Develops and produces fully automatic coffee machines for home use
Saeco (Versuni)
Gaggio Montano (IT) · Amsterdam (NL) · Vienna (AT)New on Amplifa
About Saeco
Saeco is an Italian manufacturer of coffee and espresso machines headquartered in Gaggio Montano near Bologna. The company was founded in 1981 by Sergio Zappella and Arthur Schmed and launched the Superautomatica in 1985, the first fully automatic coffee machine for home use, featuring a patented removable brewing group. Today the product range consists mainly of fully automatic coffee machines of the Xelsis and GranAroma series with touch display, customizable user profiles and ceramic grinder. According to the company, the machines are developed in Italy and made from high-quality components. Since its acquisition by Philips in 2009, Saeco has belonged to the group's domestic appliances division, which has been held by Hillhouse Capital under the name Versuni since 2021. Distribution takes place via subsidiaries in Amsterdam and Vienna, among others, as well as through a network in more than 60 countries.
- Site
- Gaggio Montano (IT)
- Materials
- Macinacaffé ceramic grinder, Stainless steel
- Founded
- 1981
- Industries
- Domestic appliances, Fully automatic coffee machines
- 01
Product development (Italy)
- 02
Component manufacturing
- 03
Assembly of fully automatic coffee machines
- 04
Distribution via subsidiaries and trading partners
Technology & Components
Macinacaffé ceramic grinder
Metal-free ceramic grinder for precise, low-temperature bean grinding.
Stainless steel
Used in the housings of premium series such as Syntia.
Locations
Gaggio Montano
ITHeadquarters, development and production
Amsterdam
NLSales company (Philips Domestic Appliances Nederland B.V.)
Vienna
ATSales company (Philips Domestic Appliances Austria GmbH)
Products
Inside the production
Industries
Reference customers
History
- 1981
Founded by Sergio Zappella and Arthur Schmed; name derived from Sergio Arthur e compagnia
- 1985
Superautomatica – first fully automatic coffee machine for home use, patented brewing group
- 1987
Founding of Saeco GmbH in Germany by Markus and Bernhard Bihler
- 1989
Saeco Electronic Twin Superautomatica; preparation of two cups simultaneously, use of pre-ground coffee
- 1991
Founding of Saeco Austria
- 1994
Saeco Magic line with cup warmer
- 1996
Cappuccinatore for milk froth
- 1998
First digital display for home machines; pre-brewing moistening system
- 1999
Acquisition of the Italian company Gaggia
- 2001
Incanto series
- 2003
Saeco Brewing System (SBS); touchscreen espresso machines
- 2004
Macinacaffé ceramic grinder; takeover by financial investor PAI partners (~€746 million); end of cycling sponsorship
- 2007
Bean Maestro (Saeco Adapting System); more than 750,000 fully automatic machines sold
- 2008/2009
Revenue decline from €526 million to €318 million; financial difficulties
- 2009
Acquisition by Philips for around €200 million; Syntia and Xelsis introduced
- 2010
Site closures in Munich, Lustenau and Brunn am Gebirge; around 200 employees affected; distribution via Philips Consumer Lifestyle in Hamburg and Vienna
- 2013
Return to marketing under the “Saeco” name alone; GranBaristo Avanti (Bluetooth) at IFA; cooperation with Tchibo (Cafissimo)
- 2017
Sale of the professional coffee machine division to Evoca; home machine division remains with Philips
- 2021
Domestic appliances division (now Versuni) taken over by Hillhouse Capital