That perfect, restaurant-quality pizza crust seems like a secret art form, right? But it’s actually science. The magic happens on the cooking surface. For centuries, the secret ingredient has been the humble Italian brick. These special bricks for pizza ovens create an intense, even heat that gives you that signature crispy-yet-tender crust every single time. But a Gappsi brick oven is so much more than just a pizza machine. It opens up a world of open-hearth cooking for meats, fish, and even desserts. We use the finest clay bricks for ovens because we’re passionate about performance and longevity in our Outdoor Ovens.

What Makes Brick Oven Pizzas Special?

Neopolitan-style pizzas are special. The crust is crisp and flecked with tell-tale charred spots, evidence of being baked in an extremely hot oven. The interior of the dough is soft, elastic, tender, and fragrant, and the toppings are cooked to perfection.

Achieving the perfect pizza is not easy! The pizza pros usually use brick ovens that heat from 625ºF – 700ºF.

For perfect pizza, the cook must balance the two so that the dough and the toppings finish cooking at the same time. For that, they need to get the oven temperature right.  The Roman pizzaiolos (pizza bakers) used the high temperature, combined with the thermodynamic properties of the bricks. The vaulted cavity of the brick oven and the thick layer of bricks at the bottom of the oven guarantees even heating of the pizza. Brick ovens are ideal because the crust heats at a high but reasonable temperature giving the toppings enough time to properly cook.  This combination adds to the secret of the perfect pizza.

Italian Clay Bricks In Pizza Ovens Floors

The clay is one of the most important parts of making the brick and if your clay isn’t of high quality, there’s no way your pizza oven is going to be high quality.  The video below it shows the floor of the pizza oven and how the Artisian makes it using the traditional mixer.  This machine mixes the clay gathered locally in the region of Sorrento Italy.  The Clay is rich soil with volcanic pumice and silicon, a particular characteristic beneath Sorrento’s famed citrus orchards.  An oven base needs to be porous.  The pours help to warm up early and maintain the heat for a long time, releasing this heat evenly.

This is an old manufacturer that has been around for hundreds of years in Italy.  Time and tradition keep with each generation.  as the clay is mixed and poured to make the brick.

A wood mold is placed on top of a platform and the clay is spread by hand.  Simply spreading the clay by hand and not pressing it creates a more spongy finished product.  The bricks can absorb the heat and release the heat slowly. The clay is found locally and has been used for hundreds of years too.  Gappsi Italian Clay Bricks is not a product you can mass produce, the clay is being excavated locally in Sorrento Italy, and poured by hand for your next Italian Pizza Oven Order.

A Real Master Piece and Italian Art In Your Home!

We design Gappsi Brick Ovens using a machine made in the most traditional way. The techniques used are no longer around or followed by any other manufacturer that makes bricks or pizza ovens. Smoothing out the top surface is what makes the stone denser on the surface. You are talking about something made by hand; a real piece of Italian Art. Here it is!  And it can be YOURS. We prepare each brick in the same way; it is a dying art. To make each stone you literally have to feel the product as you make it. Craftsmen that create these particular bricks have a passion for the trade and understand a very old method of producing a brick oven. Every brick made for a Gappsi customer oven has this much care in producing it!

Become inspired and learn how to use your wood-fired oven in a demonstration event at the Gappsi Showroom.  Signup to be notified of our next event.  

Wood | Gas Fired Pizza Ovens

The difference between Biscotto di Sorrento and other types of brick materials on the market is that it does not burn the bottom of a pizza, absorbing moisture from the dough.

Gappsi Artisan strictly follows the ancient tradition of manufacturing:

• Manual extraction of the clay.
• Mix clay using water, grinders, and mixers
• Form clay into different molds: bricks or floor bases.
• Dried for 3 days in molds
• Dried for 10 days in a stacked position
• Clay bricks turn light grey after we fire them in the kiln.
• Dried for 7 more days
• The natural firing phase.

This involves the continuous burning of wood for seven hours. Then, after four days of baking the bricks are ready and have acquired a natural red color.

The unique flavor of brick oven pizza can cause any foodie to wish that they owned a brick oven of their own. Not only are they useful, but brick ovens also add elegance to any outdoor living area.

The Heritage of Italian Brick

When you think of authentic Italian pizza, you probably picture a rustic, domed oven radiating a warm glow. That image is built on a foundation of history, where the art of brick-making is a tradition passed down through centuries. The bricks used in a genuine Italian pizza oven are not just building materials; they are the heart of the oven and the keepers of a rich cultural legacy. This is not something you can replicate with modern, mass-produced components. The process is steeped in a deep understanding of natural materials and time-honored techniques that have been perfected over generations to create the ideal cooking environment.

At Gappsi, we believe that to build the best, you must use the best. That’s why we source our bricks from artisans who carry on this incredible heritage. These are not just any bricks; they come from manufacturers who have been shaping clay in the same Italian regions for hundreds of years. This commitment to authenticity ensures that every outdoor oven we design has a direct link to the very origins of pizza itself. It’s a story of place, patience, and passion, all fired into a simple block of clay that makes an extraordinary difference in your backyard cooking experience.

From “Mattone” to Masterpiece

The Italian word for brick is “mattone,” but what goes into a Gappsi pizza oven is so much more. The craftsmanship is a time-honored tradition that has been passed down through generations. As our partners in Italy have shared, “This is an old manufacturer that has been around for hundreds of years in Italy. Time and tradition keep with each generation as the clay is mixed and poured to make the brick.” This isn’t a factory assembly line. It’s a hands-on process where artisans feel the clay and understand its properties intimately, ensuring each brick is formed to perfection. This dedication transforms a simple mattone into a masterpiece of function and form, ready to become the cornerstone of your outdoor kitchen.

The Science of Authentic Italian Bricks

While the heritage is captivating, the superior performance of these bricks is grounded in science. The perfect Neapolitan pizza crust, with its crispy exterior and soft, airy interior, doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of specific thermodynamic properties found only in these authentic Italian materials. The magic lies in two key areas: the unique geological composition of the clay itself and the incredibly precise, high-temperature firing process it undergoes. These elements work together to create a cooking surface that absorbs, retains, and radiates heat in a way that no other material can, giving you complete control over the cooking process.

Understanding this science is fundamental to creating a truly functional and long-lasting outdoor oven. The porosity of the brick floor, its ability to handle thermal shock, and the way it interacts with the moisture in the dough are all critical factors. This is where tradition meets technology. The ancient methods have survived because they produce scientifically superior results. When we incorporate these materials into our masonry designs, we are harnessing centuries of empirical testing to deliver a flawless cooking experience for your home in Long Island.

Historic Clay Composition

The quality of a brick begins with the earth it comes from. The bricks used in our ovens are made from a very special material. “The clay is rich soil with volcanic pumice and silicon, a particular characteristic beneath Sorrento’s famed citrus orchards.” This unique blend of minerals, found only in this specific region of Italy, is what gives the bricks their remarkable properties. The volcanic pumice creates microscopic air pockets within the clay, making the final brick porous. This porosity allows the oven floor to heat up quickly and, more importantly, to absorb moisture from the pizza dough, resulting in that signature crispy, never-soggy crust.

The Role of Firing Temperature in Durability

Once the bricks are hand-molded from this special clay, they undergo an intense trial by fire. This crucial step ensures their durability and perfects their cooking ability. The firing process is long and methodical, involving “the continuous burning of wood for seven hours. Then, after four days of baking, the bricks are ready and have acquired a natural red color.” This intense, sustained heat tempers the bricks, making them incredibly strong and able to withstand the extreme temperatures of a wood-fired oven without cracking. This process also locks in their thermal properties, guaranteeing even heat distribution for a perfectly cooked pizza every single time you fire up the oven.

SCHEDULE A MEETING TODAY WITH GAPPSI

VIEW OUR VIDEO OF THE MAKING OF ITALIAN CLAY BRICKS IN PIZZA OVENS

https://youtu.be/7SMoLmDB7pE

Our showroom display includes the most beautiful as well as unique imported natural stones for patios, walkways, and driveways.

We provide services in Nassau and Suffolk County.  Glen Cove, Hempstead, North Hempstead, Oyster Bay, Babylon, Huntington, Islip. Commack, Kings Park, Quoque, Commack, and Smithtown. Brookhaven, Southampton, Riverhead, East Hampton, Southold, Old Brookville, Old Westbury. and Mill Neck, Nissequogue, Lloyd Harbor, Muttontown, Coldspring Harbor, and East Norwich.  Gappsi’s knowledgeable and experienced personnel can help you create the yard of your dreams!

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes these Italian bricks so different from other materials for a pizza oven? The secret is in the soil. Our bricks come from Sorrento, Italy, where the clay is naturally mixed with volcanic pumice. This unique composition creates a porous brick that acts like a sponge for heat. It warms up quickly, holds that heat for a long time, and releases it evenly. Most importantly, it pulls moisture from the dough, which is how you get that perfectly crisp, never-soggy pizza crust.

Besides pizza, what else can I cook in a Gappsi brick oven? Think of it as a complete outdoor cooking station, not just a pizza maker. The intense, radiant heat is perfect for roasting meats to juicy perfection, baking crusty loaves of bread, searing fish, and even making desserts. The consistent temperature gives you incredible control, opening up a whole world of open-hearth cooking right in your backyard.

Why is the hand-made process for these bricks so important? When a brick is made by hand, the artisan can feel the clay and avoid over-compressing it. This creates a lighter, more porous final product compared to a dense, machine-pressed brick. This porosity is the key to the oven’s performance, allowing it to absorb and release heat slowly for a perfectly balanced cook. It’s a functional difference you can taste, born from a tradition of craftsmanship.

Will a brick oven made with these materials last? Absolutely. The durability comes from the intense, multi-day firing process. The bricks are baked in a kiln for days at very high temperatures, which tempers them and makes them incredibly strong. This process prepares them to handle the extreme heat of a wood-fired oven without cracking, ensuring your oven will be a beautiful and functional part of your home for many years.

Can I choose between a wood-fired and a gas-fired oven? Yes, you can. We design our ovens to fit how you want to cook. A wood-fired oven provides that classic, smoky flavor that many people love. However, a gas-fired system offers incredible convenience and precise temperature control at the turn of a dial. We can help you decide which fuel source is the best fit for your outdoor kitchen and lifestyle.

Key Takeaways

• Authentic Materials Are Key: The secret to a restaurant-quality pizza crust lies in the bricks. True Italian pizza ovens use a special clay from Sorrento, mixed with volcanic pumice, which creates a porous surface that absorbs moisture for a perfectly crisp finish.
• Handcrafting Creates Superior Performance: Unlike mass-produced bricks, authentic oven bricks are hand-molded by artisans. This traditional method preserves the clay’s natural structure, allowing it to heat quickly and distribute that heat evenly for a flawless bake.
• The Firing Process Ensures Durability: These special bricks undergo a long, high-temperature firing process that tempers them. This makes the final product incredibly strong, so it can handle the extreme heat of a wood-fired oven without cracking, ensuring your oven lasts for years.

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• Biscotto di Sorrento Archives – Gappsi Group
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• brick ovens in Nassau County Archives – Gappsi Group
• Brick Pizza Oven construction Archives – Gappsi Group