Articles >> The history of the coffee beans brand IllyThe history of the coffee beans brand Illy
Who founded Illy?
Illy was founded by Francesco Illy and his family in 1933. Francesco came to Trieste during World War 1 as an officer in the Hungarian army. After the war he remained in Trieste and set up a business dealing in cocoa and coffee until deciding to focus on coffee completely. Francesco from the beginning was always interested in espresso coffee .
In 1935 he invented the first automatic espresso steam coffee machine, and he invented a new way to package coffee where the coffee was stored in cans and preserved with gases rather than air.
After the Second World War Francesco gave control of the company over to his son Ernesto, who as a scientist opened a laboratory where many coffee inventions were discovered. Today Ernesto’s son, Andrea, is now the chairman of the company and his sister and brother, Anna and Riccardo, are on the board.
Today Illy sells coffee and coffee related products to 131 countries all over the world and employs over 600 people located in their 6 companies in North America, Lebanon, France, Germany, Spain and Benelux.
What does Illy coffee taste like?
“When we drink coffee, our tongue gets painted. As long as it stays painted, it remains tasty!”
- Ernesto Illy
People say that tasting Illy coffee not only affects the person’s palate but affects the entire person’s senses.
Illy believe that espresso coffee is the best way for a person to enjoy coffee and is the best method for true coffee lovers. Illy offer espresso coffee in a fine grind, a medium frind, and as a whole bean.
Which ever type you choose from Illy their coffee is very rich, with a mix of flavours including fruity and flowery with caramel, chocolate, almond and honey hints. It is smooth like velvet and sweet but with a bitter tingle.
| 
