Exploring The Coffee In Bari: History, Drinks, and Iconic Bars

If you have plans to check out the coffee scene in Bari, Italy, our guide will ensure you don’t miss any experiences that make this area in Puglia amazing!

The coffee experiences you will find in Italy are certainly nothing like what you would experience in the US. While there are large coffee producers that operate at a nation, and international level, there are also regional coffee roasters that make the coffee culture experience different in each city.

With local roasters, like Saicaf, that make Bari their home, as well as smaller specialty coffee roasters, like Caffè Cognetti, you can find a diverse selection of coffees all around the city. In addition, the Puglia region is also home to a pretty unique summertime coffee drink called: Caffè Leccese. This delicious local specialty is another reason why Bari has a coffee culture that you need to check out.

Of course there are coffee bars all over the city. The ubiquitousness of good coffee all over cities in Italy  is what makes life so much more enjoyable here. Like the beach shack serving delicious coffee to the fishermen on their return, to an amazing tiny bar in Bari Vecchia with the most friendly barista, Bari doesn’t disappoint.

The History Of Coffee In Bari

For Bari, Italy, the dominant coffee is Saicaf. It is a hometown favorite because it began in 1932 in Bari with a small cafe serving a coffee that was so good that it soon became necessary to build out their production facilities to produce it for a much larger market.

The name Saicaf comes from Società Anonima Industria Caffè and it begins by distributing locally with small production batches with an artisanal approach and a mindset oriented towards ever new challenges and the future. Eventually, Saicaf spread beyond the local boundaries of Bari and is now available worldwide.

If you are visiting Bari, you should definitely try an espresso in a proper bar, as opposed to first trying it at home. In my opinion, unless you have a commercial espresso machine, you won’t reach the level of perfection you can enjoy in a bar. After experiencing the espresso In Situ, you can buy some beans or capsules to bring home with you and relive the experience as best you can.

Famous Coffee Bars In Bari

Being a smaller southern city, Bari doesn’t have the French or Viennese influences like their northern counterparts, Trieste and Torino. Bari does maintain a style and culture all their own, and some of my favorite coffee bars in Bari include:

• Salvatore Petriella’s Caffè and Bistrot – This was the first place I enjoyed a Caffè Lecesse and it is still a favorite. The Caffè Leccese is a local delicacy that involves an espresso coffee and an almond syrup. Many recipes I’ve seen online describe it as having sweet almond milk, but this is not correct. The very sweet almond syrup is added to espresso and served over ice, which results in a thicker, sweeter drink that is perfect on a hot day.
• Mozart Caffè – First, let’s be clear which Caffè Mozart we’re reviewing here. I hadn’t realized that in addition to the popularity of this name across Italy, it is also popular in Bari. This bar at which I had the pleasure of dining is in the Murat area of Bari. We rarely go on the south side of the train station, so I can’t speak to the other restaurants that share the name. I strongly recommend putting Mozart Caffè in Bari on your list of places to try during your next visit. Between the fresh pastries, delicious coffee, friendly staff and early hours, it makes for an inviting stop to start your day.
• Nuovo Bar Riviera – One of the first things that you will need to keep clear is the actual name of this restaurant. Based on Google Maps, the name is Nuovo Bar Riviera. However, if you look at their Facebook page, you will also see it listed as Riviera Lounge Bar. Finally, if you base it on the signage out in front of the bar, you will see it named: Gran Caffè Riviera. Let’s just stick with Nuovo Bar Riviera because it seems to be the consensus. The reasons I highly recommend enjoying your breakfast at Nuovo Bar Riviera are threefold: The very affordable prices, especially for the spremuta. The views of the Adriatic alone are worth it. The food preparation is a step above a typical coffee bar in Italy.
• El Chiringuito – The vibe of the bar is extremely casual. In the morning it is full of fishermen returning from their adventures on the seas, and in the evening the ambiance is reggae music and the odd smoke. It has the feel of a real beach shack, but with an odd permanence which might be due to its longevity. There are no real seating options. Since you aren’t coming here for a meal, you can enjoy yourself on the nearby benches that line the coast, or you can try to get comfortable on the mini-piers that jut out to help the small boats. The real draw here is the location. Only a few steps from the end of the popular Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, and at the end of an active pier in the harbour. The views are spectacular and even though there is no beach, you won’t mind basically standing outside and enjoying your drink.

Modern Coffee Trends

The only trend that I noticed on my trips to Bari was the growth of the specialty coffee roaster. In general, I’m not a big fan of specialty roasters because I have found the resulting roast to be sour and unenjoyable. I love bitter coffee, but I just can’t deal with sour.

I don’t feel like calling out the specific specialty coffee bar chain in Bari, but I did try it and it was largely disappointing. My wife, who prefers a milky (and sometimes sugary) coffee, was able to taste the off-flavors even through hers.

Insider Tips For Coffee Lovers Visiting Bari

I have two tips, although I’m not sure how “insider” they are. First, for breakfast be sure to order a pasticciotto and a spremuta d’arancia. The former because it is delicious regional pastry that can kick your breakfast up a notch. The latter because of how economical Bari can be. Spremuta at a bar that we assumed would be on the pricier side was only €4 and worth every drop.

The second tip for a first timer to Bari, and especially in the summer, is to order a Caffè Lecesse. This deliciously sweet almond coffee will be a lifesaver as you try to escape from the midday heat of Bari.

More Bari Coffee Information