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AWARDS

Ernesto Illy Award
for quality espresso coffee

At the end of the 1980s, scouring the Brazilian rural areas of Brazil, Ernesto Illy proved to local farmers that there was a market willing to pay much higher prices to obtain a high-quality product, thus creating a new incentive to the entire supply chain and providing coffee farmers with new tools and machines to successfully produce a higher quality coffee product.

At the end of the 1980s, Ernesto Illy scoured rural areas of Brazil and introduced local farmers to a new market willing to pay higher prices to obtain a high-quality product. These newly created incentives positively impacted the entire supply chainand provided coffee farmers with new tools and machines to successfully produce a higher quality coffee product.

In 1991, we decided to offer public recognition to farmers who agreed to adhere to our quality and sustainability principles by creating an award which, over time, has become the most important coffee quality award known since 2008 as the Ernesto Illy Award for quality espresso coffee, a tribute to the honorary president of illy.

In 1991, we began publicly recognizing farmers who adhered to our quality and sustainability principles with an award for coffee quality excellence. Renamed the Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award in 2008, as a tribute to our honorary illy president, this award has become the most important coffee quality award.

Ernesto Illy International
Coffee Award

The Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award,named in memory of illy's visionary leader, son of the company's founder, celebrates our work alongside farmers to offer the best sustainable coffee in the world, our approach for the past 30 years.

Every year, we select the 9 finest coffees from the most sustainable crops. Thanks to the commitment of an international jury of experts, we celebrate the best coffee crops in the world and give coffee lovers the opportunity to taste them every month exclusively in select illy stores.

Find out where you can taste them

NOVEMBER

HONDURAS

Harmonious in acidity and bitterness to bring out the aromas of caramel and toasted bread.

Producer: Cooperativa Cocabel
Altitude: 1.350 mt
Process: washed
Honduras 100%: Belén - Lempira

“Coffee is a family entity for me, very important for Honduras economy, and the four-years path with illy lead us to be one of the three best coffee in our country”
Antonia Ponce

OCTOBER

COLOMBIA

Intense fruity aroma and hints of caramel enhanced by its marked acidity.

Producer: Ascafé (Asociación Colombiana de Pequeños Caficultores) - Spirit of Peace Ex Combatants
Altitude:1580-1750 mt
Process: washed
Colombia 100%: Cauca

“Coffee is an instrument that allow us to dream and the perfect coffee grows thanks to the family’s love.”
Carlos Lopez

SEPTEMBER

RWANDA

Sweetness together with acidity to highlight the delicate fruity, floral and caramel notes.

Producer: Nyamyumba Coffee Washing Station
Altitude: 1.742 mt
Process: washed
Rwanda 100%: Western Province

“Coffee is part of our development and lifestyle […] illy supported the women association to improve our alliance”

AUGUST

NICARAGUA

Balanced between bitter, sour and sweet. Enriched with fruity and caramel aromas.

Producer: Lift
Altitude: 800-1200 mt
Process: washed
Nicaragua 100%: Wiwili – Jinotega

“Coffee and its export are fundamental in our country and we are proud to work with illy creating quality”

JULY

GUATEMALA

A full-bodied coffee, recognizable for the perfect balance between acidity and bitterness, is characterized by notes of chocolate and toasted bread.

Producer: Finca El Consuelo
Altitude: 1400-1850 mt
Process: washed
Guatemala 100%: Huehuetenango

"We started to plant coffee in the Fiftees of last century at finca El Consuelo and just before 2000 we met illycaffè, from which we learnt a lot not only about coffee but also in terms of respect of nature"
Jorge Perez

JUNE

COSTA RICA

With a nice intensity of acidity and sweetness, this full-bodied coffee stands out for its fruity notes.

Producer: Coopeatenas R.L.
Altitude: 900-1300 mt
Process: washed
Costa Rica 100%: West Valley

"It is an honor to share this important annual award with the great illy family: Coopeatenas is made up of 1300 small producers and for all of us coffee is passion, pride and hope"
Juan Carlos Álvarez

MAY

ETHIOPIA

A coffee with delicate floral notes of jasmine, enhanced by its particular acidity and sweetness.

Producer:Legesse Sherefa Pvt Ltd Company
Altitude: 1700 – 2200 mt
Process: washed
Ethiopia 100%: Yirgacheffe

“For 45 years we have been exporting our coffee to different parts of the world and when it comes to quality and social responsibility, illy is like a mentor for us.”
Ahmed Legesse

APRIL

INDIA

The coffee is bitterness and full-bodied, with notes of chocolate and caramel.

Producer: Rosewood Estate
Altitude: 1.090 mt
Process: washed
India 100%: Chickmagalur

“Coffee is a passion! For a good quality coffee, there must be a correct application of agronomic practices and post-harvest operations.”
Abul Jabbar

MARCH

BRAZIL

A full-bodied and balanced coffee with a peculiar aroma of toasted bread and caramel.

Producer: Fazenda Sequoia
Altitude: 1.200 mt
Process: semiwashed
Brazil 100%: Chapada de Minas

“Brazil has a great history of coffee, which is part of the culture of our country. But making quality coffee is a philosophy: illy values a different product and above all it values us producers.”
Rodrigo Crimaudo

Discover the rare and precious notes of the 9 coffees

Each of them is available only in its unrepeatable vintage and only for one month exclusively in illy Caffès. Some outlets might be closed due to local restrictions.

ITALY