Orsonero Coffee: Milan’s Quiet Coffee Revolution
When Brent Jopson and Giulia Gasperini moved from Vancouver to Milan, they walked straight into a paradox. Italy is synonymous with coffee, yet the Milan they found was still anchored in tradition—espresso at the counter, dark roasts, sugar always on hand. The third-wave movement shaping cities like Vancouver, Melbourne, and Copenhagen had barely left a trace here.
So they built a bridge.
Orsonero emerged as one of the first cafés in the city to quietly, respectfully challenge the Italian palate. Not by replacing tradition, but by expanding it. Today, the café has become a pilgrimage site for coffee lovers from all over the world—tourists, home baristas, digital nomads, Milanese regulars—each drawn by its unmistakable blend of warmth, precision, and calm.
A Space That Feels Like a Breath of Fresh Air
Walk through the door and you immediately sense the Canadian influence.
The palette is Scandinavian: light wood, soft neutrals, clean geometry.
It’s small—intentionally so. The energy is warm but never busy, calm but never cold.
Despite the queue that often forms outside, the experience inside feels unhurried. Baristas chat with regulars, laugh with first-timers, and offer suggestions with a kind of soft confidence that can only come from genuine craft.
Multiple reviewers mention this specifically:
friendly staff, professional service, and a vibe that makes waiting feel pleasant rather than tedious.
Orsonero’s hospitality is gentle, unfussy, and free of the ego that sometimes follows specialty coffee culture.
Coffee That Surprises Without Intimidating
The house roaster is Gardelli, one of Italy’s most decorated specialty roasters—bright, clean coffees that still respect the Italian preference for structure and balance. Rotating guest roasters (Dak, Quo, A.M.O.C., and more) bring in Nordic-leaning acidity and fruit-forward clarity.
This blend of philosophies is what makes Orsonero exceptional:
You can get a classic Italian cappuccino, silky and sweet.
Or a single-origin Ethiopian espresso with berry brightness.
Or a Gesha filter that tastes like tropical fruit carried on clean mountain air.
It’s third wave, but in a way that feels inviting rather than elitist.
Frequent reviewers rave about:
Perfect cappuccinos (often labeled 10/10)
Exceptional pour-overs
Bright, fruity espresso profiles
State-of-the-art brewing equipment (a point noted by several enthusiasts)
This is the kind of café where tasting three different coffees in one morning—espresso, filter, cappuccino—is not uncommon. And always encouraged.
Pastries Worth the Hype
Orsonero’s pastry case deserves its own chapter.
Most customers mention at least one unforgettable bake.
Fan favourites include:
Cinnamon roll with honey glaze (soft, fragrant, unexpectedly delicate)
Pain Suisse (custard + dark chocolate folded between crisp golden layers)
Honey croissant (one reviewer: “made my day”)
Banana cake & carrot cake, often recommended by baristas
A few reviewers noted the pistachio croissant isn't the strongest in the lineup—but nearly every other pastry earns a 5-star mention.
This is not a café where food is an afterthought.
A Café That Changed Milan—Quietly, Steadily
Before Orsonero, specialty coffee in Milan was a rarity. Today, the city’s modern coffee scene is growing—and many would argue it began right here.
It’s a café built on contrasts that somehow blend beautifully:
Italian roots and Canadian warmth.
Nordic flavours and Milanese rhythm.
Expert craftsmanship and approachable hospitality.
Orsonero didn’t just arrive in Milan—it nudged the city forward.
And judging by the queues, the loyal regulars, and the constant hum of satisfaction, the movement is here to stay.
