In short: Louis Tellier is a French maker of professional kitchen tools that also picked up the Bron Coucke legacy and its half-wheel raclette machines. At Raclette Club, you will find the brand on three items: the Alpage grill, the CAR01 raclette knife and the N3503 cheese harp, with one common thread: pro-grade kitchen gear that goes the distance.
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The brand in a nutshell
The story the group tells begins in 1947, with what it presents as the first professional vegetable mill, made by Louis Tellier. The spec sheet for the CAR01 knife sums it up in one sentence: the brand has been manufacturing in France since 1947. The group is headquartered in Argenteuil, in the Val-d’Oise, and works as much for restaurant kitchens as for home cooks.
When it comes to raclette, it is the other branch of the family that matters. The group says the Bron mandoline was born in Thonon-les-Bains, on the shores of Lake Geneva, and that the Bron factory (later Bron Coucke) then specialized in convivial table appliances, including the Alpage and Brézière raclette machines. That is why you still see both names on product listings: the Alpage RACL01 is often sold as “Louis Tellier Bron Coucke”. The group also owns Gobel, a maker of pastry molds founded in Paris in 1887 by Étienne Gobel and now based in Touraine. In short, a house that knows how to grate as well as scrape.
Video
Video: LOUIS TELLIER on YouTube. Official brand video on its range of raclette machines, from the family model to the half wheel.
Video: La Toque d’Or on YouTube. A retailer’s presentation of the Brézière and Alpage machines; the exact version of the Alpage shown is not specified.
Video: Le Comptoir De France on YouTube. Setting up the Brézière, the brand’s other half-wheel machine (not the Alpage from our selection).
Louis Tellier products at Raclette Club
| Model | Type | Who it’s for | Review | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpage RACL01 (ASIN B000VWV6IM) | Half-wheel raclette machine, 850 W, tilting cheese holder, made in France | Purists who want to scrape a real wheel at the table | Read the review | Check the price on Amazon.fr |
| CAR01 raclette knife (ASIN B0016IH3EQ) | 2-in-1 knife, hardened stainless steel blade, wooden handle, one side for scraping, one side for cutting | Anyone with a half-wheel machine who still scrapes with a spoon | Read the review | Check the price on Amazon.fr |
| N3503 cheese harp (ASIN B0085MRSIC) | 17 cm stainless steel cheese harp for butter, foie gras, goat cheese and blues | Cheese board fans who like clean cuts | Read the review | Check the price on Amazon.fr |
What we think
On paper, Louis Tellier’s strength is the seriousness of a professional kitchen supplier applied to raclette night. The Alpage is advertised as made in France, with an adjustable heating element and a tilting cheese holder: it is the machine for people who buy a whole half wheel and want to watch it melt in the middle of the table, as in a Valais chalet. The CAR01 knife, with its smooth side for scraping and its micro-serrated side for cutting, is the natural companion to the machine, and the brand states a 2-year warranty in its spec sheet.
The limits come with the house style. Here, no grill plate, no crepe maker, no eight colorful pans: a half-wheel machine does one thing, and does it well. That means buying your cheese by the piece, in a big chunk, and accepting that you will be scraping for everyone. A few details also remain fuzzy from one source to another, such as the exact wattage of the Alpage (850 W at most retailers, 900 W at one) or its warranty. And the N3503 cheese harp, very handy for goat cheese, has received at least one customer review reporting a broken wire on first use. Nothing deal-breaking, but good to know.
Which model should you pick?
- For a traditional raclette for 6 to 10 people: the Alpage RACL01 and a half wheel. Our comparison of half-wheel and pro machines pits it against its competitors.
- To complete a half-wheel machine: the CAR01 knife, designed to scrape without tearing off the rind. It has its place in our selection of raclette accessories.
- For the next day’s cheese board: the N3503 cheese harp, which slices goat cheese and blues cleanly. Check it out with our ideas for boards and platters.
- For a goat cheese raclette: the cheese harp again, and our goat cheese raclette recipe.
Frequently asked questions
What is the warranty on Louis Tellier products?
It depends on the product. The brand’s spec sheet states 2 years for the CAR01 raclette knife, and the Amazon.fr listing for the N3503 cheese harp says 1 year. For the Alpage machine, we did not find an official length: check with the seller before you buy.
Are Louis Tellier spare parts available?
The Amazon.fr listing for the N3503 cheese harp states spare parts are available for 10 years. For the Alpage machine, the simplest route is to contact the brand with the exact reference (RACL01 for the 230 V version).
Where can you buy a Louis Tellier raclette machine?
The three products on this page are sold on Amazon.fr, and you can also find them at kitchenware retailers and big chains. Older references sometimes still carry the Bron Coucke name: it is the same manufacturer.
