Five Top Chefs. Five Lavazza Coffeetails. One Perfect Aperitivo Day

On World Aperitivo Day, five celebrated chefs across the country were asked one question: What on your menu completes the aperitivo experience and why?

The rules were simple. Each chef received a selection of Lavazza specialty coffeetail recipes. Their job: pair it with a bite from their own menu that elevates the moment. The result is a coast-to-coast snapshot of how coffee, cocktails, and culinary instinct collide when you put the right people in the room together.

Here is what they came up with.

Christophe Rull | Christophe Rull Bakery

San Diego, CA

The Coffeetail: Old Coffee Fashioned

Smokey, citrusy, full-bodied, aromatic, bold, oaky finish. Cold brew concentrate, bourbon whiskey, Angostura bitters, honey, white sugar, muddled orange, and soda water.

The Pairing: Salted Caramel Coffee Chocolate Bonbon with Lavazza Coffee

"This salted caramel coffee chocolate bonbon brings out the rich, velvety notes of the coffee-infused Old Fashioned, offering a perfect balance of sweetness and boldness. Together they create a layered tasting experience, each sip and bite enhancing the other's complexity."

Fabio Trabocchi | Sfoglina

Washington, DC & Virginia

The Coffeetail: Sfoglina's Caffè Dolce Negroni

The house interpretation: Lavazza coffee-infused cognac, mascarpone-washed Campari, Carpano Antica vermouth, and chocolate bitters.

The Pairing: Spring Bruschetta with Prosciutto, Ricotta, Fava Beans, and Asparagus

"This bite is even better paired with our Linguine with Clams and a crisp glass of Verdicchio!"

Michele Esposito | Doma

Miami, FL

The Coffeetail: Caffè Negroni

Aromatic, herbaceous, full body, cacao, botanical bitter finish. Medium grind coffee infused via reverse Aeropress with gin, Campari bitter, and white vermouth, served over ice with orange zest.

The Pairing: Aperitivo Trio

Beef Tartare with Parmesan Espuma and Black Truffle, Crème Fraîche and Caviar, Avocado Mousse with Pickled Onion and Lemon Zest.

"An aperitivo should be a conversation between what's in your glass and what's on your plate. This trio was born to have that conversation with the Negroni. Each bite a different note, all part of the same melody."

Merick Devine | Rosalie

Wayne, PA

The Coffeetail: Paloma Café

Zesty, refreshing, bubbly, mild tang, citrusy finish. Vodka, lime juice, pink grapefruit soda, agave syrup, and a Coffee Velvet float (espresso blended with agave and ice until smooth), finished with a sprinkle of espresso grind.

The Pairing: Pesce Crudo

"Like the Paloma Café, Pesce Crudo is at its best on a sunny afternoon. Hamachi, seasoned with flaky sea salt, brings salinity to balance out this bright and effervescent cocktail. A Meyer lemon purée complements the citrus notes while toasted sesame seeds meld with the flavors of Coffee Velvet to ground, and round out, this pairing."

Danielle Amabile | Oyster House

Philadelphia, PA

The Coffeetail: Caffè Negroni

Aromatic, herbaceous, full body, cacao, botanical bitter finish. Medium grind coffee, gin, Campari bitter, white vermouth, cold water, infused via reverse Aeropress over ice, finished with orange zest.

The Pairing: Chocolate Pecan Pie

"Coffee and chocolate are bittersweet best friends. The way the orange peel brightens the nose and the sea salt counterbalances the sweetness just makes every bite and sip a pleasure. A full sensory experience."

Key Takeaway

Five chefs. Five cities. Five completely different answers to the same question. That is the point. A great aperitivo is personal. It is a moment where the kitchen and the bar meet, where the chef's instinct and the guest's curiosity intersect over something as simple as a well-made coffeetail and the right bite beside it.

Lavazza has been at this intersection for over 130 years, bringing Italian coffee tradition into the most discerning hospitality environments in the world. This World Aperitivo Day activation is proof of what happens when you pair that heritage with chefs who take the ritual seriously.

Salute.

Lavazza is a Headline Partner of the International Luxury Hotel Association and a preferred partner of the ILHA community. Learn more at lavazza.com.