“Wood-fired roasting is at the heart of Mr. Espresso,” he adds. “We think it produces a better and more unique product.” – John Di Ruocco

How does wood-fired roasting work? John Di Ruocco explains one of the most traditional methods of roasting coffee

Wood roasting is a rarity in a market where most coffee is currently roasted with gas or electric roasters. For its “Roasting Machines Explained” series, Barista Magazine asked Mr. Espresso’s VP of Coffee, John Di Ruocco, to explain the company’s traditional Italian technique over roasting over a wood fire and what makes it special.

John says a crucial difference with natural gas is that wood heat has a higher moisture content, which makes it more suitable for slow roasting, reducing acidity while improving body and sweetness. The result is a coffee with more crema, a fuller flavor, and a smoother finish, characteristics essential to the classic Italian style of espresso.

“When my father decided to make his own coffee, he wanted to do it the same way he had learned to make it in Italy, with a wood-fired roasting machine that, at the time, was unique in the U.S.,“ he says. “And even today, as a company, we’re getting a lot of attention for that: We’re the oldest wood-fired roaster in the U.S. and probably one of the largest.”

Read the full Barista Magazine interview here.

The Caffè Is Architizer’s Best Restaurant Design Finalist

We are proud to announce The Caffè by Mr. Espresso has been recognized as a finalist in the annual ArchitizerA+ Awards for Restaurants <1,000 sq. ft. Architizer celebrates the world’s best architecture and design through projects, competitions, awards, and stories, offering inspiration and tools for architects. We are thrilled that the care and intention that went into the design of The Caffè were recognized by Archetizer in this global list [...]

The Caffè by Mr. Espresso • Coming SPRING 2023!

We are very proud to announce the Spring 2023 opening of The Caffè by Mr. Espresso. The Caffè will be located just blocks from our roastery, in the heart of Downtown Oakland at 1120 Broadway in The Key at 12th.

Two Mr. Espresso Coffees Named Good Food Awards Finalists

We are proud to announce that two Mr. Espresso coffees were named Good Food Awards Finalists 2022 by the Good Food Foundation. Our Organic/Fair Trade Certified Guatemala CODECH - Women’s Lot (medium-light roast) and Organic Ethiopia Shantawene Natural (light roast) are among the 25 coffee division finalists from across the country.

Mr. Espresso named Roaster of the Year Finalist

“Mr. Espresso has a mission is to keep Italy’s espresso tradition relevant within America’s evolving coffee culture, and to improve upon it through a focus on quality, sustainability, [...]