Legend Espresso News
Number One Twentyfive.
Time for a legendary update!
What’s the latest on the machine? Where are we at and when can you finally get that first espresso from the Legend?
In short:
We’re right in the middle of a super exciting, but also pretty demanding phase.
Not demanding in the sense that we’re struggling with development or facing team issues – actually, it’s the opposite: things are moving fast, and the team keeps growing!
What makes it tricky is that we haven’t been able to share as much as we’d like – mainly because publishing certain details too early could interfere with ongoing design and patent processes.
But we’ve picked out a few things we can show you – and we hope you’re as stoked about them as we are!
Legend V.01
In our last newsletter, we already hinted at it – from here on out, our full focus is shifting to developing the next generation of prototypes. With this step, we’re officially closing the “Frankenstein” chapter – and kicking off the era of the Legend!
More specifically: the Legend V.01 – the first version that’s both technically and visually very close to what the final production model will look like.
That means most of the components are already being made by suppliers and manufacturers who could potentially also handle production later on. And the internal structure is already built with scalability and manufacturability in mind.
The only thing that’s still a bit flexible is the cable and fluid routing – just so we can keep tweaking as needed. But once we dial everything in with the insights from the V.01, we’ll be able to design it in a way that keeps the final build super clean and well-organized. And folks – it’s gonna be awesome! If everything goes to plan, the machine can later be opened and maintained almost entirely tool-free!
Like we said – this is a super exciting time, and we’d love to share more of the process with you… but for legal and patent reasons, that’s not always possible. Still, just to give you a peek at what we’ve been up to over the past few months – here’s a rendering of the current Legend V.01 exterior design. This version is already filed with the German Patent and Trademark Office – but more on that in a second:
Like we said – what you’re seeing here is still very much a work in progress. On the inside andoutside, things are changing almost daily. #expectationmanagement
Over the past few months, everything we’ve done – every single decision around design, construction, components, and manufacturing – has been made with one goal in mind: to build something that not only works on the test bench, but is truly ready for production.
That means tons of research, back-and-forth with potential suppliers, checking in with our engineers, design reviews, and yep – even more research.
Sounds intense? It is. But it’s also insanely rewarding to watch this thing slowly come to life – turning from a sketch on paper into something real you can touch.
And honestly, what keeps us going is feeling the support and energy from so many of you. We’re still a small startup – but the amount of encouragement, excitement (even from suppliers!) is unreal.
NEW PArtners
Speaking of suppliers – it really feels like we’re creating something that a lot of people relate to. Not just because it’s about great coffee (though that’s always a plus), but because the Legend touches on so many different values and ideas.
On our journey – especially when it comes to sourcing sustainable and recycled materials for the machine – we keep crossing paths with people and companies who share the belief that product development has to take our planet’s limited resources seriously. That real change is needed – and like us, they want to be part of shaping that change.
Right now, for example, we’re experimenting with a material called “Paperstone” for the side panels. It’s a super high-quality composite with a beautiful texture, made mostly from compressed recycled paper and natural pigments. The binder? A phenolic resin that’s actually a byproduct of the cashew industry. Pretty wild, right?
Paperstone
Another material we’re looking into is called Polygood – a premium surface material originally developed for architecture and interior design. What makes it so exciting? It’s made entirely from recycled polystyrene – a plastic that’s been widely used in household electronics for decades.
The process is pretty clever: the plastic waste gets melted down, turned into granulate, and then transformed into brand-new panels. It’s a closed-loop system, certified cradle-to-cradle, produced without additives and powered entirely by renewable energy. The coolest part? The color of each panel comes from the original material. For example, the white panels are made from the inner linings of old refrigerators.
Polygood
Both materials can be processed much like wood, are FDA-certified (so they’re safe for direct contact with food), super durable – and any offcuts or production waste can go straight back into the cycle to be reused. A perfect fit for our concept!
For thermal and acoustic insulation inside the machine, we’re using cork from Portugal. It’s processed right there on site, and not only helps us keep the machine well-insulated, but also supports one of our core design ideas: tool-free maintenance. We’ll share more on how that works in an upcoming update!
Long story short – we’re finding new partners on all sorts of levels. People who vibe with what we’re building, who see the potential, and who want to be part of it. And honestly, that kind of support is absolutely crucial to making this machine a reality.
Design REGISTRATION
As we mentioned earlier, design protection and patents have been a big focus for us over the past few months – which has sometimes made open communication a bit tricky. The topic of patents especially is something that’ll stick with us for a while.
That said, we’ve now officially registered some of the key design elements of the Legend with the German Patent and Trademark Office – and we can finally show them to you!
What’s protected isn’t just the overall look of the machine, as you can see in the renderings above, but also a few distinctive details that really define the character of the Legend.
To give you an idea of what that looks like: here’s a snippet from the design registration for the brew group. Might not look super exciting at first glance – but when it comes to design protection, it’s all about form. And that form has to be shown clearly and stripped down:
We’ve also registered several variations of the iconic arch that forms the base of the machine and plays a key role in its structural integrity – along with different material combinations, including some of the recycled materials we mentioned earlier.
Funding round II
But to truly bring this thing to life and get the Legend out into the world, we need your support.
If you’ve been following along for a while, you know that we successfully closed our first funding round in 2024, raising €50.000.
So first off: a massive thank-you to the investors who made that possible!
Funding Round I was all about ramping up capacity and – most importantly – being able to manufacture the prototype parts for the Legend V.01. And let’s be real: that stuff gets expensive.
So far, it’s going really well. But to keep up the pace, we need to lock in the long-term financing now.
As we mentioned back in 2024, we’re planning a second round of funding for 2025/26 – this time totaling €250.000.
The goal: to bring the Legend into full production. That includes mold/tooling costs, infrastructure (like rent), and – crucially – certifications needed for market approval.
Now, to some of you that number might sound like a lot. But anyone who’s ever tried to bring a hardware product to market knows: that’s a seriously lean budget.
Just take a step back and look at what we’ve already built with a total of just €55.000:
A 15-person team, two fully functioning prototypes, and several third-gen machines already in the works – all for less than the annual salary of a single full-time engineer!
That only works because we’re all fully invested. Almost all of us are currently self-financed, contributing our time and expertise as a personal investment.
We believe in this project. And we’re convinced the Legend has massive potential – on every level.
Sure, we might not move as fast as a startup that kicks off with seven-figure funding and hires a big-name development firm. But we’re way more efficient – and we’re not at the mercy of investors who only care about quick returns.
That gives us the freedom to build something with real depth and purpose – something that can truly set new standards.
So if you have the means, now’s the perfect time to get involved in this legendary journey.
To put it simply: we’re still driving with the high beams on – but we’re driving with full visibility.
We’ve never been more focused or more aligned as a team.
With our first two prototypes, we’ve proven we can build a high-end, truly innovative espresso machine – one that stands out in a lot of ways. We’ll be unveiling the first three Legend V.01 prototypes later this year.
And with your help, we’ll bring them into production – and prove that the Legend can not only compete globally, but also lead the way in sustainable product design.
So if you’ve got the means – and want to be part of this story – now’s the time.
Just follow the link below to learn more about how you can invest in Legend Espresso.
Let’s make this real.
the Perspective
So what else is going on, and what’s next?
Right now, most of our energy is going into design and engineering.
Martin and Viktor have been deep in the weeds, working through countless drafts and drip tray iterations – closely aligned with both fabricators and engineers.
The final version is locked in, and you can spot it in the rendering above: a clean, monolithic look in brushed or satin stainless steel. Sleek, precise – no rattling insert tray.
The first time you set your cup down on it, you’ll feel what we mean… 😉
Eli S. took that design even further and then jumped into building out the structural frame.
Some parts – like the machine’s feet – are already in production, and more housing components are just about to follow.
Martin and Eli also dove deep into the mechanics of the lever system, including early-stage prototyping. We’ve got a crystal-clear idea of how it should feel – and yeah, it feels really good 😎.
Meanwhile, David’s been focused on the inner workings of the new Legend brew unit (also visible in the rendering). It’s a complete redesign compared to the earlier version: faster heat-up times, instant temperature adjustment, and improved insulation. That’s heading into production and testing soon. After that, David will finalize the outer design of the brew head and connect it to the V.01’s frame.
And while all that’s been happening?
Reto has been crushing it solo, developing the new Legend Core Board – the heart of the machine.
Plus, he built the UI board – a tiny circuit board, barely larger than the OLED display itself, that picks up data from all the switches, levers, and buttons and sends it straight to the display and core board.
These boards are both finished and are currently being assembled and tested.
Meanwhile, Martin has finalized the design for the steam and hot water wands of the Legend V.01(also visible in the rendering above) and commissioned prototypes for production. Both are, of course, double-walled for better insulation. On top of that, the design was coordinated with the manufacturer so that – unlike almost all other espresso machines – the steam wand’s nut can be removed to replace the seal underneath. Usually, the entire wand has to be swapped out, but not with the Legend. 👍🏽
Building on Eli’s lever mechanism design, Martin created the design for the V.01 lever group – the visible stainless steel base and the handle. He also designed the first Legend pressure gauge and already turned it into a prototype:
Our manufacturer in Italy is kicking off test production for the Legend V.01!
Meanwhile, the marketing crew – Eli T., Anastasia, and Martin – are setting up our very own YouTube channel. That way, we’ll be able to share more in-depth updates with you beyond the usual Instagram posts and reels.
Our next big milestone: by September, we aim to have three fully functional Legend V.01 machines up and running. They’ll go straight into an intensive testing phase – and at least one of them is hitting the road with us. That means: Legend, live and in person, espresso included!
Until then, we’re in full-on build mode: designing, checking parts, assembling machines – and who knows, maybe we’ll even get to bring a camera along to some of our suppliers to show you live footage of parts getting milled, lasered, or cast for us… 🚀
Honestly, we meant to keep this update short… didn’t exactly nail that 😬
Huge thanks for your support and for sticking with us – if you haven’t already, check out our Instagramchannel! And if you’ve got feedback, we’re always stoked to hear from you.
Until then – we’ll catch you in the next one,
Your Legend Espressionists