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The coffee scene in Milan is varied, effervescent and in radical transformation. Every day I see new bars and specialty coffee places appear, offering a surprising variety of blends and single origin. It’s now possible to choose between different preparation methods too: from the classic espresso to a great filter and even nitro coffee.
Breakfast at the bar is a fundamental ritual for me. The coffee must be exceptional, the cup hot, the croissant fragrant and the barista polite and friendly! Customer service is an integral part of the experience. I want to feel at ease, as if I were at home.
I am a big fan of traditional bars and of espresso. My two places of the heart are Gattullo and Marchesi (the historical one, next to Cairoli) because they are full of history. They make me feel part of a Milan that is timeless and ageless.
The bar environment often inspires me. I like to observe people busy with their everyday life and small details, like a nice teaspoon, a dog watching his owner eat or the perfect foam on a cappuccino. When inspiration arrives, I take a napkin or a receipt and quickly make a sketch. Once home, I take the time to rework them.
If I had to paint the sensation related to a steaming cup of coffee, I would choose warm and sensual colours, like those of natural lands: burnt Sienna, burnt umber and Indian red. Like coffee, they are deep, luminous and comforting. Pretty much all the important events of my life, as well as the beginning of great friendships, took place in front of a comforting, good cup of coffee.