Italian brothers Paolo and Donato Cillo are to open a third outlet of their coffee shop brand Gran Caffè – their first outside the city centre – creating 12 new jobs. Tony McDonough reports

Paolo and Donato Cillo are to expand their Italian coffee shop Gran Caffè, opening a third outlet in Liverpool, creating 12 jobs.

They opened their first Gran Caffè in Williamson Square, more than 10 years ago. In December 2023 they took the brand to Duke Street. Now the bustling Lark Lane in south Liverpool will be home to the third venue.

It will serve its signature breakfast pastries that are handcrafted in-house and baked fresh each day by their pastry team, headed up by Donato’s wife Antonietta, as well as a selection of brunch dishes.

And the menu will also now include Italian small and large plates for lunch, aperitivo and dinner. Opening in late Spring, Gran Caffè is renowned for its Italian coffee, sandwiches served on their homemade sourdough bread, and its award-winning artisan gelato.

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Gran Caffè, which translates to ‘Great Coffee’, was created by Paolo and Donato out of a love for the rich atmosphere that can be found in Italian coffee houses.

All ingredients for Gran Caffè’s dishes are provided by their sister’s A Tavola da Maria Delicatessen and their coffee is ground from beans from their family’s roastery, Torrefazione Lucana, in Potenza.

Renowned as a pasticceria – which translates to cake and pastry shop – Gran Caffè has been serving its Italian delicacies in Liverpool for over 10 years.