“Once brandy was popular, now coffee is in vogue” wrote Carlo Goldoni in La bottega del caffè in 1750. To carry forward the Venetian tradition of coffee shops, a point of reference also for socialising, as well as for an excellent espresso, we luckily find today Torrefazione Cannaregio, nestled along the suggestive Fondamenta dei Ormesini.

The “rebirth” of the historic venue is due to Maela Galli‘s passion for the world of coffee. Born in Milan, in 2011 she seized the opportunity to continue the tradition of the famous roasting company founded in 1930 and since then a point of reference in the Lagoon, so much so that she took over its management and moved to the Lagoon “for love”.

Torrefazione Cannaregio is a dream that has come true for me, since I was a child I fantasized about managing a café and making it a “parlor” of good things and local products.

(Maela Galli)

Torrefazione Cannaregio perpetuates, in fact, over time the attention handed down through generations to the raw materials and processing of coffee beans, activities carried out by hand in the shop, which come from the best sustainable coffee areas in the world.

Here, coffee roasting is a real ritual carried out several times a week by hand just like in the past to obtain the best aromas. The machine chosen also harks back to the artisan tradition, the latest model by La Marzocco, a Tuscan company known as the “Ferrari” of the category.

Torrefazione Cannaregio is, in fact, first and foremost a deli: here you can purchase blends for all tastes, such as the Café Remèr, a selection of the best arabicas, and The Ghetto Blend which pays homage to the 500 years of the Jewish Ghetto of Venice located nearby to the venue, as well as excellent single origins, such as the Indian Monsonato, a method that benefits from the humid monsoon winds to create a sweet, naturally decaffeinated coffee, or the fair trade arabicas purchased through Slowfood or other intermediaries to ensure a truly sustainable price.

Whether it is drunk in a cup or purchased in bags, the particularities of each coffee chosen are always reported on a note that accompanies the purchase to enhance the experiential part of the tasting.

In the shop, in addition to “fresh” ground coffee, imported directly and just roasted, you can also buy other loose products, such as infusions, teas, spices, preparations and legumes for soups, and local specialties such as jams and biscuits by SoloTreviso.

The place, completely renovated in 2018, keeps all the charm of the ancient shops intact, with exposed brick walls, nineteenth-century wooden bistro tables and bags of coffee placed almost everywhere. While the entrance is dedicated to the bar service, part of the spaces is dedicated to a small lounge with vintage armchairs and a reading corner. Also an ideal place for lunches and snacks and private events immersed in a unique atmosphere.

Open every day until 1pm, Saturday until 3pm and Sunday until 4pm, on other afternoons, on a monthly basis, special events are held in the roastery, such as the Afternoon Tea ritual served in the English style with canapés and pastries, and coffee, spice and wine tastings (just follow the venue’s social media to stay updated on upcoming events), masterfully presented by Natale and Monica, Maela’s trusted collaborators.

The Secret

Lying here and there on the shelves of the restaurant, you can see Maela’s collection of antique tins, unique pieces with a common denominator, “speaking” of Milan, her city of origin.

Useful Info

Torrefazione Cannaregio
Fondamenta dei Ormesini 2804
30121 Venezia
Tel. + 39 041 716371

Coffees: from 1,30 euro
Cakes and focaccias: from 4,50 euro
Afternoon tea ritual: 35 euro with a selection of teas, canape, cakes and pastries