Trieste, the city of coffee

Not just Bora and Barcolana: among the many unique features for which Trieste is known, coffee is also a significant tradition that has deep roots in the city.

Indeed, Trieste, thanks to its role as a Free Port and its status as the main Austro-Hungarian port, has been one of the most important European ports for the trade of precious coffee beans since the 18th century. For this reason, it was also one of the first cities in Europe to open coffee houses, which became landmarks of Enlightenment culture and more.

Today, the historic cafés are the modern heirs of those venues: even now, locals gather there to chat, study for university exams, and write while sipping a “nero,” a “capo in b,” or a “goccia”—just a few of the uniquely Triestine terms used to order an espresso or one of its countless variations. The city has given rise to many prominent coffee companies—not only Illy, but also Hausbrandt, Bazzara, Amigos Caffè, and Primo Aroma, to name a few—and today it competes with Naples for the title of “city of coffee,” with estimates suggesting that Triestines consume 10 kg of coffee per capita each year.

Not surprisingly, the capital of Friuli Venezia Giulia is home to Triestespresso Expo, the most important B2B event in the global coffee industry, whose eleventh edition will be held at the Generali Convention Center Trieste from October 24 to 26.