In June of 2022, I traveled to Italy. It was the last time I would see my grandfather, Raffaele. That meeting ignited my desire to document his story, as I knew his time was limited. I began gathering materials, including old photos and videos I had shot over the years. My grandfather had emigrated to Switzerland as a young man to save enough money to return home and buy a café, which he did. He then ran that coffee bar for nearly 40 years, serving exceptional espresso. Back in New York, I began writing about his story. Across the street from where I used to work, on 6th Avenue and 48th Street, there is an espresso bar called Zibetto—one of the few places in New York where you can enjoy great espresso at the counter, just like in Italy. The owner, Mikael, is Swedish but has a deep love for Italy and its culture. One late summer day, while I was writing at one of the tables, Mikael approached and asked what I was working on. I shared my grandfather’s story, mentioning that they both used the same brand of coffee machine—albeit my grandfather’s model was much older. Mikael was enthusiastic about my story and insisted I meet someone named Assaad. A few days later, when I stopped in Zibetto for coffee, Mikael introduced me to Assaad, who just happened to be visiting that day. Assaad was an executive for the coffee machine company my grandfather used. He was curious about my project, and as I spoke, I noticed his eyes light up. He took my number and left. A few weeks later, my grandfather passed away. Shortly after, I received a call from Assaad asking if I would be interested in creating a documentary about how espresso spread globally thanks to Italian migrants. The Rise of Espresso premiered at the Italian Film Festival in Melbourne, Australia in September, 2024.