stanley_c_wong Senior Member Joined: 23 Oct 2006 Posts: 62 Location: Singapore Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Silvia, Krups 5020 Grinder: Rocky
Posted Sat Feb 4, 2012, 7:52pm Subject: Buying Coffee Stuff in Italy
Hi,
I just heard that my wife and I will be going to Italy in April. Offhand I think we will be going to Rome, Florence, Venice and Milan. I am looking to coffee equipment and beans to bring home.
For an espresso machine, I would really love to bring home a Viebeme Domobar or similar, but I do not see that happening: 1) We will be going from place to place and would find it difficult to lug a 20kg plus machine around on public transport (yes, no rental car) 2) Luggage allowance, would be insufficient, as this is a shopping trip for my wife as well. Shipping? Does anyone know how much it cost to ship a machine to Asia from Italy? and 3) VERY unlikely we would be able to spend a day going out to the factories to get one, and I heard that is the way to do it. But if machines of this caliber are readily available in city centers, please let me know.
If anyone has a solution to the above issues, I would appreciate your advice. Btw. I have a Expobar Office, so anything below that would not interest me.
So I am looking for Barista equipment, spare parts (e.g. bottomless portafilter or professional steam tip) and coffee beans, that I might "coincidentally" come across walking around the city. Any advice?
I am also looking for a Nespresso-type machine for my wife. She does not want to go through the hassle of using my Expobar, but she complains that when I am overseas all she has to drink is instant coffee. And this would be a good time to buy the machine and capsules. But she has not decided on which machine yet. Any advice? I am leaning towards Nespresso or Gaggia/Illy. btw. the machine cost about twice as much in Singapore and the capsules, 3 times!
outrigger Senior Member Joined: 7 Mar 2008 Posts: 41 Location: STR TPE HNL Expertise: Just starting
Posted Sat Feb 4, 2012, 8:17pm Subject: Re: Buying Coffee Stuff in Italy
Hi, Stanley,
most italian drink their Caffè at the street corner bar, they don't know what is a Faema, La Marzocco or even Vibiemme....
If they own a Bialetti stovetop at home, that will be the coffee for their "Home-Setup".
You'll have to do your homework for the Vibiemme what is suitable for you. As for shipping to Singapore, this english site might be the standard for your Nespresso:
NobbyR Senior Member Joined: 10 Jul 2011 Posts: 1,613 Location: Germany Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Poccino Opus One, Ariete Grinder: Eureka Mignon Istantaneo,... Vac Pot: N/A Drip: Melitta Linea Unica de Luxe Roaster: N/A
Posted Sat Feb 4, 2012, 11:52pm Subject: Re: Buying Coffee Stuff in Italy
Outrigger's right.
Most Italians don't have an espresso machine at home. They would even find the notion amusing, because an espresso is something you can get at any bar at every corner of the street. That's where they drink it. It's also about socializing. The one thing that's getting increasingly popular in Italy, too, because it's convenient, are superautomatics.
That's why you'll find it hard to find espresso equipment during your journey. Have fun anyway. It's a fascinating and beautiful country. Do as the Italians do, have your espresso at the bar. It's the most authentic way to enjoy a caffè.
By the way, if you don't want to be the subject of entertainment, you shouldn't order a latte or capuccino unless in the morning for breakfast and never a latte macchiato, because Italians serve that to their children.
*** "This drink of the Satan is so delicious that it would be a shame to leave it to the infidels." (Pope Clement VIII on coffee)
TonyVan Senior Member Joined: 24 May 2010 Posts: 269 Location: Pacific Northwest Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: GS/3, La Pavoni Grinder: Macap M7K, Rocky Drip: Kone
Posted Sat Feb 4, 2012, 11:54pm Subject: Re: Buying Coffee Stuff in Italy
It sounds like a wonderful trip of a lifetime, Stanley, and I hope you make the most of it!
To that end, my advice would be to soak in everything that is so remarkable about the places you will visit, free from self-inflicted pressures to use such precious time for saving a little money on Nespresso pods. Even if you can successfully haul it around, find packing materials and get it through customs - and if you can manage warrantee, regulatory compliance, service and even the compatible electrical requirements once you get it home - any appliance is unlikely to have been worth what you really "paid."
Believe me, in a year or two you'll look back remembering the yellow and white cups of espresso at St.Eustache and the Pistachio gelato at Vivoli. It won't be whatever little money you saved wasting priceless afternoons hunting for addresses in the industrial backwaters of Milan.
stanley_c_wong Senior Member Joined: 23 Oct 2006 Posts: 62 Location: Singapore Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Silvia, Krups 5020 Grinder: Rocky
Posted Sun Feb 5, 2012, 1:14am Subject: Re: Buying Coffee Stuff in Italy
TonyVan,
You are absolutely correct in that we will NOT be spending time tracking down espresso machine factories.
But espresso pods.. Well, if we do manage to choose the machine type, we will be buying quite a number of coffee pods. They sell them for about US$1 each over here.
Believe you me, we WILL be spending loads of time walking around sightseeing (photography is another of my hobbies) and EATING and DRINKING (erhm.. another of out hobbies?). :)
TheCoffeeLocator Senior Member Joined: 6 Aug 2012 Posts: 13 Location: Italy Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Mon Aug 6, 2012, 5:27am Subject: Re: Buying Coffee Stuff in Italy
Anywhere. Generally the further south you go towards Napoli, the more serious people get about coffee (starting in the North, where they are fanatical). Watch out though - you will NEVER get the same advice of any two people in Italy on anything to do with food or coffee!
stanley_c_wong Senior Member Joined: 23 Oct 2006 Posts: 62 Location: Singapore Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Silvia, Krups 5020 Grinder: Rocky
Posted Mon Aug 6, 2012, 6:22pm Subject: Re: Buying Coffee Stuff in Italy
TheCoffeeLocator,
Yes, thanks. I went and I am back. There were great coffee shops pretty much around every corner. The coffee was great. I had a 1-coffee-a-day minimum. And when I went to Sant'Eustachio, I had 3! I also had a gelato-a-day minimum, but that is off forum.
As expected, coffee machines were not widely sold. Those offered were similar consumer-types as that in Singapore. There were no really big department store were we went, so even the range of those did not match up to that here in Singapore. Moka pot were the hot sellers. I understand tht is very common for Italian households to have 1 or 2, for when some cannot be bothered to walk the 200m or so the the nearest coffee shop.
I bought one as a souvenir. It made nice coffee but certainly not at the level of my existing Expobar Office. It is presently on loan to a coffee-loving relative.
To those going to Italy, please cater for space and weight in your luggage for all the foods (instant is also fantastic!), spices and coffee products. Look for shops specializing in local produce. Sometime you get lucky and get to buy quality chocolates by weight. And Lavazza and other brands coffee beans are really quite reasonable.
TheCoffeeLocator Senior Member Joined: 6 Aug 2012 Posts: 13 Location: Italy Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Wed Aug 8, 2012, 4:51am Subject: Re: Buying Coffee Stuff in Italy
Yes, Italy dont do big mall style shops - mainly tiny family run decades old corner shops. Coffee-wise, they dont really venture away from espresso roast. Different types, macchiato, marrocino, cappucino, but it is always esspresso roast. At home they all have mocha machines - the little stainless steel devices.
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