A Caffè Motta Review – A Coffee Favorite From Naples

ByBeppe Castro

A Caffè Motta review is an opportunity to taste some amazing coffee from Naples with a relatively recent history but with great flavor and global influence.

Caffè Motta Review - Package

In the 1960’s the husband and wife team of Michele Matromartino and Carmela Motta started a small coffee roaster in Melfi, which is a small town between Naples and Bari in Italy, and began selling roasted coffee beans using the brand: Brasiliana.

They later sold that plant and opened a new roastery in Salerno, which is just south of Naples. After more than 40 years of coffee roasting success, they handed the business over to their son Nicola Mastromartino who continues to grow the influence both across Italy and Internationally.

What Does Ho.Re.Ca Stand For?

When you learn about Italian coffee roasters you will come across the term Ho.Re.Ca., which indicates which sales channels and customer bases the businesses are focusing on. In this case, Ho.Re.Ca. stands for Hotel, Restaurants and Cafes, which is the more business-to-business focus, in contrast to the customers who are only interested in brewing the coffee at home. 

Caffè Motta Review - Double Pack

Does Naples Have Good Coffee?

Naples has a tradition of excellent coffee, and on a personal note, my favorite coffee is from Naples, so I’m a little biased. I prefer a bitter, flavorful coffee. I enjoy it without sugar or milk and the bold flavors of Neapolitan coffee are a perfect match for my tastes.

What Types Of Coffee Does Caffè Motta Offer For Sale?

Caffè Motta uses green coffee from around the world, and more specifically: Mexico, Honduras, Colombia, Peru, Brasil, India, Uganda, Vietnam and Indonesia. This Italian coffee bean is dark roasted at a temperature of 240° to 250° Celsius, which is typical of southern Italian espresso coffee. Caffè Motta uses a blend of Arabica and Robusta coffee beans which balances the flavors between Arabica’s sweet and slightly acidic aroma with the bitter and chocolatey flavors of the Robusta beans.

What Coffee Do They Drink In Naples?

Regarding the types of coffees that Neapolitans enjoy, as is typical in the rest of Italy, the coffee is typically consumed as an espresso, cappuccino, caffè americano and caffè corretto. Regarding which brands are drunk in Naples, in addition to Caffè Motta, you will find Kimbo, Caffè Borbone and Passalacqua offered all around the city and region. 

Caffè Motta Review - Cup & Spoon

What Does Napoli Coffee Taste Like?

According to one of my favorite coffee bars in Naples, there are 5 main differences between Neapolitan coffee and the rest of Italy. The entire article is here, but the TLDR version is summarized as:

  • Blend – Neapolitan coffee has a stronger taste and it is roasted at a higher temperature. It uses a mix of Arabica and Robusta coffee beans that offer a balance of higher caffeine and the bitter, chocolatey flavors.
  • Water – OK, everyone says their water is different and Gambrinus is no exception. You’ll have to judge for yourself if the water is important, but I will say I’ve enjoyed Neapolitan coffee in Naples, Rome and in the US.
  • Mode Of Service – The coffee is served boiling and in hot porcelain cups, but you must first drink a sip of water to cleanse the palate.
  • Bartender – OK, again, this might be self-serving for Gambrinus because I’ve made delightful coffee at home, and I’m a grump before my first cup.
  • Consumption – Naples leads Italy in coffee consumption per capita and for the number of bars per square kilometer. Also, a true Neapolitan drinks coffee for breakfast, morning snack, lunch, after lunch, afternoon snack and even after dinner. They believe a true Neapolitan consumes at least 5 cups per day.
Caffè Motta Review - Inside Pack

What Is The Coffee Tradition In Naples Italy?

One of my favorite aspects of getting a coffee in Naples is the caffè sospeso, which means suspended coffee. A caffè sospeso is a cup of coffee paid for in advance by a patron and is an anonymous act of charity. Someone would come into a café and should they desire, pay the price of two coffees but receive and drink only one. The receipt for the extra coffee is put into a large metal container near the door, or left with the barista, and a poor person could grab the receipt, or ask about it and be served a coffee for free.

How Did I Enjoy Caffè Motta Coffee?

If it isn’t clear from my description of Neapolitan coffee, this is my preferred blend and brewing a moka full of it is my preferred way to start the day, and this is no exception. I enjoyed the Intenso, which is a blend of Arabica and Robusta beans from Southeast Asia and Southeast Africa. As the name implies, it has full intensity with notes of tobacco and cinnamon. 

Caffè Motta Review - Coffee Cup

More Italian Coffee Experiences

If you enjoyed this Caffè Motta review and you are interested in learning more about the Italian coffee and the culture that embraces it, you should check out some of our other posts:

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