The all-Italian passion for espresso is at the heart of a dual exhibition in Brazil, curated by Elisabetta Pisu. The exhibition explores the evolution of coffee-related design and technology over time, linking it to the history of Italian emigration to Brazil, which in 2024 celebrates its 150th anniversary.

Sixty objects—including domestic and professional espresso machines, coffee sets, and cups—are featured in Passione Italiana: The Art of Espresso. After its run at the Museu do Café in Santos, which ended on February 4, the exhibition continues at the Museu da Imigração do Estado de São Paulo, the State Immigration Museum of São Paulo, until May 26.

The exhibition is structured around two main themes, creating a rich and multi-layered narrative of coffee history. A historical journey traces the evolution of innovations in coffee machines and consumption habits over time. In addition to the historical perspective, the exhibition offers thematic insights into the broader social significance of the world’s most consumed beverage, exploring its places, domestic rituals, and the designers who have shaped both habits and collective imagination.

Among the highlighted themes are: Italy’s historic cafés; the bar and the Italian way of life; the aesthetic evolution of the moka pot; the Neapolitan coffee maker and Riccardo Dalisi; Aldo Rossi’s design, blending architecture and domestic landscapes; the ritual of coffee at home; and Alessi’s Tea & Coffee Piazza and Towers projects.