nunc. Awarded iF DESIGN AWARD Gold
iF DESIGN AWARD Gold in the discipline Product Design — the highest distinction of the competition
Shy Tech: technology supports the coffee ritual without dominating it
Holistic Ecosystem: hardware, software, and design combine for a seamless, intuitive coffee experience
The international jury of the iF DESIGN AWARD has awarded the espresso machine nunc. the iF DESIGN AWARD Gold — the highest honor of the renowned competition. Recognized in the discipline Product Design, the independent jury honors a design approach that combines formal clarity, functional precision, and technological innovation in an exceptional way.
The award also highlights the multi-layered platform concept of nunc.: it is not an isolated product but forms a smart, interconnected ecosystem in which hardware, software, and the user experience interact seamlessly. This creates a holistic product experience that establishes a natural, intuitive dialogue between technology and the user.
In their iF Gold Statement, the design experts summarized the outstanding design of nunc. as follows:
This coffee machine is defined by crisp lines and authentic touchpoints. The craftsmanship is exceptional, and the UI precision elevates the brewing ritual. It forms a coherent design language alongside its grinder counterpart. This is design geometry brewed to perfection.
The innovative concept for nunc. was first thought of in 2021 by founders Dominik Maier, Marius Kütemeyer, and Markus Unger. Their goal: to bridge the gap between traditional espresso machines, which require specialist knowledge, and automated systems such as capsule machines or fully automatic machines, which often compromise on coffee quality. Since 2025, nunc. has been available for customers. Using machine learning and sophisticated algorithms, it automatically adjusts parameters such as grind size, flow rate, and temperature. Based on this, nunc.’s unique success guarantee makes specialty coffee accessible at home for the very first time.
In collaboration with PHOENIX Design, a concept was developed that uses intuitive, minimalist elements to place the human ritual of coffee at the center while keeping the technology in the background.
"From the very beginning, it was clear to us that technology should support enjoyment without distracting from the ritual. With nunc., we have created a product that combines uncompromising precision, intuitive operation, and aesthetic clarity, ushering in a new era of coffee. The award of the iF DESIGN AWARD Gold confirms that the Shy-Tech concept resonates with contemporary needs and that our vision of consistently excellent coffee is coming to life," says Dominik Maier, Co-Founder of nunc.
Sven Feustel, Principal Designer at PHOENIX, adds: "For the first time, PHOENIX received two iF awards for the same product. First, for nunc. as a concept in 2021, and now, five years later, we have received the Gold Award for the product itself. It is more than we could have ever dreamed of. And it was only possible thanks to the partnership with the team behind nunc. that has trusted us from the beginning. We are excited for the next chapter. "
The iF DESIGN Award is one of the world's most prestigious competitions for outstanding creative achievements. Since 1954, the iF label has recognized the work of designers who challenge conventions, rethink systems, and transform everyday experiences into something special.
About Next Level Coffee
Next Level Coffee was founded in 2021 by Dr. Marius Kütemeyer, Dominik Maier, and Markus Unger in Konstanz, Germany. With studios in Konstanz, Munich, and Berlin, the company pursues the mission of making barista-quality coffee simple and accessible for everyone. With nunc., the founders created a holistic coffee concept that combines smart technology, thoughtful design, and sustainable partnerships with coffee farmers.
About PHOENIX
PHOENIX is a product innovation studio that turns brands into winners of tomorrow’s wellbeing mega-economy. As an independent, award-winning studio, PHOENIX makes the foggy future visible to its partners, accompanying them from idea to market success. Today, the team of around 70 international design experts reinvent the future of wellbeing in Stuttgart, and Shanghai and thus stand for excellent design - as confirmed by over 1000 design awards.
Press contact:
Antonia Dittrich
press@nextlevelcoffee.de