In 1997, we set out with one mission: Make Coffee Better. Today, that mission is as steadfast as ever. Slayer Espresso is crafted for elegance, designed to elevate the professional barista's experience and capabilities. Every angle, every innovation, every flow—intentionally orchestrated for exceptional coffee.”
- Jason Prefontaine
A Visionary Leap in Espresso Innovation
Designed by the seasoned team at Fratello Coffee, Slayer Espresso was born out of a singular mission: to elevate coffee through superior equipment. With roots in the espresso machine importing business since 1991—initially with Nuova Simonelli—we brought decades of multifaceted experience to the table, including coffee roasting, sourcing, specialized restaurant equipment servicing, and hands-on café operations.
Bridging the Gap in the Industry
We often found that exceptional coffees, which shined on the cupping table, lost their luster when brewed in conventional café settings. The emergence of the Third Wave coffee movement in the early 2000s introduced new perspectives on what specialty coffee could be, including the use of lighter roast profiles for espresso. However, we noticed a glaring gap: the espresso machine industry was lagging in innovation, unable to adapt to these evolving trends.
The Birth of Slayer Espresso
In 2005, frustrated by the industry's resistance to change, we decided to take matters into our own hands. We believed that if we were seeking better tools, the specialty coffee community was likely yearning for the same. Thus, in 2007, Slayer Espresso was conceived, headquartered in Seattle, Washington—the epicenter of specialty coffee culture. This strategic location allowed us direct access to some of the world's leading cafés and roasters, as well as key influencers in the industry.
The Introduction
In 2009, Slayer Espresso was introduced to the world when we exhibited at the SCA Conference in Atlanta, which was also hosting the World’s Barista Championship. It was our chance to now show the top barista’s on the planet what we had been up to.
The Global Debut
In 2009, Slayer Espresso made its grand entrance at the SCA Conference in Atlanta, coinciding with the World's Barista Championship. The response was overwhelming. Our booth was a magnet for industry professionals, attracting long lines of eager attendees who wanted to experience firsthand the revolutionary pressure profiling techniques and temperature controls we introduced. Simply put, Slayer Espresso transformed the way espresso was brewed and tasted.
The Journey Forward
While Jason Prefontaine took the reins of Slayer Espresso in Seattle, Chris and Russ Prefontaine turned their focus to creating Analog Coffee in Calgary. Today, Slayer Espresso is majority-controlled and manufactured by La Cimbali, Italy's oldest espresso machine company. As we watch the brand continue to grow globally, we take pride in the legacy we've built—a legacy of innovation that empowers coffee professionals with the tools they need to make coffee better.
Jason Prefontaine
