In October of 2013, Sprudge.com was the first publication to bring you details and photos of the brand new Victoria Arduino 388 Black Eagle espresso machine. Launched at HOST in Milan, the Black Eagle was developed by James Hoffmann (2007 World Barista Champion, co-owner of Square Mile Coffee) and our friends and partners at Nuova Simonelli. The machine essentially has two key features: first, it is a striking cosmetic redesign of Nuova Simonelli’s competition standard Aurelia T3 espresso machine; second, the Black Eagle features a built-in gravimetric weighing system, incorporated directly into the grate above the machineโs drip tray.
Black Eagle was the talk of HOST, and now is preparing to take center stage at a series of presentations around the world, hosted by Mr. Hoffmann. The first of these presentations happens on April 3rd in London, at Prufrock Coffee (23-25 โโLeather Lane). Event doors are at 6pm, with libations and snacks provided gratis, including beer from The Kernel Brewery and live jazz by the Jeremy Challender Trio. Sprudge.com’s co-founding editors Zachary Carlsen and Jordan Michelman will be in attendance, as a part of their efforts to cover the 2014 United Kingdom Barista Championship at London Coffee Festival.
Black Eagle will also be on display throughout the London Coffee Festival, at the Victoria Arduino installation in the event’s festival hall. This booth will be located at space CF1, and will be presided over by Gwilym Davies (2009 World Barista Champion).
Our extensive feature on the Black Eagle at HOST provides many more details on this machine, which will make its North American debut later this year on April 25th at Roy Street Coffee in Seattle, in conjunction with the 2014 Speciality Coffee Association of America Expo.ย While discussing Black Eagle at HOST, Hoffmann told us the following:
The first 30 Black Eagle espresso machines come off the production line in a matter of weeks, and Sprudge can report that these new machines will find their first homes in North America at Counter Culture Coffee‘s sparkling New York City training center, and with Kaldi’s Coffee Roasting Co.ย at their new 1900 square foot Regional Training and Community Coffee Center in Kansas City’s historic River Market. These companies will also be playing host to events featuring the Nuova Simonelli Mythos One Clima-Pro grinder, hosted by perennial Irish Barista Champion Colin Harmon, with dates set for New York City on April 22nd, Kansas City on April 23rd, and in Oakland with Blue Bottle Coffee on April 29th. Stay tuned for more details.
