Batali, La Colombe, Target Team up on Coffee Offering

Chef, author and TV personality Mario Batali has launched Caffé Italiano, a collection of Italian-style coffees, at select Target stores nationwide and online at www.target.com. 

The coffee is a collaboration between Batali and Todd Carmichael, founder and CEO of La Colombe, a world-renowned specialty coffee roaster. On an episode of Travel Channel’s “Dangerous Grounds,” Carmichael’s TV series based around coffee, Batali challenged Carmichael to create blends that capture the Italian coffee experience. Mario Batali Caffé Italiano is the result of that mission.

 “One of life’s greatest joys is sitting in an Italian café with good friends and enjoying a great cup of coffee or espresso,” said Batali. “I challenged La Colombe to create a selection of coffees that replicates these wonderful moments, and I am thrilled with the results of their expert craftsmanship.”

“Caffé Italiano embraces all that is beautiful about Italian coffee,” said Carmichael. “We use specialty grade beans to create the perfect balance between bitter and acidity, combining traditional Old World coffee with New World upgrades. The result is a big coffee with big crema and body.”

The culinary tastemaker and premier coffee roaster partnered to create blends across flavor profiles and sources, including Abruzzo Blend: a dark roasted nutty blend from Haiti, Brazil and Ethiopia; Roma Blend: a medium roasted blend with flavor hints of milk chocolate from Haiti, Brazil, Colombia and Ethiopia; and Amalfi Blend: a decaffeinated blend from Brazil and Sumatra.

The coffee is available in whole bean and ground.