Nannini

Nannini - Coffee tradition from Siena

The time-honored tradition of the "Nannini" brand is kept alive by Alessandro.

Alessandro Nannini has inherited two passions in his life that have shaped him: the joy of driving fast and the pleasure of good coffee.

His grandfather Guido Nannini opened his Bar Ideale in Siena in 1911 and was the first in the city to use the Pavoni steam coffee machine. Guido Nannini was an avid fan of motorcycle racing and participated in important races on behalf of the city of Siena.

In 1943, when he was unable to find good quality coffee for his stores in Siena, he decided to roast his own coffee from now on. He also began to offer in his stores the traditional bakery products of the city of Siena, made according to recipes handed down from generation to generation. Danilo, Guido's son, continued this tradition.

In almost half a century, the name Nannini, which stood for its coffee and pastries, became one of the most famous manufactures in the city of Siena. 

The races, the sweet delicacies, the coffee

The life of Alessandro Nannini is characterized by the character of an Italian who never shies away from challenges. Alessandro was born in Siena on July 7, 1959 and grew up in the bosom of a wealthy family from Siena. His big sister is the famous singer Gianna Nannini, who stormed the charts in the 80s and 90s.

Alessandro Nannini's heart's desire was to become a professional Formula 1 driver. In 1986 his dream came true and he made his debut at the wheel of a Minardi in the Brazilian Grand Prix. In 1989 he won the Japanese Grand Prix. A year later he had an accident in a helicopter crash and lost his forearm. This could be sewn back on, but the function has been severely limited since then. This accident ended his Formula 1 career. But only three years later he took part in the DTM and even reached fourth place in the overall standings in 1994. In 1997 he hung up his helmet completely.

After the helicopter accident, Alessandro Nannini nurtured and promoted the company history of his father and grandfather. He saw to the expansion of the coffee roasting plant, modernized the bakery and gave the traditional stores in Siena a new look. Meanwhile, Alessandro Nannini maintains a number of beautiful espresso bars and cafes, which are run by franchises from Portugal to Singapore to Tokyo. A traditional Italian gastronomy that has to compete against chains such as Starbucks.

Alessandro Nannini commented: "There will always be supermarket quality and top products. Those in between will go under."