Lavazza Coffee Fuels the Next Generation Movie Makers at NYU Tisch
November 2 - 2025
Coffee Geography Magazine
In an inspiring fusion of cinematic artistry and Italian coffee culture, the iconic Lavazza brand has brewed a new partnership with the Martin Scorsese Virtual Production Center at NYU Tisch School of the Arts. This collaboration, centered within the center’s café lounge, is designed to fuel the next generation of filmmakers, storytellers, and creative technologists, marking a significant deepening of Lavazza’s ongoing investment in the global cultural landscape.
The partnership was officially launched at an intimate evening hosted by the legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese himself. He was accompanied by his daughter, actress and filmmaker Francesca Scorsese, and Daniele Foti, Lavazza's Vice President of Marketing, as they welcomed guests to celebrate this union of cinematic and coffee excellence. The event set the stage for a symbiotic relationship between two entities dedicated to precision, creativity, and storytelling.
From left: , Actress and filmmaker Francesca Scorsese-- Daniele Foti, Lavazza's Vice President of Marketing---- the legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese
Nestled on the Brooklyn waterfront at Industry City, the Martin Scorsese Virtual Production Center is the home of NYU Tisch's groundbreaking Master of Professional Studies in Virtual Production. This nine-month, immersive program educates students in the rapidly evolving art of storytelling that blends cutting-edge technology with performance and design. It is within this innovative environment that the Lavazza-fueled lounge operates, serving as a creative hub where students can gather, collaborate, and recharge.
For Lavazza, a company founded in Turin in 1895 and still family-owned after four generations, this is a natural extension of its long-standing commitment to art and culture. With a global turnover of over €2.7 billion and a presence in 140 markets, the Group has a proven history of supporting prestigious institutions like the Toronto International Film Festival, the Guggenheim Museum, and the Independent Spirit Awards. The lounge itself, overlooking the Upper New York Bay, is outfitted with Lavazza's Flavia machines and its signature Dolcevita Classico espresso line, bringing a touch of Sicilian-inspired warmth and Italian artistry to Brooklyn.
NYU Tisch School of the Arts' Dean Rubén Polendo expressed gratitude for Lavazza’s contribution, noting that the café space will energetically foster the exchange of ideas and stories among students. This sentiment was echoed by Lavazza’s Daniele Foti, who stated, “Excellence isn't just a standard, it's a mindset that combines creativity, precision, imagination, and that uniquely Italian spark we call estro. The world of film reflects all these qualities.”
Reflecting on the launch, Martin Scorsese connected the space to his own family's Sicilian roots, envisioning the lounge as a modern recreation of the traditional Sicilian café—a vital gathering place where community is built, and inspiration is shared, one perfect cup of espresso at a time.