In 1956, the year of the Melbourne Olympics, Rob’s father Umberto arrived in Australia at just sixteen and a half. His suitcase held very little clothing. But he had made room for a small, three-cup Italian coffee percolator.
For Rob Di Virgilio, that little percolator represents his father’s journey, his family’s Italian heritage and the traditions people carry when they leave their homeland to begin a new life. It is the personal inspiration behind Espresso Grande.
Something small and familiar, brought to Australia by a young Italian boy, becomes the inspiration for something extraordinary in scale. Espresso Grande brings that family story together with Melbourne’s love of coffee, imagining a landmark experience that people will want to see, visit and share.
At its heart is a simple everyday ritual: making coffee and making room for one another. The concept celebrates Italian heritage while opening a conversation about the many traditions and migrant stories that have shaped Melbourne’s coffee culture.
The ambition reaches beyond one family. Proposed digital displays and community storytelling could create space for other voices, memories and traditions. Any future contributions would be developed with the people sharing them, with permission and attribution.
For Rob, Espresso Grande begins with his father Umberto’s journey and grows into a celebration of Italian heritage and Melbourne’s coffee culture. He wants the project to tell a genuine story, capture people’s imagination and bring together the people who can help turn that story into something much bigger.