Essse Caffè

What Essse Caffè does

Essse Caffè S.P.A. is an Italian coffee roaster founded in 1979 by the Segafredo family and headquartered in Anzola dell'Emilia, Bologna. The company produces refined espresso blends under its proprietary "3S" formula (Scienza, Sapienza, Specializzazione) and operates with a mid-sized workforce of 101–250 employees and a share capital of €3,000,000. Its commercial focus is the Ho.Re.Ca. channel (bars, restaurants, hotels), which it serves directly in Italy through dedicated account management and field-sales support including barista training via "La Classe di Essse." Since 2000 the company has expanded internationally via a curated distributor network now covering more than 60 countries.

The company's technical core is the Sistema Espresso, a closed capsule-based platform comprising proprietary espresso machines (S.12, S.20, Myra) designed by Italdesign Giugiaro, with a patented dispenser nozzle on the S.12 and RFID-based capsule authentication on professional-grade machines that exclude third-party capsules. The capsule line spans traditional espresso blends (Maestoso, Barocco, Infinito, Arabesco, Decaffeinato, Ideale), a half-caffeine variant unique in the company's claim to the portfolio, single-origin Rainforest Alliance-certified capsules (Colombia Supremo, Honduras San Andrés) under the Latitudini line, and adjacent hot beverages (Ginseng, Orzo, infusions, green tea, chocolate). Beyond capsules, Essse sells coffee beans, paper pods (cialde), ground coffee (macinato) and accessories such as a branded milk frother and designer cup collections.

Commercially, revenue is generated through a hybrid model: B2B sales of bulk/professional blends and machines to Ho.Re.Ca. operators (direct in Italy, distributor-led internationally), B2C sales of machines and capsules through the shop.esssecaffe.com e-commerce storefront and a single flagship store on Via Galliera in Bologna, and a recurring "Abbonamento" subscription for home delivery. The company is supported by an extensive certification stack — ISO 9001 (since 2002), ISO 14001 (held for 20+ years), ISO 45001 (since 2010), INEI Italian Espresso certification, plus Halal, Kosher and EAC conformity for export — and by long-standing scientific collaborations with the Universities of Bologna, Foggia and Cesena, underwriting claims of consistent Italian espresso quality across professional and at-home use cases.

Name

Essse Caffè

Legal name

Essse Caffè S.P.A.

Website

https://esssecaffe.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Essse Caffè is an Italian family-owned coffee roaster founded in 1979, serving Ho.Re.Ca. professionals in Italy and 60+ countries with espresso blends, its proprietary Sistema Espresso capsule platform, and home/office delivery.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Italian Espresso Coffee

NAICS

Beverage Manufacturing (3121)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Coffee Blending & Flavoring (AFAFADAC)

Keywords

• Italian coffee roasting
• Espresso capsule systems
• Professional coffee machines
• Coffee bean blends
• Ho.Re.Ca. supplies

Headquarters

HQ city

Anzola Dell'emilia

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

Revenue model

1. Coffee Product Sales: Sale of premium coffee blends including whole beans, capsules, ground coffee, and pods. Products include proprietary blends (Maestoso, Barocco, Infinito, Arabesco, Ideale, Decaffeinato) and single-origin capsules (Colombia Supremo, Honduras San Andrés).
2. Coffee Machines: Sale of proprietary coffee machines (S.12, S.20, Myra) designed by Giugiaro Design for home and office use.
3. Subscription Service: Online subscription service (Abbonamento) offering recurring delivery of coffee products to home consumers.
4. Professional Blends for Ho.Re.Ca. Bulk/professional coffee blends and services sold to bars, restaurants, and hotels in Italy and internationally through distribution network.
5. Accessories: Sale of branded accessories including the Essse Caffè milk frother (Montalatte), limited edition cups, and descaling products.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Essse Caffè roasts and distributes premium Italian espresso blends under its proprietary 3S formula (Scienza, Sapienza, Specializzazione), supplying capsule systems, coffee beans, ground coffee, paper pods, and professional-grade espresso machines for both Ho.Re.Ca. channels and home consumers. The company also provides barista training services and accessories through its flagship Bologna store and international distributor network spanning 60+ countries.

Product overview

Essse Caffè is an Italian coffee company founded in 1979 producing refined coffee blends under the 3S formula (Scienza, Sapienza, Specializzazione). The product portfolio centers on Sistema Espresso, a capsule-based coffee platform comprising proprietary machines (S.20, S.12, MYRA) designed by Italdesign Giugiaro with RFID security technology, and an exclusive capsule line of premium espresso blends (MAESTOSO, BAROCCO, INFINITO, ARABESCO, DECAFFEINATO, IDEALE, RAPSODIA Limited Edition) and single-origin capsules (COLOMBIA SUPREMO, HONDURAS SAN ANDRÉS from the Latitudini sensory line). The system also includes alternative hot beverages in capsule form (GINSENG, ORZO, infusions, tea, chocolate). Beyond capsules, Essse Caffè offers coffee beans, paper pods, and ground coffee for traditional preparation methods. Accessories include milk frothers and designer cup collections. The company also operates La Classe di Essse, a professional training center for HORECA sector, and provides Barista Championship training programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sistema Espresso

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 60 countries served internationally
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rainforest AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership ensures sustainable sourcing of green coffee within a controlled supply chain, with particular attention to biodiversity conservation and respect for workers' rights in origin territories. This partnership enables the Latitudini – Itinerari Sensoriali single-origin capsule line.
• Università di BolognacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScientific collaboration since 1979 with the Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentare for coffee quality research from green bean to cup, from roasting to packaging, from professional equipment to espresso extraction. Joint publication of 'Scienza del caffè Espresso' book.
• Università di FoggiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing scientific collaboration since 1979 with the Faculty of Agriculture for coffee quality research. Professor Carla Severini served as editor for the 'Scienza del caffè Espresso' research publication.
• Istituto Nazionale Espresso ItalianocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember since 1998; Essse Caffè professional blends certified according to technical specification number 008 for Italian Espresso.
• Consorzio di tutela del caffè espresso italiano tradizionaleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member of the consortium dedicated to promotion, enhancement, and protection of Traditional Italian Espresso among sector operators and consumers, with commitment to UNESCO intangible heritage recognition.
• Umberto Veronesi FoundationminorOthersPartnership supporting breast cancer research through product collections (pink-themed cups and coffee) and the 'Un caffè sospeso per la Ricerca' campaign where Ho.Re.Ca. customers donate equivalent to an espresso price. Donations have funded a one-year researcher scholarship.
• Sportfund OnlusminorOthersSupport for inclusive sports activities organization and promotion dedicated to persons with disabilities. In 2019, hosted the 'Siblings in Sport' photography exhibition at the Via Galliera store.
• Fondazione per lo Sport Silvia Rinaldi OnlusminorOthersSupport for sports activities and events dedicated to persons with disabilities as part of Essse's broader social commitment.
• Italdesign GiugiarocoreTechnology or IntegrationDesign partnership for Sistema Espresso machines (S.12, S.20) providing exclusive industrial design by Italdesign Giugiaro with lightweight forms and compact dimensions.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• illy: Premium Italian espresso company offering the iperEspresso capsule system, ESE pods, and a strong Ho.Re.Ca. and home presence. Directly comparable to Essse Caffè in positioning (premium authentic Italian espresso), product format mix (capsules plus traditional pods/beans), and university research-driven quality narrative.
• Caffè Vergnano: Italian family-owned coffee roaster founded in 1882 with a wide range of beans, pods, capsules, and Ho.Re.Ca. offerings, plus international distribution. Comparable to Essse Caffè as a heritage Italian family roaster with capsule systems and a dual Ho.Re.Ca./retail go-to-market.
• Caffè Borbone: Italian coffee company specializing in single-serve compatible and proprietary capsules with strong growth in both retail and Ho.Re.Ca. channels. Comparable to Essse Caffè as a similarly sized Italian competitor competing in the capsule segment with multi-channel distribution.
• Pellini: Italian coffee roaster with a strong Ho.Re.Ca. footprint and a proprietary single-serve capsule system (TuttoMondo). Comparable to Essse Caffè as a mid-sized Italian roaster with a closed-loop capsule platform targeting professional and home consumers.
• Kimbo: Neapolitan Italian coffee roaster with significant Ho.Re.Ca. and retail presence, offering beans, ground coffee, and capsule formats. Comparable to Essse Caffè as a privately held Italian mid-market coffee roaster targeting professional and home consumers with similar product format breadth.
• Lavazza: Italian family-founded coffee roaster with broad Ho.Re.Ca. presence and the proprietary A Modo Mio capsule system, plus a global retail and foodservice business. Closely comparable to Essse Caffè as a premium Italian espresso roaster with capsule hardware, B2B professional channel, and international distributor footprint.
• Segafredo Zanetti: Italian coffee brand within the Massimo Zanetti Beverage Group, focused on the Ho.Re.Ca. channel with strong global presence. Highly comparable to Essse Caffè as an Italian roaster built around professional out-of-home consumption, with the caveat of potential brand-name confusion with the Segafredo family.

Broad incumbents

• Nespresso: Nestlé's flagship premium capsule coffee brand and the global category leader in single-serve espresso. Comparable to Essse Caffè as a closed-loop capsule ecosystem competing for the same premium home and office espresso occasion, but with vastly greater scale, marketing investment, and machine installed base.
• Bialetti Industrie: Italian iconic coffee machine and moka pot manufacturer that has expanded into capsule systems and packaged coffee. Comparable to Essse Caffè in serving the Italian home coffee ritual and in the coffee accessories/machine category.
• Massimo Zanetti Beverage Group: Italian-headquartered multinational coffee group owning Segafredo Zanetti and other brands, with a large Ho.Re.Ca. and retail portfolio worldwide. Comparable to Essse Caffè at the category level as a global Italian coffee platform, though at materially larger scale and broader geographic mix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/esssecaffe
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/essse
• Instagraminstagram.com/essse_caffe
• Xx.com/espressoinitaly

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Essse Caffè