There are moments that make the history of Mokabon tangible. For us, last Tuesday was such a moment: the day we welcomed back the original, handmade espresso machine of our founder, Erminio Mazzaro. A machine that not only made coffee, but laid the foundation for Belgian espresso culture.
Who was Erminio Mazzaro?
To the casual passerby, Mokabon is Ghent's oldest coffee bar, but to connoisseurs, it is the legacy of a visionary. Erminio Mazzaro was one of the first Italian immigrants to cross over to Belgium. In Ghent, he not only found a new home but also love with his Ghent wife, Bertha Dauwe.
However, Mazzaro brought more than just his bags; he brought a mission. He wanted to let Ghent taste true espresso, a drink that was virtually unknown in Belgium at the time.
The man who brought espresso culture to Belgium
Mazzaro was more than a coffee roaster; he was a technical genius. To realize his vision, he looked at developments in his homeland. In 1948, Achille Gaggia had turned the coffee world upside down with the introduction of the piston-lever machine. This technique replaced steam with high pressure (9-10 bar), resulting in the very first real crema.
Mazzaro took this revolutionary technique as his base and started building himself. While other operators simply bought machines, Mazzaro designed, refined, and built his own equipment. This led to an official patent for his own creation in 1957. A unique achievement that proves he belonged to the absolute European elite of coffee pioneers.
The machine: Gold brass and inventiveness
The machine we found is a beautiful piece of craftsmanship. What immediately stands out is the design. Where silver and chrome were the standard in the 1950s, Mazzaro chose the warm, luxurious look of gold brass.
The machine was built for serious work:
- Capacity: Designed to make four espressos at once.
- Technique: A further development of the piston system for perfect extraction.
- Identity: The iconic Mokabon logo still proudly adorns the casing, exactly as we still use it today.
A journey of 67 years
After years of being part of the collection of the renowned collector Henk Langkemper in The Hague, the machine is finally back home in Donkersteeg. Although the interior has become too fragile after almost seven decades to produce daily espressos, the soul of the machine is indestructible.
Come admire history
We see ourselves as the guardians of Mazzaro's heritage. This machine is proof for us that passion and craftsmanship stand the test of time. We therefore invite you to visit Mokabon soon, not only for your daily shot of caffeine, but to see this unique piece of Ghent (and Italian) history with your own eyes.
Mazzaro’s masterpiece is back where it belongs.
