Preparation

The first coffee machine.

When Francesco Illy founded his company in 1933, he was pursuing his dream of producing the finest coffee that nature has to offer and distributing it all over the world. To achieve this, he needed to not only produce an excellent coffee, but also to devise the technologies necessary to prepare it. The result was Illetta, the forerunner of espresso machines now commonly seen in coffee shops. In the 1930s, the machines used to prepare espressos tended to “burn” the coffee because of the high temperature and low pressure of the water. Francesco’s great flash of inspiration was the invention of a new technology, one capable of using compressed air as well as steam as a source of pressure. This ingenious innovation allowed the Illetta to prepare an espresso very similar to the one we drink today.

From Illetta to Iperespresso.

Ever since Illetta was first designed, we have continued our research and development into innovative systems in pursuit of the perfect coffee preparation method. To date, Iperespresso is our most advanced technology: a fully integrated system consisting of a capsule and a machine designed to work in complete harmony with that capsule, protected by 5 international patents.

Much more than a cup.

The illy espresso cup, now a bona fide icon, started life as the finishing touch to the coffee-preparation systems and the ideal way to serve espresso coffee, to get the most out of the sensorial, intellectual and aesthetic aspects of the tasting. Created in 1991 by the prestigious designer Matteo Thun, it helps to retain heat, directs the aromas released from the cup, and offers both tactile and visual pleasure. Over the years, the espresso cup has undergone multiple transformations and provided a unique source of inspiration for leading international artists.