Celebrating a Century of Excellence: Mahlkönig’s First 100 Years


The Mahlkönig Modell 4 DSR, circa 1930

Within the colourful town of Hamburg, Germany, in 1924, amidst the bustling power of business development, a legacy started. The port town, nonetheless a number of the busiest harbors for inexperienced espresso on the planet—you’ll be able to inform from the intoxicating smell of freshly brewed espresso within the air—was once the birthplace of Stawert Mühlenbau GmbH & Co. KG, the root of what would change into one of the crucial international’s main producers of espresso grinders: Mahlkönig.

From its inception, Mahlkönig was once pushed by way of a novel project to raise the espresso revel in thru unwavering high quality and innovation. This dedication to excellence was once obtrusive from the outset, and Mahlkönig was once formally registered as an indicator in Hamburg on December 13, 1924.

Hamburg’s Full of life Espresso Business

Rows of grinders on the Mahlkönig assembly line.
The meeting line, circa 1970.

The energetic town of Hamburg, nestled alongside the Elbe River in Northern Germany, held a pivotal position in international business and trade. Humming with job, its port was once integral to Hamburg’s financial prosperity, shaping its historical past, tradition, and identification, and it is still one among Europe’s greatest and busiest harbors.

Leader a number of the commodities dropped at Hamburg was once—and nonetheless is—espresso, and as such it performed a central position within the town’s dynamic business scene. Hamburg’s long-standing custom as a big Eu hub for the espresso business noticed beans from around the globe arriving at its port, the place they had been processed, roasted, and dispensed to markets around the continent, solidifying Hamburg’s popularity as a espresso capital.

Mahlkönig’s Dedication to Excellence

The Mahlkönig stand at a coffee show in the 1960s.
Mahlkönig at an early Expo, circa the Nineteen Sixties.

With a steadfast determination to precision engineering and an unwavering focal point on high quality, Mahlkönig hastily earned a name as a relied on title within the trade. Each Mahlkönig grinder underwent meticulous trying out, making sure most effective the best merchandise left the manufacturing facility, thus reinforcing the emblem’s dedication to excellence.

Right through the many years, Mahlkönig remained at the leading edge of coffee-grinding generation, often pushing the bounds of innovation. From its earliest days, Mahlkönig’s adventure was once marked by way of iconic milestones, such because the creation of the EK43 in 1990, which is now essentially the most extensively bought skilled espresso grinder on the planet.

Whilst Mahlkönig first of all explored a various vary of goods, it shifted its focal point completely to perfecting espresso grinders in 1960. Since then, the corporate has offered groundbreaking inventions, together with the aforementioned game-changing EK43.

Designer Ingo Fabian sketches designs for a new grinder.
Mr. Ingo Fabian sketches initial designs for the Guatemala grinder, March 1991.

Along with its modern merchandise, Mahlkönig’s have an effect on transcends the area of espresso grinding. The corporate has performed a pivotal position in fostering a way of group throughout the espresso trade, sponsoring occasions just like the Global Barista Championship and participating with famend baristas.

It was once a barista, finally—Australia’s Matt Perger—who championed the EK43 by way of the use of it on level within the 2013 Global Barista Championship. Since then, baristas around the globe were clamoring for their very own EK43, and the ambitious, refined grinder now sits at the counters of maximum each and every top of the range espresso store on the planet.

A Time, and a Legacy, to Have fun

An original Type EK23 grinder in black and white.
The Sort EK23 dates again to round 1960-1970.

As Mahlkönig celebrates its one hundredth anniversary, it can pay tribute to all who’ve contributed to its luck—from devoted staff to unswerving consumers and companions. Having a look forward, Mahlkönig stays dedicated to pushing the bounds of innovation and excellence for the following century.

With contemporary releases just like the E80W Grind-by-Sync and the EK Omnia, Mahlkönig’s legacy continues to adapt, inspiring espresso fanatics international to pursue perfection in each and every cup.

In reflecting on a century of workmanship, Mahlkönig appears to be like ahead to the following 100 years, which might be positive to be full of a continuation of the innovation, pastime, and constant pursuit of perfection for which this international grinding pioneer is understood.

To be persisted for some other marvelous 100 years …

Cover image of the April + May 2024 19th Anniversary Issue

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