It looks like chocolate but it’s not! It’s the latest frontier in the world of coffee. CroKaffe presents its coffee bar, a square of pure coffee made from only the finest certified beans. These divinely delicious and heavenly scented coffee bars are the creation of pastry and chocolate shop Capitano Rosso in the Piedmont region of northern Italy. CroKaffe is made directly from the roasting and grinding of coffee beans which are then turned into delicious, small pieces of solid coffee. Each square is made exclusively by hand and is tiny enough to fit in your handbag, briefcase, school bag or pocket, making it a little treat ready to be nibbled on at any moment.

The squares of CroKaffe come in five different varieties: three pure Arabic coffee (Santos, mild; Colombia, medium intensity; and Cuba, strong), one classic blend Miscela Bar Gourmet (a mix of Arabic and Robusta), and finally Decaffeinated. The bars are made with just ground coffee, cane sugar and cocoa butter. They contain no ingredients derived from animals, are great for a little pick-me-up and thanks to the coffee offer a great boost of antioxidants.

Each bar contains about one quarter of the caffeine normally present in a cup of espresso. All five varieties are also available as ground coffee, freshly ground, or in capsules which can be used with all of the best known brands of coffeemakers. Gianfranco Rosso and his daughter Valentina, owners of Capitano Rosso pastry and chocolate shop, have also created a short, informative course called Crea which allows their customers to learn about which types of coffees are available and to create their own favorite blend of coffee.

Stop in to see them and get your own coffee fix when you visit Torino. You can find them on Corso Traiano 154.