"Il caffè di Milano" since 1954
The Maja family has been roasting Caffé Hardy in Milan since 1954, earning their espresso the nickname "il caffé di Milano" (the coffee of Milan). The story began in 1954 when the Maja brothers opened their coffee shop in the historic Milano “Giambellino” neighborhood. They not only served coffee, but also traded laughs and gossip with their customers. On a cold, late October morning, they had an idea: to build a roastery and make their own high quality coffee.
Three Generations of Italian Tradition
Three generations of Italian roast masters have perfected the Maja brothers' vision, and the company is run by Alberto Maja today (pictured), the grandson of founding brother Florindo. Over the decades, Hardy has become a symbol of Milanese artisanship and tradition. Each day in Milan, over 150,000 shots of Caffè Hardy espresso is served up in over one thousand of the city's cafés.
The Small Batch Way
Like many who travel through Europe, I fell in love with espresso. Coming back years ago from a trip through France, I bought a Nespresso machine thinking I’d take the espresso experience home with me. It was close, but something was missing—that authentic, artisanal quality of European coffee.
My mission with Small Batch Espresso is to bring you the best European espresso for your Nespresso* Original machine. I’ve partnered with Caffè Hardy, a third generation, family-owned roaster in Milan, Italy. I met them in 2016 and fell in love with the story of their family-owned roastery...and their decadently rich, traditional Italian espresso. I knew I had to bring it to the U.S.
~ Brandon, Founder
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*Hardy Srl, its related companies, and their respective products, are not endorsed by, sponsored by, or approved by Nespresso USA, Inc. or any of its affiliates, and Hardy Srl is not a licensee of Nespresso USA, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Nespresso® is a registered trademark of Société des Produits Nestlé S.A.