Bringing pleasure to cooking enthusiasts: NEFF celebrates 150 years of kitchen history

NEFF, the specialist in built-in kitchen appliances and one of the world’s oldest and most established manufacturers of domestic appliances, is celebrating its 150th anniversary. Since its foundation in 1877, the company has always made it its mission to inspire people who love to cook. That is why the NEFF brand, like no other, stands for innovations born of a deep understanding of the needs of passionate cooks – such as the Circo Therm® hot air function, the fully retractable Slide & Hide® oven door or the Twist Pad Flex® magnetic control dial – all of which are groundbreaking achievements that have become true icons. Today, NEFF stands out for its holistic approach to design, quality and cutting-edge technology – with products that adapt to personal style and spark a passion for cooking.

Revolutionary ideas

“The heart of the kitchen is not the cooker, it’s the people.” It was with this philosophy that Carl Andreas Neff founded his company in southern Germany as early as 1877. With his approach to a people-centred kitchen – which was utterly revolutionary for its time – the company’s founder introduced a completely new perspective: the concept of the joy of cooking, in which the kitchen is seen not merely as a functional space, but as a place of creative freedom. This spirit lives on to this day and has inspired all of NEFF’s pioneering innovations over the past 150 years, which can be found in kitchens all over the world.

Built-in appliance specialist

Carl Andreas Neff was a master blacksmith who, together with his six employees, specialised in the manufacture of ovens. Right from the start, these handcrafted ovens impressed with their quality and ease of use – two characteristics that continue to define the NEFF brand to this day. However, the company’s founder, also had a keen sense of the trends of his time: during the Belle Époque, when people enjoyed meeting in coffee houses over a cup of coffee and a pastry, he recognised the potential of ovens for patisseries and shifted his production to manufacturing precisely these. As these ovens became increasingly popular, they also found their way into domestic kitchens, thereby laying the foundations for the NEFF kitchen appliance brand.

New steps were taken in 1914 with the production of gas cookers, and in the 1930s, Carl Andreas Neff spearheaded the development of electric stoves – a forward-looking move at a time when the industry continued to rely on coal and gas.

In 1950, NEFF launched an oven with a thermostat – the first to allow individual temperature control. Just a few years later, in 1957 and 1958, the brand introduced two sensational innovations to European kitchens: the microwave oven and induction cooking.

To complete the vision of a kitchen tailored entirely to people’s needs and wishes, NEFF pioneered the field of built-in appliances, integrating ovens, cookers and hobs into cabinets. But that’s not all: to cover the entire cooking process, the range was expanded to include fridges and dishwashers in addition to the products that represent the brand’s core expertise in the areas of cooking and baking.

Iconic innovations

In 1974, the Circo Therm® hot-air system made its debut in ovens. Since then, its targeted air circulation has made it possible to cook different dishes – such as cakes, roasts or vegetables – simultaneously on three levels without the flavours mixing.

NEFF’s drive for innovation continued, and in the 2000s, two real icons were launched that took the joy of cooking to a whole new level and remain at the very heart of the brand to this day: firstly, the unique Slide & Hide® oven door with a swivelling handle, which can be effortlessly retracted completely beneath the oven, giving the cook unrestricted access to the dishes inside; and secondly, the Twist Pad Flex® magnetic control dial, which allows hobs to be operated intuitively by simply turning a single knob. Nowadays, this very same movable control element can be used not only to control hobs, but also ovens and coffee machines, thus offering the utmost in convenience and flexibility.

The kitchen history continues

To mark its anniversary, NEFF is launching a whole range of new appliances covering the entire product spectrum, from baking, cooking and ventilation to refrigeration, freezing and dishwashing, tailored to a modern, sociable lifestyle.

There is the Matt Black Design range, which is inspired by the trend for matt kitchen units and includes ovens, hobs and hoods with a matt finish. Their surfaces radiate a gentle warmth, allowing the appliances to blend harmoniously with the surrounding furniture and create a welcoming atmosphere in the kitchen.

The new multi-door fridge-freezer offers an exceptional amount of space and an extremely flexible interior that easily accommodates everything from weekly bulk shopping to preparations for a dinner party. Equipped with an Integrated Ice & Water Dispenser it is the perfect companion for any host.

With the introduction of the ‘Crystal Clean Zone’ in 60 cm-wide dishwashers, glasses emerge from the dishwasher sparkling clean and completely free of residue – a brilliant addition for anyone who hosts parties, enjoys spontaneous get-togethers and savours all the little moments of everyday life.

With a clear focus on people’s needs and the kitchen as the heart of modern social life, NEFF develops appliances that continually open up new creative possibilities. In this way, the NEFF brand keeps redefining the modern kitchen, day after day.