Black Espresso is temporarily unavailable

Please note, that due to the holiday season in tanneries Black Espresso model will not be available until the middle of September. Please, turn to my Perfect Black model, which is also beautiful, has the same color (all black) and shape and is manufactured of genuine bovine leather.

It is possible to place order for Black Espresso, but it will wait until middle of September to get shipped.

I am very sorry, but there is little I can do about it. I just do not have enough natural grain calfskin leather now.

Black Espresso is an Editor's Pick at Australian Macworld!

I have just heard from Liana at Australian Macworld, that my Black Espresso iPad leather case is an Editor's Pick in their July 2010 issue. I do not have a copy yet, but will update this post with some more info as soon as I get it!

Thank you, Liana! :)

Black Espresso reviewed by MobilitySite.com!

Zealot from MobiltySite.com gave a fine review of Black Espresso! Thanks, Zealot!

Black Espresso has received a great review at GearDiary.com!

Nippon, Nude Beauty and Black Espresso have been reviewed very nicely and thoroughly by Judie, Dan and Travis from GearDiary.com. Thank you, guys!

Understated elegance for home and office

If you worry about your iPad falling off your coffee table and landing on its corner, then this is the case for you.

This case features our exclusive leather suspension system. It creates an elastic barrier which cradles your iPad away from the edge of the case. This case is made of softer leather and the device fits a little more loosely in the case such that friction and the natural flexing of the leather will more readily absorb sharp but lighter impacts such as a minor fall common in home and business environments.

This case is a shield for your iPad offering near total scratch protection for business or home use. It is soft to the touch and very visually appealing.

The more pliable nature of this case permits (on a carpeted surface) the front of the case to be folded behind and used as a stand for viewing movies and the like It's design protects both the screen as well as the edges and back of the device.

The finish of this case is durable bovine leather and will last for years. Not even coffee stains will appear on it. It is free from straps, magnets, velcro and anything that could interfere with the proper operation of your iPad. It features an ascetic, simple and logo-free design which corresponds to general Apple design guidelines and allows access to all ports, light sensor and controls.

Plastic, silicon and vinyl look cheap and unprofessional. Other leather cases look nice -- but leave your device exposed to incredible risk. This case combines solid protection with a stunning elegance and a quality you will treasure to years to come.

This case is not perfect!

This case does not fit perfectly (it is rather lose) and its surface is not perfect, since it has been handmade of genuine bovine natural grain leather.

Before you buy, please consult the Aligata iPad Case Buyer Decision Tree (external link to post at Aligata blog) and see The Gallery of Imperfections (external link to Picasa web album) commonly present in Nude Beauty, Nippon and Black Espresso.

Please, do not buy my natural grain cases (Nude Beauty, Nippon, Black Espresso) if you cannot accept surface imperfections! Buy my top grain leather cases instead: Dark Chocolate and Perfect Black. They are almost perfect.

So, what is the difference between Perfect Black and Black Espresso?

Please, read the detailed comparison here: detailed comparison of Black Espresso and Perfect Black (external link on Aligata blog).

In short: Black Espresso is made of rugged, natural grain leather (calfskin). Perfect Black is made of top corrected grain leather. 

No magnets design

There are no magnets in Aligata cases. This is, in my opinion, very important. I had replaced my iPhone 4 times (!) in 2009 until I stopped using magnet case (actually, I used BlackBerry case to carry my iPhone - very convenient, but with magnet). And since I replaced the "magnetted" case with silicone sleeve, my iPhone hasn't hang up even once. There are many articles and discussions on the Web regarding iPhones and magnets. Please, take a look: http://www.google.com/search?q=iphone+magnets+problem . And iPad is similar to iPhone in many ways (hardware, the same OS).

You may also find this interesting 

1. This Aligata case is handmade of natural grain bovine leather. Natural / full grain means, that the surface of the leather is not artificially corrected in any way. You can tell it by many small imperfections, glitches, little scars on the surface. Generally, if you see a leather product which surface is perfect, this is 99% not natural grain. Please, consult The Leather Glossary for a more detailed description (external link): http://www.natanning.com/natcorpleather_glossary.htm 
2. Take a closer look. You will see on Aligata cases the lines, where the cow bent its neck! 
3. You can see (if you get really close) very small holes in the leather. These are the places, where horseflies bit the cow's neck! Seriously.
4. Each Aligata case is unique. There are no two exactly the same!

FAQ

Q: Is this case perfect?

A: No, it is not. It is handmade of genuine bovine leather, not plastic, not neoprene (like Apple case). Leather has personality, has small glitches, does not fit perfectly.

Q: Is this case more durable than plastic or neoprene case?

A: Yes, it is. It will protect your device better than Apple case. It will last for years, while neoprene case will tear at the same period of time.

Q: Can I spill coffee on your case?

A: If you do, the coffee is going to leave stains on the case. They are not going to be visible on a Black Espresso, but they definitely will be visible on Nude Beauty or Nippon.

Q: Aren't your cases too rigid?

A: No, They are made of 3/16in thick bovine leather, but the leather used for Espresso, Nippon and Nude Beauty cases is soft. Only Black Armor is extremely rigid, but it is intended only for outdoor / industrial use.

Q: Can I use your case as a horizontal stand?

A: Well, I have tried to do this, but, to be honest, it is not very easy. The leather is rigid, the edges are not sticky, and on smooth surface such a "stand" keeps falling and closing. They can, however, be used as such on some carpeted or sticky surfaces.

Q: Do your cases have any drawbacks?

A: Yes, they do. They are not perfect (unlike plastic ones), you have to take care for them (at least do not spill your coffee on them), if you wet them, they will soak up (unlike plastic ones), probably you will not use them as a horizontal stand (unless you put it on a carpet). But, at the end, they protect your Device and look 100 times better than any plastic or neoprene case. 

Notice

1. As of Monday, 17th of May, 2010 we also make by default small (10mm / 0.39in) round / oval hole  (or a curved notch) at the top of the frame to exhibit the ambient light sensor. The cases on the pictures do not have it yet.
2. Leather used for current lot of Espressos is softer than previously used. This means that it is easier to put the iPad into the case, but it is also easier to take it out. iPad has more comfort now inside Black Espresso.
3. Also, please note, that Espressos are made of natural grain calfskin. Such a leather may be more or less rugged. Sometimes it is rugged, sometimes it is smooth, sometimes it has more glitches, sometimes less. If you are specially interested in either smooth or rugged surface, please add it in "Comments" field during checkout. I'll try to fulfill your wish and choose the unit for you.   
4. As of Monday, 31st of May, 2010 we also attach by default to every case small (20mm / 0.78in) round piece of soft, smooth plastic located exactly underneath the Apple logo at the back of the iPad (when in case). Such a solution has two advantages: (i) prevents the iPad from shifting inside the case, (ii) significantly reduces the probability of slipping out from the case through the open edge.
   This plastic circle will not scratch the back of your iPad and is invisible, when the device is inside the case. 

Precautions

1. Although our patent pending (yes!) anti slip-out solution works pretty well, you should remember, that still there is one open edge left in every Aligata case, through which your iPad my slip out and fall down. So please, be careful. Our simple solution just reduces the probability, but gives no warranty.
2. Please, do not try to insert into Aligata case an iPad, already in another case (plastic silicone or other). You can stretch Aligata case too much that way and then it may be too loose to hold the device alone.
3. Please, do not expose Aligata cases to extreme temperatures. They may cause the leather to expand or shrink. They may also cause the plastic slip-out disc to wear out or shift.
4. Please, do not expose Aligata cases to very humid environments. They may cause the leather to expand or shrink. They may also cause the plastic slip-out disc to wear out or shift.
5. Please note, that Aligata cases are handmade of natural grain, unmodified bovine leather. Such a leather has many imperfections on its surface (scars, glitches, small stains). They make every case unique. No two Aligata cases look exactly the same!
6. Each case has its own, unique properties due to various kinds of leather used to manufacture it. Moreover, within each model category (Black Espresso, Nude Beauty, Nippon, Dark Chocolate, Black Armor) cases differ from each other slightly in color, sometimes a little in the shape, almost always in the number of glitches, scars, imperfections and the types of them. Please find the very unique properties that differentiate the models below:

Unofficial, fresh pictures from the workshop

The pictures are amateur, taken at the workshop. The lighting is poor and, for sure, this is not proffessional photography, but before I send the cases to the proffessional photographer I can show you our cases with iPad inside :). Let me know (in comments), what are you thinking :).

Credits

Above product description has been in large parts created, reviewed and corrected by Cal from Henze & Associates: Counseling & Care. Cal ordered my cases and, when he received them, created these descriptions and sent to me. I think they are great. Thank you, Cal!