More so than any other country, Italy has a reputation for taking coffee very seriously. Most of the staples of serious coffee drinking originate here, from espresso and cappuccinos to brands like Lavazza. Now another famous coffee invention, the moka pot, may soon be finito.
The classic Bialetti design. Photo by NP Studio/Shutterstock
Bialetti, the company behind the iconic design, has run into serious financial trouble and is at high risk of bankruptcy. It is €68 million in debt and needs to do some serious restructuring to keep it running. As well as a decline in revenue, the company says it’s also facing serious issues in its supply chain and a shaky domestic economy.
Despite the poor outlook, it’s believed the trusty coffee pot may survive to brew another day. The company is currently negotiating a multi-million dollar loan from a US hedge fund firm and have applied for protection in Italian courts under the country’s bankruptcy laws.
Many caffeine fans confidently state that the best coffee in the world is made in a moka pot, being strong and flavoursome. It’s a traditional sight in Italian home, is reasonably priced, environmentally sustainable and has been a morning staple since the 1930s, with an estimated 70% of households owning one.
However, the Bialetti pots face stiff competition from a world filled with high-tech capsule machines like Nespresso and they can be a little tricky to use at first as they need to be taken off the heat at the right moment before the coffee begins to burn.
Italy’s coffee bars are part of the moka pot’s competition. Photo by Yulia Grigoryeva/Shutterstock
If the stove-top coffee maker does disappear from the market, it will only be the latest disruption to Italy’s coffee culture. After years of obstacles, a Starbucks opened in Milan in September, to the dismay of many purists. Starbucks isn’t the only culprit though; there are estimated to be 150,000 coffee bars in Italy to choose from instead of making your own at home.
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