We usually find lifestyle products specially created for festive seasons, namely Chinese New Year, terribly tacky, especially when brands somehow find it necessary to splash prints of whichever animal of the zodiac calendar is relevant at the moment all over the products. However, there's just something about the limited edition Nespresso Dragon Collection by Shanghai Tang that had us overcoming our aversion towards Chinese New Year-related products.
Collaborating for the very first time, the coffee maker collection combines the sleek machines from Nespresso together with the contemporary luxury interpretations of Chinese heritage from Shanghai Tang for a Chinese New Year-appropriate set that's more chinoiserie chic than cheena.
Love coffee? Check out these five interesting coffee recipes for a cool summer drink. Otherwise, make your way down to artisanal coffee cafes like Maison Ikkoku, Oriole Coffee Roasters and Jewel Coffee.
The collection comprises of the CitiZ Dragon Coffee Machine, Ritual Cappuccino Dragon Cup Set, Dragon Capsule Holder with Carved Stone Inlay and Dragon Capsule Holder with Carved Silver Metal Inlay, the star product being the award-winning coffee machine, of course -- it contains a technologically advanced extraction and brewing system needed to create the perfect coffee each time, and also helps reduce energy consumption when on standby mode. And we have to admit, the majestic dragon emblem across the equipment isn't as off-putting as we'd thought it'd be -- of course, trust Shanghai Tang to give a traditional symbol a modern twist without veering into the territory of tackiness.
In any case, this limited edition collection comes just in time for the upcoming Chinese New Year festivities -- even if you're not a big caffeine drinker, the coffee machine and its accompanying peripherals will at least get you the nod of approval from the traditional-at-heart relatives.
Prices begin at S$68 for the Ritual Cappuccino Dragon Cup set and goes up to S$688 for the CitZ Dragon Coffee Machine. The limited edition Nespresso Dragon Collection by Shanghai Tang is now available at all Shanghai Tang and Nespresso outlets.