What Caffè Barbera 1870 does

Caffè Barbera 1870 is a Naples-based, sixth-generation family-owned coffee roasting company founded in 1870 by Domenico Barbera, and is described as the oldest Neapolitan coffee roaster. Operating under the legal entity Barbera Caffè S.p.A., the company is led by sixth-generation legal representative Elio Barbera and combines traditional Neapolitan roasting craft with scientific quality control anchored in Italy's first dedicated coffee chemistry laboratory, established in 1953. Its commercial footprint reaches more than 55 countries across five continents through a mix of certified distributors, branded franchise coffee shops (first opened in Dubai in 2003), direct-to-consumer e-commerce (caffebarbera.com), and Ho.Re.Ca. wholesale. Distribution payments include traditional cards and several cryptocurrencies, indicating a deliberate digital modernization strategy.

The company's product portfolio is organized around multiple brewing formats: whole beans and ground coffee in blends such as Mago (seven-origin), Classica, Pregevole, Europa, and Clean Cup Blend (100% Arabica with blockchain traceability); capsules compatible with Nespresso (Aromagic, Heritage aluminum), Dolce Gusto, and Lavazza A Modo Mio; E.S.E. pods (Cialde Aromagic in Intensa, Plus, and Decaf, using biodegradable cellulose filters); professional 2-group bar espresso machines, the Inferno-line pod machines, Spinel Ciao, moka pots, and Mazzer grinders. Adjacent lines include Aromagic Frozen cold brew concentrate, bottled Cold Brew, Old Sailor Coffee liqueur, Amaro al Caffè, Baci Barbera chocolate truffles, and Cioccaffè chocolate-covered beans. Pricing spans €3.40 (250g Europa ground) to €3,500 (professional espresso machine), with capsule packs up to 330-count Heritage aluminum at €110.

The revenue model combines direct e-commerce sales (one-time purchases), B2B Ho.Re.Ca. wholesale (including a 3kg professional line), and franchise/licensing royalties from the Cafè Barbera coffee shop brand. Customer segments are Home Consumer, Office, Ho.Re.Ca., and international Franchisees. Strategic emphasis under Elio Barbera has shifted toward web and social media development, blockchain-based supply chain traceability (in partnership with TrackGood, 2024), and adjacent product innovation. The company is privately held, self-financed, with no external investors identified, and employs 51-100 people across a legal office in Naples and an operational/shipping facility in Trentola Ducenta.

Name

Caffè Barbera 1870

Legal name

Barbera Caffè S.p.A.

Website

https://caffebarbera.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1870

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Caffè Barbera 1870 is a sixth-generation, family-owned Neapolitan coffee roaster founded in 1870, selling beans, capsules, pods, machines, and adjacent coffee products to home consumers, offices, and Ho.Re.Ca. businesses across 55+ countries via e-commerce, franchise, and distributor channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Roasted Coffee

NAICS

Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920), Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (31192)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Coffee (Roasted, Ground, Whole Bean) (CRADAHAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Coffee, Espresso & Tea Appliances Retail (CRACADAC), Coffee Chains & Franchise Cafes (THAFADAB), Single-Serve Coffee (Pods, Capsules) (CRADAHAH), Coffee & Tea Concentrates, Syrups & Extracts (CRADAHAI)

Keywords

• Italian coffee roasting
• Espresso coffee blends
• Coffee capsules pods
• Professional coffee machines
• HoReCa coffee supply

Headquarters

HQ city

Napoli

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct E-commerce Sales: B2C and B2B online sales through caffebarbera.com selling whole beans, ground coffee, capsules, pods, coffee machines, accessories, and gift sets. Products range from consumer-sized packages (250g-1kg) to professional quantities (3kg).
2. Franchise Operations: The Cafè Barbera franchise chain, inaugurated in 2003 in Dubai, generates revenue through franchise fees and provides a global distribution network. The company operates or licenses coffee shop locations worldwide.
3. B2B / Ho.Re.Ca. Wholesale: Sales to hotels, restaurants, cafes (Ho.Re.Ca.) including bulk coffee products for professional bars, branded accessories, and professional espresso machines.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Caffè Barbera 1870 roasts and sells Italian espresso coffee products including whole beans, ground coffee, and capsules/pods compatible with Nespresso, Dolce Gusto, Lavazza A Modo Mio, and E.S.E. systems. The company also sells professional bar espresso machines, home pod/capsule machines, moka pots, grinders, and coffee accessories, and operates a franchised coffee shop chain launched in 2003. Distribution combines direct e-commerce, B2B wholesale to the hospitality sector, and an international franchise network.

Product overview

Caffè Barbera 1870 is an Italian coffee roasting company offering a comprehensive coffee product portfolio organized around multiple brewing formats. The core offerings center on whole beans and ground coffee in various blends (Mago, Classica, Pregevole, Europa, Maghetto, Oro, Hesperia, Clean Cup Blend), complemented by single-origin specialty coffees. The company provides coffee in multiple capsule/pod formats including Nespresso-compatible (Aromagic, Aromagic Plus, Heritage), Dolce Gusto-compatible, Lavazza A Modo Mio-compatible, and FAP E.S.E. pods (Aromagic cialde in Intensa, Plus, and Decaf variants). Equipment includes professional bar espresso machines, pod machines (Spinel Ciao, AROMA Inferno line), and moka pots (Napoletana, Classica), plus accessories (grinders, quality control kits, granitore machines). The brand extends beyond coffee into coffee-based beverages (Cold Brew, Aromagic Frozen), liqueurs (Old Sailor Coffee, Amaro al Caffè), and confections (Baci Barbera truffles). Products are sold through Home Consumer, Office, and Ho.Re.Ca. (Hotel/Restaurant/Café) channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Caffè in Grani (Whole Coffee Beans) Whole coffee beans in multiple blends including Mago (7 origins, 1kg/3kg), Classica (1kg/500g), Pregevole, Europa, Maghetto, Hesperia, and Clean Cup Blend 100% Arabica. Sold to home consumers, offices, and Ho.Re.Ca. channels.
• Caffè Macinato (Ground Coffee) Pre-ground coffee in 250g, 500g, 1kg, and 2x250g packs across blends such as Oro, Pregevole, Europa, Maghetto, Vintage Can (500g), and SENCAF decaffeinated. Targets home moka and espresso consumers.
• Aromagic Nespresso-compatible Capsules Coffee capsules compatible with Nespresso Original machines, marketed under the Aromagic brand in multiple pack sizes for home and office use.
• Aromagic Dolce Gusto-compatible Capsules Coffee capsules compatible with Nescafé Dolce Gusto machines, sold under the Aromagic brand for home consumers.
• Aromagic Lavazza A Modo Mio-compatible Capsules Coffee capsules compatible with Lavazza A Modo Mio machines, offered in Intensa blend for home consumers in 50 and 400 capsule packs.
• Cialde Caffè (E.S.E. Coffee Pods) E.S.E. format paper coffee pods in Intensa, Aromagic Plus, and Decaf variants, made with 100% biodegradable and compostable cellulose filters. Packs of 20 to 150 pods for home and office use.
• FAP Capsules FAP (Friendly Alternative Pods) capsules compatible with E.S.E. pod machines, offered in the Aromagica Plus blend.
• Professional 2-Group Bar Espresso Machine Professional 2-group espresso machine for Ho.Re.Ca. establishments, built with premium materials for high-volume bar use.
• Spinel Ciao Pod Coffee Machine Home pod/capsule coffee machine compatible with Aromagic E.S.E. pods, available in various bundle configurations for home consumers.
• AROMA Capsule Machine (Linea Inferno) Capsule coffee machine in the Inferno line, bundled with Aromagic cialde pods in packs of 50, 100, or 150.
• Moka Pots (Moka Napoletana and Moka Classica) 3-cup Italian moka pots including Moka Napoletana (aluminum) and Moka Classica (aluminum body with stainless steel induction-suitable base), sold with or without coffee included.
• Mazzer Super Jolly Professional Grinder Professional burr coffee grinder by Mazzer, sold for €950, marketed for professional bar use and high-end home consumers.
• Quality Control Kit Portable professional quality control kit with pressure gauge, digital thermometer, blind filter, precision scale, 7g doser, and water hardness test, sold for €155 to bar professionals.
• Aromagic Frozen Cold Brew Concentrate Frozen cold brew coffee concentrate sold in 1kg packages for Ho.Re.Ca. and franchise use, designed for the Granitore slush machine.
• Bottled Cold Brew Coffee Ready-to-drink sweetened cold brew coffee in 200ml bottles, sold in 6-bottle packs through retail and e-commerce.
• Old Sailor Coffee Liqueur 70cl coffee liqueur made with the Mago seven-origin blend, with a recipe inspired by fishermen adding rum and anise distillates to coffee.
• Amaro al Caffè 50cl coffee-flavored amaro (Italian bitter liqueur) branded under Caffè Barbera, sold through e-commerce.
• Baci Barbera Chocolate Truffles Chocolate torroncini truffles flavored with Caffè Barbera's signature coffee blend, sold in 300g boxes of 20 pieces under the Piccole Voglie category.
• Piccole Voglie Range (Syrups and Chocolates) Range of coffee-flavored syrups, chocolate-covered coffee beans (Cioccaffè), and related confections sold under the Piccole Voglie (Little Cravings) category.
• Clean Cup Blend (100% Arabica) Single-origin 100% Arabica blend sourced from Rica and Colombia plantations, featuring notes of dark chocolate, dried fruit, caramel, and citrus, with full blockchain-based traceability.
• Single Origin Coffees Specialty single-origin whole bean coffees including Shangrila Red Bourbon, Sidamo Gr.1 Bona, and Baron Blue Java, sold in 250g packs.
• Box Regalo (Gift Boxes) Curated gift box sets including Tradizione (Pregevole, Maghetto, Europa, Napoletana moka, and Baci), Storia (Vintage Can and Baci), and Moka gift sets with branded cups.
• Branded Coffee Accessories Branded coffee accessories including espresso cups (200ml, 260ml), sugar packets (5g, 10kg boxes), insulated travel mugs (340ml), serving trays, sugar bowl sets, and the 40cl double-filter cappucciniera milk frother.
• Caffè Barbera Franchise Program Franchised Caffè Barbera branded coffee shops launched in 2003 with the first location in Dubai, providing entrepreneurs an established Italian coffee brand, training, and operating model.

Quantifiable outcome

• Presence in more than 55 countries across 5 continents

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Trackgood Ltd.coreTechnology or Integration · 2 September 2024Partnership with Trackgood Ltd. for blockchain-based supply chain traceability platform. Caffè Barbera was among the first companies to adopt a total supply chain traceability system using a decentralized blockchain platform with the objective of building complete transparency from their farms to the final product.
• AnimaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 September 2024Collaboration with Anima as part of the 2024 innovation project following the 2022 traceability initiative launch. Details of the specific collaboration scope are limited.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lavazza: Turin-based Italian coffee roaster with comparable heritage, multi-format products (beans, ground, capsules including A Modo Mio system, machines), and global Ho.Re.Ca. + franchise distribution. Direct competitor for Italian premium espresso positioning and capsule share.
• illy caffè: Trieste-based Italian premium espresso roaster with global Ho.Re.Ca. distribution, university-linked R&D heritage (Ernesto Illy Foundation), and a comparable single-pod (ESE/ISS) capsule system. Direct brand-equity competitor in premium Italian espresso.
• Kimbo: Naples-based Italian coffee roaster (founded 1963) with shared Neapolitan heritage, comparable blend-led product line (beans, ground, capsules, pods), and similar Ho.Re.Ca. focus in Southern Italy. Most direct regional/head-to-head competitor in Caffè Barbera's home market.
• Segafredo Zanetti: Italian coffee roaster with a more developed global coffee-shop franchise model (Segafredo Zanetti Caffè Espresso). Comparable in product range, Italian heritage, and franchise-driven international expansion strategy.
• Pellini Caffè: Verona-based Italian coffee roaster (founded 1922) with comparable Italian-heritage positioning, multi-format capsule/pod offerings (Caffè Borbone plus own Pellini capsule), and parallel B2B + export strategy in 60+ countries.
• Bialetti Industrie: Italian heritage coffee-equipment brand centred on the Moka Express and broader moka/espresso equipment line. Directly comparable to Caffè Barbera's Moka Napoletana + Moka Classica lineup and shared Italian-coffee-tradition brand narrative.

Broad incumbents

• Massimo Zanetti Beverage Group: Parent of brands including Segafredo Zanetti, Boncafé, and Hills Bros., controlling a large portfolio across retail, foodservice, and franchise. Operates broadly in the same industry as Caffè Barbera but at vastly larger scale and product breadth.
• De'Longhi: Italian coffee-machine manufacturer with household-name espresso and Nespresso-compatible equipment globally. Comparable end-consumer product overlap with Caffè Barbera's Aroma Inferno, Spinel Ciao, and professional 2-group espresso machines.
• Nestlé Nespresso: Owner of the Nespresso Originals system that Caffè Barbera's Aromagic capsules explicitly target as a compatible alternative. Same end-customer, similar product format, and direct competitor in the high-volume single-serve Italian capsule segment.

Regional players

• La Marzocco: Florence-based manufacturer of premium Italian espresso machines with strong specialty-coffee presence in Italian Ho.Re.Ca., directly comparable to the Professional 2-group Bar Machine offering in Caffè Barbera's equipment portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/barberacaffe

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Caffè Barbera 1870