There are appliance brands that solve a problem. And then there are brands that rethink the entire category.
Elica has been doing the latter since 1970s. What started as a ventilation company in the Italian countryside has grown into one of the most design-forward kitchen brands in the world — one that doesn’t just make beautiful hoods, but has reimagined how ventilation and induction cooking can work together in the same appliance.
If you’re planning a kitchen upgrade and haven’t looked closely at Elica, this is worth your time.
Elica’s history reads less like a product catalog and more like a design timeline.
In 2010, they launched the Feel — the first hood with sensory technology. In 2011, the Ico became the most energy-efficient hood on the market, followed that same year by the Bubble, a distinctive spherical hood made of technopolymers that was as much sculpture as appliance. In 2014, the Ye introduced crystal glass construction with exceptional airflow. And in 2016, Elica released the NikolaTesla — a downdraft induction cooktop with a fully integrated extraction system that changed what a cooktop could be.
That trajectory matters, because it tells you what kind of company you’re dealing with: one that is consistently pushing boundaries, not just refining what already exists.
In the United States, Elica’s most popular and award-winning hood is the Haiku — and it’s easy to understand why.
This wall-mounted hood features an adjustable depth, meaning you can position it higher or lower to achieve a perfect fit with your cabinetry. That kind of flexibility is rare in a hood, and it makes installation considerably easier while giving the finished result a cleaner, more intentional look.
The Haiku is equipped with brilliant LED lighting rated for over 20,000 hours of life — long-lasting, reliable, and bright enough to genuinely illuminate your cooktop. It performs exceptionally in open-concept kitchens, removing smoke and odors quietly enough that you can cook, entertain, and carry a conversation at the same time.
Its filters deserve special mention. Where standard hood filters typically need replacing every three to six months, the Haiku’s filters are washable and regenerable, lasting up to three years. That’s a meaningful difference in both cost and maintenance.
The Haiku is available in white, black, and stainless steel.
And if you have an island layout? The Haiku Island delivers the same features and flexibility in a ceiling-mounted configuration — same performance, same adjustability, same signature design.
Beyond the Haiku, Elica offers a comprehensive range of ventilation solutions to fit nearly any kitchen configuration.
Their lineup includes under-cabinet hoods, wall-mounted range hoods like the Katanya — a striking design with metal ribbed banding — ceiling extractors, downdrafts, cabinet inserts, and even outdoor hoods for covered exterior kitchens. Whatever your layout, Elica has a ventilation solution designed to work within it.
The NikolaTesla Invert is Elica’s most compelling product for homeowners exploring alternatives to traditional cooktop-and-hood combinations — and it genuinely earns its reputation.
It is a two-in-one induction downdraft cooktop: a fully functional induction cooktop with a built-in extraction system integrated directly underneath the cooking surface. No separate hood required. No compromise on ventilation performance.
Available in a 36-inch width, the NikolaTesla Invert delivers 600 CFMs of extraction capacity — a serious airflow rating that handles cooking vapors, smoke, and odors efficiently while keeping noise levels low. Its long-life filters are rated for three to five years of use, far exceeding what standard options offer.
The touch controls are hidden behind sleek black glass and illuminate in soft red when activated, giving the cooktop a clean, minimal appearance at rest and an intuitive interface when in use.
The cooktop includes built-in warming and melting modes, and the induction zones offer the precision and responsiveness that induction cooking is known for.
But the standout feature is the aromatic technology. A built-in air quality sensor continuously monitors the environment — not just while you’re cooking. If it detects vapors, cooking smoke, or even ambient pollutants like solvents or cigarette smoke, the extraction system activates automatically, adjusts to the appropriate power level, and switches off once the air is clean again. It works without any input from you.
For homeowners who want a high-performing induction cooktop without the integrated extraction, Elica offers the Volta.
Available in 24, 30, and 36 inches, the Volta is designed to harmonize with virtually any kitchen layout. It features four to five cooking zones depending on the size, along with a bridge zone that combines two zones for griddles or larger cookware.
The Volta handles everything from high-heat searing to delicate simmering with equal confidence, and its clean, contemporary design makes it a natural fit in modern kitchens of any scale.
Elica tends to resonate with a specific kind of homeowner: someone who cares about the way their kitchen looks and performs, who wants appliances that feel considered rather than generic, and who is interested in integrated solutions that simplify the kitchen rather than add more pieces to it.
The NikolaTesla Invert, in particular, is ideal for anyone designing a kitchen where a traditional hood is impractical or simply unwanted — island installations, open-concept spaces, or minimalist kitchens where every visible element matters.
Ventilation is one of those categories where seeing and hearing a product in person makes a real difference.
At Atherton Appliance & Kitchens, we showcase Elica hoods and induction cooktops so you can experience their design, performance, and noise levels firsthand. Whether you’re drawn to the Haiku’s adjustability, the NikolaTesla Invert’s all-in-one capability, or the Volta’s flexibility, our team can help you find the right fit for your kitchen layout and cooking style.
Visit our showroom or schedule a consultation to explore the full Elica lineup.
Watch our video: Elica is Redefining Ventilation and Induction Cooking
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