TRIESTE, Italy – The fourteenth edition of the first-level inter-university Master in Coffee Economics and Science – Ernesto Illy, created by illycaffè and the Ernesto Illy Foundation, officially begins today. This program provides a comprehensive education covering the biological, agronomic, technological, and economic dimensions of coffee, guiding students from the coffee plant to the final product.
This year’s program welcomes 25 students from 18 countries, including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Mexico, Mozambique, Nicaragua, and Tanzania. It is aimed at young graduates in economics, engineering, and agricultural sciences.
The curriculum features over 430 hours of lessons taught by 60 instructors in a hybrid format. The program begins with remote classes and transitions to in-person sessions starting in May 2025. The course concludes with a project work component, addressing one of the subjects studied during the master’s program.
The Master program is supported by illycaffè, the Ernesto Illy Foundation, the University of Trieste, the University of Udine, SISSA (International School for Advanced Studies of Trieste), and the Scientific and Technological Research Area of Trieste – Area Science Park. Additionally, this edition benefits from a scholarship provided by the Fondazione Friuli and financial support from the Fondazione CRTrieste. Sixteen students are recipients of financial aid from the Ernesto Illy Foundation, with 10 receiving full scholarships and 6 receiving partial support.
“The Fondazione Ernesto Illy is proud to offer financial support to 16 students, continuing our commitment to nurturing emerging talent in the coffee sector,” said Anna Illy, President of the Fondazione Ernesto Illy and Board Member of illycaffè. “Since its establishment in 2008, the Foundation has worked tirelessly to promote scientific research, education, and sustainability in the coffee industry. The Master in Coffee Economics and Science embodies these goals by training highly qualified professionals who uphold illycaffè’s legacy of excellence and innovation. I wish all participants a successful and rewarding course of study, with the hope that they become ambassadors of quality coffee and sustainability worldwide.”
Since its inception, the Ernesto Illy Master in Coffee Economics and Science has trained more than 272 students from over 30 countries, shaping professionals with specialized expertise in coffee. These graduates contribute to the ethical and sustainable principles that define illycaffè’s business model, while protecting, promoting, and enhancing the sustainable quality of illy coffee.
