Synesso is an espresso machine manufacturer from Seattle, Washington founded by former La Marzocco engineer, Mark Barnett on July 2004. Synesso's primary machine is the Cyncra, an advanced design based on the dual boiler concept originating with La Marzocco, albeit with several distinguishing features.
The Cyncra's main technical attributes are individual brew boilers, meaning each brew group has an individual boiler. Furthermore, each boiler is thermically regulated by a PID controller, regarded as the most accurate method to date of controlling the water temperature within a pressurized boiler. Additionally, the Cyncra extensively utilizes stainless steel in the construction of the machine, from its boilers, groupheads and coachwork. Many professional baristas favour the use of stainless steel in the construction of groupheads and diffussion blocks, claiming it is easier to clean and imparts less flavour than brass or nickel-plated brass. Others cite stainless steel's reduced thermal conductivity as a benefit, making brew groups and boilers less prone to overheating.
The end goal of much of the technology employed by the Cyncra is to produce a repeatable and consistent delivery of brew water of a temperature within a fine tolerance, as selected by the machine operator. The Cyncra is also appreciated among professional circles for its ergonomic design. For example, aside from the hot water delivery button, there are no knobs to turn or buttons to press - all common causes of repetitive stress syndrome among baristas. The Cyncra also exhibits a retro-modern aesthetic, recalling the low vertical profile and exposed brew groups of the La Marzocco GS.
Synesso also produces the Sabre, an automatic machine currently sold outside the United States. The Sabre retains all of the temperature stability of the Cyncra while adding one-touch volumetric dosing. This style of machine is regarded by most to be easier for new baristas and the lay public to use. There are currently plans to bring this machine to the American market, but the timeframe on this is unknown.
In the northern Summer of 2008, Synesso introduced the Hydra. It features individual pumps and motors for each brew group, enabling baristas to preinfuse on one group while brewing on the other, to set different pump pressures for different coffees, and to do pressure profiling.