Tired of boring coffee makers? The new L'OR Barista was designed by an award-winning architect

L'OR Barista by Alessi coffee maker
(Image credit: L'OR)

  • The new L'OR Barista was created by Italian design company Alessi
  • Its pleated finish is the work of designer and architect Michele De Lucchi
  • It goes on sale this week for £159.99 (about $200 / AU$300)

French coffee company L'OR has unveiled a new pod-based espresso machine that will bring a touch of Italian style to your kitchen.

Capsule-based coffee makers are a handy way to enjoy espresso without the mess of weighing and grinding beans, but they sometimes look rather bland and utilitarian compared to a manual espresso machine. That's not the case with the new L'OR Barista, which has a striking pleated-effect case created by Italian design company Alessi.

The ridged finish of the L'OR Barista by Alessi was created by artist, architect and designer Michele De Lucchi. De Lucchi, known for his experimental creations, has designed and restored buildings in Japan and throughout Europe, and has received scores of product design awards throughout his career.

L'OR Barista by Alessi coffee maker

(Image credit: L'OR)

Double shots

The L'OR Barista by Alessi can take standard-size coffee pods, including L'OR and Nespresso capsules. It's also compatible with L'OR Barista XXL capsules, which contain twice as much coffee as a regular pod. This lets you easily make a double shot of espresso (ideal for cappuccinos and lattes), or pour two shots at once using the machine's double spout.

The new machine will be available this week direct from L'OR and from John Lewis for £159.99 (about $200 / AU$300), and will roll out more widely over the coming months.

If you're in the market for a new coffee maker but would prefer a bean-to-cup model, we're rounding up all this year's best Black Friday espresso machine deals to save you time, effort, and money. For offers on capsule coffee makers and pods, take a look at our guide to the best Black Friday Nespresso deals.

You might also like

Cat Ellis
Homes Editor

Cat is TechRadar's Homes Editor specializing in kitchen appliances and smart home technology. She's been a tech journalist for 15 years and is an SCA-certified barista, so whether you want to invest in some smart lights or pick up a new espresso machine, she's the right person to help.

Read more
De’Longhi La Specialista Touch coffee machine with drinks on kitchen counter
De'Longhi's new bean-to-cup coffee machine could make you a milk-frothing maestro
De'Longhi Linea Classic espresso machine on kitchen counter with hot and cold coffee drinks
I'm a qualified barista, and De'Longhi's latest espresso machine could be this year's best budget buy for coffee lovers
Breville Barista Impress espresso machine with brass accents in white and green
Breville just gave its best espresso machine a makeover, and I think I'm in love
The Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine on a purple background with text saying Don't Miss.
The excellent Breville Barista Express coffee maker is back to its Black Friday price
KitchenAid KF6 espresso machine in Porcelain White
KitchenAid just gave you a new reason to upgrade your espresso machine
Jura J10 coffee machine
Jura's new coffee machine brews hot or cold and can even add your choice of syrup
Latest in Coffee Machines
Man sitting on sofa, drinking coffee, looking at phone in surprise
Thousands of coffee lovers warned to stop using their espresso machines immediately after reports of burns and lacerations
De'Longhi Linea Classic espresso machine on kitchen counter with hot and cold coffee drinks
I'm a qualified barista, and De'Longhi's latest espresso machine could be this year's best budget buy for coffee lovers
De'Longhi La Specialista Touch coffee machine on kitchen counter
If your kitchen is as small as mine, the De'Longhi La Specialista Touch is one of the best espresso machines you can buy
Sage Oracle Jet coffee machine with cup of coffee and milk pitcher on kitchen counter
I tested the Sage Oracle Jet for a month, and it delivers top-notch espresso with minimal effort
The De'Longhi Magnifica Evo on a pink background with text saying Lowest Price.
The stylish De'Longhi Magnifica Evo is down to its lowest-ever price at Amazon
Jura J10 coffee maker on kitchen counter
I wasn't a fan of syrup in coffee until I tried the Jura J10 espresso machine – here's why
Latest in News
Open AI
OpenAI live stream - could we see a major ChatGPT upgrade?
Apple WWDC 2025 announced
Apple just announced WWDC 2025 starts on June 9, and we'll all be watching the opening event
Hornet swings their weapon in mid air
Hollow Knight: Silksong gets new Steam metadata changes, convincing everyone and their mother that the game is finally releasing this year
OpenAI logo
OpenAI just launched a free ChatGPT bible that will help you master the AI chatbot and Sora
NetSuite EVP Evan Goldberg at SuiteConnect London 2025
"It's our job to deliver constant innovation” - NetSuite head on why it wants to be the operating system for your whole business
Monster Hunter Wilds
Monster Hunter Wilds Title Update 1 launches in early April, adding new monsters and some of the best-looking armor sets I need to add to my collection