Seven in the morning, fresh off the plane in Florence, Italy, and the first thing on my mind is coffee. Surely scoring an espresso shouldn't be hard? It's a country where a coffee break is ingrained in the culture. However, artisan coffee has undergone quite an evolution in Italy — from a social habit to a considered art form, and back again. It's about coffee-making routines that truly consider every step from bean to cup, and it starts with your machine. And this is an idea that the Florence-based company, La Marzocco, has mastered.
My time in Florence with La Marzocco revolved around coffee — learning about the process, specifically the brand's approach and craftsmanship, visiting the La Marzocco Accademia space, and discovering the history behind the brand. But experiencing the craft firsthand was an eye-opening lesson in how putting care into our daily rituals matters. From the weight of the portafilter in your hand as you fill the canister with ground beans to the smell of a silky shot brewing, these moments can create a deeply personal and wonderfully analog experience in your home. It's a kind of lost art that has the power to shape your day and even build connections with people.
