Top 10 Neapolitan Coffee Brands

In Naples, as everyone knows, coffee is a religion — there must be a perfect balance between aroma and flavour; it's a break from the world, a moment to devote to yourself.

by Silvia Semonella

“'Na tazzulella 'e cafè, ca sigaretta 'a coppa pe' nun verè, (A little cup of coffee, with a cigarette on top so you don't see,)

che stanno chine e sbaglie, fanno sulo 'mbruoglie, (those who are full of mistakes, only cause trouble,)

s'allisciano, se vattono, se pigliano o' cafè” (they make up, they fight, they have their coffee)

So sang Pino Daniele in one of his classic songs, turning the cup of coffee — untouchable to Neapolitans — into a pretext behind which to hide the city's troubles.

It's precisely because of this deep-rooted love that, over the years, so many strictly Neapolitan coffee blends have been born, and here we'll share our own personal top 10.

1 – Caffè Passalacqua

Caffè Passalacqua was born in 1948 from a small Neapolitan family roastery. As time passed, the company grew and, despite adopting new equipment, those at the helm of the business have always felt like small artisans. Custodians of the finest Neapolitan coffee tradition, their goal is to produce fine coffee to satisfy the tastes of those who choose, among the many brands, Passalacqua.

The key ingredient here is Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee: every bean is scrupulously checked; at every stage, in fact, tests and inspections are carried out to spot and eliminate errors and problems.

2 – Caffè Borbone

Borbone Coffee was born in 1997 as a brand of Aromatika S.r.l., headquartered in Naples; over the years it has become a byword for quality and refinement in coffee flavour, establishing itself on the market thanks to its wide-ranging production, designed to let everyone enjoy a good coffee at any time of day. The company has also specialised in producing distinctive blends, such as ginseng and guaraná coffee, along with teas and herbal infusions; well established on both the national and international market, it invests heavily in television advertising (it often appears, in fact, as a promotional product in numerous TV dramas and shows).

3 – Caffè Toraldo

Caffè Toraldo was born in Naples in 1960 and, over the years, has opened new facilities throughout Campania. The company, significant in both national and international markets, aims to produce coffee to the highest standard. Among the company's many secrets, which allow it to create fine blends, is its direct relationship with plantation growers. The quality of the blends is the result of intense and complex work that begins with selecting the coffee and monitoring it through the various stages, ending with careful analysis before packaging. Throughout the various operations, highly advanced machinery is used but, despite embracing innovation, the company remains firmly tied to tradition, and its ultimate goal is to produce an espresso on par with the traditional one.

4 – Caffè Kimbo

Caffè Kimbo is probably among the best-known coffee brands in Italy.

The company was founded in 1963 by the Rubino brothers, who first created the Kimbo brand and, later, Kosè. Its headquarters is in Naples, and it has expanded its operations over time, while state-of-the-art equipment allows it to produce a good coffee that, little by little, has gained success throughout Italy and beyond. The coffee, carefully selected in its countries of origin by specialists in the field, is usually of Arabica and Robusta quality; it is then brought to the facilities where it undergoes a series of treatments leading to the final products: that is, a wide range available to consumers.

5 – Caffè Kosè

In 1991, the Rubino brothers' company launched, as mentioned, the brand-new Caffè Kosè, made by Cafè do Brasil: this is a new blend that would soon become a genuine brand, thanks to its popularity with the public and, above all, its excellent value for money. An unmistakable product, as also shown by its exclusive packaging, which visually echoes the style of the Latin American countries from which the primary ingredient of this blend originates.

6 – Caffè Motta

The Caffè Motta brand was born in the 1960s, created by the Mastromartino family, who still run the company today. Within the business there reigns a balanced blend of tradition and innovation, allowing the creation of tasty, refined blends for every taste and palate. There is a wide range of products involving the selection of the finest beans, roasting and grinding. Every step is carried out rigorously by experts who, before packaging the products, carefully analyse them to ensure a fresh, quality coffee. The Caffè Motta brand upholds the same values found in sport, sponsoring many football teams in Italy.

7 – Lollo Caffè

Lollo Caffè takes its name from its founder and is the leading brand of Neapolitan traditional coffee. The company's method involves hard work, sacrifice and constant research into methods and techniques to improve the taste, aroma and texture of the coffee.

8 – Caffè Izzo

Caffè Izzo was born in 1979 in Naples, founded by Mr Izzo Vincenzo, as a small roastery not far from Vesuvius. Over the following 30 years, thanks to commitment and dedication, the company reached excellent standards: its coffee became one of the finest Neapolitan espressos, both in Italy and abroad. Careful quality control ensures a coffee that is perfect from every point of view: checks begin at the moment of selecting the raw beans in the country of origin, thanks to a team present there; this raw material is then sent to Izzo's facility, where analysis continues to ensure the product is excellent, culminating in roasting, which takes place at a temperature of 200–240 degrees.

9 – Caffè Aloia

Caffè Aloia was born and has dominated the Neapolitan area for about 80 years. The company behind this famous coffee was acquired in 1975 by the Balestrieri family, who still own it today.

10 – Caffè Harom

Caffè Harom was born in San Giorgio a Cremano in 1997, created by a team who put all their experience into crafting a unique coffee with just the right properties, starting from a quality product selected and checked by professionals in the field. The two blends used, Arabica and Robusta, thanks to roasting and processing with cutting-edge technology, result in a drink with the perfect balance of flavours.