A sip of Italy abroad? Wherever we are, a cup of Illy coffee helps us feel immediately at home…. Could it be because Illy is a Made in Italy brand born precisely out of a love for Italy?
Francesco Illy, a cosmopolitan talent
This brand’s story begins with Ferencz Illy, born in 1892, the son of a Hungarian carpenter. After studying economics in Timisoara, Illy gained his first work experience in Vienna. In the First World War, he fought in the Austro-Hungarian army; at the end of the conflict, he moved to Trieste, where his sister lived and where he stayed for love of the city and a woman.
He later chose to become an Italian citizen by the name of Francesco.
1933: the Industria Caffè e Cioccolato illy Hausbrandt is established
At 22, he started working in a coffee roasting plant. A few years later, he invented and patented a pressurisation method – still in use at Illy – to preserve the aroma of freshly roasted coffee for a long time, thus facilitating exports to distant countries. In 1933, he founded the Industria Caffè e Cioccolato illy Hausbrandt with a partner to sell the best coffee possible.
However, it was in 1935, with the invention of Illetta, the world’s first automatic coffee machine based on the patented system of separating heating and water pressure, that Illy’s unstoppable success began.
Constant research
In 1947, Francesco’s son, Ernesto Illy, joined the company. A chemistry graduate, he set up the first research laboratory, creating synergies with the most prestigious international scientific institutions and facilitating the company’s expansion. In 1974, another first: Illy was the first to patent pods – single-serving portions of ground and pressed coffee – that allow for perfect espresso anywhere, at home or in the office.
Espresso culture lands overseas
In 1980, the company began marketing coffee in the U.S. and was the first Italian coffee roaster to bring espresso culture overseas. Also in the 1980s, Illy patented the digital sorting machine, which analyses the colour and shape of the beans to ensure perfection.
In 1999, Uni-Illy, the University of Coffee, was founded to train baristas and coffee specialists. Over the years, innovative systems have been patented, allowing you to enjoy a good espresso coffee anywhere.
Attention to communication strategies and close synergies with the design world make Illy an exclusive brand synonymous with quality.
Today the company, based in Trieste, is a leader in the high-end coffee products sector and is led by the third generation of the family, with Andrea Illy as President and Cristina Scocchia as CEO. Illy is present in 140 countries, and one of its goals is to make the USA its number one market.
Congratulations to those who bring the aroma of Italian coffee to the world!
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