Delicate Coffee by Flavors of Lonato Recommended by Whom You Know! We are Thrilled to Kick Off Coverage of this Italian American Brand New to Us!
Any whiff of Italian coffee will bring an aficionado out of the rain. The delicate parfum of the Flavors of Lonato Del Garda fill the nostrils and the soul. Your own level of intensity can be controlled by the way you grind. If you like a deeper flavor, add less water or milk. But the Delicato is wonderful for a great cafe americano. It's great for an iced mocha, too. The level of caffeine won't give you a sense of having downed two Red Bulls, either. You'll love the color of the beans, and find any guest thrilled with your hospitality when you serve it at any meal.
There is nothing I love more than starting my morning with a great cup of steaming, hot coffee. Having traveled to Italy, one of my favorite memories is lingering over a rich, savory, hot cup of coffee in the morning. I was thrilled to try Caffe Delicato from Flavors of Lonato Del Garda. I got out my trusty ol' coffee maker (my single-up coffee maker has taken residence on the kitchen counter these days), coffee bean grinder, and got to work. As soon as I opened the bag of Delicato, the most wonderfully comforting smell wafted through my kitchen. I took my time grinding the beans (I really miss that ritual with the prepacked single-cup coffee makers), measuring the water and folding the filter. Finally I was ready to press "brew". I waited with great anticipation as my Caffe Delicato worked its way into the coffee pot...drip, drip, drip. At long last I heard the soft "beep" letting me know that my little piece of Italy was ready for me. I poured the steaming hot coffee into my favorite mug, added just the right amount of cream, sat down in the sunlight, hands wrapped gently around the mug for warmth. The aroma of the Caffe Delicato took me right back to my time in Italy...ahhh, Italia! Just as I was about to take my first sip of this splendid coffee, I heard a little voice yell out, "Mom! I'm awake! Can I get up now?" And back to reality! At least I had my Caffe Delicato from Flavors of Lonato Del Garda to see me through building Legos and being pursued by the six year old policeman running after me with handcuffs!
I love a strong espresso and typically gravitate towards the more-robust blends. Yet sometimes, I am looking for a coffee that’s a little lighter. I was delighted with this delicate blend. Freshly grinding these beans released a sweet coffee scent that I would love to capture and have linger in my kitchen all day. I used these beans to brew a fantastic iced coffee. I would refer to it as “summer weight”, because that’s exactly what it tasted like. It was light and delicious and just the right blend and roast to make iced coffee for a summer afternoon. Though light, the flavors were fantastic – mild coffee and chocolate… two of my favorite things! While I can hold onto summer a little longer, this will be my go-to coffee. I look forward to trying this blend other ways – such as a lighter espresso in the fall, too.
I am going with a classic Caffe' Latte, using G. Martini's Desenzano del Garda Caffe'
Delicato. I work the delicious smelling beans down to a
perfectly smooth grind. As my trusty little espresso pot percolates, I
pour a half cup of whole milk into my miniature butter-melting pot.
With the lowest flame possible, I heat the milk until a few bubbles
work their way up the side of the pot, then I quickly remove it from
the flame. I start with a shot size serving of rich, dark coffee into
my thick comfort-mug, and I then scoop in two spoonfuls of sugar,
letting it dissolve into the hot liquid. Now, it's time for the
steaming milk. I slowly add the milk until I see the perfect color
brown in my mug and stir it well. The aroma of fresh, hot coffee
salivates my mouth and I take a healthy sip. I find the Caffe' Delicato
to be extremely smooth, yet still a potent and flavorful blend. A caffe'
latte is a great start to any day, or a perfect afternoon treat. G. Martini's
Desenzano del Garda Caffe' Delicato is the perfect flavor for anyone
looking for that delicious taste of Italy in their own kitchen.
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Flavors of Lonato del Garda was started by two very dear friends, each on the opposite side of the great pond. As the world has transformed from what we know as round, separated only by distance and culture, these friends took an idea to bring a small part of Italian culture with its rich history and passion for healthy cooking to a world that is now flat. With trust and determination, this friendship over the years inspired the idea which you now see before you: “Flavors of Lonato.” Our idea, a little taste of Northern Italian fare, is represented by the finest products from the small villages exclusive to the Garda region of Italy. This region is known for the exceptional high quality of products produced by small family owned growers with over a millennium of expertise that has been passed down from generation to generation. “Flavors of Lonato” now proudly brings this rich historic culture to the US consumers for all to enjoy!
Is it possible that we have brought food down to the lowest common denominator? Much of our food is processed, pasteurized and homogenized until it becomes bland and indistinguishable. Many of us have come to accept mediocrity, telling ourselves these products are “good enough” because that’s all we have come to know. But when you’ve tasted food created from an artist’s own hands, made with patience and love, with all of it’s complexities and cultural identity intact, good enough is no longer part of our vocabulary. Great food makes life worth living, even if it is just for the sweet taste of grapes, a bite of cheese that is so good there are no words to describe it. Balsamic vinegars that have been lovingly created and aged for 25 years or a piece of freshly baked bread dipped into a fresh press olive oil. Great food brings people together to share the experience of a region, culture and the lives of those who thoughtfully grew it. Good enough can never do that, and Flavors of Lonato del Garda, Inc. (“FLG”) never accepts “good enough”. In recent years, a controversy has been arising regarding the labeling of food items as a “Product of Italy” or substandard olive oil as “Extra Virgin”. When a product is labeled as a “Product of Italy”, most people assume that this means the product was grown, processed, packaged and shipped from Italy but the product itself could have been purchased anywhere and shipped to Italy for processing. By the same token, if a label of olive oil reads “Extra Virgin” it does not mean that it has been processed and prepared according to the strict guidelines established to ensure the quality that the label implies. FLG standards guarantee that our products are grown, processed, and shipped from Italy only and that they are of the highest quality and standard because “good enough” is not good enough!
About Our Featured Product:
Italian roast coffee: Our line of Italian roast coffee is made up of different blends of coffee beans expertly selected from the best plantations around the world for their quality and flavor. They are roasted with passion using the ancient tradition of roasting the beans in small quantities to preserve and enhance their inherent flavor. Our roaster’s experience in roasting coffee dates back to 1939. We offer two mixtures – “Delicate” and “Intenso”. Our coffee is only offered in bean format in order to maintain its freshness and purity for longer periods of time. Therefore, consumers will need to grind the coffee beans on location.
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Flavors of Lonato del Garda, LLC acts as an importer and wholesaler of specialty products imported from the Garda region in Northern Italy. All of our products have either been certified as organic by the Italian government (a designation that is not easy to achieve) or have either a DOP or IGP certification. Each manufacturer is required to provide copies of certifications, safety inspections and audit results and keep a copy of a current certificate of insurance on file with our company. Our products include balsamic vinegars, balsamic vinegar creams, liquid salts, apple vinegars, flavored vinegars, Italian roast coffee and quality olive oils. More information about Flavors of Lonato can be found at www.flavorsoflonato.com
