is designed to deliver quiet, precise grind changes.
A digital touch screen displays and adjusts settings, and the motor driving the burrs is mounted on bumpers to absorb sound. The Exacto outputs an 18-gram espresso dose in about six seconds, according to the company.
ECM Exacto
Designed for commercial or high-end home use, the grinder functions in three modes and can identify portafilters by weight to dispense a programmed dose.
It stores up to three preset doses and comes with a 500-gram hopper. Four screws secure each side panel, allowing easy customization by material or color.
ECM Exacto
The Exacto grinder will cost $1,200 and be available in the first quarter of 2026.
A History in Home Espresso
The Hauck family has been active in the European coffee industry for more than 50 years, including as Germany’s distributor for Italian equipment brands such as Gaggia, La Cimbali, La Pavoni and Vibiemme, as well as the German home-espresso maker Profitec, before founding ECM.
In 1996, Michael Hauck’s father, Wolfgang Hauck, founded ECM in Germany, with manufacturing in Italy and a continued focus on high-end home espresso machines. The first ECM-designed machines entered production in 2007 and are now distributed worldwide.
The company’s first dual-group machines for commercial cafe use were produced in 2012, maintaining the same quality standards as its premium home machines.
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Howard Bryman
Howard Bryman is the associate editor of Daily Coffee News by Roast Magazine. He is based in Portland, Oregon.
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