Design and detail in equal measure
Kees van der Westen designed his first espresso machine as a conclusion to his industrial design studies in 1984. He took to it with the same determination and attention his company has become known for. When the world was moving towards speedy mass production and throwaway consumables, Kees focused on innovation, quality and usability. Design was everything. Details were everything.
Time spent well gives you the opportunity to make even the best products better. Although Kees enjoyed positive feedback, he preferred the suggestions for improvement made by expert baristas, bar owners and maintenance technicians. A drive towards excellence is a journey that never stops.
Kees’ favourite machine is always the next one. Everyone involved, from R&D, to production, to customer support, strives for the same positive development. What started as a collection of one-offs has evolved into a selection of continuously improving series machines that last a lifetime. With Kees’ daughters taking care of our company’s future, the best espresso machine will always be at your fingertips.
Every KVDW machine is individually handcrafted in Waalre, the Netherlands, merging cutting-edge mechanical engineering with artisanal craftsmanship. Unlike mass-produced commercial units, a KVDW machine is built as an architectural centerpiece. Featuring a multi-boiler design, exceptional thermal stability, and extensive visual customization, it represents the absolute peak of espresso technology and design prestige.
Due to strictly limited production runs at the Dutch workshop and an unwavering commitment to quality over quantity, KVDW machines remain exceptionally rare. Owning a Speedster, Spirit, or Slim Jim places your establishment or private residence in an elite tier of global coffee culture, making it a distinctive centerpiece that cannot simply be bought off a retail shelf.
Custom builds typically have production timelines ranging from 8 to 12 weeks from the moment your specifications are locked in at the workshop in the Netherlands. This timeline allows master artisans to hand-assemble, custom-finish, and rigorously bench-test your machine prior to air-freighting it to South Africa.
Custom builds typically have production timelines ranging from 8 to 12 weeks from the moment your specifications are locked in at the workshop in the Netherlands. This timeline allows master artisans to hand-assemble, custom-finish, and rigorously bench-test your machine prior to air-freighting it to South Africa.
Customization is virtually limitless. You can specify body panels in custom RAL powder coatings, engine-turned metalwork, handcrafted wood accents such as walnut, oak, or ash, etched glass side panels, custom LED lighting, and personalized badge engraving. Your machine can be tailored to align precisely with your architectural interior or corporate branding.
KVDW machines are premium capital assets. Pricing varies based on the chosen model—from the single-group residential Speedster to the multi-group commercial Spirit or Slim Jim—as well as customized finishes and current exchange rates. Local landed prices typically range from high-tier single-group investments to bespoke multi-group commercial installations. Detailed quotes are provided in ZAR, inclusive of import tariffs, logistics, and local setup.
Every new KVDW machine carries a 12-month comprehensive manufacturer’s warranty against functional defects. As official brand ambassadors, our certified technical team provides white-glove installation, scheduled preventative maintenance, and authentic factory spare parts to ensure flawless performance.
Built using marine-grade copper, high-grade stainless steel, heavy-duty brass boilers, and commercial-grade electronics, KVDW machines are engineered for lifetime longevity. With regular servicing by authorized technicians, these machines are designed as heirloom pieces capable of performing flawlessly for decades.
KVDW machines feature dedicated, independent coffee boilers for each group, with PID temperature stability, high-capacity steam boilers, and heat-neutral PEEK polymer dispersion blocks designed to prevent coffee oil from baking onto components. Signature features include two-stage progressive pre-infusion (Idro-Matic), which gently saturates the coffee grounds before ramp-up, dedicated pumps per group on flagship models, and ergonomic controls such as foot-operated steam valves and dual volumetric levers.
Models such as the Slim Jim are specifically built on a modular chassis, allowing exterior body panels, legs, cup rails, side plates, and group handles to be unbolted and swapped. If you alter your interior colour scheme or branding in the future, we can supply replacement bespoke panels or re-powder-coat your existing frame without replacing the mechanical core.