Italian espresso culture has come to embody art, design, fashion and lifestyle – but there is even more to discover about Italy’s world-famous export. Developed to celebrate Italy’s vibrant regional coffee traditions, Lavazza’s Tales of Italy collection pays homage to the authentic caffetteria Italiana experience in Rome, Milan, Venice and Naples
Tales of Italy pays homage to the authentic caffetteria Italiana experience in Rome, Milan, Venice and Naples | Photo credit: Lavazza Group
When it comes to great espresso, ‘do as the Italians do’ is always a great place to start. However, it’s less well known that espresso has tremendous variety depending on where you take your
pausa caffè in Italy.
In fact, the development of Italian espresso owes much to centuries-old taste preferences and culinary traditions that remain regionally distinct to this day.
In Milan or Venice your espresso will likely be more acidic with fresh, flowery overtones. Travel down to Tuscany or Rome and you’ll encounter fuller-bodied, darker-roasted espresso with overtures of dried stone fruit. In Naples, the flavour intensifies further with rich notes of dark chocolate and spice.
As a global ambassador for Italian coffee and espresso culture, Turin-based
Lavazza recently developed its Tales of Italy range to reflect the distinct coffee traditions of Milan, Rome, Venice and Naples with an innovative twist.
“With Tales of Italy, we wanted to capture the essence of Italy’s most iconic coffee cities,” says Michelle Cannone, Global Brand Director Away From Home at Lavazza Group.
“Each region has a unique espresso tradition, and we’ve worked to craft blends that respect and celebrate these differences, allowing coffee lovers to experience a true taste of Italy, in an authentic and contemporary way in line with the new range storytelling,” Cannone adds.
An authentic taste of Italy
Lavazza developed the Tales of Italy range to pay homage to Italy’s rich regional coffee traditions, but also to cater to the growing sophistication of coffee consumers around the world. Gone are the days when a simple nod to Italian coffee traditions will impress coffee shop customers. Today’s coffee consumers seek authenticity, attention to detail and variety from their out-of-home coffee experiences.
Utilising its 130-years of coffee expertise, Lavazza developed the Tales of Italy collection with a tailored approach to blend the very best washed Arabica from South America, natural arabica from Brazil deliver exotic-flavoured and sweet coffees. Of course, no true Italian espresso would be complete without its characteristic strong body. To achieve this while preserving the delicate aromas of the blend, Lavazza leveraged the power of fermented robusta. This process breaks down sugar thanks to the presence of yeast, which unlocks yet more exotic flavours to deliver a pleasant, round flavour with less bitterness.
Consumers around the world can enjoy their very own piece of authentic Italian heritage | Photo credit: Lavazza Group
Endorsed by Italy’s espresso experts
Further highlighting the collection’s authenticity, Tales of Italy has been certified by the Istituto Espresso Italiano, an organisation that for two-decades has worked to preserve and promote Italy’s internationally revered coffee traditions.
The certification is based on the Certified Italian Espresso taste profile, which was developed in partnership with the International Institute of Coffee Tasters (IIAC) and the expertise of Italian sensory analysis specialist, the Centro Studi Assaggiatori.
Following research involving thousands of Italian consumers, contemporary espresso flavour preferences were defined and compared with expert analysis to develop the Certified Italian Espresso profile, which for the first time has made it possible to define the perfect espresso.
With great coffee and fine food inextricably linked, Lavazza turned to the skills Fabrizio Fiorani, a renowned chef, gastronomist and Pastry Ambassadors of Italian Excellence member, who has worked in some of Italy’s best restaurants, including The Cesar, Il Pellicano and La Pergola. Taking inspiration from the Tales of Italy innovative blends, Fiorani developed a range of regional iconic pastries and sweet pairings that ensure Italy’s kaleidoscope of espresso flavours shine brighter than ever.
Today, thanks to Lavazza and the work of Italy’s esteemed coffee community, consumers around the world can enjoy their very own piece of authentic Italian heritage whenever and wherever they choose. The Tales of Italy Range is available in whole bean, ground and capsules for both consumers and in a range of Horeca settings.
Explore the Tales of Italy range
Milano, Galleria
This sweet and sophisticated taste of Milan is a light roasted arabica blend with Cereja Apassita that is fruity and floral with notes of honey and dried fruit.
Venezia, Canal Grande
An exceptional blend of natural Central America arabica, washed robusta varieties sourced from Asia and fermented robusta, evokes a gentle stroll through the alleyways of Venice with pleasant notes of chocolate, almond, dried fruits and spice.
Roma, Trastevere
Trastevere is a sophisticated blend of fermented robusta, washed robusta sourced from Asia and natural arabica from Central America, for a full, rich bodied espresso with notes of chocolate, cereals and light winey aftertaste.
Napoli, Riviera Di Chiaia
The overwhelming soul of Naples and Southern Italy’s elegant coffee breaks. An intense ad elegant blend of washed Robusta varieties sourced from Asia, and natural Arabica from South America.
Find out more about the Tales of Italy collection at Lavazza.com