ITALIAN ESPRESSO NATIONAL INSTITUTE Although Italians are not coffee producers, Espresso is now one of the most successful symbols of “made in Italy” worldwide. Espresso is also among the products that are copied the most, often with very poor results. It is not rare for the word espresso, coupled as it may be with other words or symbols evoking the spirit of Italy, to conceal simple blends of poor quality coffee or even products that have nothing to do with the little cup that cheers people up by giving them long lasting and superfine pleasure. Therefore, on 6 July 1998 the Istituto Nazionale Espresso Italiano (Inei) was founded, with the specific aim of safeguarding and promoting Espresso. – after three years of extensive research, conducted by the Istituto Internazionale Assaggiatori Caffè (International Coffee Taster Institute) and by the Centro Studi e Formazione Assaggiatori (Research and Training Centre for Tasters) with the collaboration of the lecturers from the Universities of Udine and Turin, and aiming at defining the quality expectations of those who order a cup of espresso. In a little more than one year, Inei obtained certification for espresso coffee with the mark Espresso Italiano (certificate of product conformity Csqa n. 214 - 24 September 1999, DTP 008 Ed.1). To guarantee consumers who choose to drink espresso at coffee bars bearing its mark, a strict technical specification was issued, requiring: - the use of a certified coffee blend; - the use of certified equipment(machine grinder- dispenser); - the use of licensed personnel. Compliance with the three conditions above, under the supervision of the experts from the Italian Espresso National Institute and of the auditors of the Certifying Body, is it possible to offer the consumer a coffee identified by the Espresso Italiano mark. |
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