Customizable Wood Components: Everything You Need to Know

by Brodie Inguaggiato Updated: August 25, 2023 6 min read
CLICK HERE to subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive promotions and regular updates on everything coffee!

Interested in learning more about how we at Whole Latte Love manufacture the wood components that make up our industry leading catalog of espresso machine customizable products? You’ve come to the right place! Continue reading for answers to some of our most commonly asked questions, as well as a complete overview of the wood components we offer, and for what machines.

Manufacturing our Wood Accents

We at Whole Latte Love take pride in featuring only responsibly forested wood that is crafted and finished to ensure longevity and durability by local artisan woodworkers in the U.S.A. Our wood workers work closely with suppliers to ensure that responsible forestry practices are being followed. They actively combat illegal logging, and have policies in place regarding planned felling, minimum tree diameter, and felling rotation to ensure regrowth.

Steps in the Manufacturing Process

  • How is the wood picked? The wood is hand selected by us and our wood manufacturers.

  • Is the species of wood picked for aesthetic beauty?; what will accent each of our machines? The wood is sustainably sourced and picked for quality and consistency in color/figure/grain.


  • How does the manufacturer start the process? It starts with hand selecting the wood blanks. It is then hand-crafted with custom jigs, lathes and CNC machines. The parts are then hand-sanded and finished with a special varnish.

  • How is it tested and inspected? The finished parts are tested for correct sizing given the high tolerances that are needed.


    Customize the Best Machines in the Industry

    Some of the top machines offered in the industry, such as the ECM Synchronika, ECM Casa V, ECM Mechanika VI Slim, ECM Classika PID, Profitec Pro 600, Profitec Pro 500, Profitec Pro 300, and Rocket Espresso Appartamento, are currently available for purchase with these upgrades. With more than 500 possible accent configurations, the customization options are seemingly endless!

    Featured Wood Species

    The most recent accents we’ve added to our catalog are exotic woods, and we’re excited to offer them to you. Woods such as Lacewood, Elm Carpathian Burl, Walnut Burl, Birdseye Maple, Tiger Maple, Sapele, Zebrawood and Wenge are truly a sight to be seen and offer an added level of customization that only we can provide. Take a look at some of our exotic wood species options below and see for yourself.

    Featured Wood Species

    From Left to Right: Sapele, Lacewood, Tiger Maple, Walnut Burl, Zebrawood, Elm Carpathian Burl, and Wenge.

    Customizable Machines and Accessories

    We currently have 13 machines available for customization, with more on the way. Check some of the machines we have available for customization. We’re going to go out on a limb and say you're going to find something you like!

    GAGGIA

    We love everything "Gaggia," so it only made sense to offer a pair of the brand's standout machines with customization options. Currently, the Cadorna Barista Plus and Cadorna Prestige can be upgraded with hydro dipped custom panels.

    If you're looking for something other than the standard look both machines feature, wood grain styled panels, as well as a white marble styled panel option are available.

    Cadorna Barista Plus

    Customizable Wood Components: Everything You Need to Know

    Gaggia Cadorna Barista Plus Automatic Espresso Machine

    The Gaggia Cadorna Barista Plus is an automatic espresso machine with 6 pre-programmed beverages for a true home barista experience, the ability to personalize user profiles, a commercial steam wand, and a whole lot more to give.

    Available Accents (Hydro Dipped): White Marble, Dark Chocolate Straight Grain, Zebrano Grain

    Customizable Parts: Panels

    Cadorna Prestige

    Customizable Wood Components: Everything You Need to Know

    Gaggia Cadorna Prestige Automatic Espresso Machine

    The Gaggia Cadorna Prestige is a remarkable bean-to-cup machine with 14 customizable beverages, the option to create 4 user profiles, and an integrated milk carafe for making top quality milk drinks.

    Available Accents (Hydro Dipped): White Marble, Dark Chocolate Straight Grain, Zebrano Grain

    Customizable Parts: Panels

    ECM

    Our selection of customizable ECM machines includes both standard and Flow Control upgraded models for the Synchronika, Mechanika V Slim, and Classika PID, so if you want to go all out and upgrade with both machine accents and Flow Control capability at the same time, we've got you covered.

    You can even customize the Flow Control Group itself to match the rest of the machine's accents, if you so choose.

    Synchronika (also available with Flow Control)

    Customizable Wood Components: Everything You Need to Know

    ECM Synchronika Espresso Machine

    The Synchronika from ECM is an adept dual-boiler machine boasting a wealth of innovation focused on impressing the most expert home barista. Top quality components offer raw power, beautified by ECM’s custom styling.

    Available Accents: Anthracite, Sapele Mahogany, Tiger Maple, Walnut, Wenge, Zebrawood, Quilted Sapele, Purple Heart

    Customizable Parts: Panels, Flow Control Group, Knobs, Double Spout Portafilter, Single Spout Portafilter, Bottomless Portafilter

    Mechanika VI Slim

    Customizable Wood Components: Everything You Need to Know

    ECM Mechanika VI Slim Espresso Machine

    The ECM Mechanika VI Slim is the latest iteration in ECM’s line of compact, luxury heat exchange espresso machines, and is now fitted with a three-position switch for added temperature stability and the ability to switch between preset temperatures.

    Available Accents: Quilted Sapele, Tiger Maple, Walnut, Wenge, Zebrawood, Purple Heart

    Customizable Parts: Flow Control Group, Valve Knobs and Lever Kit, Double Spout Portafilter, Single Spout Portafilter, Bottomless Portafilter

    Mechanika V Slim (also available with Flow Control)

    Customizable Wood Components: Everything You Need to Know

    ECM Mechanika V Slim Espresso Machine

    ECM’s Mechanika V Slim is a compact and modern take on heat exchange espresso machines with a host of cosmetic and mechanical improvements over its previous iteration.

    Available Accents: Quilted Sapele, Tiger Maple, Walnut, Wenge, Zebrawood, Purple Heart

    Customizable Parts: Flow Control Group, Valve Knobs and Lever Kit, Double Spout Portafilter, Single Spout Portafilter, Bottomless Portafilter

    Classika PID (also available with Flow Control)

    Customizable Wood Components: Everything You Need to Know

    ECM Classika PID Espresso Machine

    The ECM Classika PID packs café performance and high-end features you would expect from much more expensive machines into a compact frame, providing unmatched quality among machines of similar size.

    Available Accents: Quilted Sapele, Tiger Maple, Walnut, Wenge, Zebrawood, Purple Heart

    Customizable Parts: Flow Control Group, Knobs, Double Spout Portafilter, Single Spout Portafilter, Bottomless Portafilter

    Technika V Profi PID

    Customizable Wood Components: Everything You Need to Know

    ECM Technika V Profi PID Espresso Machine

    The ECM Technika V Profi PID is a flexible heat exchange espresso machine with the ability to switch between the water reservoir and a fixed water connection. PID temperature adjustment, its quiet rotary pump, and impeccable styling make this a strong option for the home or office.

    Available Accents: Quilted Sapele, Tiger Maple, Walnut, Wenge, Zebrawood, Purple Heart

    Customizable Parts: Flow Control Group, Knobs, Double Spout Portafilter, Single Spout Portafilter, Bottomless Portafilter

    Casa V

    Customizable Wood Components: Everything You Need to Know

    ECM Casa V Espresso Machine

    The Casa V from ECM is the premier semi-automatic machine, and we’re happy to say it’s best-in-class under $1000. German design and Italian craft reflect in the clean, exquisite construction expected from ECM, inside and out.

    Available Accents: Sapele Mahogany, Tiger Maple, Walnut, Wenge, Zebrawood, Purple Heart, Quilted Sapele

    Customizable Parts: Knobs, Double Spout Portafilter, Single Spout Portafilter, Bottomless Portafilter

    ROCKET ESPRESSO

    Looking to add accents to your machine, but aren't sure if wood species fit your aesthetic? We recommend checking out Rocket Espresso's Appartamento, and its sister machine the Appartamento Serie Nera, which offer a unique design of circular windows on the left and right side of the machine that can be accented with mirrored acrylic panels exclusive to Rocket Espresso machines.

    With more than 20 customization variations currently available, we think you'll find a color or wood species that suits you.

    Appartamento

    Customizable Wood Components: Everything You Need to Know

    Available Accents: Amazonite, Amethyst, Aquamarine, Ebony Macassar, Emerald, Gold, Iridescent, Lacewood, Maple Birdseye, Sapele Mahogany, Maple Curly, Rose Gold, Ruby, Sapele, Sapphire, White, Black, Zebrawood, Copper, Tiger Maple, Walnut, Wenge

    Customizable Parts: Panels, Knobs, Double Spout Portafilter, Single Spout Portafilter, Bottomless Portafilter

    Appartamento Serie Nera

    Customizable Wood Components: Everything You Need to Know

    Available Accents: Amazonite, Amethyst, Aquamarine, Ebony Macassar, White, Black, Copper, Emerald, Gold, Iridescent, Lacewood, Maple Birdseye, Maple Curly, Rose Gold, Sapele, Sapphire, Zebrawood, Sapele Mahogany, Tiger Maple, Walnut, Wenge

    Customizable Parts: Panels, Knobs, Double Spout Portafilter, Single Spout Portafilter, Bottomless Portafilter

    Customizable wood species accent parts

    Machines like the Rocket Espresso Appartamento can be fitted with custom wood accents for parts like knobs and portafilters.

    PROFITEC

    We're well aware that once you become an owner of a Profitec machine, you're probably never going to defect to another brand. That level of customer loyalty says a lot about the quality, accessibility and longevity of Profitec's machines, like the Pro 300, Pro 500 PID and Pro 600, so we thought it only right to honor that by making those machines available for accent customization.

    The most extravagant of the three Profitec machines currently available for customization, the Pro 600, can also be purchased with Flow Control or Quick Steam functionality.

    Pro 600 (also available with Flow Control or Quick Steam Plus)

    Customizable Wood Components: Everything You Need to Know

    Profitec Pro 600 Dual Boiler Espresso Machine

    The Profitec Pro 600 is a dual PID, dual boiler espresso machine that separates itself from the crowd, thanks to its high steam power, E61 group head, and 1 liter water reservoir.

    Available Accents: Ebony Macassar, Elm Carpathian Burl, Lacewood, Maple Curly, Sapele, Walnut Burl, Walnut, Wenge, Zebrawood, Quilted Sapele, Tiger Maple, Sapele Mahogany

    Customizable Parts: Panels, Flow Control Group, Knobs, Double Spout Portafilter, Single Spout Portafilter, Bottomless Portafilter

    Profitec Pro 600 wood panel options

    The Profitec Pro 600 features wood panel options such as Ebony, Elm, Maple, and Walnut.

    Pro 500 PID

    Customizable Wood Components: Everything You Need to Know

    Profitec Pro 500 PID Espresso Machine

    The Profitec Pro 500 PID with Flow Control is a highly capable heat exchanger espresso machine, packed with commercial parts, a quiet vibration pump, and equipped to compete with more expensive machines. The 2022 update moves the PID controller with Shot Timer so it’s no longer hidden, making it easier to accurately adjust the temperature and time your shots for your brewing process.

    Available Accents: Quilted Sapele, Tiger Maple, Walnut, Wenge, Zebrawood, Sapele Mahogany

    Customizable Parts: Flow Control Group, Knobs, Double Spout Portafilter, Single Spout Portafilter, Bottomless Portafilter

    Pro 300

    Customizable Wood Components: Everything You Need to Know

    Profitec Pro 300 Dual Boiler Espresso Machine

    Profitec presents the Pro 300, a powerful dual boiler espresso machine boasting a level of performance that outpaces its impressively low price-point.

    Available Accents: Sapele Mahogany, Tiger Maple, Walnut, Wenge, Zebrawood

    Customizable Parts: Knobs, Double Spout Portafilter, Single Spout Portafilter, Bottomless Portafilter

    Summary

    When it comes to selecting something as intricate and stylish as wood components for your espresso machine, you deserve to know our processes exactly, from the tree to your countertop. We hope this article has shined some light on how and why we do what we do, and hope you stay proud every time you take a step back and revel in your truly unique machine.

    You’re not out of the woods yet! For even more in-depth content and information regarding everything coffee and espresso, check out Whole Latte Love’s blog catalog, support center, and YouTube channel. Make sure to also follow Whole Latte Love on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, and sign up for email newsletter and text alert notifications to make sure you never miss out on any of our new products or deals.