Each week leading up to the ECS+COHO Expo 2025, 24-26 November at the JW Marriott in Berlin, World Coffee Portal will present exclusive interviews with some of the influential voices in Europe’s coffee and hospitality industries
This week, World Coffee Portal caught up with coffee industry legend Guido Bernardinelli. Having joined La Marzocco in 2002 as just its 14th employee, Bernardinelli rose through the ranks from Sales Manager to Marketing Manager and Managing Director in 2009.
He was promoted to La Marzocco CEO in 2018 and is credited with spearheading La Marzocco’s focus on high-end machines and specialty coffee – a successful strategy that saw the iconic Italian company grow to around 500 employees globally.
In February 2025, Bernardinelli began a new chapter in his coffee journey as CEO of De’Longhi’s professional division, a powerful business tie-up between La Marzocco and Eversys forged in January 2024.
What has been your biggest learning as a business leader in coffee?
Everything rises and falls on leadership.
What advice would you give to your younger self starting out in the coffee industry?
Get knowledgeable about coffee quickly: Learn about all the products, equipment and possibilities. Embrace new technology and, above all, become a community connector and contributor.
How do you stay entrepreneurial in an increasingly competitive and corporate environment?
We focus on our priorities, avoid distractions, stay attached to our company culture and always learn from our customers.
What are the biggest risks for a premium coffee brand when pursuing growth?
Losing company culture, connections with customers and collaborators. Scaling back innovation and slow adaptation to today’s ever-changing market conditions are also major risks.
Do you foresee more M&A activity in the coffee & hospitality space?
I feel the coffee industry’s M&A ‘fever’ is coming to an end. Most larger espresso machine companies have been acquired or have participated in acquisitions. However, with today’s rapid business cycles, there may be a new turnaround in just a few short years.
This interview is proudly presented by ECS+COHO Expo 2025, taking place from 24-26 November at the JW Marriott Berlin.
Super Early Bird Tickets are now available online! Use the code EARLYBIRD20 at checkout to enjoy 20% off your event experience. Don’t miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in Europe’s premier coffee and hospitality gathering.
Join La Marzocco at ECS+COHO Expo 2025, 24-26 November, JW Marriott Berlin.
Since 2008, the Allegra European Coffee Symposium (ECS) has been a beacon of thought leadership, fostering meaningful dialogue and progressive ideas within the European coffee and hospitality landscape.
In 2025, ECS and COHO Expo – The Coffee Hospitality Expo – join forces with the World Coffee Portal to present a new interview series designed to inspire, challenge, and connect the brightest minds in our industry.
As the sector faces rapid technological, environmental, economic, and cultural shifts, this collaboration is united by a shared mission: to drive transformation through connection and the power of knowledge.
