This Year’s Master’s in Coffee Economics and Science, Promoted by illy, Now Underway

Trieste, 15 January 2016 – The sixth academic year of the intra-university second-level University Master’s course is now underway for young graduates in economics, engineering and agrarian science. The course is designed to provide in-depth knowledge about the culture of coffee from plant to cup, including the social values of coffee drinking and the culture of producer nations.

The Master’s in Coffee Economics and Science is unique anywhere in the world. Highly international in its scope, it confirms the city of Trieste’s place as the world capital of coffee culture. Faculty are drawn from top educational institutions in Italy and internationally: the University of Udine, the University of Trieste, Wageningen University, the University of São Paulo, the University of Northern Colorado, and the University of Ljubljana.

Welcoming this year’s intake, Anna Rossi Illy, Chairwoman of the Fondazione Ernesto Illy, and Roberto Morelli, Chairman of the Master’s Course Board, expressed their satisfaction at the increasing success that the Master’s course in Coffee Economics and Science has achieved over the years. This year, a record twenty-four students have enrolled on the course, hailing from sixteen different countries: Brazil, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Italy, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Rwanda, Taiwan and the United States of America.

“With 83 students trained during the first five editions of the Master we can be proud to have contributed and to continue in this way to spread the wealth of knowledge related to the entire production of coffee” says Anna Rossi Illy “Working into the coffee market requires a high level preparation. For this reason, the multidisciplinary curriculum offered to students is aimed at training managers of the future and to increase the level of quality into the preparation of the Italian espresso”.

Now in its sixth year, the Master’s is being promoted and run by an elite group of educational partners: the University of Trieste, the University of Udine, the Fondazione Ernesto Illy, illycaffè Spa, SISSA – Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati di Trieste, the Consorzio di biomedicina molecolare (Area Science Park – Trieste), and the Distretto Industriale del Caffè della Provincia di Trieste (Trieste Coffee Cluster).

The 400-hour course is taught at illycaffè headquarters from Monday 18 January to 17 June. The course concludes in mid-October with a dissertation/thesis.

Support and a grants are available to students once again: fourteen scholarships (of which seven are full scholarships, two under the UNIDO project) and seven partial, provided by the Fondazione Ernesto Illy, one by the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Udine e Pordenone (CRUP), and one by the Fondazione CRTrieste.

Facts and figures about the Master’s in Coffee Economics and Science:
- Academic Year 2015/2016: from 18 January to 17 June 2016
- 400 hours of lessons (200 with university lecturers, 200 with illycaffè lecturers)
- No. of University Educational Credits: 60
- Location: illycaffè, Trieste
- Language: English


illycaffè was founded in Trieste in 1933; the company manufactures and markets a unique blend of 100% Arabica espresso coffee and is the leading brand in top quality coffee. illycaffè has been an official partner of Expo 2015, creating and managing the content, exhibits and events centred on coffee in the common area of the Expo Coffee Cluster. Almost 7 million cups of illy coffee are consumed daily throughout the world. illy coffee is sold in more than 140 countries and is served in over 100,000 of the world’s finest restaurants and cafés. The monobrand illy shops are about 230 in 43 Countries. The company also set up and runs the Coffee University with a view to fostering and spreading the culture of coffee; this centre of excellence provides comprehensive academic and hands-on training for coffee growers, baristas and fans covering every aspect of the product. The company has approximately 1,084 people on its global payroll, and in 2014 posted consolidated revenues of €391 million. illy purchases green coffee beans directly from growers of the highest quality Arabica, based on partnerships underpinned by the principles of sustainable development. Out of its Trieste headquarters the company encourages long-term partnerships with the world’s best growers in Brazil, Central America, India and Africa, sharing know-how and technology and paying higher than market compensation.

Founded in 2000, the Università del Caffè is illy’s centre of excellence for coffee producers, industry professionals and coffee lovers alike to promote and disseminate coffee culture in Italy and around the globe. Producers learn how to grow the best coffee nature can offer and the golden rules for plantation management. Coffee industry professionals who work with the public can take advantage of the best training and most advanced course opportunities available in coffee, as well as learn about bar management and promotion. The University also offers tasting evenings and themed dinners for coffee connoisseurs and lovers. In addition to its main base in Trieste, the Università del Caffè operates in twenty-three locations around the world. More info: www.unicaffe.com.