Moka coffee maker: How a registered design revolutionized coffee ritual.

Today, in September 5th, the world of design and innovation gathers in a remarkable event in the vibrant city of Berlin. The fourth edition  of the DesignEuropa Awards (DEA), organised by EUIPO, takes place here. This prestigious event celebrates excellence in design for holders of registered Community Designs (RCDs) across the European Union.

DesignEuropa’s jury was tasked with selecting four finalists in the two categories – Industry and Small and Emerging Companies – from an impressive 700 entries from all corners of Europe. The finalist designs come from seven countries, namely: Austria, Croatia, Estonia, Hungary, Italy, Poland and Slovenia.

This is a good time to travel back and discover the story of the Registered Community Design (RCD) as well as the story of a specific RCD – one of the first registered.

This year marks two decades of registered Community design (RCD) and its significant role in promoting innovation and creativity in the European Union.

On 1 April 2003, EUIPO opened the doors for registration of new Community designs. The registered Community design was a real revolution for businesses across the European Union. Previously, these businesses had to go through a complex and expensive process to register their designs in each EU country. With the advent of the RCD, they were able to protect their designs in all EU Member States with a single filing.

Registered Community design has revolutionised the way businesses protect their designs in the European Union market. With more than 1.8 million RCD applications received by EUIPO since its inception, Community designs have become a crucial tool in protecting intellectual property and promoting innovation.

Today, EUIPO registers around 100,000 designs per year. However, to better illustrate the impact and importance of design registration, we will turn our attention to one of the first Community design registrations and its story.

So let’s travel back in time and discover one of the first innovations recorded and how it influenced the world of design, but also our daily lives and how we enjoy one of our favorite pleasures – coffee.

The story of the Moka coffee maker

In a small hamlet in Omegna (Verbania), Crusinallo, in 1919, Alfonso Bialetti opens a workshop for the production of aluminium semi-finished products. The company grows rapidly, coming to bear the name Alfonso Bialetti & Co. But the story does not stop there. In 1933, Alfonso Bialetti made his innovative contribution to the world of coffee by creating the famous Moka coffee maker.

The Moka coffee maker has become a true symbol of innovation and intelligent design. With its octagon-shaped top and bulb-shaped lower container, Moka’s coffee maker provided a simple and effective way to brew espresso coffee at home. The ergonomic handle and safety valve for pressure control have made this coffee maker an irreplaceable tool in kitchens around the world.

Thus, the story of the Moka coffee maker shows us how a simple innovation can have a profound impact on our daily habits. Over the decades, this coffee maker has remained a tribute to the passion for coffee and has brought the joy of authentic espresso into the lives of many people around the world.

The registration of Moka coffee maker at European level had a dual purpose: on the one hand, to ensure that innovation is recognised and protected throughout Europe, and on the other, to encourage other innovators to follow suit, aware of the importance of protecting their innovations.

Thus, the story of the Moka coffee maker becomes even more inspirational, showing how a wise innovator not only brings innovation to the world, but also protects his creativity, thus helping to promote innovation as a whole. It is a vivid reminder that protecting intellectual property is an essential step in supporting progress and creativity in the world of design and innovation.