illycaffè Announces the Nine Coffee-Producing Countries to Participate in Third Annual Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award

Expert panel to judge coffee beans from each country in October to determine "Best of the Best" honors

"Coffee Lovers' Choice" Award blind tastings and voting planned for late September

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Aug 23, 2018, 09:07 ET

NEW YORK, Aug. 23, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- illycaffè, the global leader in high-quality, sustainably-grown coffee, today announced the nine countries whose Arabica beans will participate in this October's Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award (EIICA). The Award, now in its third year, recognizes coffee growers who demonstrate excellence in achieving sustainable quality. The award is named in honor of illycaffè's beloved late, second-generation leader, and celebrates the company's nearly three decades of hand-in-hand work with farmers on a global scale to realize a dream of offering the best coffee to the world.

After comprehensive sampling and analysis of Arabica beans from the 2017/2018 harvest at illycaffè's Trieste, Italy quality labs, the following countries were named EIICA participants: Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, India, Nicaragua, and Rwanda. The story of last year's "Best of the Best" honoree is available here.

illycaffè will bring a total of 27 growers (three per country) to New York City for a ceremony in the Delegates Room at the United Nations on October 4, following an expert jury's evaluation of beans in three different preparations – espresso, drip and cold brew – and where nine "Best of the Best" finalists will be announced.

That evening, all 27 growers and their countries will be honored at an EIICA gala at Rockefeller Center's Rainbow Room, emceed by Ted Allen of Food Network's Chopped, Chopped Junior and The Best Thing I Ever Ate. There, a sole "Best of the Best" honoree will be announced from among the nine finalists, and a "Coffee Lovers' Choice" award will be conferred to the grower whose beans were voted best by consumers, through blind tasting events held at illy flagship stores around the world, and at an event preceding EIICA in New York City.

"From the seed of an idea that my father planted in Brazil nearly 30 years ago has sprouted a movement to propagate sustainably grown, higher-quality coffee around the world, and with it, better recognition, knowledge, and well-being of growers – the most important stakeholders in all of coffee," said Andrea Illy, Chairman of illycaffè. "The Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award honors this legacy, and the women and men who work tirelessly to give the world their best."

Direct Trade Pioneering

A program first developed in Brazil, originally called Premio por la Qualidade do Cafè, formed the roots of EIICA, and of illy's transformation to a company that today purchases its coffee beans from coffee producers able to meet its high quality standards, who are paid a guaranteed premium price recognizing their commitment to delivering at that quality level, and for contributing to the unique illy blend.

About illycaffè

illycaffè is an Italian family business, founded in Trieste in 1933 and committed to offering the greatest coffee to the world. illy is the world's most global coffee brand, producing the unique illy 100% Arabica blend made of 9 of the world 's best selections of Arabica; each day more than 7 million cups are served in over 140 countries in the finest cafés, restaurants, hotels and in offices and homes. illy has become the standard forerunner of espresso, and thanks to three critical innovations, is considered the leader in the science and technology of coffee. With the bestowing of the first "Ernesto Illy Award for quality espresso coffee" in 1991 in Brazil, illy also pioneered direct sourcing, sharing know-how and paying a premium price for the best quality, based on partnerships underwritten by the principles of sustainable development. The company also founded the University of Coffee with the aim of fostering and spreading its culture, providing comprehensive academic and hands-on training for coffee growers, baristas and coffee lovers in order to cover every aspect of the product. Everything 'made in illy' is enhanced by beauty & art, which represent founding values of the brand, starting from its logo – designed by an artist, James Rosenquist – and including the renowned illy Art Collection, comprised of over 100 cups designed by international artists. In 2017 the company was employing 1,290 people and posted consolidated revenues of €467 million. There are approximately 244 stores and mono-brand illy shops in 43 countries.

For more information, please visit www.illy.com.

SOURCE illycaffè