Sandra‘s Closet

Here is my outfit that I wore for my shoot with Nespresso at Watches & Wonders. It was the perfect day, as I absolutely adore coffee, fashion and watches. In terms of my outfit choice, I went for something stylish yet super comfortable. Can you imagine that I walked 10 kilometers at the fair?!

I hate being in line so instead of leaving my jacket at the cloakroom, I comfortably hang it over my shoulder as it comes with a strap and is super light. Being also fully waterproof, I can only recommend getting this piece for many occasions and years to come!

My look: Off-the-shoulder padded shell jacket by Alaïa, ruffled Lurex and velvet mini dress by Balmain, medium 16 bag in satiny calfskin leather by Celine, suede boots with sleeve, and earrings, both by CHANEL.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Nicolas Stajic
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Every craftsmanship done with passion and love is art to me! The art of coffee making is like the art of dressing up or the art of watchmaking … yesterday everything was united at the Nespresso booth at Watches & Wonders when Geneva-based artist Jean-Philippe Kalonji created an amazing portrait with coffee of me while I enjoyed my «Forte», an espresso from Nespresso Professional «Classics» coffee range.

At home I have a not only a wonderful closet  but also a wardrobe of coffee capsules as I love to change my coffee varieties depending my mood. Drinking coffee is my guilty pleasure and I truly enjoy those peaceful moments for myself.

Let me take you with me on my journey this week in Geneva …

Arrived at Watches and Wonders …
But first, Nespresso Professional coffee… As every coffee – or watch – is an unforgettable timeless moment.

When coffee triggers creativity …
Talking to Geneva-based artist Jean-Philippe Kalonji about his amazing work, who painted portraits with coffee yesterday.

My favorite…
«Forte», an espresso from the Nespresso Professional «Classics» coffee range.

Double tasking … getting portrayed by Jean-Philippe Kalonji while enjoying a cup of «Forte».

When coffee becomes an art in its own right …..

I absolutely love the result … the art of coffee!

Thank you Jean-Philippe Kalonji for capturing me so well and to Nespresso for this amazing experience.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Nicolas Stajic
@nespresso.ch #CoffeeTriggersCreativity #WatchesAndWonders #NespressoProfessional #AD
DISCLOSURE: This is a sponsored post.
We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

Personally speaking nothing screams Christmas like a delicious, hot drink. Therefore I am a huge fan of the Nespresso limited edition coffee capsules for the festive season. This winter, Nespresso is collaborating with luxury French outerwear brand Fusalp, to enchant coffee lovers with the launch of its annual holiday collection inspired by the snowy peaks of the Alps. The collection’s modern and sophisticated expression of style elegantly blends the two brands together, drawing inspiration from Fusalp’s emblematic diamond smock pattern.

Within the new range, coffee lovers can enjoy a variety of limited edition coffees for both the Original and Vertuo systems.

The three limited edition flavors are:

FESTIVE BLACK ESPRESSO
A festive blend from Honduras and Uganda, with woody and warming sweet spice notes

FROSTED CARAMEL NUT
A true delight with warming caramel and almond vanilla biscuit notes

SEASONAL DELIGHT SPICES
A festive coffee that marries a mix of citrus fruit with a melange of spices

The collection also features a range of chic accessories, including a Barista Festive Glass and an Advent Calendar.

And of course some fashionable accessories such as this Coffee Grounds Beanie.

Born in the Alps, enter an enchanting alpine world with Nespresso x Fusalp. Create moments of unforgettable taste and style with this limited edition festive collection that is in stores now.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Nespresso x Fusalp
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

Hublot and Nespresso, two Swiss icons, have joined forces on an exceptional project: the creation of a Big Bang timepiece based on recycling and circularity. This watch is the first to be made using recycled Nespresso aluminium capsules and coffee grounds.

As part of its Second Life initiatives over the last seven years, Nespresso has partnered with prestigious Swiss brands to create new products from used aluminium capsules. The Big Bang Unico Nespresso Origin, the result of the partnership between Hublot and Nespresso, shares the values of innovation, excellence and sustainability, which are at the core of both brands. Founded in 1980, Hublot is renowned for its Art of Fusion, developing new alloys, materials and composites, pushing the boundaries of different materials and placing rubber at the heart of the watchmaking industry by using it for its straps. And, since 1986, Nespresso has not only revolutionised the Art of Coffee with its portioned system that perfectly blends precision with an unforgettable taste, but has also added even greater value with its recycling system, designed in 1991, that separates the aluminium from the coffee grounds, enabling each component to be repurposed. And that’s how a coffee capsule can now become a watch, from strap to case.

This is a world first: Hublot’s and Nespresso’s pioneering spirit has transformed used coffee grounds from the capsules into watch straps. The recycled aluminium fused with the aluminium capsules become the case, the bezel, the crown and the pusher.

This is an unprecedented collaboration, signaled by Nespresso’s iconic «N» engraved on the crown, and its iconic colour – a nod to the Master Origins Peru Organic capsule. The density of the two materials is expertly blended to ensure the durability of the product. The Big Bang Unico Nespresso Origin’s 42-mm case is crafted in recycled aluminium, of which 28% comes from Nespresso coffee capsules, anodised in vibrant green, then satin finished and polished. The crown and pusher undergo the same treatment. The bottom of the case and the container are both made from Eco-Titanium (recycled titanium). The titanium deployant buckle of the rubber strap, with its decorative recycled aluminium cap, and the sport buckle of the Velcro strap are also in the same anodised green colour.

The Big Bang Unico Nespresso Origin takes the recycled coffee grounds from Nespresso capsules and applies the magic of Hublot’s patented One Click interchangeable strap system to them. To create the rubber strap, Hublot has skilfully balanced the ratio of each ingredient to achieve the perfect colour and quality. For the fabric strap, Hublot has collaborated with SingTex, one of Nespresso’s partners who was already using recycled coffee grounds to produce a fabric called Scafé. This 100% recycled fabric (composed of 5% coffee grounds and 95% recycled polyester) is being used for the first time to make a watch strap. A subtle balance, to ensure the durability of the bracelet, which also sees the rubber strap fusing 4.1% coffee grounds, 8.2% recycled white rubber and the usual Hublot formula.

It took Hublot a whole year of R&D, working closely with Nespresso, to finally achieve the perfect harmony of colours between seven different materials that make up the watch, from its case to its straps (anodised aluminium, the varnish on the dial and hands, the Hublot logo decal on the glass, the rubber of the strap, and the fabric, lining and hook & loop tape of the Velcro strap) and to ensure that this uniformity of colour would stand the test of time.
This is a symbolic watch: in creating the Big Bang Unico Nespresso Origin, Hublot and Nespresso have demonstrated that it is possible to add value to recycled raw materials – and that circularity has no limits.

Another first: the Big Bang Unico Nespresso Origin will come in the Hublot Greenbox case, a brand new case developed by this watchmaking manufacturer that will be used for all its watch collections in the future. Created entirely from oak, including its hinges, it is carved from mostly massive, traceable wood, whose sourcing and manufacture both promote short supply chains. It is designed to be a reusable item, with 98% of its removable interior made from eco-friendly and recycled components. It is made from recycled fabrics, plastic yarns and PET, as well as recycled paper and cardboard that are eco-labelled. For the collaboration with Nespresso, the Hublot Greenbox case is specially decorated with the two brands’ logos, affixed using coffee grounds.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Hublot – @Hublot @Nespresso @Nespresso.ch
#Hublot #Nespresso #CultivateTheMovement
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise!

This holiday season, Nespresso is collaborating with Colombian fashion designer Johanna Ortiz, to enchant coffee lovers with the launch of its annual Festive collection, inspired this year by the forest.

Inspired by the beauty and depth of Nature’s forests, Nespresso’s ‘Gifts of the Forest’ collection encapsulates the brand’s devotion to the precious environment coffee is grown in. The collection features a range of limited-edition coffees for both the Original and Vertuo systems, along with festive infused accessories, making for delightful and inspiring gifts for family and friends. Coffee lovers can also gift this festive season knowing Nespresso is giving back to the forest, as the brand goes beyond its agroforestry commitments, by helping to protect 10 million trees in the Amazon.

To bring the design of their limited-edition collection to life, Nespresso has partnered with Colombian luxury fashion designer Johanna Ortiz, whose innovative designs and interplay between nature and sustainability truly transports coffee aficionados into Nespresso’s festive universe.

Johanna Ortiz says «For me, design and nature go hand in hand which is why this collaboration resonated personally. Colombian coffee also has a truly special place in my heart and as an active supporter in the fight against climate change, knowing that Nespresso is going beyond its agroforestry commitments by supporting the protection of 10 million trees in the Amazon, it was another huge reason why this collaboration made perfect sense. When designing the collection, I took the idea of capturing the beauty of the forest throughout every piece, by incorporating rich forest canopies and dark earthy tones within my designs. It’s been an amazing process and partnership which I have deeply enjoyed.»

Explore and wander through Nespresso’s Forest Variations coffees. From forest fruits to luscious canopies of trees, this year’s Festive coffee range includes two flavored coffees and one black coffee.

Uncover the hidden flavors of Forest Black
A canopy of trees shelters Forest Black’s coffees to protect the flavor hidden in each bean. Discover this blend of shade-grown coffees from Colombia and beyond. A spicy espresso, its exotic woody notes will transport tastebuds to the depths of the forest.

Taste the berries of the Forest with Forest Fruit Flavour
Like gems that light up the forest floor, forest fruits are the gifts trees give us. Juicy berry aromas run through this season’s flavoured espresso as the South American Arabicas’ lingering cereal character takes on a festive sweet pastry note.

Delight in the treasures of the trees with Forest Almond Flavour
Forest Almond Flavour is the forager’s delight of the season. With the sweet, nutty flavour tucked into this espresso’s South American Arabicas, get ready to uncover almond notes marked by vanilla and a light fruitiness in this coffees’ smooth cereal character.

Nespresso lovers can also surprise and delight guests with delicious Gifts of the Forest coffee cocktail recipes, specially crafted to enhance the sensory experience. Each coffee-infused recipe has been curated by Nespresso with the Gifts of the Forest collection in mind, bringing a taste of nature and sophistication to each glass.

Moreover, there is a beautiful range of limited-edition accessories and gifts this festive season to surprise loved ones. You can countdown in style with the Nespresso x Johanna Ortiz advent calendar. For this edition, its stunning packaging has been designed by Johanna Ortiz as part of her festive collaboration. Available for both Vertuo and Original coffee lovers, this year’s advent calendar will take Nespresso lovers through a different coffee each day from December 1 to 23, with a special gift on the 24.

You can also add a burst of color with the Nespresso x Johanna Ortiz NOMAD travel mug, which blends well into nature as it comes in a ‘Deep Cherry’ shade, emulating the rich ripe berries of the forest.

In addition to its coffee offer, there are two exclusively designed items for the festive season. Shoppers can get their hands on an alluring reversible organic-cotton tote bag as well as a useful notebook made from sustainable materials. Both are decorated with the signature Nespresso x Johanna Ortiz pattern showcasing sweeping forest canopies and capturing the true essence of the forest.

For coffee lovers who like a touch of sparkle on the go, Nespresso is also revamping its iconic Touch travel mug, that will be available in a golden colorful a limited time only.

Nespresso is also proud to be partnering with Conservation International to gift back to the forest this Festive season. For almost 20 years Nespresso has been focused on protecting nature through agroforestry projects to protect the ecosystems its coffee farms rely on. To take this further beyond coffee farming and support the local communities that call the forest home, Nespresso is also announcing its contribution to protecting 10 million trees in the Amazon Forest in La Pedrera, Colombia. The effort is in collaboration with Conservation International and La Pedrera’s Madroño community. Forest conservation plays a huge role in Nespresso’s sustainability vision, which is to create a cup of coffee that has a positive impact on the world – from the coffee cherry to the cup.

The limited edition Gifts of the Forest collection is now available on www.nespresso.com and in selected boutiques.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Nespresso

Nespresso‘s limited edition festive collection for 2016 is absolutely divine, sending me as a caffeine addict into a coffee shopping frenzy. It is a sweet treat with no calories!

Each flavoured espresso results from the sweet marriage of Livanto’s balance and roundness with different ingredients that are all inspired the rich coffee house traditions and elegance of Vienna, each with a comforting and indulgent aroma that is set to delight the coffee lover in your life.

Variations Sachertorte – Austrian Sachertorte, a glazed chocolate cake containing a thin layer of sweet apricot jam.

Variations Apfelstrudel – Variations Apfelstrudel is inspired by the classic layered puff pastry dessert which contains a sweet apple filling delicately spiced with cinnamon.

Variations Linzer Torte – Nespresso pays homage to the popular Austrian Linzer Torte: a tasty redcurrant tart topped with a recognizable lattice design.

All three Variations coffees have an intensity level of six (on a scale up to 12) and will be available for a limited period during the festive season in a box of 10 capsules for CHF 5.70.

If you are still looking for the perfect coffee cup to enjoy this sophisticated treat of caffeine, I recommend this beautiful Lustre set.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Nespresso

Last week during the Zurich Film Festival, I was guest of NESPRESSO to see the Swiss premiere of «Bridget Jones Baby», the continuing adventures of British publishing executive Bridget Jones as she enters her 40s, starring Renée Zellweger, Colin Firth and Patrick Dempsey. «What if» is a major question in this movie that is so much fun. I was laughing through the entire film. The good vibes of the evening continued after the screening with the delicious plates prepared with passion and originality by the young and talented chef Ralph Schelling.

My look: Lace-paneled stretch-silk cady gown by Alessandra Rich, palladium-tone, crystal and Plexiglas® necklace and earrings, both by Miu Miu, padlock mini studded leather shoulder bag by Alexander McQueen and cutout leather platform pumps by Saint Laurent, diamond ring by Vainard Fine Jewellery and Tonda 1950 Set Clarity watch by Parmigiani Fleurier.

Greetings from NYC where I am at the moment for a new amazing project coming up soon…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Nespresso, © Andrea Monica Hug (event and me at the event) © David Biedert Photography (photos of me outside in color)  and © Sandra Bauknecht

I am a coffee addict and I always adore NESPRESSO‘s new creations for the Christmas season. This year’s scents turn to pure indulgence.

Have fun discovering the new gourmand limited editions that all contain only natural flavors and don’t miss the amazing recipe at the end of this post!

VARIATIONS LIMITED EDITION – Vanilla Amaretti
Indulgent almond and vanilla flavors, reminiscent of sweet amaretti biscuits, enhance the roundness of Livanto.

VARIATIONS LIMITED EDITION – Vanilla Cardamom
The delicate harmony between vanilla and cardamom aromas awakens Livanto’s toasted notes for a surprising coffee experience.

VARIATIONS LIMITED EDITION – Ciocco Ginger
The daring marriage of Livanto’s fragrant roaster notes with dark chocolate flavour is livened up by ginger hints, offering you a delighting experience.

TROPICAL CIOCCO GINGER

YOU WILL NEED:
1 Ciocco Ginger capsule
1 slice of lemon
1 cl cherry syrup
15 cl ginger beer
Crushed ice
1 Ritual Recipe glass
1 Aeroccino or milk frother

PREPARATION:
Cut the lemon slice in quarters and put it into the glass. Add the cherry syrup, then the crushed ice and crush further. Pour the ginger beer. Moreover, pour one Ciocco Ginger Espresso (40 ml) in a recipient and foam it together with 3 ice cubes. Finally, add it on top of the ginger beer and decorate with a slice of lemon.

Merry X-mas to all of you!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Nespresso

My dear readers, I am wishing you fabulous Easter weekend! I am so much looking forward to mine. After all those amazing travels, I need some rest and time to write about all my recent adventures before hitting off to new ones soon.

So how do my perfect Easter treats look like?
To get started, I love drinking coffee. At the moment, I wake up my mornings with Nespresso‘s new Grand Cru LINZIO LUNGO. A smooth and well-rounded blend with rich notes that will gradually awaken your senses. It tastes so perfect in combination with a croissant or a piece of chocolate. Yes, I love chocolate for breakfast. Personally speaking, it tastes never better than in the morning with a fresh cup of coffee. And having time to read the newspaper is heaven…

Nespresso Grand Cru LINIZO LUNGO CHF 5.20 (10 capsules)
Available in Nespresso stores and online.

Perfect and cute chocolate for Easter: LAPINS de PAQUES by Maison Cailler.
Available in two versions online for CHF 24.00 (16 pieces).

And for all fashionistas among you who wouldn’t touch a croissant or prefer doing sports instead of reading the newspaper in the morning, I have some very fun and fashionable treats:

Croissant gold-plated clutch by Charlotte Olympia

Carrying the newspaper might be more chic than reading it…

C’est La Vie embroidered printed crepe de chine clutch by Charlotte Olympia

And as there is no chocolate bag around, you might go for this version below:

Pink Scent perfume bottle perspex clutch by Charlotte Olympia

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the brands

I have to admit that I am completely addicted to coffee. I can stop eating sweets, drinking alcohol, but please never take away my coffee. Just the thought of my beautiful nice-smelling cup in the morning, gets me going and out of bed. Coffee actually has a lot of advantages and is not at all bad for you if you drink it in moderation. This is something I need to work on.

Many papers state that coffee is actually one of the healthiest beverages billions of people consume regularly. It can increase your metabolic rate and helps you burn fat if you don’t overdo your intake. Of course, only when consumed black or with a little milk or soy milk – which I like – coffee is great for your figure, as it is having zero calories, zero carbs, and zero fats. So leave away the sugar.

The caffeine in coffee keeps our brains alert and receptive of new information. So I hope that you have had your cup of coffee already because here is some information that you might be truly interested in:

NESPRESSO has launched a new coffee machine “that lives like you”: U – the ultimate experience in simplicity, modularity and purity for coffee lovers around the world that offers an amazing concept!

The Nespresso story began 25 years ago with a simple but revolutionary idea: enable anyone to create the perfect cup of espresso at home. Today, Nespresso has made that idea even simpler by developing U, the next generation machine that shapes itself to suit you and your lifestyle. With clever, modular design, U can change its form to fit contemporary living spaces and interiors. On top of that, the cool machine has a tactile interface which memorises your favourite cup length, and thanks to the pre-programmed Ristretto, Espresso and Lungo sizes, there is no need to select it each time.

The first-of-its kind, it has a rounded, adjustable water tank which is able to seamlessly slide around, letting it change shape to suit your home or office space.

In addition to a quick heat up time of 25 seconds, U features automatic brewing, so your coffee begins the second you drop your Nespresso capsule and effortlessly close its neat slider. Its immediate cut-off also makes it one of the cleanest machines – stopping any drips and automatically ejecting each capsule.

Available in four understated colours – Pure Cream, Pure Black, Pure Grey and Pure Orange – and with some dedicated accessories such as an innovative tray with two adaptable magnetic dispensers, that can be attached to the sides of the U machine or also be stacked on top of each other for a slimmer storage solution. U is priced at CHF 179.-.

And here are some great news for my Swiss based followers: THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO WIN YOUR OWN U!

Nespresso kindly offers two of their new innovative coffee machines to Sandra’s Closet readers. All you have to do is to send me an e-mail with the header “Nespresso” to and tell me which of the four colours you would love to have.

Contestants MUST live in Switzerland. All entries must be received until November 9, 2012. No purchase or payment of any kind is necessary to enter or win this contest. By entering this contest, entrants accept and agree to be bound by these official rules.

Personally speaking, I truly love Nespresso because of its flexibility. Every family member can choose his or her own style. For example, I absolutely adore flavoured coffee. Therefore I am completely “going nuts” for Nespresso’s upcoming three end-of-year Limited Edition Grands Crus Variations 2012 for the festive season:

This year, it is inspired by three different notes of nut: Coconut, Hazelnut and Macadamia Nut. Originating from the Livanto family, each Grand Cru encapsulates its own distinct taste universe, opening up new coffee discoveries.

Nespresso Hazelnut – The combination of lightly roasted hazelnut notes with the Livanto Grand Cru reveals praline flavours, giving it a fine balance in the mouth.
Macadamia Nut – The rich savours of the macadamia nut combined with the roundness of the Livanto Grand Cru develop a surprising freshness and reveal citrus notes.
Coconut – A perfect harmony between the coconut notes and the Livanto Grand Cru creates a gourmand experience reminiscent of coconut macaroons.

Each of the Variations 2012 are 100% of natural origin and contain only roast and ground coffees mixed with natural flavourings and is free from food allergens. Available worldwide from November 12, 2012. A sleeve will sell for CHF 5.70 in Nespresso boutiques and online.

This post was so mouth-watering for me that I drank 4 cups of coffee while typing it. Speaking of moderation… but it just tastes so good. Don’t forget to enter the contest and good luck!

LoL, Sandra.

Photos: Courtesy of Nespresso and © Sandra Bauknecht