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5 Italian Coffee Facts you should know

We all love coffee, don’t we?? Coffee drinking is now both a habit and fad across the world. This has led to the growing consumption of caffeine globally and more so Italian coffee. But do you know there is more to Italian coffee than meets the eye?? Check out this fun list of trivia that includes 5 Italian coffee facts that you should know!

5 Italian Coffee Facts you should know

1. Coffee does NOT grow in Italy

Contrary to popular belief, coffee does not grow in Italy. Many people think Italy is a coffee producing nation but it isn’t!

There are no coffee plantations in Italy and so Italy is not a coffee producer but ONLY a roaster.

Italy is a master at coffee blending and roasting.

Globally known for offering high quality blends, Italian coffee is famous everywhere and many brands such as Starbucks even market coffee marketed as “Italian Dark Roast”. Although this is a dark brown coffee popular across the world, it does not grow in Italy.

Italians are masters at coffee roasting so they usually go for a medium to dark roast. That is why, people love the coffee from Italy. It is strong yet delicious.

5 Italian Coffee Facts you should know- right from why it is so famous to where Italian coffee is sourced from the world.
Italy has no coffee plantations

2. The coffee brand Lavazza hails from Turin, Italy

Did you know Lavazza is an Italian company founded by Luigi Lavazza in Turin.

The company has been a trailblazer in coffee blending and roasting coffee since 1895! Lavazza has 3 manufacturing plants including a Lavazza museum in Turin. It has been one of the pioneers to be the first Italian company to offer vacuum packaging too. Lavazza has two manufacturing plants in Southern India.

Read next: Why you should visit Turin in Italy

3. Italy sources coffee from several nations

Italy sources coffee from different coffee growing nations across the world.

The top countries from where Italy buys coffee are Brazil, Peru, Costa Rica and Columbia. In the recent past, Italy also bought high quality coffee beans from Vietnam and robusta and arabica coffee from India.

Unfortunately due to the pandemic, there has been a fall in demand in India which has been expressed in this article here.

Italy sources coffee beans from across the world

4. University of Coffee exists in Italy

Italy is a maestro when it comes to coffee blending and roasting. And to put a feather on it’s hat (Cup?) there exists a University of Coffee in Italy!

I was as surprised as you are right now. But it really is true!

This University of Coffee (Università del Caffe`) is located in the Northern eastern city of Trieste. Established in 1999 by the coffee company Illy, the University offers a platform to understand more on coffee culture across the world.

There is a possibility to do higher education from this University and even learn the art of making coffee to become a Barista! To know more, click here.

5 Italian Coffee Facts you should know- right from why it is so famous to where Italian coffee is sourced from the world.
Would you want to go for higher education and become a Barista?

5. Gaggia Espresso Maker was invented in 1930:

Another fact about coffee in Italy that you should know is about Giovanni Achille Gaggia- the man behind the Gaggia brand and coffee machines that you see these days.

Achille Gaggia produced a machine that has been useful to Italian bars since 1930s. He was a visionary who understood market conditions then and captured the Italian home market to produce the Gaggia espresso machines.

Even today, Gaggia is the best espresso maker.

Although I’m very much biased to Bialetti’s humble and classic moka pot, if I ever were to buy a coffee maker for my home, it would be Gaggia! (I currently only have a Nespresso)

5 Italian Coffee Facts you should know- right from why it is so famous to where Italian coffee is sourced from the world.
Caffe` from an Italian Bar

Did you enjoy these 5 Italian Coffee Facts! Which one took you by surprise?

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6 Comments

  • LuLu B - Calabrisella Mia
    March 8, 2021 at 1:01 pm

    Great fun coffee facts! I’m a big fan of Lavazza but I also really love the Calabrian coffee brand Aiello.

    Reply
    • Italophilia
      March 8, 2021 at 1:39 pm

      Thanks Lulu, I must definitely find Aiello next time I’m there!

      Reply
  • Stacy Pollard
    March 8, 2021 at 4:11 am

    Excellent! I’d love to see the Lavazza museum and attend Illy’s coffee university! Illy is truly my favorite. Grazie for the great details.

    Reply
    • Italophilia
      March 8, 2021 at 1:39 pm

      Grazie Stacy. I crossed by Illy’s coffee factory in Trieste 🙂

      Reply
  • Sara - My Dear Italia
    March 7, 2021 at 7:21 pm

    Excellent article, cara!! I’m glad you pointed out we don’t have coffee plantations, because the amount of people who believe we do have them is unbelievable,lol.

    I have to research this “Italian dark blend”, because I have no idea how we are marketed abroad, to be honest.

    And yes, Gaggia is still the best!

    Reply
    • Italophilia
      March 8, 2021 at 1:38 pm

      Thank you for reading cara! So pleased you liked it. You’re right, it’s something very few know and that’s why I incorporated in the post. The Italian dark roast is sold on Starbucks too!

      Reply

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