About Illy
Illy is one of the world's most respected Italian coffee brands, founded in Trieste in 1933 by Francesco Illy. Now led by the third generation of the Illy family, the company has pioneered espresso innovation for over 90 years while maintaining unwavering quality standards. Francesco Illy invented the first automatic coffee machine in 1935, the "illetta," which used pressurised water instead of steam—the predecessor to contemporary espresso machines. In 1934, illy patented their revolutionary pressurisation packaging process, allowing beans to retain their aroma until opened. This innovation enabled illy's first exports to Sweden and the Netherlands in the 1940s. Illy uses only 100% Arabica beans, selecting just the top 1% with zero defects. The signature illy blend skilfully combines nine single-origin Arabicas to create their globally renowned balanced, smooth, never bitter taste. The blend has been perfected in Trieste for over 90 years. In 1974, illy invented ESE (Easy Serving Espresso)—the first pre-measured espresso pods, making café-quality espresso simple at home. Today's UK range includes Iperespresso capsules (illy's proprietary system), Nespresso-compatible capsules, E.S.E. pods, whole beans, ground coffee, instant coffee, filter coffee, and cold brew. The 1992-launched Illy Art Collection features cup designs from renowned artists including Jeff Koons, Yoko Ono, and David Byrne. The University of Coffee, established in 1999, has 27 branches worldwide dedicated to coffee education. As a certified B Corp, illy meets the highest verified standards of social and environmental impact and is recognised among the World's Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere. Illy coffee is available at UK retailers including Waitrose, Sainsbury's, and specialty coffee shops. Compare prices across retailers with Grocefully.