OUR STORY
OUR STORY
Ciao,
My name is Marco and I'd like to introduce myself. My father is Umberto. A true local, as he settled in the Thornbury over 50 years ago when he emigrated from Calabria, Italy - so you could say he’s no stranger to these parts.
Dad and I have a very close relationship, so much so that in 2010, I decided to fulfill a lifelong dream of his and mine to open up an authentic Italian espresso bar and restaurant. Dad had been selling coffee in Australia for 30 odd years, so he’s seen the birth of Melbourne’s coffee culture and watched its many transformations over the years to the point where Melbourne’s cafes rival any city in the world.
As the son of an Italian immigrant I realised early on what was most important to Italians who made the long journey out here and forged new beginnings. Strong work ethic, good food, coffee and the most important thing, family. We’ve put all these ingredients into Umberto Espresso Bar and I think we created something simple, yet something very special.
As a 2nd generation, independant family business running for over 15 years - you should really come in and check it out for yourself. We don't do trends or 'latte art'. We like things old school - honest, homecooked food, proper coffee with genuine hospitality.
Community and family are important to us. Stop by and introduce yourself, we’d love to meet you.
Marco x
