SAQUELLA

From Chieti to the world: 170 years of family history in the sign of espresso

In 1856, Clemente Saquella began trading colonial goods in the Abruzzo region — tea, cocoa, spices, which he bought on the route between Chieti and Naples and resold in his brother Antonio's warehouse. Coffee was just one item among many back then. But by the third generation, with Arnaldo Saquella and his brothers Mario and Giovanni, espresso moved to the center of the business. After the Second World War, in 1945, Arnaldo invested in the first own roasting plant, laying the foundation for today's factory in Pescara. The fourth generation consistently expanded the export business — first towards Canada, where a strong Abruzzese immigrant community was waiting for the familiar coffee, then to Germany and Great Britain. In 1996, the fifth generation stepped up: Ilaria, Bianca, and later Arnaldo, the children of Enrico Saquella, took on responsibility for marketing, purchasing, and export. In 1999, the company was renamed Saquella 1856 S.r.l. — the founding year as part of the name, program and promise at the same time. In 2025, the Italian state recognized the brand as a Marchio storico di interesse nazionale, as a historical brand of national interest.

Raw material selection, roasting craft, and the recipes the family guards

In the factory in Pescara, which is operated on a total area of around 11,000 square meters, the entire production runs in-house: blending, roasting, packaging. More than 20 varieties of raw coffee from different growing countries are available — from Brazilian Santos to Indian growing regions to origins in Central Africa and Central America. Arabica and Robusta are combined differently depending on the blend goal; the exact mixing ratios are considered a family secret, which is passed on exclusively within the family. Roasting is done using the drum method, which works gently and evenly. After roasting, the coffee rests for four weeks in steel containers according to their own specifications before it is packaged — a step that stabilizes the aromas and controls CO₂ degassing. Since 2013, Saquella has been Fairtrade-certified, thereby supporting coffee farmers in developing countries according to established social and environmental standards. ISO 9001 certification has been in place since the year 2000.

Bar Italia and more: a range for the home barista

The core range for end consumers is divided into two lines. The Bar Italia series is aimed at everyone who wants to brew espresso at café level at home: the Gran Crema brings beans from Brazil, India, and Central Africa together — full-bodied, with a stable crema and a light chocolate note in the finish. The Gran Gusto follows a similar profile, slightly sweeter and with a longer aftertaste. The Extra Crema variant emphasizes, as the name suggests, the crema density. Alongside this, the 100% Arabica range is for everyone who avoids Robusta and prefers a softer, fruit-accented espresso. The classic line — including the Espresso Oro — is tailored to preparation in a moka pot or manual portafilter machine. The offer is supplemented by Bar Italia Chocolate, a drinking chocolate that transfers the same quality standard to a second hot beverage. Today, Saquella is present in over 40 countries, operates subsidiaries in Germany and Great Britain — and still roasts exclusively in the Abruzzo region.