Francesco Illy founded illy coffee in 1933, and his invention of the Illetta in 1935 was described as a guide for modern espresso machines. The innovative packaging method, based primarily on a pressurization system, enabled illy's first exports to Sweden and the Netherlands in the 1940s. Francesco Illy's packaging method ensured that the coffee retained its freshness during transport and storage.
Francesco's son, Ernesto, who had a doctorate in chemistry, joined the company in the late 1940s. With a passion for learning that began in the home laboratory built on coffee chemistry, he elevated illy's scientific and technological research efforts. In the 1950s, he pioneered the company's development by being the first to package coffee in smaller containers for sale, thus successfully entering homes. In 1965, he moved the company to Via Flavia, Trieste, where its headquarters are now located.
In 1974, Dr. Illy's invention of the ESE Pod positioned the company as a world leader in coffee innovation. ESE Pods, the first pre-measured espresso pods, simplified the process of making quality espresso at home or in a cafe. In 1988, he introduced and patented a digital coffee sorter to precisely identify the highest quality coffee beans individually at their source.
In the 1990s, illy introduced its Art Collection (ART COLLECTION), a new logo designed by famous pop-art artist James Rosenquist, and its excellence in coffee cultivation to the world. Today, illy is synonymous with "Premium Italian Coffee" in over 140 countries. Under the guidance of Andrea Illy, Ernesto's son, illy continues its tradition of innovation and coffee excellence.
1933 - FOUNDATION OF ILLYCAFFÈ
Francesco Illy, of Hungarian origin, travels from Vienna to Trieste, the city of coffee, at the end of the First World War. He founds illycaffè in 1933 with the dream of offering the best coffee in the world.
1934 - PRESSURIZATION
illycaffè patented the revolutionary pressurization system it still uses today to package its products. This system allows properly matured coffee to retain its aroma and freshness while traveling worldwide.
1935 - THE FIRST HIGH-PRESSURE ESPRESSO MACHINE: ILLETTA
Illetta, the first modern espresso machine, was designed with a patented system that separates the processes of heating water and delivering it under pressure.
1939 - ILLYCAFFÈ IN EUROPE
illycaffè became an ambassador for espresso culture in Europe and began exporting through its first foreign base in Switzerland.
1957 - THE FIRST RESEARCH LABORATORY
Ernesto Illy, after receiving his doctorate in chemistry, joined the company and established the first research laboratory, creating a synergistic collaboration with prestigious international scientific institutes.
1957 - ACHIEVING QUALITY AT HOME
With the new product department, small cylindrical tins for home use were designed and filled with ground coffee.
1962 - CONTINUED GROWTH IN EUROPE
The company expanded into Northern Europe, opening its first branch in the Netherlands.
1965 - NEW HEADQUARTERS
illycaffè moved its main headquarters to Via Flavia, where it remains today. At this time, Ernesto Illy began to focus on the international developments envisioned by the founder.
1974 - THE FIRST SINGLE-SERVING COFFEE ON THE MARKET
illy was the first company to market pod coffee, which created the possibility of making perfect espresso anytime, anywhere, with a single-serving dose of compressed ground coffee: this innovation paved the way for illy's internationalization.
1980 - ILLY IN AMERICA
With the first Italian roasting machine imported to America, espresso culture was brought across the ocean.
1982 - PRECISE QUALITY IN EVERY COFFEE BEAN
illy coffee patented a digital coffee sorting machine that analyzes the color and shape of beans to ensure each one is perfect.
1991 - A PIONEER IN ORIGIN SELECTION
To obtain the best quality coffee, The Prêmio Ernesto Illy de Qualidade do Café para Espresso was created in Brazil through the collaboration of Ernesto Illy and his daughter Anna, transforming coffee production. This established a direct relationship with coffee growers at the source.
1992 - ILLY ART COLLECTION
Beauty and harmony. Francesco Illy came up with the idea for an iconic cup designed by Matteo Thun. A contemporary interpretation of the centuries-old art of decorative porcelain, the illy Art Collection, designed by promising artists, has grown over the years into one of the world's largest collections of art objects. You can view illy art collection products here.
1992 - COMMUNICATION OF THE UNIQUE ILLY BLEND
A new advertising campaign designed by Riccardo Illy, focusing on the uniqueness of the illy blend, confirms the brand's leadership in bars and homes with high-quality Arabica coffees from 9 different origins.
1995 - X1: DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY FOR ESPRESSO
60 years after the Illetta machine, his grandson Francesco Illy founded Francis Francis and produced the X1 machine, which made it possible to make espresso at home and remains a style icon today. You can view other Francis Francis capsule machines here.
1996 - JAMES ROSENQUIST AND THE NEW LOGO
The legendary figure of pop art, American artist James Rosenquist, created a new illy logo to express uniqueness within his brushstrokes.
1998 - AROMALAB
AromaLab, opened in the Trieste Science Park area, is a laboratory that focuses on a single aroma that creates the unique illy blend.
1999 - L'UNIVERSITÀ DEL CAFFÈ
L'UNIVERSITÀ DEL CAFFÈ (Coffee University) was opened with the mission of spreading coffee culture worldwide, sharing knowledge to improve quality, and providing information about the entire production chain from bean to coffee.
2001 - EVOLUTION OF TIN CANS
250g tin cans designed for home use, miniature versions of the coffees used in cafes, quickly became an international icon. Discover the unique illy blend in tin cans.
2002 - SEBASTIÃO SALGADO
The great photographer Sebastião Salgado embarks on a journey to the paradise of coffee to pay homage to the men and women who cultivate it. He concludes the project, which took 14 years and involved travel to 10 countries, with the exhibition "Scent of a Dream."
2003 - SINGLE-BRAND STORES
illy coffee launches the espressamente illy project, an authentic Italian bar initiative. This initiative will be continued by illy Caffe and illy shop in 2015.
2006 - 3RD GENERATION ESPRESSO: IPERESPRESSO
Thanks to the brewing and emulsifying phases, IPERESPRESSO capsules, covered by 5 international patents, consistently offer coffee with intense aroma and velvety consistency.
2007 - THE PERFECT MOKA POT
illy researchers developed a new coffee pot that "doesn't burn the coffee" to help Italians better experience the sensory qualities of their favorite coffee.
2008 - MITACA
illy entered the share capital of Mitaca, a company specializing in systems for offices.
2008 - READY-TO-DRINK ILLY
In collaboration with Coca-Cola, ready-to-drink cold coffee bottles made the unique illy blend accessible everywhere.
2011 - RESPONSIBLE SUPPLY CHAIN
Andrea Illy initiated the idea of certified sustainability. The RSCP certification, issued by DNV GL, evaluates all stakeholders in the chain from an economic, social, and environmental perspective.
2013 - SLIM CAN
Designed in line with the European Union's 20-20-20 targets, illy's new slim can is the first home-designed can made from pressurized and flexible materials.
2013 - MOST ETHICAL COMPANY
illycaffè was included in the World's Most Ethical Companies list compiled by the Ethisphere Institute for the first time.
2015 - EXPO MILANO
The largest coffee celebration in history: illy, as an official partner of Expo 2015 and the International Coffee Organization, hosted the Coffee Cluster pavilion, which was visited by 13 million people, in addition to special programs and events it coordinated.
2019 - ERNESTO ILLY INTERNATIONAL COFFEE AWARD
The Premio por la Qualidade do Cafè para Espresso, established in 1991, goes global: the Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award begins to present awards to honor the talent and hard work of quality producers. In this way, it celebrates excellence in cultivating the highest quality coffee beans through sustainable methods to offer the world the best coffee.