Italian instant chocolate and tea — the Ristora selection
Ristora Instant Chocolate and Tea
Ristora instant hot chocolate powder for smooth, creamy drinks. 1 kg box for vending and HoReCa outlets. Prepare with hot water or milk according to the recipe. Italian signature: dense cream, intense cocoa, indulgent foam.
View the range → VendingRistora instant soluble teas for vending machines and Ho.Re.Ca. outlets: lemon tea, peach tea , and variations. 1 kg box. Quick preparation, consistent dosage, tangy fruit flavors.
View the range →The Ristora story begins in 1966 in Italy, when Luciano Pensante —a visionary in the vending industry—founded Prontofoods SpA and launched his first brand: Ristora. At the time, vending was still in its infancy in Italy. Pensante had the foresight to invest in granulated powdered milk, which he discovered was imported from the United States in bags, and developed a complete range of soluble preparations for vending machines.
The gamble paid off: in the following decades, Ristora became the Italian leader in vending for instant hot drinks —instant chocolate, instant tea, cappuccino, and coffee with ginseng. The Prontofoods group then expanded through successive acquisitions: Maraviglia , Idrolitina , Frizzina , and the historic Sant'Olcese site (Genoa) , followed by the French powdered milk brand Prolait , West End (a specialist in coffee with ginseng), and finally Crastan SpA in 2019 (the Italian leader in l'or). From 1997 to 2001, Ristora was instant an official sponsor of Brescia Calcio , during the era when Roberto Baggio, Pep Guardiola, and Andrea Pirlo played for the club.
Today, Prontofoods SpA is based in Montichiari (Brescia, Lombardy) with two production sites covering 126,000 m², plus one site in Sant'Olcese (Genoa) and two in Pontedera (Pisa) for Crastan — all production remains in Italy. The group employs over 400 people, exports to approximately 80 countries, and is the largest Italian packer of filtered teas, chamomile, infusions, and herbal teas (29 packaging lines). Ristora offers its range through three channels : Retail (boxes, cans, sticks, capsules), Vending (1 kg, 500 g, 250 g formats), and Ho.Re.Ca. (hotels, restaurants, cafes, catering).
What has defined Ristora since 1966: 4 pillars of expertise which explain the positioning of the Italian leader in soluble preparations for hot drinks.
Ristora is the first brand of Prontofoods, created specifically to invest in the emerging Italian vending. Luciano Pensante was a pioneer with granular powdered milk, then chocolate, instant tea, cappuccino — the entire basis of the modern "hot drinks" vending offering.
Ristora covers all soluble preparations : instant chocolate , instant tea (lemon, peach…), instant cappuccino , instant coffee and ginseng coffee , latte granules , and hot chocolate mixes . Available in 1 kg , 500 g , 250 g and single-dose stick formats .
All Prontofoods production remains in Italy : Montichiari (Brescia) on 126,000 m² (headquarters & 2 sites), Sant'Olcese (Genoa), Pontedera (Pisa, Crastan). Italy's largest packer of filtered teas, chamomile, infusions and herbal teas: 29 packaging lines.
Ristora distributes its range across 3 channels : Retail (supermarkets, boxes/cans/sticks/capsules), Vending (Italian leader, formats 1 kg → 250 g), Ho.Re.Ca. (hotels/restaurants/mensae/air & naval catering). Export to ~80 countries.
The 4 most ordered Ristora products by our customers — Italian instant chocolate and tea.
The Ristora brand was created in 1966 in Italy by Luciano Pensante , founder of Prontofoods SpA — official source ristora.it/en/history. It was the group's first brand , launched specifically to penetrate the emerging Italian vending market
Today, the brand is 60 years old in 2026 and remains the flagship brand of the Prontofoods group, itself complemented by other historical brands (Idrolitina, Frizzina, Maraviglia, Ideal, Prolait, Crastan, West End).
All Ristora production is 100% Italian . The Prontofoods SpA group maintains all of its production in Italy, spread across several sites:
The group employs more than 400 people and is the largest Italian packager of filtered teas, chamomile, infusions and herbal teas.
At Cafemalin, we distribute two complementary Ristora ranges for hot drinks:
Both formats are designed for professional use (Ho.Re.Ca., vending, mensae) but also work very well for intensive home use.
Yes, Ristora is the flagship brand of the Italian group Prontofoods SpA, based in Montichiari (Brescia, Lombardy). The group also owns several other long-established brands:
Prontofoods is the largest Italian packager of filter teas and infusions and one of the European leaders in soluble preparations.
Yes, the Ristora offering has been modernized:
Consult the product sheet for each item to verify the format and applicable certifications.
Ristora soluble preparations are designed for quick and easy :
Close the packaging tightly after use and store away from moisture to preserve the powder texture.
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