FLORENCE, Italy – Nestled among the hills which encompass Florence, overlooking its picturesque Renaissance landscape, lies a marvelous example of industrial architecture restored to its former glory. This building is home to Accademia del caffè espresso. Accademia was born form what was once the old factory of La Marzocco, or the “Workshop” as its workers used to call it.
Accademia del caffè espresso
Inside these walls, a small group of brilliant craftsmen changed the world’s understanding of espresso machine mechanics through innovation. Deeply knowledgeable about the technology tied to the coffee extraction process, and passionate about crafting machines by hand, Accademia del Caffè Espresso became the birthplace for industry-leading technology.
Today, Accademia is an open and shared space, attracting visitors to generate passion and expertise on the all-Italian and now global ritual of espresso.
Museum
The journey through Accademia’s museum is the first contact with the amazing world of espresso coffee.
The visitor walks through the historical building, accompanied by specialized guides on the discovery of the main elements contributing to the creation of espresso coffee, each in its own unique way. History, technology, and biology mingle in a spectacular, interdisciplinary narrative that involves all the senses.
The exhibit area is also composed of an area dedicated to temporary exhibits, a space dedicated to coffee botany and cultivation, and an indoor coffee plantation – the green heart of Accademia.
Research and sustainability
Accademia strives to be a point of reference for studies and research projects, creating an ideal bridge connecting producers and consumers as its ultimate target, building a virtuous and sustainable system benefitting every element of the sector.
In 2020, Accademia has started a three-year-long research project on coffee traceability, together with vegetal neurobiologist Stefano Mancuso, PNAT (spin- off of the University of Florence) and ENEA, the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development.
Education
From basic notions to professional knowledge and expertise, Accademia offers two different types of classes: experiences and courses.
Experiences are compact one-hour courses that serve as an introduction to coffee: from cuppings to Latte Art, from the ABC of espresso extraction to the basics of coffee roasting and processing.
Courses dive into an in-depth portrayal of the history of coffee, its processing, sensory analysis and espresso extraction.
Accademia is also a Specialty Coffee Association’s Premier Campus and offers courses on the different SCA modules.
Opening times
Accademia del Caffè Espresso offers guided tours and coffee tastings on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
Information and reservations on the website: www.accademiaespresso.com/en/visit-accademia.
Mon. 10.00 11.15 14.30 Wed. 10.00 Fri. 10.00 11.15 14.30
