“What created has the ability to stand the test of time, which is the most important thing. It’s defined by our heritage and our story and the way we do things. Hopefully, what he created will long outlast him.” — Luigi Di Ruocco
Mr. Espresso Founder Carlo Di Ruocco Dies at 90
Carlo Di Ruocco, the trailblazing founder of Mr. Espresso, one of the Bay Area’s oldest and most influential coffee companies, died in his sleep on Jan. 17, 2025. He was 90 years old.
Di Ruocco, a native of Italy, is credited as one of the pioneers of Italian espresso in America. When he started Mr. Espresso in the East Bay in 1978, it was among the first in the country to specialize in professional espresso equipment, and later, exclusively oak-wood roasted beans.
He is survived by his wife, Marie Francoise; his children, Laurence, John and Luigi; and six grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Food 4 Farmers, which supports coffee-farming families.
Read more in The San Francisco Chronicle.