The 9090 was not only the first espresso coffee machine in our history, but it was also the first Alessi object designed for the kitchen after the 30s. It also gained us our first Compasso d'Oro Award (in 1979) and it is on display in the Permanent Design Collection at the MOMA in New York. The Espresso Coffee Maker was the first of our amphibious objects, those that can be used in the kitchen but are attractive enough to be used directly at the table. It proved that there was ample space on the market for good-looking coffee machines, and it spurred on almost all household goods manufacturers to try to imitate our lead. Along with Rossi's 9095, even after twenty years it remains one of Alessi's most popular coffee machines.