TRIESTE, Italy – The tastings dedicated to the finalists for the Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award 2022 will kick off on April. From that date and until the end of the year, visitors to selected illy cafés throughout Europe will be able to embark on a journey around the world to discover nine Arabica coffee crops selected for their sustainable quality, from Ethiopia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Rwanda and India.
Each month will be dedicated to one batch of 100% Arabica coffee from one of these countries, each with its own distinct flavour profile and aroma. This is a unique opportunity to learn more about the world of coffee while discovering new aromas and flavours, experiencing coffees found within the unique illy Arabica blend.
Through the Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award, that has been dedicated to the memory of the visionary son of the company’s founder, illycaffè recognises the best coffees in the world in regard to their attention to sustainable quality and renews its commitment to improving the lives of coffee farmers while fulfilling its dream of offering the best coffee in the world.
Nine countries will be featured in the tastings: among them are the winners of the “Coffee Lover’s Choice” award, assigned after a blind tasting carried out in several illy cafés worldwide to Costa Rica’s CoopeAtenas R.I. cooperative; and the “Best of the Best” award bestowed by an independent jury of international experts to Ethiopia’s Tracon Trading P.I.C.
Each of the nine finalists will be available for one month only between April and December 2023 in participating illy cafés, both in the classic espresso version, and only in the summer months, from June to September, in a cold version as well.
A small final prize will be given to anyone who completes the full tasting cycle.
The tastings will be accompanied by illustrations that 9 international artists created especially for this project: an additional way to celebrate, through art and beauty, the atmospheres, cultures, and flavours of the finalist countries through the eyes of 9 creative talents who, month after month, will depict the colour palette of each country while recalling the aromas of their coffee crops.
The full schedule is below:
- April: Honduras – illustration by Sacrée Frangine @sacree_frangine
- May: Brazil – illustration by Gio Pastori @giopastori
- June: Nicaragua – illustration by Petra Eriksson @petraerikssonstudio
- July: El Salvador – illustration by Odile Ferraille @odileferraille
- August: Guatemala – illustration by Victoria Semykina @victoria_semykina
- September: Costa Rica Coffee lovers choice – illustration by Miles Tewson @miles_tewson
- October: Rwanda – illustration by Maria-Ines Gul @mariainesgul/
- November: India – illustrazione Manon Louart @manonlouart
- December: Ethiopia Best of the best – illustration by Beya Rebaï @beya_rebai
For a list of participating cafés go to: www.illy.com/eiica2022
