Alessi is the brand people often mean when they talk about design for the kitchen. In this guide we look at where the Italian company came from, the icons that made its name, and how to choose a piece that you'll use every day as well as admire.
From Omegna to design icon
Alessi was founded in 1921 by Giovanni Alessi in Omegna, a small town in northern Italy, where the family began producing metal utensils. Over the decades the company moved from making household metalware to working with some of the best-known architects and designers of the century, including Alessandro Mendini, Ettore Sottsass and Achille Castiglioni.
That approach is what sets Alessi apart: each object starts with a designer's idea, so a kettle or a corkscrew carries a personality as well as a purpose.
The icons worth knowing
9093 kettle by Michael Graves
Designed in 1985, the Induction Hob Kettle 9093 is one of Alessi's best-selling objects in the world. The little bird-shaped whistle is the detail everyone remembers, and Graves mixed influences from European art, American Pop and pre-Columbian cultures into its form. This version is in stainless steel and suits induction hobs. The same playful language appears in Graves's Kitchen Timer.
Juicy Salif by Philippe Starck
Produced since 1990, the Juicy Salif Citrus Squeezer is instantly recognisable for its teardrop-shaped body and slim curving legs. It is as much sculpture as tool, and many owners keep it on display between uses.
9091 kettle by Richard Sapper
The Induction Hob Kettle 9091 has a melodic brass whistle with two small vents tuned to the notes mi and si. Sapper was inspired by a childhood memory, and the sound is the reason many people choose it.
Coffee makers
The 9090 Espresso Coffee Maker was the first espresso maker in Alessi's history and the first of several Compasso d'Oro awards for the company. It's made in 18/10 stainless steel with a magnetic steel base that also works on induction, in 3-cup or 6-cup versions. For a more classic shape, the Moka Espresso Coffee Maker by architect David Chipperfield reinterprets the traditional stovetop pot with an eleven-sided body.
Mendini's corkscrews
The Anna G. Corkscrew by Alessandro Mendini is an ironic tribute to a real woman whose smiling face became a cult item, and it grew into a whole family of objects. Its companion, the Alessandro M., is Mendini's design self-portrait.
How to choose an Alessi piece
- Think about daily use first. A kettle or coffee maker gets used every day, so it gives the most enjoyment. Check your hob type: the 9093, 9091 and 9090 are all suitable for induction.
- Match the mood of your kitchen. Graves's pieces are cheerful and colourful; Chipperfield's Moka and the 9090 are cleaner and more architectural. The pleated Plissé range by Michele De Lucchi, including the Plissé Electric Kettle, brings a soft, sculptural look to the worktop.
- Start small if you're unsure. A corkscrew, bottle stopper or spoon rest is an easy way to bring a designer object into the kitchen without a big commitment.
- Think about who it's for. Wine lovers tend to enjoy the Anna G.; coffee drinkers the 9090 or Moka; anyone who loves sculpture the Juicy Salif.
Alessi as a gift
Because so many Alessi pieces have a story, they make memorable presents. The designer's name and the thinking behind the object give you something to say when it's unwrapped, and smaller items such as corkscrews or kitchen tools are easy to wrap.
Explore Alessi
Browse our full Alessi collection to see the kettles, coffee makers and table pieces we stock, or look through our wider kitchen and tableware range for pieces to go with them. If you'd like advice on choosing, visit the shop in Somerset or contact the team.
