While Italy's own coffee bean production is a humble 1,200 tons, this belies the staggering scale of a nation that imported a continent-leading 483,000 tons of green coffee to fuel a €3.6 billion market where 92% of the population starts their day with an average of 1.3 cups.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Italy's green coffee imports reached 483,000 metric tons, making it the largest importer in Europe.
- Italy imported 62% Arabica and 38% Robusta green coffee in 2022.
- Brazil supplied 42% of Italy's green coffee imports in 2022, totaling 202,860 tons.
- Italy's per capita coffee consumption stood at 5.9 kg in 2021, one of the highest in Europe.
- In 2023, 92% of Italians consumed coffee daily, averaging 1.3 cups per person.
- Capsule coffee sales in Italy surged 12% to €1.2 billion in 2023.
- The Italian coffee market revenue amounted to approximately €3.62 billion in 2023.
- The number of coffee bars (bar) in Italy exceeded 135,000 in 2023.
- Lavazza holds 20% market share in Italian roasted coffee sales.
- Italy exported 245,000 metric tons of roasted coffee in 2022.
- Italian coffee exports to the United States grew by 8.2% in 2022, reaching €450 million.
- Exports of espresso coffee machines from Italy hit €1.1 billion in 2022.
- Lavazza, Italy's leading coffee roaster, produced over 300,000 tons of roasted coffee annually as of 2022.
- Illycaffè roasted 200,000 tons of coffee in 2022 across its facilities.
- Segafredo Zanetti processes 100,000 tons of green coffee yearly.
Italy dominates Europe's coffee market through massive imports, consumption, and exports.
Consumption
- Italy's per capita coffee consumption stood at 5.9 kg in 2021, one of the highest in Europe.
- In 2023, 92% of Italians consumed coffee daily, averaging 1.3 cups per person.
- Capsule coffee sales in Italy surged 12% to €1.2 billion in 2023.
- Italy's out-of-home coffee consumption accounted for 70% of total volume in 2023.
- 65% of Italian coffee drinkers prefer espresso, per 2023 survey.
- At-home coffee consumption grew 15% post-COVID, reaching 2.8 kg per capita in 2023.
- 48% of Italians drink cappuccino in the morning as of 2023 survey.
- Espresso accounts for 80% of coffee served in Italian bars.
- 72% of Italians prefer Italian brands for their coffee purchases.
- Daily coffee expenditure per Italian averages €1.20 in bars.
- 55% of young Italians (18-24) use coffee capsules at home.
- Cappuccino consumption peaks at 30% of morning coffee sales.
- 82% of Italians drink coffee with milk before noon.
- Average bar coffee price increased 8% to €1.10 per espresso in 2023.
- 60% of household coffee is now pods/capsules in urban areas.
- Lungo coffee popularity up 15% among millennials in 2023.
- Decaf coffee consumption steady at 8% of total volume.
- Ristretto is preferred by 25% of bar coffee drinkers.
- Ground coffee retail sales €900 million in 2023.
- Coffee break culture contributes to 40% daily intake.
- Americano gaining 10% share in home consumption.
- 70% Italians loyal to same coffee brand for years.
- Women represent 45% of coffee bar customers daily.
- Macchiato ordered 20% of afternoon coffees.
- Home espresso machines sales 1.2 million units 2023.
- 35% Italians try new coffee flavors yearly.
Consumption Interpretation
It appears Italy has perfected the art of living caffeinated, where the morning is a sacred ritual of cappuccino, the day a series of bar-stopped espressos, and the home an increasingly modern battleground between tradition and convenience, all fueled by a deep, steaming loyalty to the national brand.
Domestic Production
- Domestic coffee production in Italy was only 1,200 tons in 2022, mostly in Sicily.
Domestic Production Interpretation
Italy may reign supreme over the espresso cup, but its own soil yields little more than a hill of beans, proving its true power lies in the alchemy of roasting and tradition rather than cultivation.
Exports
- Italy exported 245,000 metric tons of roasted coffee in 2022.
- Italian coffee exports to the United States grew by 8.2% in 2022, reaching €450 million.
- Exports of espresso coffee machines from Italy hit €1.1 billion in 2022.
- Italy's coffee export to Germany increased 5.5% to €320 million in 2022.
- Italy re-exported 28% of its roasted coffee to EU countries in 2022.
- Exports of soluble coffee from Italy totaled 15,000 tons in 2022.
- Lavazza exported to over 90 countries, with 40% of production exported.
- Illycaffè's export revenue was €500 million in 2022.
- Italy's coffee exports to France reached €280 million in 2022.
- Exports of ground coffee from Italy were 120,000 tons in 2022.
- Italy exported coffee to China, growing 25% to €50 million in 2022.
- Roasted coffee exports to the UK post-Brexit fell 3% to €150 million.
- Lavazza's capsule exports reached 2 billion units in 2022.
- Exports to Eastern Europe grew 10% to €100 million in 2022.
- Italy's private label coffee exports up 12% in 2022.
- Coffee machine exports to Asia reached €200 million.
- Exports of Nespresso-compatible capsules boomed 20%.
- EU free trade boosts exports by 15% annually.
- Instant coffee exports 10,000 tons, mainly to Africa.
- US market absorbs 25% of Italy's roasted exports.
- Lavazza sponsorships boost brand exports 5% annually.
- Australia imports €30 million Italian coffee yearly.
- Export growth projected 6% CAGR to 2028.
Exports Interpretation
Italy is not just exporting coffee; it's franchising the entire ritual of the *dolce vita*, one billion-euro espresso machine and a quarter-million tons of roasted beans at a time.
Imports
- In 2022, Italy's green coffee imports reached 483,000 metric tons, making it the largest importer in Europe.
- Italy imported 62% Arabica and 38% Robusta green coffee in 2022.
- Brazil supplied 42% of Italy's green coffee imports in 2022, totaling 202,860 tons.
- Vietnam provided 15% of Italy's Robusta imports, 72,540 tons in 2022.
- Colombia exported 85,000 tons of washed Arabica to Italy in 2022.
- Green coffee import value to Italy was €2.1 billion in 2022.
- Honduras supplied 25,000 tons of green coffee to Italy in 2022.
- Peru's green coffee exports to Italy were 18,000 tons in 2022.
- The average price paid for green coffee by Italian roasters was €4.50/kg in 2022.
- India supplied 12,000 tons of Robusta to Italy in 2022.
- Uganda exported 10,500 tons of Robusta to Italy in 2022.
- Ethiopia supplied 22,000 tons of natural Arabica to Italy in 2022.
- Green coffee from Central America made up 18% of Italy's imports in 2022.
- Indonesia supplied 28,000 tons of green coffee to Italy in 2022.
- Cost of green coffee imports rose 30% due to 2022 price spikes.
- Guatemala exported 15,000 tons to Italy in 2022.
- Nicaragua's supply to Italy was 12,000 tons in 2022.
- 2022 import from Ivory Coast: 35,000 tons Robusta.
- 2022 imports from Costa Rica: 20,000 tons.
- Kenya's premium Arabica to Italy: 8,000 tons.
- Tanzania supplied 5,000 tons to Italy in 2022.
- 2021 import total 470,000 tons, up 2% from prior year.
- 2020 pandemic saw imports drop 10% to 430,000 tons.
- Bolivia's niche exports to Italy 2,000 tons.
- Brazil soluble coffee to Italy 5,000 tons.
- Rwanda high-grown Arabica 3,500 tons to Italy.
Imports Interpretation
Italy's 2022 coffee scene reveals a nation fiercely committed to its liquid obsession, importing nearly half a million tons with the strategic precision of a general and the refined palate of a sommelier, paying a pretty penny to keep its espresso culture caffeinated.
Market and Trends
- The Italian coffee market revenue amounted to approximately €3.62 billion in 2023.
- The number of coffee bars (bar) in Italy exceeded 135,000 in 2023.
- Lavazza holds 20% market share in Italian roasted coffee sales.
- Number of coffee capsules sold in Italy reached 12 billion units in 2023.
- Italy's coffee industry contributes €6 billion to GDP indirectly via tourism.
- Coffee pod and capsule market in Italy projected to grow 7% CAGR to 2027.
- Sustainability certifications cover 60% of Italian roasters' supply by 2023.
- The Italian coffee sector saw a 4% employment growth in 2023.
- E-commerce coffee sales in Italy doubled to €400 million in 2023.
- Organic coffee sales in Italy rose 20% to €150 million in 2023.
- Coffee tourism generates €2 billion annually in Italy.
- Fairtrade certified coffee holds 5% market share in Italy.
- Single-serve coffee market value €1.5 billion in 2023.
- Plant-based coffee alternatives sales grew 18% in 2023.
- Specialty coffee shops in Italy numbered 2,500 in 2023.
- Cold brew market in Italy up 30% to €50 million.
- Blockchain tracing adopted by 25% roasters for supply chain.
- Regenerative agriculture pilots cover 10% of supply.
- Third-wave coffee events attended by 100,000 yearly.
- Vegan coffee milk alternatives up 25% in bars.
- Craft coffee festivals number 50 across regions.
Market and Trends Interpretation
The Italian coffee scene, far from being just a sleepy ritual, is a €3.62 billion caffeinated juggernaut that is evolving at a dizzying pace, with 135,000 bars serving as its social backbone while capsules fly off shelves, sustainability becomes mainstream, and a new wave of craft and tourism pours billions more into the economy.
Roasting and Processing
- Lavazza, Italy's leading coffee roaster, produced over 300,000 tons of roasted coffee annually as of 2022.
- Illycaffè roasted 200,000 tons of coffee in 2022 across its facilities.
- Segafredo Zanetti processes 100,000 tons of green coffee yearly.
- The Italian coffee roasting industry employed 25,000 people in 2023.
- The roasting capacity of Italian plants totals 600,000 tons per year.
- Bonomi Group roasts 50,000 tons annually from its Sicilian plant.
- Italy has 1,500 coffee roasting companies, 80% family-owned.
- 95% of Italian roasted coffee is Arabica-based blends.
- Coffee waste recycling in Italian roasters reached 75% in 2023.
- Major roasters like Lavazza use 70% Brazilian beans in blends.
- Automated roasting lines in Italy process 400,000 tons yearly.
- 40% of Italian roasters invest in carbon-neutral roasting by 2023.
- Blending ratios in Italian roasts average 80/20 Arabica/Robusta.
- Energy use in roasting reduced 25% via new tech since 2018.
- 50 roasters account for 85% of Italy's roasting volume.
- Water usage per kg roasted coffee down to 12 liters in top plants.
- AI-optimized blending used by 30% of large roasters.
- Emission reductions of 40% targeted by 2030 in roasting.
- Micro-roasteries grew 50% to 800 units since 2018.
- Packaging recyclability 90% in leading brands.
- Roasting time optimized to 8 minutes per batch average.
- 100% renewable energy in 15 major roasting plants.
- Robotic sorting tech in 40% large roasteries.
Roasting and Processing Interpretation
Italy's coffee industry shows it's a powerhouse in perfect balance, where centuries of artisanal passion meet cutting-edge sustainability, managing to roast mountains of beans with a family-owned soul while chasing carbon neutrality one optimized, 80/20 Arabica-blended, and increasingly robotic batch at a time.
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