For coffee drinkers who keep Shabbat, the choices have long been instant coffee or whatever has been sitting in the urn. Shabespresso, developed by the Israeli company Aromesso, is a line of fully manual espresso machines built specifically for use on Shabbat: no electricity, no batteries, and no pump.
The machines get around the electricity problem entirely. Hot water is drawn from a Shabbat urn heated before Shabbat and poured into the machine’s cylinder, and manual pressure then forces it through the coffee, a hand pump on the compact model and a lever on the full-size one. Because no electrical circuit is closed during extraction, the process is permitted on Shabbat under the machines’ halachic certifications. The result is a freshly extracted espresso with crema, made from a Nespresso-compatible capsule or ground coffee.
Watch the Shabespresso in action in this Instagram reel.
Three Models, From Travel to Countertop
Aromesso sells three versions. The Soprano is the compact travel option: it weighs 560 grams and works with both Nespresso-compatible capsules and ground coffee. The Baryton is a full manual lever machine designed as a home centerpiece, with the Tenor priced in between.
The Hotel Coffee Problem
The machines land as coffee on Shabbat has become a flashpoint in Israel’s hotel industry, where urn coffee is the standard at kosher hotels once Shabbat begins. In May, ynet reported that a guest at the VERT Eilat was escorted out of the dining room after trying to operate an espresso machine on Shabbat morning; the hotel chain said the policy derives from kashrut requirements. That followed last summer’s “espresso rebellion,” which drew thousands of reactions online. Aromesso is now pitching the machines directly to hotels. Personally, I think the Soprano would be great to bring along to hotels that have Nespresso machines in the room, machines that obviously cannot be used on Shabbat.
Certification
The Soprano is certified by Machon Technologia VeHalacha (the Institute for Science and Halacha) and Badatz Ohel Moshe, while the Baryton carries Badatz Ohel Moshe and Tzomet certification. The Badatz Ohel Moshe certificate, signed September 2025, states the machines may be used on Shabbat and Yom Tov without concerns of borer or bishul when used according to its instructions.
Where To Buy
Shabespresso machines are sold directly at shabespresso.com, with pickup points in Jerusalem and Netanya and five-day delivery in Israel. In the US, the Soprano is distributed exclusively by the Aish Tamid Collective and is in stock for $79.99. The three options:
| Model | Price | Certification |
|---|---|---|
| Soprano, compact travel model (Nespresso-compatible capsules or ground coffee) | ₪249, regularly ₪295; $79.99 in the US | Machon Technologia VeHalacha + Badatz Ohel Moshe |
| Tenor | ₪990 | |
| Baryton, full-size manual lever model | ₪1,920, regularly ₪2,400 | Badatz Ohel Moshe + Tzomet |
