Giuseppe Trovato
Export Manager
Zicaffe’ Spa
Marsala, Italy
What other coffee jobs have you had?
Zicaffe’ is the one and only.
What’s your favorite part about working in coffee?
Challenges: Letting the world know about an almost anonymous Italian coffee company. So far, we are in 50 countries.
Learning: In the world of coffee, the Italian blends are only a part of it. There is a whole world to discover out there.
Sharing: Coffee knowledge is always good to share with coffee people. Especially if you think the 70% of them can be friends.
Where do you ideally see yourself in 10 years?
Same place as the last 10 years: in an airport, looking forward to [flying somewhere] to challenge, learn, and share.
Who and what inspires you?
First, for sure, my dad, who has always been a loyal and hard worker. Second, my mom, whose tenacity knows no limits. And third, my boss, who still enjoys the traveling part of this job after 30 years.
What are you drinking right now?
As an Italian, I am an espresso lover. I usually drink our blends. But I also asked our factory to roast each single origin separately, in order to experience and experiment.
Crazy/memorable coffee experience you’d like to share?
Any winter trip to Russia is a crazy/memorable coffee experience. I travel around Russia in the most inconvenient transport conditions (13-hour night-trains, Soviet-time buses) for coffee masterclasses. But the interest (and gratitude) of the audience makes my frozen toes warm again and again.
What do you do when you’re not doing coffee?
I enjoy Sicily, my homeland, which is one of the most beautiful places in the world.
