The ECM and Rocket Giotto: A Home Espresso Classic

Ever wondered why some home espresso machines look oddly familiar—or why certain models from decades ago still show up in specialty coffee shops? One machine keeps popping up in conversations about classic home espresso: the Giotto. But its story isn’t widely known outside dedicated circles. Where did it come from, who made it, and what’s the difference between the ECM and Rocket versions?

In short: the original Giotto was designed in 1995 by Ennio Berti and Frederich Berenbruch under their new company, Espresso Company Milano (ECM). It was the first high-performance home machine built to commercial standards, using the legendary Faema E61 grouphead. Later, production shifted to New Zealand under Rocket Espresso, which refined it further into the Rocket Giotto and its Evoluzion model with upgraded features.

The Origins: ECM and the First Giotto

The Giotto story begins in 1995, when Ennio Berti, an engineer at a well-known Italian espresso machine manufacturer, left his job. He believed the time had come for serious home espresso, aiming to build a machine that met commercial standards. Together with Frederich Berenbruch, he founded Espresso Company Milano—later known simply as ECM.

The result was the ECM Giotto, released in the 1990s. It featured the iconic Faema E61 grouphead, a design revered for its pre-infusion and thermal stability. The Giotto became a benchmark for home machines, influencing countless designs that followed. Its combination of durability, performance, and professional features helped bring serious espresso brewing into ordinary homes.

From ECM to Rocket: The Giotto’s Second Life

By 2007, ECM decided to focus on commercial machines and discontinued the Giotto line. Production rights were eventually acquired by New Zealander Jeff Kennedy. Teaming up with Frederich Berenbruch’s son, Daniele, Kennedy launched Rocket Espresso Milano. They revived the Giotto using the original tooling and production line.

Rocket didn’t just reissue the Giotto—they improved it. The Rocket Giotto series introduced better temperature stability, more robust components, and multiple configurations. The top-tier Evoluzion version included a Fluid rotary pump, dual pressure gauges, a reservoir or plumbing option, and enhanced controls. These upgrades made it one of the most capable home espresso machines available, bridging the gap between amateur and professional brewing.

The Shuttle Connection: What About GLY’s Version?

In China, a similarly styled machine called the GLY Shuttle gained popularity around the same time. While details of any formal agreement between GLY and Rocket or ECM remain unclear, the Shuttle shares a striking resemblance to the Giotto—down to its overall form. The main visible difference is the lack of an acrylic side panel on the Shuttle. Whether through licensing, inspiration, or parallel development, the Shuttle occupies a similar niche in the Chinese market as the Giotto did elsewhere.

Why the Giotto Matters Today

The Giotto’s lasting legacy lies in its role as one of the first truly capable home espresso machines. With the Faema E61 grouphead, it brought commercial-grade brewing reliability into domestic settings. Its design influenced not just imitators, but entire categories of machines. Both the original ECM version and the later Rocket variants remain highly regarded, often sought after by collectors and enthusiasts.

The Giotto proved that home baristas didn’t have to compromise on build quality or performance. Its reincarnation under Rocket further refined that promise, creating a machine that could keep up with demanding users while still being approachable. Whether you’re restoring a vintage ECM Giotto or considering a modern Rocket variant, you’re engaging with a piece of coffee history engineered for the home.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the original Giotto espresso machine?

The original Giotto was a home espresso machine released in the 1990s by ECM (Espresso Company Milano), co-founded by Ennio Berti and Frederich Berenbruch. It featured the Faema E61 grouphead and was designed to deliver commercial-level performance for home users.

Who made the Rocket Giotto?

The Rocket Giotto was produced by Rocket Espresso Milano, founded by New Zealander Jeff Kennedy and Daniele Berenbruch (son of Frederich Berenbruch) after ECM discontinued the Giotto in 2007. Rocket revived the design using the original production line.

What’s the difference between ECM Giotto and Rocket Giotto?

The ECM Giotto was the original 1990s model focused on bringing commercial standards to home users. The Rocket Giotto is a later revival with improvements such as a Fluid rotary pump (in the Evoluzion version), dual gauges, and options for reservoir or plumbed water. Both share the E61 grouphead and similar design roots.

What is the Shuttle coffee machine, and how is it related to the Giotto?

The GLY Shuttle is a Chinese-made espresso machine that resembles the Giotto in appearance but lacks the acrylic side panel. Its exact relationship to ECM or Rocket is unclear, but it likely draws inspiration from the same design lineage.

What makes the Giotto’s E61 grouphead special?

The Faema E61 grouphead, used in the Giotto, is valued for its pre-infusion capability, thermal stability, and durability. It became a standard in both commercial and high-end home espresso machines for its consistent performance.

Is the Rocket Giotto Evoluzion still in production?

Yes, the Rocket Giotto Evoluzion, featuring advanced components like a rotary pump and dual gauges, is part of Rocket Espresso’s current lineup and remains available as a high-end home espresso option.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Home Espresso

For your Giotto-style home machine, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Classic Blend—a well-balanced mix with rich crema ideal for milk drinks like cappuccinos and lattes. For a darker, bold option, the Black Cocoa Blend offers full-bodied flavour at an accessible price, perfect for everyday espresso. Both beans are roasted to highlight crema and extraction stability, suiting the thermal performance of E61-equipped machines like the Giotto or Rocket Giotto. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.