Faber Pro Deluxe: minimalistic functions, flashy design

Simon Balissat

22-9-2026

Translation: Katherine Martin

Pictures: Simon Balissat

Faber’s Pro Deluxe machine for ESE pods is big, heavy and stylish-looking. But do good looks translate into good performance?

Green-painted metal, gold trim and a bull on the front. No, it’s not one of Robert Geissen’s tacky customised Ferraris – it’s the Italian coffee machine manufacturer Faber’s latest creation. And let’s face it, Faber isn’t exactly known for understated designs. While other ESE pod machines are small, simple and made of plastic, Faber has really gone to town on the aesthetics of its machine.

Lacking numerous features – and that’s a good thing

The machine itself doesn’t require much explaining. There’s a toggle switch for the power and another toggle switch for dispensing coffee. Plus, there are two LEDs that let you know when the machine’s running or heating up. The controls are as minimalist as the design is flashy. Milky drinks? No chance. Buttons for ristretto, espresso or lungo? Forget it. I love that about the machine. There’s no touchscreen causing me to constantly hitting the wrong button. No «innovations» concocted by a marketing department and given catchy names like «fusion coffee break routine». And best of all, no AI!

Once you’ve slotted a pod into the machine, you have to push down the lever on the right – just like with a punch press. The toggle switch clicks, confirming that a trickle of dark-coloured coffee is about to flow out of the little gold metal tube. The machine purrs as it works away. In Latin, the word «faber» means «craftsman» or «blacksmith». Makes sense.

Glass, not plastic

Because ESE is a standard coffee pod design, the result is the same on most machines. The only variable is the pressure used to clamp the pods into the machine. You adjust the pressure on the Faber by using a screw at the top of the press. The higher the pressure, the slower the water flows. With a little practice, I managed to make some decent espressos this way. In fact, they were far better than the espressos you get from standard capsule systems. Even so, the ESE system is no substitute for freshly ground coffee.

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Faber has impressed me by making two clever design decisions. One, the power cable is detachable. The machine has an IEC connector similar to the connectors you’d usually find on PC power supplies. As a result, you can adjust the cord length and easily replace defective cables.

I’m even more taken with the water tank (although «tank» isn’t really the right for it). The water comes from a glass bottle hidden in a compartment at the back of the machine. On the side, there’s a slit for checking the water level. Brilliant! The plastic tanks you typically find in coffee makers get dirty quickly and are difficult to clean. This glass bottle, on the other hand, can just go in the dishwasher.

If you’re thinking about switching to ESE pods and have enough space available, you can go ahead and buy the Faber machine. With a variety of colours available, there’s bound to be a design you’ll like.

In a nutshell

A minimalistic, clever whopper of a machine

The Faber Pro Deluxe can’t froth milk. It doesn’t have a variety of buttons for producing different coffee drinks, nor does it have a touchscreen. All it does is make coffee using ESE pods. That’s it. Whether or not you’ll like the look of the machine is a question of taste. However, it’s well made, featuring plenty of metal and very little plastic. Neat aspects of the design, such as the standardised power cord and the glass bottle used as a water tank, round things off nicely. It’s ESE in its purest form. You’d just need a little more space for this machine than comparable models.

Pro

• Lots of metal and glass, not much plastic
• Standard IEC connector
• Has a glass bottle, not a plastic water tank
• Simple controls with real switches

Contra

• Relatively large for an ESE machine

Coffee capsule systems

EUR423,91

Faber Pro Deluxe

E.S.E.

D

13

Simon Balissat

Teamleader Editorial

Simon.Balissat@digitecgalaxus.ch

When I flew the family nest over 15 years ago, I suddenly had to cook for myself. But it wasn’t long until this necessity became a virtue. Today, rattling those pots and pans is a fundamental part of my life. I’m a true foodie and devour everything from junk food to star-awarded cuisine. Literally. I eat way too fast. more

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