If you’re ever in Florence, fascinated by the delight of Italian coffee, you have to check out Dini Caffè. It’s not your standard coffee shop but instead a place of precision and care where coffee is an experience, from bean to cup.
The Story of Dini Caffè
Dini Caffè is a family operated roastery that’s been around since 1939. They’re still going strong thanks to the passion of graphic designer and engineer, Serena and Bernadetta Nobili who took over the roastery after their mother and aunt. After Dini Caffè was first founded by Alberto Dini, he left it to these amazing women. These sisters are passing on their grandfather’s legacy one cup at a time.
When you walk into Dino Caffè, you’re stepping into a space that smells like heaven. But what makes it special isn’t just the aesthetics, it’s the journey each bean takes to get into your cup. On a beautiful Wednesday morning, Serena walked us through the process.
Coffee grows from the red, cherry-like fruit of the plant and goes through a lengthy process to become our morning pick-me-up. The beans used at Dini Caffè come from all over the world (Brazil, Guatemala, El Salvador, India, Indonesia, and more!) They’re carefully picked by hand, processed, and shipped to Florence in special bags that keep them fresh. Once they arrive, Serena, who’s a certified coffee grader, tastes and inspects them to make sure they meet the highest standards.
Roasting Process
Using a top-of-the-line Brambati roaster, described as the Ferrari of coffee machines, the beans are roasted with hot air instead of flames. This method brings out all the subtle flavors without burning the beans. As we viewed each machine and took in every step of the process, it became evident how coffee means so much more to this family. The care put into every blend shines through the aroma and flavor of the beans.
After roasting, the beans are blended using a machine that looks like a washing machine, twirling the beans into perfection. This step is where the magic happens. The blend they are most famous for is called Gran Bar, and it’s basically the gold standard. Precision doesn’t stop once the beans are roasted, Dini Caffè packages their coffee with the same level of care, getting it ready to be sold right here in Florence and shipped elsewhere.
Coffee Excellence
To end our visit, Serena poured everyone a carefully crafted espresso, so that we could taste all of the hard work her family puts into their business. While taking that first sip, we knew that we were tasting the work of dozens of hands and generations of family. Dini Caffè is all about transparency and quality, You can taste it in every cup, and it might just be the best in the city!
During the rest of our time abroad, we will continue to compare every cup of espresso to the journey we went on at Dini Caffè.
Written by Emily Scholtisek and Kailey Corrillo