“FLAVOUR is like design: it has to be sexy, simple, intuitive, like a beautiful woman. It should never need to be understood or interpreted, its message is evident and sensual.” says Tonino Lamborghini.
Tonino, whose father Ferruccio introduced the Lamborghini to the auto world, is talking about coffee, or more specifically, the gourmet brew that carries his family name.
While most Malaysians still associate Lamborghini with fast, luxury cars, Lamborghini Caffe is already a household name in Italy and parts of Europe, having made its debut there in the 1990s.
And while his father is famous for creating fast cars and quality wines, Tonino, 63, gets the credit for his special brew of expresso.
Now, Klang Valley folks can have a taste of Tonino’s gourmet coffee that was launched at the Bangsar Shopping Centre on Wednesday.
“Although Italy doesn’t produce coffee beans, we Italians love our espresso. Considering that my father was a producer of high quality wine, we wanted to come up with high quality coffee,” says Tonino, 63, who hails from Bologna, Italy.
“It is a consequential Italian thing – wine, coffee and delicatessen,” he shares during a breakfast session for media members.
He adds that their coffee beans are derived and blended from various regions.
“I can’t tell you where the beans are from ... it’s a secret,” he says, tongue-in-cheek.
The Tonino Lamborghini Group, founded in 1981 by Tonino, is based in Palazzo del Vignola, a renaissance villa nearby Bologna. It was around that time that Tonino designed his first watch, reinterpreting the historic values and symbols which characterised his family.
Half way through the 1990s, Tonino launched his gourmet range that included high quality coffee and wines, pasta and sauces.
“I won’t say that our coffee is superior to other brands. But as the brand carries the luxury symbol of Lamborghini, we guarantee that the product is of the highest quality,” Tonino assures.
