Whether you’ve worked in the coffee industry for years or you just really enjoy your morning brew, La Marzocco’s Accademia del Caffè Espresso is worth checking out. Filled with years of history, interactive features and, of course, coffee, it provides an educational, engaging look at specialty coffee culture like you’ve never seen it before. 
 
About Accademia del Caffè Espresso
 
Located north of Florence, the Accademia del Caffè Espresso is a center that celebrates the advancement and culture of specialty coffee which opened in October 2019. This multifaceted facility is used for education, research and training purposes, with fun and interactive elements for coffee enthusiasts of all levels. “The overall effect of Accademia is somewhere between an interactive coffee art project, a fully-functioning coffee-themed events center, and an interactive Smithsonean museum,” explains Sprudge.
 
With a focus on espresso coffee, Accademia aims to, “united every generation to experience coffee culture and its element, to share experiences and, through ideas, generate an active debate on the contemporary and sustainable future of this precious plant.” 
 
The History 
 
The center is located in La Marzocco’s old factory in Pian di San Bartolo, which originally opened its doors in 1960. The iconic building maintains its original structure and architecture, and even looks a bit like an espresso machine with its arched shape.
 
From 1960 to 2009, the center, which is also known as the “workshop”, saw skilled craftsmen develop and innovate espresso machines as we know them today. Today, La Marzocco’s headquarters can be found in Scarperia, where they have been operating since 2009.
 
Get an insider tour of Accademia del Caffè Espresso at The Global Coffee Festival on 30 October 2020 and learn more — and plan your future visit when the site is safely open again — here.