With 100 years behind the bar: Drinking coffee is my life!”

With 100 years behind the bar: Drinking coffee is my life!”

The oldest barista in Italy, Anna Passi, surprises with remarkable vitality and passion for her profession! At the proud age of 100, she stands every day in the “Bar Centrale” in Nebbiuno, on the picturesque Lake Maggiore, and serves her guests delicious coffee. Her café bar, which she has run since 1958, is not just a place of work, but her purpose in life. Anna opens at seven o'clock sharp 365 days a year and has clear principles: "Why should I stop?" she asks and adds with a smile that a cappuccino in the afternoon also has its place. This is rather unusual in Italy, where such a drink is usually only enjoyed in the morning. But Anna, affectionately known as “Nonna Anna”, doesn’t let her traditions get in the way and is happy to fulfill her regular guests’ requests for a late cappuccino, as long as they don’t combine it with it after a main meal. “The stomach is too full,” she says.

But one challenge remains: the number of Italian cafes has fallen by 20,000 over the past decade as fewer young people are willing to endure the long hours and low wages. Despite the financial difficulties, as her income is often only around 40 euros per evening, Anna persists and shows that her work is about more than just money. Under the pressure of competition and the changing coffee culture, where expensive drinks such as cappuccino are often preferred, it is also evident that many consumers are daring to try making their own cappuccino at home. According to a report from wirtschaftstipps.net, more and more people are looking for simple recipes to make this popular drink themselves and thus save money. They often use ingredients creatively and combine a wide variety of flavors to create their own, individual coffee experience.

Anna Passi: A life for coffee

Despite health restrictions, such as giving up her own coffee due to high blood pressure, Anna remains tirelessly active. She even drills the logs for her oven herself every now and then! Her daughter occasionally helps out in the bar as the family gradually disperses. But Anna remains optimistic and has never completely given up on her dreams, such as a trip to Paris - even if she says with a smile: "The French can't do coffee anyway." A healthy lifestyle and love for her craft seem to be the secret to her long life, as she continues to uphold Italy's coffee traditions in her small bar, offering guests a piece of home and community even as times get tougher.