Back in 1967, Giovanni Spadola was 22, studying at university in Turin. You know that feeling of being out of place? Like what you’re doing isn’t your calling? Some don’t listen to their instincts whereas others most certainly do and in time, and with patience, find their true happiness. This was Giovanni; he followed his heart and began to roast his first coffee in his parent’s garage. With his first coffee roaster, Giovanni could make about 15kg of coffee at a time, which he made at night only to sell by day. Following this hustle, and officially founding Moak, Giovanni and his coffee factory roast about 900kg every 15 minutes, reaching worldwide distribution.

Giovanni is the kind of person that fills your heart with warmth; he doesn’t need to say anything because his passion for coffee can be read in his eyes. Beside him on this journey is his family, who share the same love and help to elevate the brand with each of their expertise.

Within the production chain, it’s safe to say that coffee making is just as detail-oriented as wine. From cleaning and sorting out the good beans in similar machines that, through vibration eliminate the dirt. Following the roasting process, the chocolate-coloured coffee beans are placed in aluminium cooling tanks to eliminate the natural co2 produced which, if not done properly, is what causes a bitter taste in coffee. Each type of coffee has a different time schedule, which is meticulously followed, and when ready, it undergoes more checks and analysis to ensure they are ready to be packed into little capsules or grounded for filter and moka coffee.

At Moak, whose name recalls the Arab denomination for Modica “Mohak“, the production process is only part of it. There is an entire marketing team who look after the branding aspects including cross collaborations like the most recent with Seletti, in which Caffè Moak has developed a limited edition version of tins. Other initiatives, which call out to young creatives looking to stand out, are the various contests both in writing, photography and design with the most recent being to redesign paper napkins with an innovative, out-of-the-box approach.

Coffee pit-stop in Modica

From coffee-flavoured granita with whipped cream for breakfast to a caffè shakerato in the warmest hours and espress all day, every day, here’s where you can get your coffee fix in the city of Modica:

Bar del Duomo

This little joint is located on the side of San Giorgio Cathedral, the main church of the city. Here, you can take a seat among the quiet atmosphere and enjoy a cup’a coffee with a view.

CaffÈ Adamo

Caffè Adamo is situated just off the main Corso Umberto I, closer to the hustle and bustle of the city. This is a great spot for breakfast, enjoying a pastry with your coffee or, when in Sicily, brioche with granita. WEBSITE

Cicara Caffetteria Wine Bar

From breakfast to a quick lunch or afternoon snack, venture to Cicara, a coffee and wine bar in the newer part of the city. WEBSITE