Variegate your machine,
elevate your espresso

For Enginistas who believe the best espresso machine is the one you already own – upgraded. Instead of replacing your machine when electronics fail or when you want advanced features, our open-source hardware modules let you transform it into a precision instrument that rivals any commercial offering.

Our APEC SoM and related projects aren't commercial products – they're community-developed modules that require technical knowledge, patience, and a love of both engineering and espresso. For those willing to take the journey, the reward is a deeply customizable machine that reduces e-waste while delivering uncompromising performance.

Important: Our projects are open-source hardware modules designed for engineers and technically-minded coffee enthusiasts. They require PCB fabrication, component sourcing, assembly, and electrical safety knowledge. Installation can involve working around mains voltage and pressurized systems. No warranties or formal support – just a passionate community ready to help you learn.

Latest from the Project Log

Follow our engineering journey as we explore, experiment, and share discoveries. This is where we document challenges, celebrate breakthroughs, and learn together as a community of passionate Enginistas.

2025-08-23: LM GS3 Carrier


Last entry I discussed the roadmap change happening due to me buying a La Marzocco GS3, and I gave a brief description of my ideas for a carrier board. This past week (and before even posting the last post), I’ve been busy designing the new carrier, and I’d like to give a little more information on it! Let’s get started with a picture - it does say more than a thousand words after all.…
Read more ⟶

2025-08-14: Progress report and direction update


It’s been a while since the last update, but it’s not for lack of progress. I’m at a stage (with the Dev Rig) where the basics work pretty nicely, so it’s been time to tackle the harder tasks. I want to bring up a few of them specifically. UI A stock Silvia has four buttons and a light. That’s fine for the stock hardware, but the Dev Rig is a lot more configurable, and as such, I’ve added a rotary encoder and a display.…
Read more ⟶

2025-05-23: Course correction on the ESP32


As I’ve mentioned in other channels (Discord, Instagram) there’s been a lot of progress with the Dev Rig these past weeks. I can now actually pull shots on it, and they taste good. While the direction forward is clear - get the dev rig to where I can use it as a daily driver so that I can work on the Bianca - I’ve been considering next steps. My thinking is to get started on the ESP32-C6 firmware.…
Read more ⟶

2025-05-11: A somewhat working Dev Rig


The dev rig lives! Or at least it’s kinda-sorta closed up, and it kinda-sorta works. Let’s start with a quick clip. To give a short explanation as to what you’re looking at, this is my current Dev Rig. It used to be a Rancilio Silvia, but there’s not that many of the original components left in it. It now features the following: Fluid-o-tech FG304 gear pump Digmesa Nano-brass flow meter Xidibei XDB401 pressure transducer PT100 temperature probe, drilled in to the original boiler SSD1309 OLED display Fairly shitty rotary encoder The OPV, boiler, group, steam wand and solenoid valve are stock.…
Read more ⟶

2025-04-26: An addendum on timelines


One question that has come up in the Discord lately is the project timeline. Looking at this project as someone who’s just found it, this is of course one of the most interesting questions, yet it is a hard one to answer. At the moment, and for the forseeable future, Variegated Coffee is a hobby project. The amount of time I can and am willing to commit to the project is going to depend a lot on what else is going on in my life.…
Read more ⟶