Sporting Kansas City and Kansas City-based specialty coffee roaster Parisi Coffee announced today the release of “Il Mentore,” a co-branded espresso blend honoring—and personally selected by—Sporting Kansas City Manager Peter Vermes.
Il Mentore—which means “mentor” in Italian—is a signature espresso blended by Parisi’s head roaster Nick Scott and personally selected by Vermes, who in his 13th season at the helm of Sporting is the longest-tenured manager in MLS history. The espresso blend is the second special-edition product in the Tifosi Series, which launched last spring as a declaration of fandom in Kansas City.
Now available at ParisiCoffee.com and Parisi cafes, Il Mentore will also debut at SportingStyle locations inside Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday when Sporting Kansas City hosts Houston Dynamo FC at 7:30 p.m. CT (tickets). The custom blend pairs Parisi’s Ethiopia Yirgacheffe and Mexico Oaxaca single origin coffees with citrus and fruity notes, balanced by tones of chocolate and caramel. Its artistic packaging pays homage to Vermes and the successful role he has played as one of the most influential leaders in American soccer.
Sporting and Parisi announced a multifaceted partnership in early 2020 for Parisi to serve as the official coffee and cold brew of Sporting Kansas City as well as the preferred specialty foods provider for City Foods & Events, the club’s in-house catering service. Il Mentore is part of Parisi’s “Tifosi Series” that pays homage to the company’s Italian heritage and commitment to the arts while also aligning with Sporting Kansas City’s rich supporter culture. Tifosi is the Italian expression for fans.
Starting this Saturday, Il Mentore will join the wide selection of Parisi products available at all Sporting home matches at Children’s Mercy Park, including coffee drinks, signature shandy and cold brew. In addition to operating out of a portable kiosk on the Children’s Mercy Park concourse, Parisi serves espresso and snack options in premium spaces throughout the stadium while crafting specialized menus for City Foods & Events.
Parisi opened its first roasting facility in 2006 and five years later opened its first café at historic Union Station near downtown Kansas City. Parisi products are available at its two café locations, in select Kansas City restaurants, grocery stores and at ParisiCoffee.com. For more, follow Parisi on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
