In Italy there is a “machine” every 26 people and it gives drinks and snacks every day for an annual income of 3 billion Euros. Antonio Barbangelo took a socio-economic picture of this sector in his book “Pausa Caffè”, coffee break, published by the Bocconi university. But Italy is not just a consumer: it is in fact the first European producer of drink and snack dispensers and is the leading exporter with 70% of the sector share.

Translated by Chiara Nunnari from John Milton Institute