The Story Of…. Café Al Bicerin in Turin, Italy

 

Exclusive Interview by Karen Beishuizen
Photos courtesy of Café Al Bicerin

Café Al Bicerin in Torino was founded “acquacedratario” (lemonade maker) Giuseppe Dentis in 1763. The current building was designed by the architect Carlo Promis and constructed in 1856. The cafe is famous for serving the bicerin, a hot, alcohol-free drink consisting of chocolate coffee and cream. It dates back to the 1800s. Camillo Benso Conte di Cavour (founder of the Unification of Italy) was a regular. When you are in Turin, go visit Café Al Bicerin and enjoy a bicerin while sitting at one of the marble tables with candles.

KB: Describe to the RSR readers when and by who Café Al Bicerin was founded?

It was founded in 1763 by “acquacedratario” (lemonade maker) Giuseppe Dentis.

KB: What is a bicerin?

The bicerin is a hot, alcohol-free drink consisting of chocolate coffee and cream. It dates back to the 1800s.

KB: What is the best coffee you serve and why should people try it?

The bicerin certainly because it is the typical drink of Turin, born at Café Al Bicerin, which we still prepare today with the original secret recipe.

KB: Who was Mrs. Ida Cavalli?

Mrs. Ida Cavalli was the last of the Cavalli family who ran the Café Al Bicerin for 70 years. After her the most important person is Mrs. Maritè Costa who has run it since the 1980s, restored it and her family continues to run it in the tradition.

KB: Which famous guests have visited your caffe over the years?

The most important is Camillo Benso Conte di Cavour (founder of the Unification of Italy), followed by King Umberto, Puccini and many others.

KB: Which movies and series has Café Al Bicerin appeared in?

La Meglio Gioventù
Amore a Ginnastica
Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy

KB: Describe to the RSR readers what they would see on a visit to Café Al Bicerin.

First you walk in and enter the intimate Piazzetta della Consolata, where the Santuario della Consolata is located, and Café Al Bicerin is in front of it. Outside there are antique iron tables and chairs and umbrellas to protect from the sun. Therefore, one enters the café through the decorated iron window. The interior is very small, just eight marble tables with candles in an all-wood environment with wood paneling on the walls. People sit on sofas and on antique chairs. At the bottom is the marble-topped counter and shelves with glass confectionery containers. In the next shop you can buy the chocolate house specialties.

KB: Why should people visit Café Al Bicerin?

a) Founded in 1763, it is the oldest café in the city, and one of the oldest in Italy and Europe still preserved intact.
b) The bicerin is the city’s traditional coffee and chocolate drink, which originated here and is still prepared with our original secret recipe.
c) Its atmosphere is unique and worth spending an hour at its tables with candles.

Check out Café Al Bicerin’s website: HERE

Click Here to Order Boxing Interviews Of A Lifetime By “Bad” Brad Berkwitt