Il Vero Bar del Professore
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The Bar del Professore is a small bar on Piazza Trieste e Trento, at number 46, a few steps from Piazza del Plebiscito and the Teatro di San Carlo. Its founder, Raffaele Ferrieri, was known as the professor of coffee. In a 2012 interview he explained how he created the caffè alla nocciola from his grandmother's hazelnut cake: a hazelnut cream made fresh every morning, served on espresso. He gave it away at first until people came back for it.
Imitators followed, with other bars calling their coffee "del professore". He sued, lost on the grounds that the word was too generic, and put "Il Vero" (the real one) on his sign. A 2026 guide puts the nocciola at up to €3.50.
At a glance
- Address
- Piazza Trieste e Trento 46, the square between Via Toledo, Piazza del Plebiscito and the Teatro di San Carlo. The sign reads Il Vero Bar del Professore.
- Price
- Up to €3.50 for the caffè alla nocciola, in a food-tour guide published in 2026. Italy Segreta notes it costs a little more than neighborhood bars.
- Menu
- About 60 coffee variations, from nocciola to Kinder and Nutella versions, plus Neapolitan pastries.
- Hours
- Not published; we found no official site.
- Why 'Vero'
- The founder added 'vero' (real) to the sign after other bars copied the name; a court told him 'professore' was too generic to monopolize.
In this guide
What to order
The caffè alla nocciola: espresso with a thick hazelnut cream, served with a tiny spoon so you can scrape the cream from the sides of the cup. Ferrieri said he tested the recipe with a gastroenterologist to find a dose that would not upset the stomach. The bar lists around 60 variations, including Kinder and Nutella coffees, if you want to go further.
For a plain Neapolitan espresso, the bar is not the point. Try Caffè Mexico instead.
Professore or Gambrinus?
Gambrinus, on the same square, also claims the caffè nocciola as "the first Neapolitan gourmet coffee". Ferrieri told the story of the day a president came to his bar only because Gambrinus was closed. The honest answer is to try the nocciola at both, standing at the bar, and decide. Gambrinus has the grand rooms; the Professore has the recipe's backstory and a more focused menu of coffees.
Practical notes
The bar is on the busiest square of the sightseeing route, so expect crowds. A 2026 guide warns that service can get brusque when it fills up. Drink it standing, and move on to Sfogliatella Mary in the Galleria Umberto I for a pastry.
Frequently asked questions
What is a caffè alla nocciola?
An espresso with a thick hazelnut cream, eaten partly with a spoon. The Bar del Professore made it famous.
How much is the caffè nocciola at the Professore?
Up to €3.50, according to a 2026 guide. The bar does not publish prices.
Where is the Caffè del Professore?
Piazza Trieste e Trento 46, next to Piazza del Plebiscito. Look for the sign Il Vero Bar del Professore.
Why is it called Il Vero Bar del Professore?
Because other bars copied the name. The founder added 'vero', real, to mark the original.
Further reading
Official sources
- Melazzini - interview with Raffaele Ferrieri, the professor of coffee (April 2012) – Origin of the caffè nocciola from his grandmother's cake; cream made each morning; tested with a gastroenterologist; the name dispute and 'vero'; Gambrinus anecdote
- Do Eat Better - best coffee in Naples (June 2026, updated August 2026) – Food-tour operator's guide: Piazza Trieste e Trento 46; nocciola up to €3.50; tiny spoon; crowds and brusque service; secondary
- Italy Segreta - the best bars for a 3C coffee in Naples (updated June 2025) – About 60 coffee variations; a little dearer than other bars
- Gran Caffè Gambrinus - caffetteria (official) – Gambrinus's rival claim to the first Neapolitan gourmet coffee
