At Pizza Imperator, nestled in the heart of Berlin, we believe that great pizza begins long before the toppings hit the crust. It starts with the soul of the pie — the dough. Our dedication to authentic Italian craftsmanship is most evident in how we approach our dough preparation. This blog peels back the curtain on our process, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how we turn simple ingredients into pizza perfection.
Why Dough Matters
The crust isn’t just a base — it’s a canvas. It holds the structure, delivers the texture, and adds a distinct flavor that defines the entire pizza experience. A well-made dough is chewy yet crisp, airy but substantial, and never overshadowed by its toppings. At Pizza Imperator, we’ve perfected this balance through traditional techniques and high-quality ingredients.
The Ingredients: Simplicity at Its Best
Our pizza dough is crafted with just a few essential components:
- High-protein Italian flour
- Filtered water
- Natural sea salt
- Fresh yeast or natural sourdough starter
- A touch of extra virgin olive oil (for select styles)
By keeping our ingredients simple and natural, we ensure that each batch of dough is clean, honest, and deeply flavorful — just as Italian pizza was meant to be.
The Fermentation Process: Time is Flavor
If there’s one ingredient often overlooked, it’s time.
At Pizza Imperator, we slow-ferment our dough for up to 48 hours, allowing the natural enzymes to develop flavor complexity and an easy-to-digest texture. This long fermentation breaks down gluten slowly, resulting in a light, airy crust that’s easy on the stomach — even after a hearty meal.
This method is common in authentic Neapolitan and Roman pizza making, and we’ve adapted it to match Berlin’s evolving pizza scene, where traditional quality meets urban flair.
Kneading: More Than Just Muscle
The kneading process is where our dough comes alive. Our pizzaiolos use a combination of hand and machine kneading to ensure the dough achieves perfect elasticity and strength without becoming too dense. It’s a dance of technique and intuition — one that can’t be rushed.
The dough is then gently portioned into balls and stored in temperature-controlled environments to rest and rise — a step we never shortcut. These resting dough balls are what transform into the delicious, golden crusts you enjoy in our restaurant or through our pizza delivery in Berlin.
Shaping: Tradition in Every Toss
When it’s time to prepare your pizza, the dough is hand-stretched — never rolled — to maintain the air bubbles formed during fermentation. This ensures a crispy outside and a tender, airy inside, the signature texture we’re known for at Pizza Imperator.
Each pizzaiolo on our team has been trained in traditional Italian methods, some coming from families with a long lineage of pizza-making. It’s not just about technique; it’s about passion and heritage.
Baking: The High-Heat Magic
After stretching, the pizza is assembled with fresh toppings and slid into our stone oven, heated to an intense 450–500°C (840–930°F). This high-heat environment caramelizes the crust’s outer layer while preserving the inner softness, giving it that irresistible char and bite.
Our oven is the beating heart of Pizza Imperator. It’s not just a tool — it’s a flavor maker. The combination of quick cooking, radiant heat, and traditional baking surfaces is essential to achieving the perfect crust.
Pizza Styles at Imperator
We offer more than just your typical Margherita. At Pizza Imperator, you’ll find a range of pizzas from thin Roman-style crusts to classic Neapolitan fluffiness — all made from the same dough foundations but tweaked slightly in hydration and thickness to suit the desired outcome.
Some of our local Berlin favorites include:
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- Truffle Mushroom Pizza
- Pizza Prosciutto e Funghi
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- Diavola
- Pizza Diabolo
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- Vegan Garden Pizza
- Pizza Margherita
Each pizza tells its own story — but all begin with the same foundation: our meticulously crafted dough.
Why Berlin Loves Our Dough
In a city as diverse and food-forward as Berlin, pizza is more than comfort food — it’s a cultural statement. Our guests appreciate the attention to detail and authenticity that Pizza Imperator brings to every bite.
Whether you’re dining in, grabbing a takeaway, or ordering online, you’re tasting a product of care, patience, and tradition — values that go into every batch of dough we prepare.
Final Slice: Dough Is More Than Dough
At Pizza Imperator, we see pizza dough as more than flour and water. It’s a symbol of our commitment to quality, heritage, and flavor. Every crust that hits your plate represents hours of care — from sourcing ingredients to fermentation, shaping, and baking.
We invite you to taste the difference next time you’re in Berlin. Come by our restaurant, order online, or grab a takeaway and experience what happens when pizza is made with passion — from dough to plate.
Craving real pizza magic?
Visit us at Pizza Imperator or order online to discover why our dough has Berlin talking.
Want to see the process in action?
Follow us on Instagram for behind-the-scenes looks, fresh-out-of-the-oven creations, and daily pizza inspiration straight from our kitchen in Berlin.
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