Coffee beans. Climate change opens up a new opportunity for Italy. Photo: Archive
In Italy, the Sicilian climate is becoming more and more tropical, as a result of global warming. It may be the right time to develop the first 100% Italian coffeefrom grain to roasting.
Almost 30 years ago, in the province of Palermo, the Morettino roasting started an experimental coffee plantation project. Production was never enough … until last year.
Discovering an Italian roast is, first, smelling the freshly ground beans filling the space under the factory roof, and then hearing the hum of the roasting machines as you wait to taste it. the hot drink preferred by Italians.
master roasters
The tour is led by Andrea Morettino, grandson of Angelo Morettino, the first of the family who converted the family apothecary into a roasting company in the 1950s.
In this part of the factory you can see the different countries of origin of the coffee, raw coffees, green coffees … “Green coffee will be worked through a long process up to roasting. It is a fundamental phase for us because we are master roasters ”Explains Andrea Morettino.
Coffee, the favorite drink of Italians. Photo: Clarin Archive
“A great pride”
Brazil, Indonesia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Honduras and, more recently, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda. The Morettino family matters to the whole world to develop your mix. A few meters away, however, Arabica coffee plants spread their fleshy foliage in front of the factory walls.
“These plants now reach two meters in height. Last year we had an extraordinary harvest, so seeing them grow, adapt and evolve every year, despite the threats and the evolution of climate change, is a great pride for us ”, exults Morettino.
climatic tropicalization
The morning is stuffy, humid, hot. A good description of phenomenon that has hit Sicily and southern Italy in recent years due to global warming: a climatic tropicalization. Until a few years ago, nothing predestined this Palermo factory to become an experimental coffee plantation.
In 2021, 30 kilos of Sicilian coffee were collected. Photo: Archive
“We are in San Lorenzo Colli, about 400 meters above sea level. It is a very cool area compared to the city center, because it is a little higher and here, in the gardens of our mansion, we have been planting all kinds of fruits from other countries of the world for more than 30 years ”.
in 2021 30 kilos of Sicilian coffee were collected. A portion was used to continue experimenting and between five and six kilos for tasting.
The 30 kilos collected last year may seem insignificant among the 500 tons of coffee the company produces each year. However, the Morettos hope to harvest a second Arabica crop again this year and will continue trials with Robusta plants over the next few years.
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Source: Clarin
