Fourth

The history of Quarta Caffè began in the 1950s in the heart of Lecce, a baroque city in the Salento region (Apulia). The founder, Gaetano Quarta (often called Antonio Quarta Senior), started the company with a tiny 5kg drum roaster in a small bar in the old town. In addition to freshly roasted coffee, ice cream and lemonades were also sold there initially. Due to the high quality, the taste of the coffee quickly spread throughout Salento.

The breakthrough and the first famous coffee blend are closely linked to the nearby Galatina Military Airbase. The pilots and officers stationed there regularly came to the old town of Lecce to drink this special coffee. In homage to the air force and the color of their blue uniforms, the Quarta family created the "Avio" blend (Aviation), which remains an absolute classic of the brand to this day.

The region also owes a real cult drink to grandfather Antonio Quarta: the Caffè in Ghiaccio con latte di mandorla (hot espresso over ice, sweetened with Apulian almond milk). He had the idea of pouring freshly brewed espresso over shaved ice. This refreshing drink became so popular in Salento that it was officially recognized by the Apulia region as a traditional agricultural product (PAT – Prodotto Agroalimentare Tradizionale) in December 2025.

In the 1970s, under the leadership of the second generation, the company transitioned from a small artisan roastery to a modern industrial operation. New product lines for home use (such as Stuoia, Familia, or Gusto Tipico) were introduced. Despite the growth, the roastery remained true to its philosophy: to this day, the coffee beans are roasted slowly, darkly, and varietally pure, which gives the espresso its typically strong, low-acid, and full-bodied Southern European character.

Quarta Caffè today

Today, Quarta Caffè is already in its fourth generation of family ownership. The company is managed by Antonio Quarta together with his sons Edoardo and Gaetano. Although Quarta Caffè is now one of the ten largest coffee roasters in Italy, it is still considered the undisputed liquid landmark of Salento – almost every bar and household in the Lecce region serves this coffee.