Introducing Accademia
Accademia del Caffè Espresso is a cultural hub focused
on understanding and promoting espresso coffee.
History and Mission
Housed in the old La Marzocco’s factory, Accademia is a multi-purpose center containing: La Marzocco’s company museum and historical archive, an indoor coffee plantation, research and education laboratories, and the Officine Fratelli Bambi – a workshop dedicated to craftsmanship and artistry, producing bespoke espresso machines.
Museum
The Accademia’s exhibition takes visitors on an exciting and interactive journey into the world of espresso. There is far more in every cup than one might expect: history, technology, botany – as well as topics such as social responsibility and environmental protection.
The museum features several areas: a space for temporary exhibitions, one dedicated to the history and technology of La Marzocco, and another focused on the botany of coffee – including a real, small coffee plantation at the heart of the Accademia.
Education
The Accademia offers engaging learning opportunities for everyone – from coffee enthusiasts to professionals. There are two formats: experiences and courses.
Experiences are short, one-hour workshops that provide initial insights – for example into cupping, latte art, espresso preparation, or coffee roasting.
Courses are more intensive and go into greater depth. Topics include, among others, the history of coffee, processing methods, sensory and taste recognition, and the art of espresso preparation.
In addition, the Accademia collaborates with universities and organizations to share even more knowledge about coffee.
Research and Sustainability
The Accademia aims to bring producers and coffee drinkers closer together – for a better, more sustainable coffee system.
One example is the ConSenso project, launched in 2023 together with PNAT (a spin-off of the University of Florence) and Cisco. Its goal is to remotely monitor a coffee plantation in Tanzania.
To achieve this, sensors are used to collect key data about the plants, for example for irrigation purposes. In addition, the amount of CO₂ captured by the plantation is calculated – a step toward greater sustainability in coffee cultivation.
