In 1959, Volkswagen offered one of the most unusual optional extras in car history, a dashboard-mounted coffee maker for the famous Beetle.
Known as the Hertella Auto Kaffeemachine, this small device was not a factory-installed feature from Volkswagen itself. It was a third-party accessory sold through VW dealers, specially designed to fit the Beetle.
The coffee maker plugged into the car’s electrical system (6 or 12 volts) and allowed drivers to heat water and brew fresh coffee while on the road. It came with special magnetic porcelain cups that stuck to the machine to prevent spilling during bumpy drives.
This quirky invention reflected the spirit of the late 1950s. After World War II, people in Europe were enjoying more leisure travel. Long road trips became popular, and drivers wanted small comforts during their journeys.
The Hertella coffee maker turned the simple Volkswagen Beetle into a more convenient travel companion. It was aimed mainly at European customers who loved long drives across the countryside.
Very few of these coffee makers were ever produced or sold. Today, original units are extremely rare and considered one of the rarest Volkswagen accessories in the world. Only a handful of surviving examples exist, and they are now prized by collectors of vintage cars.
The idea looks funny by modern standards. Today’s cars come with built-in screens, navigation, heated seats, and even voice assistants. But in 1959, this simple coffee maker showed early creativity in making driving more enjoyable.
It reminds us how carmakers and accessory makers once experimented freely with fun, practical ideas long before today’s high-tech features became common.
Though it probably did not brew the best coffee and would never pass current safety rules, the Hertella Auto Kaffeemachine remains a charming piece of automotive history.
