The Atomic Coffee Machine was designed and invented by Mr Giordano Robbiati of Milan, Italy around 1946, according to the Italian Design registration issued that year. The coffee maker was subsequently patented as a novel invention in many other European countries, and in the United States, between the years 1946 and 1952. Robbiati is listed as the owner and inventor on the majority of these patents.
The coffee machine has a very distinctive shape, which, whilst aesthetically pleasing, is essentially dictated by functional (and patented) elements of the coffee maker. In this manner the design is said to be "organic", and an example of "form following function". The Robbiati patent and design registrations cover the essential Atomic shape and functional aspects of the machine, and are not limited to particular technical features. The distinctive shape sets the Atomic design apart from other coffee makers, and the "Atomic", as it is universally known, arguably[who?] forms a distinct class all of its own. Since production began around 1946-1947, more than 20 variants of the original design (with multiple sub-variants) have been manufactured.Although there are differences in machines produced over time, and by separate manufacturers, all machines in this class are based directly on the expired Robbiati patents. The most significant change to the design was the addition of a steam wand to enable the machine to froth milk as well as make espresso. This was an improvement to the original design.
Between the 1947-1986 the Atomic machine was distributed globally. Countries identified to date include: Italy, Austria, Hungary, Germany, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, Belgium, Holland, Cuba, Argentina and Brazil. Although hard and reliable information is difficult to obtain concerning manufacturers that went out of production some thirty or more years ago, machines of the Atomic type were likely manufactured in at least four European countries (the UK, Hungary, Austria and Italy) between 1946 and 1986 by separate manufacturers.
In Austria the Stella company, under the direction of Desider Stern produced a range of Atomic type coffee makers from 1948 until 1974. Stern's machines started out very similar to the original Robbiati design but he soon developed unique versions of the basic Atomic form. The Qalital company in Hungary produced a range of Atomic coffee makers under the direction of Desider Stern's brother-in-law, Imre Simon. In the UK the A&M.G Sassoon Co. produced its own British-manufactured version of the Atomic design in the 1950s and '60s. The Sassoon Atomic has some unique features; however, its designer remains unknown. In Italy, Robbiati produced Atomic coffee makers continuously from 1947 to around 1986.
Collectors and experts, as well as published sources, indicate that no atomic coffee machines have been manufactured in Italy since around 1986.
By 2007, demand for second-hand Atomic coffee makers had reached a peak and Atomic machines in mint condition could sell for over one thousand US dollars. However, in recent years, modern versions of the 'Atomic design' have been reproduced in India, Taiwan, and China by separate manufacturers, and this has lowered the prices of vintage machines somewhatThe machine made in Taiwan by La Sorrentina is a reproduction of the original design.
The Chinese-manufactured Otto espresso machine, has the distinctive Atomic form but is largely redesigned internally.
