About Rocket

Rocket Espresso Milano are one of the best pro-sumer espresso brands in the world, combining classic Italian design with the latest in style and technology.

We have been working with Rocket ever since we began Machina. A flat white fuelled meeting with their head honcho Andrew Mao at the original All Press Cafe in London (during the London Coffee Festival) led to an ongoing arrangement, which has proved to be an integral part of our business.

These machines are, by all accounts, mini tanks (beautiful mini tanks) that make amazing espresso in the home or office. They focused around the simple but highly effective process of thermal mass within the E61 group-head. Joined with a commercial 58mm portafilter, clean lined stainless steel bodies and extremely well thought out internal designs, they became the go to brand for E61 Pro-Sumer machines.

Rocket go to huge lengths to produce all machines by hand in their Milan factory and do so with a huge amount of care and passion. Having met Andrew several times at London Coffee Festival and HOST Milan, it's easy to see the passion he has for his product and that it's not just a production line to him.

A few sessions watching Gail & Co at Seattle Coffee Gear was the last thing that contributed towards us deciding to work with Rocket. If you aint watched their video's you should check them out, as they are both highly amusing and mega factual. (Hey) Gail, we salute you.

There are lots of other brands out there that use the E61 format these days, but we know that Rocket are the best at the game, so we see little point in offering a wide range of machines, when we know we already have such a strong brand. Further, with the focus on a single brand of this style, it allows us to maintain a high level of product knowledge, in-house technical support and ample parts to provide you with a service that gives you the confidence you need to make the investment.

Ready to revolutionise the espresso world after resigning from one of Italy's major espresso machine manufacturers in the early 1980's, Ennio Berti believed he could create a domestic espresso machine made entirely of commercial machine components. Teaming with Fredrich Berenbruch, the duo created Espresso Company Milano (ECM).

ECM became the name famous with the Cellini (straights sides) and Giotto (Diamond sides) designs that have become household names in the world of home espresso enthusiasts.

In the late 1990's, ECM met New Zealanders Jeff Kennedy and Andrew Meo. Shortly thereafter, New Zealand was introduced to the E61 Rocket; a pioneering step in home espresso. In 2007, ECM decided to concentrate on commercial machines, and left Kennedy to focus on perfecting the household espresso machine. Rocket Espresso Milano was then formed. The current Rocket combines the history of Italian espresso engineering with passion provided by a couple of (cycle obsessed) Kiwis.

It started off with the original Cellini & Giotto designs across two levels of HX machines, followed by the longstanding R58 Dual Boiler. This evolved into what we now offer today, which are the following designs:

Appartamento: Rocket's compact home machine that is designed to deliver big in small spaces. Despite it being the entry level model, it's boasts many of the key features you will find on other more expensive machines including an E61 Group Head, providing excellent thermal stability, Leva control with Pre-Infusion and a 2.8L internal reservoir. It has a unique design / aesthetic with circular cut outs on the body sides. Available in stainless or black with either copper or white panels.

Appartamento TCA: Rocket's have taken their award winning entry level machine, and given it an upgrade that further pushes the boundaries of pro-sumer equipment. It's the classic Appartamento cut out design modelled around the E61 Group Head, but now with sleeker aesthetic and new features that set the bench mark of style and quality for espresso in the home. Available in stainless  with copper or white panels, or black coated body with black panels.

Cronometro R: This is the second of two models in this stage of the range (We no longer offer the 'V' version, as we don't believe that it has value against it's closest competitors). Again, you can get either Cellini or Giotto body choice. It's a heat exchanger, with an E61 Group Head, with PID and 'Leva' control, but this 'R' version, comes with a rotary pump and dual water connection options (internal reservoir and mains water connection). Consider it the high end HX on the market.

R58 aka Cinquantotto: The next in the range is where the Rocket range really ramps up in every department. It offers dual boiler technology providing precision temperature across both brew and steam / water boilers. As standard it comes with with an E61 Group Head. Leva control. It also includes a commercial grade rotary pump, plus both internal reservoir and mains water connection options. Additional features include a detachable PID controller, where you can control and adjust numerous variables in the coffee making process (Temp, Language, Pre-Infusion and Pressure). Dual boiler technology at the highest level of control & design.

If you have any issues with your machine within the warranty period, you simply have to ship your machine back to us, which we can support you with.  Once returned, we will repair your machine under warranty terms & conditions, then ship it back to you.

If your machine is out of warranty, we will continue to help and support you, providing you with expert technical support as and when you need it.