A Visit to La Marzocco Factory and Accademia del Caffè Espresso

It was a clear, sunny day when we arrived in Italy. Firenze, or Florence is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Despite being a bustling tourist destination, we had the opportunity of visiting our partner, La Marzocco in their beautiful hometown last month.

La Marzocco was born in the capital of Italy's Tuscany region, Florence where it is famous for its Renaissance art, culture, rolling Fiesole hills, architecture and many more. Tracing its history back to 1927, La Marzocco was founded by the Bambi brothers, Giuseppe and Bruno Bambi. With such a rich history and presence, chances are you might have seen a La Marzocco machine in one of your neighborhood cafes.

We first visited the new La Marzocco Factory in Scarperia, where they assemble the commercial and home line by hand. Yes, you heard that right. All of La Marzocco's espresso machine are hand-built by skilled craftsmen.

Upon entering the factory, we were transported back in time as the anteroom was beautifully designed to give you a feel of the Renaissance times. The classic La Marzocco machines filled the room, and a vintage, mosaic pizza oven (they do use it from time to time) can also be seen at the corner. They also have a functioning espresso bar if you ever need some caffeine fix.

Crossing the sky bridge led us to their office; a huge space that can accommodate numerous sections all at once. On one section, an array of La Marzocco's latest machines are neatly displayed in rows, while on the other section lies the lounge area where staff can unwind with a game of foosball and also pool.

There's also a Linea Mini section, showcasing two Linea Minis in yellow and black, and another section displaying quirky and experimental machines and equipment.

Of course, they conduct regular meetings in the same huge space as well. It sure doesn't sound like your typical corporate office layout, right? There is also a specific room for the after sales specialists to conduct their research and development.

Unfortunately, we could not visit the assembly line due to covid restrictions. Worry not, we will definitely cover the new factory again once it is safe for us to do so.

We proceeded to drive to the old La Marzocco Factory, located in the heart of Florence. It was a short, but scenic drive with the stunning Tuscan hills as the landscape.

This is where it all started.

Aerial view of the Accademia. Photo courtesy of Accademia Espresso

For decades, La Marzocco has been manufacturing their machines in this very building before moving to Scarperia. What remains of the original factory has now become the Accademia del Caffè Espresso. Due to the strict Italian law of preserving heritage buildings, the infrastructure largely remains untouched. Only the interior has been upgraded to make room for the multifunctional space.

What is the Accademia del Caffè Espresso? It is an "academy", a cultural hub and a global learning and innovation center that is all about the specialty coffee experience.

Let's begin with the "Back In Time" room that has been redecorated to look like a typical Italian cafe back in the 60s. To our surprise, it is a functional one where the espresso is brewed using the timeless GS1, pulled at a mere 6 bars to replicate the exact classic espresso one would have back then, or "like it used to be".

Following the route, we were brought to the museum side of the Accademia showing how their machines evolved over the decades. On the right side is where their innovations on the coffee machines and equipments are displayed, and how the espresso machines evolve over time. There is also a disassembled Linea Mini with each and every part framed, down to the last screw.

On the left side of the museum hallway, the La Marzocco timeline history is displayed. From the Linea Classic, to the original Fiorenza (vertical espresso machine), and the eccentric La Marzocco van are arranged in order of the timeline.

Back in the 50s, espresso was becoming a major trend but selling espresso machines was not an easy task. The La Marzocco van was simply created to bring espresso machines right to potential customers' doorstep, eliminating customers' problem of commuting, and also making it easy to convince cafe owners to purchase one for their business.

The van would cruise down the street, bringing along different lever machines that customers can actually hop on and try for themselves. A mobile showroom if you will.

The rest is well, history.

You can check out the video below where Silvia Bartoloni from Accademia talks more on how they managed to recreate the Alfa Romeo van.

Arriving at the main space, we were in awe with how huge Accademia really is, with the sunlight piercing through the arch window, and how every space is acutely utilized. It was simply amazing.

At the center of the Accademia lies the greenhouse where you can discover the ecosystem supporting the growth of the coffee plant with the climatically controlled enclosure (of course they have coffee trees thriving in there!). It is surrounded by a stair seating for visitors to relax and enjoy the open space, and you can also immerse yourself reading from their library as well.

The other side of the Accademia is where all the labs are, overlooking the Tuscan hills. Definitely a dream work place for us! It consists of literally a lab for each coffee process that begins with a green coffee lab, roasting lab, sensory lab, and even ceramics lab where they do pottery making.

The focal point of the main space of Accademia would definitely have to be the Vespucci machine. A wide, experimental yet functioning espresso machine that is named after Amerigo Vespucci, the famed Florentine explorer from whose name the term "America" is derived.

Vespucci features 5 different La Marzocco group heads; EP, Lever, MP, AV, and EE. A fitting name for an "explorer" machine.

Right behind Vespucci stands tall glass boxes, stacked on top of one another with each containing a La Marzocco machine. Taking interior decoration to the next level we would have to say. We even had the pleasure of indulging in the fresh pasta by the in-house chef. The delightful kitchen is located right behind the glass boxes, so you can enjoy your pasta while admiring the machines.

Head down to the basement, and this is where the magic happens.

Officine Fratelli Bambi actually came before La Marzocco. It is a workshop dedicated to shape ideas into machines. The Bambi brothers prided themselves with craftsmanship and artistry, and La Marzocco has now returned to their roots, offering bespoke and catalogue espresso machines handmade by artisans.

There were only two artisans working when we arrive, and we felt the devotion and passion by these two with every piece they craft. It can take a while for a machine to be finished as each piece is meticulously crafted with precision, and it is definitely worth the wait.

You can let us know if you are interested to customize your La Marzocco machine with Officine Fratelli Bambi.

Our last part of the tour brought us to the rooftop, or the terrace of Accademia.

To say the panoramic view of Florence is breathtaking, is an understatement. Definitely something that you have to experience for yourself! The staff of Accademia often find themselves here, unwinding and finding peace amongst the never-ending greenery. Even the lavenders serve its purpose for the Accademia. They have a few beehives, tucked away at the corner of the terrace and the lavenders provide the bees with nectar necessary for making honey.

Accademia del Caffè Espresso is much more than just an experience. It has shaped memories, ideas, and relationships. It is about coffee, the machines that produce it, the people crafting it, and everything surrounding it.

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