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In premium professional coffee machines, light helps define the product's character. An illuminated profile can follow the geometry of the control panel, enhance a metal surface or make an entire product range instantly recognisable.
When a project requires a thin, continuous and fully integrated line of light, a series of directly visible LED points may create overly bright areas, shadows or interruptions. Fibre optics for coffee machines make it possible to transfer light from the source to the surface and distribute it along a precisely designed path. This article explains how the technology works and when it is worth integrating into the project.
Give your coffee machine an unmistakable design.
- What is optical fibre used for in a coffee machine?
- How does flexible side-emitting optical fibre work?
- When should optical fibre be used for subtle, integrated lighting?
- Optical fibre, LED indicator or micro spotlight: which solution should you choose?
- How to integrate optical fibre into the design of a coffee machine
- What should be considered when customising optical fibre?
- How to validate the lighting effect before production
- Custom optical fibre: design checklist
- Frequently asked questions
- Additional recommendations
- Glossary
- An effective lighting concept develops alongside the machine
Flexible optical fibre can create a line of light along a profile, frame or curved surface of the machine. Its function may be decorative, informative or combine both purposes, provided that users can clearly understand the meaning of the signal.
On the front of a professional espresso machine, the fibre can follow the outline of the control panel, frame the display or pressure gauge and complement the alignment of the brew groups. The illuminated line can also define the cup tray, enhance the drip tray, or make the controls for the steam wand and hot-water outlet easier to identify.
When lighting has a primarily decorative function, the fibre can highlight the cup warmer, the edge of the exterior panels or the area occupied by the portafilter and spouts during extraction. The designer can therefore create a visual connection between the parts used by the barista while keeping the LED source out of sight.
In a professional coffee machine, optical fibre can be used to:
The desired effect should be defined at the beginning of the project. If the illuminated line is used exclusively to enhance the design, the designer can prioritise subtlety and continuity. If it also communicates an operating mode, its colour, intensity and position must allow immediate interpretation.
A decorative line does not automatically replace an indicator light used to signal power, heating or an alarm. The two solutions can coexist, provided that each has a clearly recognisable function.
Optical fibre turns light into an element of form.
An LED source introduces light into the fibre, which guides it along its length. In side-emitting optical fibre, part of the light is emitted through the outer surface, producing a linear effect rather than a single point of light.
The source and the illuminated area can therefore be positioned separately. This separation gives the designer greater freedom when defining the visible path, while the mechanical engineer can identify an accessible position for the source, wiring and connections.
The uniformity of the line depends on the entire system. Length, diameter, curves, distance from the source, optical coupling and surrounding finishes all affect the perceived amount of light. A fibre installed along a light-coloured, matt surface may look different from the same solution installed next to polished steel, dark plastics or reflective materials. The final result therefore cannot be assessed solely on the basis of the LED colour or the nominal fibre diameter.
Custom optical fibre is particularly suitable when the geometry of the light is as important as its intensity. Designers can consider it when they need to create a continuous line, follow a curved surface or prevent the light source from being directly visible.
A sequence of separate LEDs can produce visible points or differences in intensity. Optical fibre makes it possible to create a more continuous line around a control, frame or bodywork element.
The front panel of a premium coffee machine often includes transitions, rounded edges and three-dimensional surfaces. The flexibility of the fibre allows it to follow these geometries within the specified bending limits of the component.
The LED source can be placed away from the visible illuminated section. This option helps maintain a clean design and can make the component easier to access, provided that the internal architecture is planned accordingly.
A line repeated in the same position, shade and geometry across several models can become a recognisable brand element. Its length and path may vary while the overall visual language remains consistent.
A thin fibre can reach areas where installing several light sources, circuits and connections would be difficult. This advantage must be assessed together with the space required for the source and its connection to the fibre.
The correct device depends on the form the light needs to take and the message it must communicate.
Side-emitting optical fibre creates lines, profiles and integrated decorative effects. An LED indicator communicates a specific status, such as power on, machine ready, heating or a fault. A micro spotlight focuses light on a point or defined area, such as the cup tray or dispensing area. An RGB indicator can associate different colours with different operating states.
A coffee machine can use these solutions simultaneously. Optical fibre can highlight the front panel, an indicator can confirm that the machine is ready, and a micro spotlight can illuminate the cup. Each component addresses a different lighting requirement.
The geometry of the lighting effect
determines which component to use.
Integration should begin with the path of the light and continue towards the inside of the machine. Designing only the visible line, without considering the source, mounting system and wiring, can lead to late-stage changes.
The design should specify the starting point, length, curves, interruptions and end point. The path must also account for joints between panels and parts that are removed during cleaning or maintenance. A line crossing two removable components may make servicing more difficult. In other cases, dividing the effect into separate segments and coordinating their appearance may prove more effective.
Length affects both light distribution and the position of the source. Diameter influences visibility, space requirements, flexibility and the dimensions of the mounting channel. Designers should therefore begin with the desired effect while immediately checking compatibility with the available space behind the panel.
The path should not force the fibre into arbitrary bends. Curves that are too tight can alter light propagation, produce uneven emission or place the component under excessive stress. The bending radius should first be checked in the three-dimensional model and subsequently on the prototype, taking into account panel tolerances and the mounting system.
The position of the LED source must account for the space occupied by boilers, the pump, pipes, solenoid valves and electronic boards. The source and wiring should remain away from the hottest areas and from possible water or steam routes, without obstructing maintenance.
The fibre must reach the front panel without tight bends or interference with the brew groups, steam circuit or drains. Designers should also consider that the temperature behind the housing may be high, particularly near the boilers and the cup warmer.
Channels, clips or other retention systems must keep the fibre securely in place without compressing it. Assembly should also be repeatable in production, without relying exclusively on the operator's experience for adjustments.
The mounting channel must also account for the appearance of the fibre when the machine is switched off. A properly integrated solution maintains a clean appearance in both operating conditions.
Steel, chrome finishes, matt plastics, transparent surfaces and diffusers alter the way light is perceived. Glossy surfaces can create reflections, while dark finishes can reduce the visibility of the illuminated line.
The selected colour should be evaluated on the final materials. A rendering can communicate the designer's intention, but it does not always reproduce the reflections, diffusion and colour differences of the physical product accurately.
A scientific review by the Institut für Textiltechnik at RWTH Aachen University identifies four principles used to produce side emission in polymer optical fibres: scattering within the material, bending, surface perforations and luminescence. The study also highlights characteristics that are useful for integrated lighting, including flexibility, limited installation space and the ability to separate the source from the emitting area. These findings confirm the importance of assessing geometry, fibre and light source together during the design process.
Customisation therefore involves the complete lighting assembly. The designer must coordinate the optical fibre, LED source, power supply, wiring, terminals, path and mounting system. The main parameters to define are:
These values must be compared with the conditions measured inside the machine and with the project requirements.
Define the lighting solution around your project requirements.
Sampling makes it possible to test the solution on the machine or on a representative section of the panel. The test should reproduce the materials, finishes, geometries and ambient lighting conditions of the final product.
The assessment should include:
The viewing position also matters. A machine placed on a counter is observed from the front, from the side and at different distances. An effect that appears balanced in the design laboratory may be too intense when users view the panel at close range.
Validation of the final product should involve design, mechanical engineering and industrialisation teams. This ensures that approval considers both perceived quality and assembly repeatability.
The lighting effect should be approved
on the physical surface, not only in a rendering.
Before approving the configuration, the project team should answer the following questions.
Yes, if it is connected to a compatible RGB source. The control system can change the colour, but each variation must retain a clear meaning and remain consistent along the fibre.
The fibre carries light from a separately positioned source. Thermal management mainly concerns the LED source and its installation area. Temperatures and distances must still be verified on the actual product.
Yes. The design can include separate segments. Perceived continuity depends on the distance between the segments, their position and the uniformity of colour and intensity.
It can follow profiles and geometries compatible with its diameter and bending radius. Shapes with tight angles or closely spaced changes in direction require specific testing and may make another technology more suitable.
The required space depends on the source assembly, connections, wiring and the level of accessibility needed. The layout must account for the entire system, rather than only the diameter of the visible fibre.
Compatibility depends on its position, the cleaning products used, the mounting system and the protection provided. The design must prevent liquids, detergents and cleaning operations from damaging the fibre, source or connections.
Assess the line when the machine is switched off.
The fibre and its mounting channel remain visible when the source is inactive. Their colour, finish and mechanical integration should remain consistent with the panel in both conditions.
Provide access to the source.
Maintenance is easier when the lighting assembly can be reached without removing the entire front panel or interfering with other components.
Compare alternatives on the final materials.
Steel, chrome finishes, light-coloured plastics and dark surfaces produce different reflections. Testing on the physical panel makes it possible to select colour and intensity more accurately.
Further reading
Backlit Logos and SMD LEDs: Backlighting for Professional Coffee Machines
Explore the relationship between light, brand recognition and the design of backlit surfaces.
Micro LEDs for Professional Coffee Machines
Discover how compact light points can be integrated into functional areas and confined spaces in professional machines.
Reliable Indicator Lights for Professional Coffee Machines
Learn how to select indicators designed to communicate operating states under intensive use.
Total internal reflection
The physical phenomenon that allows light to travel inside the fibre without passing completely through its outer surface.
Optical attenuation
The reduction in light intensity as it travels through the fibre. It can affect the perceived brightness at different points along the illuminated line.
Optical coupling
The method used to introduce the light produced by the source into the fibre. Alignment and geometry influence transfer efficiency.
Cladding
The optical coating surrounding the fibre core that helps guide light along its path.
Minimum bending radius
The minimum permitted radius of curvature that does not compromise the fibre's integrity, stability or optical behaviour.
Fibre optics for coffee machines make it possible to integrate light into the form of the product, following profiles, curves and details that a point light source could not enhance in the same way. Achieving the intended result requires coordination between design, mechanical engineering, electronics and production.
SLIM can support engineers and designers in defining the fibre, light source, wiring and configuration, through to validating the solution on the product. Involving SLIM during the early stages makes it possible to assess geometries, operating conditions and assembly methods before the design is frozen.
Turn your concept into a solution ready for integration.