The Futura Is Here: Miele’s New Diamond Dishwasher

Already well established for its high-end kitchen appliances, German manufacturer Miele ups the ante once again with the debut of the new Futura Diamond G6985 SCVi Dishwasher.

When the first of Miele’s Generation 6000 appliances were rolled out in 2014, they caught our eye for their flush-mounted, handleless cabinetry; intuitive touchscreens; and fresh new color options, including Brilliant White and Truffle Brown.

{{brightcove '4003620263001'}}

Miele’s Generation 6000 dishwasher lineup includes the upgraded Futura Classic Plus, Futura Crystal, Futura Dimension, and Futura Lumen. Now add to the mix the new Futura Diamond which, like the other dishwashers, is available with either a standard control panel on the face of the dishwasher, or a fully integrated control panel that hides along the top of the door.

The Futura Diamond goes a couple steps further. Rather than buttons for the control panel on the top of the door, the stainless steel panel is button-free. The user interface is "touch-on" metal accompanied by a two-line display with white LED characters on a black background. Furthermore, the dishwasher door has a built-in vibration sensor: Knock on it and the door automatically opens up.

That Knock2open feature has actually been available in Europe for more than a year. Miele first debuted the technology at IFA Berlin in 2013, and it’s only just now crossing the Atlantic.

{{ photo_gallery name="Futura Diamond" }}

While Knock2open might seem a little gimmicky, there’s actually a clear aesthetic purpose behind it. In Europe, most high-end appliances are flush with cabinetry, using a consistent façade that conceals appliances. Handles sticking out are a no-go, and even indents to pull doors open are undesirable, design-wise. The knock-knock option removes the need for a handle, and the touch-on metal controls also have a practical side: They’re easier to clean.

The Futura Diamond shares other features with previous Generation 6000 dishwashers. This one includes a nifty LED time control indicator, which uses a thin illuminated line instead of numbers to indicate how much time is left in a given cycle. There’s a cutlery tray hovering near the top of the dishwasher, and four bright LED lights illuminate the stainless steel interior of the dishwasher.

Due out May 4, we anticipate the top-of-the-line Futura Diamond will be quite expensive. But for those with a keen eye for design—and the coin to afford it—dishwashers don’t get much more elite than this.