Emigrate from Parma to England, teaching His Majesty’s subjects how to make coffee and how to drink it by starting a chain of coffee shops which today has over 3,800 points of sale in 50 countries around the world; Including Italy. This, in a nutshell, is the parable behind it Costa Coffee, brand born in 1971 from the idea of the brothers Bruno and Sergio Costa who, on 18 April, opened its first Italian store. Inside Rome Fiumicino airport, in collaboration with Autogrillthe brand has closed a circle and conquered another market which will now be able to appreciate – in a travel retail perspective – an offer that ranges from sweet to savory while keeping the taste of coffee at the centre: be it a classic espresso, a flavored cappuccino or a of the dozens of possible combinations (and which can be assembled as desired) on the menu to which are added teas, chocolates, fruit smoothies, vegan drinks and milkshakes.
«The opening of our first restaurant in Italy represents a very emotional moment. It was the Costa brothers’ love for Italian coffee and the impossibility of finding it in their new homeland, England, that gave birth to Costa Coffee. Their entrepreneurial spirit and Italian heritage continue to inspire us every day to re-imagine new experiences for coffee enthusiasts around the world,” said Sam O’Brien, managing director Emena of Costa Coffee. Words that bring to mind the beginnings of this brand born more than 50 years ago in a small roasting workshop on Newport Street in London. Here, after more than 112 blind tastings, the two Costa brothers found the right blend, the same one that is served today under the name of Signature Blend, to overcome their homesickness and begin to conquer the palates of the British (who still today they elect Costa Coffee as the best coffee shop in the country). A success that led the two brothers first to open a larger roastery, in 1978, in Old Paradise Street and, subsequently, to start their chain of coffee shops with the first ribbon cutting, in 1981, in Vauxhall Bridge Road.
Coffee, the most sensational gastronomic misunderstanding in Italy
by Massimiliano Tonelli
July 27, 2021
To immediately win over Londonersin addition to the taste of the coffee, were the service (with the use of porcelain cups), the product innovation (starting with the Flat White, a specialty very similar to the Made in Italy cappuccino) and the functionality of the experience (thanks to the use of espresso machines which guaranteed replicability and consistency of the product in the various points of sale).
A format that, in 1995, when there were 39 premises, it attracted the attention of the multinational Whitebrand (in turn interested in the spread of coffee consumption in Great Britain which, in those years, was slowly overcoming the traditional preference for tea) which purchased Costa Coffee for 19 million of pounds from Sergio Costa, the sole owner of the brand. The operation marks the beginning of global expansion both through direct openings (the thousandth coffee shop opened in Cardiff in 2009) and through acquisitions and thanks to a rate of approximately 45 thousand tonnes of roasted coffee per year. Dimensions that put Costa Coffee in the sights of another multinational: Coca-Cola. In 2018, for approximately 3.9 billion pounds, Costa Coffee changed hands again, certifying the global success of its offer and its business model.
Now the arrival in Italy, in Fiumicino, main entrance door for those who decide to visit our country (over 40.5 million passengers in 2023), with a format that adapts to the needs of a clientele on the move and includes locally sourced delicacies that enhance Italian excellence and they mix with the brand’s best sellers, creating a real mix of flavours, designed to satisfy the tastes and needs of all consumers and to be enjoyed both in-store and on-the-go. In addition to a wide beverage offering, the new location also offers a selection of desserts, such as croissants, cakes and muffins, and savory products, such as wraps, sandwiches and bagels.
Tags: Costa Coffee returns home brand arrives Italy opens Fiumicino
