Cooking is a noble art, perhaps the only creative endeavour that nourishes both body and soul. Yet it can also be a messy, undignified affair: dishes splatter, ingredients spill, the heat of the oven brings sweat to the brow, and all this in a room whose function dictates its form with unbending rigour. 

Or does it? The recent release of the Minimalistic Series by high-end kitchen appliance manufacturer Gaggenau calls into question much of what we think a kitchen can or must be, while still upholding the signature professional kitchen principle that keeps the 340-year-old brand relevant and thriving. 

Designed to harmonise with the kitchen landscape, rather than dominate it, each of the six appliances in the new range is defined by clean lines and, as the name implies, a minimalist, Bauhaus-like aesthetic. Gaggenau describes the effect as “two lines, one circle”, referring to the two horizontal lines created by the solid aluminium ventilation profiles, which draw the eye to the control ring as the centrepiece. Simple, yes, but deceptively so. Every detail has been carefully considered, every material meticulously chosen, no aspect left to chance.

The innovative floating control ring is a marvel in itself. The only visible functional element on an otherwise uninterrupted surface, it is milled from solid stainless steel and seems to hover just above the touchscreen display panel which, hidden behind smoked glass, only activates when it senses the user approaching. The small filled segment of the ring (the hollow-to-filled balance was set according to the golden ratio) contains all of the ring’s technical capabilities. The larger hollow portion, meanwhile, is meant to frame the display and its thoughtful visual flourishes, such as the unique sunrise simulation that appears while the appliance completes a command, whether it’s the coffee maker brewing a cup of joe or the oven running a preset cooking programme. 

As with the Gaggenau Expressive Series, the sister range that launched in March, the new Minimalistic line is comprised of an oven, a combi-steam oven, a combi-microwave oven, a vacuuming drawer, a warming drawer and a fully automatic coffee machine, all designed to complement one another in any vertical or horizontal configuration. And just like the Expressive Series, the appliances’ exquisite aesthetics are matched by their professional-kitchen tech specs, each engineered for the precision and functionality required by a Michelin-star chef.

The high-performance oven, for instance, boasts a multi-point core temperature probe and a powerful full-surface grill concealed behind the enamel interior. Roast chicken blasted grease about the oven? The pyrolytic self-cleaning system with an advanced heated catalyser will make quick work of the mess. Loath to bake a cake in high summer? The five-layer glass door keeps the heat – which can rise to 300°C – inside the oven, to such an extent that the door remains safe to touch from the outside. Clever features like handleless one-touch door opening and hidden bulbs for diffuse, glare-free lighting further enhance the user experience. 

The Minimalistic Series is available in two material finishes: Gaggenau Onyx, which blends with dark-toned interiors, and Gaggenau Sterling, coordinating with lighter or brightly coloured environments. As is typical of the brand, all appliances are the result of a painstaking process that blends industrial precision with human craftsmanship, always concluding with hand-finished details and a thorough human inspection. It’s how Gaggenau elevates these devices from simple machines to powerful professional-grade appliances – and worthy frames for your culinary creations.