espresso yourself
Howard Schultz, the mastermind behind the meteoric rise of Starbucks, once said: “I can’t imagine a day without coffee, I just can’t!”
Vested interests aside, there are many of us that feel that way. A day is not a day without a cup of coffee to greet you. And while we have to be thankful that good coffee is now available from a wide variety of sources all across Malaysia, there is nothing more rewarding that having it available right in the comfort of your own home.
Enter Mokitalia.
Founded by Ettore Altamura, an Italian coffee veteran who helped build the Lavazza brand in Malaysia, Mokitalia specialises in selling premium, handcrafted coffee macchinetta. Compact enough to fit into most spaces (from dining tables to office pantries), Mokitalia machines are assembled in Como, Italy, tuned to specifications set by Altamura , who has enough mechanical know-how to maintain and repair the machines himself. Available in four models – Espresso Capuccino, Espresso Plus, Sweety and Office, prices ranging from RM1,090-2,600 – Altamura had scoured the long list of Italian macchinetta makers (whose numbers exceed 500) before settling on Espresso del Capitano and its illustrious 38-year history as the right machine for the Malaysian market.
It was the same resolute attitude to led him to settle on Covim as the supplier of the coffee capsules. “I have tried many, many coffee capsules in Italy,” Altamura says, “and this is the one I like the best.” Unlike the bewildering range offered by Nespresso, Covim capsules come in a compact choice of four: blue, for decaf; the Granbar red, the Oro Crema brown and the Gold Arabica gold. Each fulfills a certain niche, and our favourite is the Oro Crema – dark, nutty and oh-so-complex. Only available in Malaysia through Mokitalia, the capsules sell for RM1.90 each, available in bulk as a single variety or a mix. Mokitalia also sells Covim beans for those that want to get into the grind themselves.
Pop the capsule in and with the press of a few buttons, a beautiful cup of espresso is ready. It is said that coffee is man’s natural defence against the trials of the world. And a Mokitalia coffee in your system is the best armour in facing that.
