The art of custom espresso machines – an interview with Daniel Schonknecht of Specht

I’m a very visual person. It’s why I like Instagram. It’s a visual medium. And I’ve curated my feed into a few accounts that feed my need for aesthetics. For as long as I can remember, Specht has always been one of those accounts I follow.

I mean, just look at this:

Specht is today synonymous with creativity, craftsmanship, and, of course, coffee. They don’t just modify machines; they transform them into bespoke pieces of art. Their reputation for excellence and attention to detail has for years caught the eyes of coffee aficionados and café owners alike. I was keen to know the company’s origin story.

And to get that story, I knew I needed to get hold of Daniel Schonknecht. His email signature says he’s Specht’s Director and Creative. Brewing Gadgets‘ Goutham confirmed he’s that plus just a really nice guy. I trust Goutham so that was enough for me to reach out to Dan. And just as Goutham said, Dan was super approachable.

Please introduce yourself and Specht Design to our audience

Hey I’m Dan the owner of Specht here in Australia. We specialise in custom espresso machines for your home. We also manufacture a heap of custom accessories to elevate your daily coffee routine. 

Do you remember the first time you had specialty coffee? 

The first time I truly experienced specialty coffee was in 2015 at a place called Admiral Cheng Ho, and the coffee was a 90+ Semeon Abay served by my good friend and owner of Disciple Roasters Marwin Shaw. It blew my mind and I was completely hooked. I love both espresso and filter, but lean more to filter. I love a good washed Colombian. 

Tell us the origin story of Specht

Specht began as a hobby based on my love of anything mechanical. I started drinking coffee in 2013 and it became an obsession, so did the pursuit of making better coffee. I was not interested in making coffee on mass, but knew I wanted to be a part of the industry in some way. Once I got my hands on my first machine it ignited this passion in me and I knew I had found my destiny. I just started having these crazy ideas and my brain would not switch off. Within 6 months I resigned from the career I had worked for my whole life for and Specht was born. 

I love the new logo

Thank you! It was a long time coming. We rebranded in 2023. Specht stands for woodpecker in German and the woodpecker is the dominant feature in our logo. This really represents my proud German history and the crest logo we also use is based on a historic German family crests.

You manufacture everything in Australia. In fact, your suppliers are all within a 30km radius of where you are. Why is sourcing local so important to you? 

Quality is a major focus of Specht and everything we do goes through such strict quality control. This level of quality can’t be achieved without constant monitoring which I believe you cannot achieve manufacturing abroad. Supporting the local community is also extremely important to us. We have so much talent here in Melbourne, why would I want to go anywhere else? I have known some of our suppliers for over 15 years, before I even started Specht and the relationships we form are just as valuable as the work they do. 

I know this is probably like asking a father which of his children is his favorite, but are there any projects you’ve delivered that you love just a little bit more than the others? 

Oh man, this is a question we get asked often and it’s hard to answer. I love the Linea mini we did with the hand hammered brass and hand carved timber. I’m also very proud of the Porsche themed Linea mini we did. The Kees and VA E1 we did for Christmas were big favourites too. 

You ship worldwide. What’s the best way for a customer to start this journey with you? 

Yes we do! The best place to start is the design chat on the website or link via Instagram. You will work with me one on one to design your dream machine. 

What’s next for Specht?

You will have to wait and see.