TRIESTE, Italy – From March to November, illycaffè, a global leader in high-quality coffee, takes consumers on a sensory journey to explore the nine Arabica coffee crops which – from the largest plantations to secluded coffee gardens – have been awarded for their sustainable quality. This journey starts from far away and destinations include a few illy Cafés, where each of the nine Arabica coffees selected as finalists of the 5th edition of the Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award will be exclusively available for one month.
This Award – in the memory of the visionary illycaffè leader, son of the company founder and pioneer of the virtuous cooperation with growers – is a recognition for the best coffee crops at global level to create a focus on sustainable quality, renew the commitment of the company to improve growers’ lives and achieve its mission to offer the best coffee in the world. This is an extraordinary opportunity to promote coffee culture and to offer consumers the unique opportunity to taste exceptional varieties of coffees in a journey exploring the nine origins of the unique illy blend.
The best of the global coffee production of the 2019/2020 includes crops from nine countries: Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Nicaragua and Rwanda. Cooperativa Cocabel from Honduras exceptionally won both prizes of the 5th Edition of Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award: the “Best of the Best”, awarded by a jury of coffee experts, international chefs and food critics, and the “Coffee Lover’s Choice”, awarded by a jury of consumers.
A sensory journey from March to November – each month a different tasting – a path that has been conceived to taste the best coffees in the world for 2020. Consumers will be guided to discover the colour, the aroma and the taste of the precious beans with an exclusive service: transparent cups, special saucers, in-store displays and screens to learn about the features and different aroma notes of each coffee.
The rare and precious notes of the nine coffees will be available on an exclusive basis just for one month and only in selected illy Cafès, as detailed below:
March 2021 – Brazil
April 2021 – India
May 2021 – Ethiopia
June 2021 – Costa Rica
July 2021 – Guatemala
August 2021 – Nicaragua
September 2021 – Rwanda
October 2021 – Colombia
November 2021 – Honduras – winner of the “Best of the Best” and “Coffee Lovers’ Choice” awards.
By supporting sustainable projects, the Company is also providing practical help to the “Best of the Best” winning country. In 2020, illycaffè financed a project to set up an educational centre to promote coffee culture in the Colombian region of Cauca, with an informal and dynamic learning environment and an interactive approach. The mission of this centre is to promote a science and technology-based approach for the students of the 64 rural schools, with which illy has been working for years. It also aims to raise awareness on the importance of sustainability within the whole coffee production chain. The Company has also financed another project in 2021, which focuses on the Honduran community in the framework of environmental sustainability.
