The Dini Caffè Experience

Right inside the old, historic city walls enclosing Florence, sits a family business that sells delicious coffee…

Now, run by two sisters, Serena and Benedetta, Dini Caffè was passed down from their grandfather who founded it in 1939. Although there have been changes in owners and packaging aesthetics, Dini Caffè never faltered to become inauthentic to themselves. They highlight their dedication to quality over quantity and their close relationships with their customers and suppliers every chance they get. So, how do they create their exquisite coffee beans/grounds?

The Process Before Florence:

Coffee is difficult to harvest. They grow in “cherries” – two beans in each. However, the beans in the cherry don’t ripen at the same time. To combat unripened coffee, they select each coffee bean by hand. Harvesting is mainly done by women, often in difficult conditions, including harsh weather and steep hills. One espresso cup requires around 50 beans. That takes a LONG time to harvest.

Then, they have to choose which plantation they want to source their coffee beans from. The sisters go to each plantation and try each coffee batch to make sure it is up their their standards to sell. Mainly, they source their coffee beans from Papua New Guinea, Brazil, Sumatra, Honduras, Peru, Guatemala, Columbia, and Ethiopia. With their close relationship to each supplier and their deep understanding of the process, they only accept the best for their business.

Once they decide on a plantation and batch, they ship it to the Dini Caffè in Florence to begin their process!

The Process in Florence:

When the coffee beans arrive in Florence, they are immediately separated by plantation, coffee type, and whether they were processed dry or wet. What is unique about the Dini Caffè is that they mix their coffee beans to create an interesting tasting roast that you can’t get anywhere else. So, after they mix the beans, it’s off to roasting.

Recently, they downsized their roasting machine from 120 kilos to 60 kilos. The newer roaster is more expensive (around the price of a Ferrari), even though it’s smaller than the old one, because they want to focus on the quality of their coffee beans. Dini Caffè prioritizes quality over quantity to make sure every customer is satisfied with their product and to not falter from the same values of its founding.

After roasting, they get to package their coffee beans! They have a machine to make that process easier and more efficient. Serena, one of the sisters, showed Florence’s history and culture through their packages, with each different type of coffee representing a tile pattern that you can find in churches in Florence. The Dini Caffè always celebrates its past while looking forward to its future.

Their Coffee:

At the end of our tour, we got to try Dini Caffè’s delicious coffee! Each of us got our very own espresso to try. To no one’s surprise, it was amazing!

It was amazing to learn more about this local, women-owned family business in the center of Florence. Make sure to stop by the next time you are in Florence, Italy… maybe you’ll even get to see their adorable dog! They are so welcoming and have the best relationships with their customers. Have a taste!