Pierre Café | Son of Coffee

Pietro Paternoster and Maria Vicino started roasting coffee in Gravina in Puglia in 1984, and their sons Luigi and Vincenzo have since carried the family business onto the Italian competitive circuit, picking up three Italian Roasting Championship podiums between 2018 and 2020 and a run of Cup Tasters results since. The retail side still trades locally as Pierre Café, a cafe, tea room and gelateria on Piazza Cavour, while the roasting operation now sells online under the Pier Coffee Roasters name.

The specialty line, called Son of Coffee, sits alongside the family's traditional Italian roasts and is what draws coffee travelers making the drive inland from Bari or over from Matera, about 30 minutes away. Beyond the espresso bar, the counter is known locally for its house made gelato and pastry case, closer to a full-service Italian cafe than a stripped down specialty counter.