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TRIESTE, Italy – The Fondazione Ernesto Illy ETS marked the 100th anniversary of the birth of Ernesto Illy – an entrepreneur and scientist – who left an indelible mark on the coffee world thanks to his ethical and innovative vision of doing business. Experts, scholars, and friends gathered in Trieste for the event “The Values of Ernesto Illy: Reflections 100 Years After His Birth”, to reflect on the legacy left by the man and industrial leader. It was a moment focused on the future, not the past, just as Ernesto Illy would have wanted.
The President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, also sent his greetings, emphasizing how the world of business is not separate from its responsibilities to the community and the future. He acknowledged how Ernesto Illy’s teachings were rooted in a keen awareness of development issues related to environmental sustainability and social equity, particularly meaningful in coffee-producing regions.
“We wanted to celebrate the 100th anniversary of my father Ernesto’s birth and honor the legacy of entrepreneurial values he left behind. Ernesto Illy dedicated his life to the pursuit of excellence – in ethics, science, quality, and business. A business that thrives on its ability to continuously innovate in harmony with the environment, to recognize that the true master of the market is the consumer, and above all, that quality is a state of mind found in the hearts of people,” said Anna Illy, President of the Fondazione Ernesto Illy ETS.
Knowledge, complexity, and ethics are the three guiding principles Ernesto Illy left behind – values that helped shape illycaffè, the coffee industry, and society itself
The creation of knowledge is fundamental in solving complex problems through the development of innovative tools that rely on a holistic, nonlinear approach. Today, illycaffè is a pioneer in regenerative agriculture precisely because of this mindset, one that shifted the focus of applied research from industrial processes to the entire coffee cultivation chain.
Ernesto Illy’s view of complexity, grounded in Prigogine’s theory of chaos, allows us to confront modern challenges through an interdisciplinary lens that connects, rather than separates, different branches of scientific knowledge. This second teaching led illycaffè to surpass the limits of quality and triggered the transformation of coffee from a commodity into an experiential beverage.
The third teaching centers on ethics and rejects the notion of humans as predatory beings, advocating instead for a mutualistic model where humanity lives in symbiosis with the planet. A belief now embraced by Benefit Corporations, of which illycaffè is one.
A Legacy of Ethics, Innovation, and Charisma
Fifty perfect coffee beans, giving life to a single small cup, are just the final step in the imprint Ernesto Illy left on illycaffè beginning in 1956 – a story where history, science, entrepreneurship, and culture intertwine. A complex story that Ernesto Illy was able to master and translate into lasting success. After all, complexity seemed to be part of his DNA, starting with his father, Francesco.
Born in 1892 to a German mother and Hungarian father in Timișoara, Romania, Francesco Illy arrived in Trieste with the Austro-Hungarian army and began working with chocolate and coffee, laying the foundation for what would become illycaffè.
In 1949, Ernesto joined his father in the business, and in 1956 he became co-owner and managing director. From that moment on, Ernesto’s work never ceased. His goal was both simple and ambitious: to ensure that in every city, no matter how big or small, there would be a café serving only illy coffee.
When Francesco Illy passed away in 1956, Ernesto took over the technical and commercial leadership of the company. He had two clear objectives: to create the finest espresso blend for cafés and to drive forward scientific and technological research. He completed the establishment of the 2.5 kg can production department and organized illycaffè’s first sales network in Italy.
These were times of great change: the company transitioned into a joint-stock company, changing its legal status to become “illycaffè S.p.A.”
In September 1965, the new plant in Via Flavia, Trieste was inaugurated, featuring numerous pioneering innovations – among them, a chemical laboratory that was unique in Italy at the time, ensuring quality control of both production processes and raw materials.
These were also the years when exports to foreign markets began, and the first illy distributors outside Italy were established. Innovation never slowed under Ernesto Illy’s visionary leadership.
In 1971, a U.S.-made machine arrived at the new plant, producing non-compacted single coffee servings, marking the beginning of the single-serve coffee pod era. The dream of preparing an espresso anywhere, without needing to be an expert barista, was becoming reality.
The internationalization of the company, major marketing strategies, and the global recognition of the illy brand – now among the most respected international players – are all part of today’s success story
A story Ernesto Illy chose to write with his children, entrusting them with the company’s leadership in 2005 and taking on the role of Honorary President, continuing to offer tireless guidance behind the scenes.
Ernesto Illy was known worldwide for his deep scientific knowledge and his unmatched expertise in the world of coffee. But he was also admired by colleagues and collaborators for his ability to explain even the most complex ideas in simple, accessible ways.
At illycaffè, he always strived for excellence, making research and innovation the pillars of the company, establishing partnerships with numerous institutions and registering many patents.
He advanced illycaffè by involving himself in every step of the coffee production process – starting from the very beginning, at the agricultural level – founding numerous awards for producers to raise product quality.
A fluent speaker of multiple languages and passionate sailor, Ernesto Illy combined his entrepreneurial prowess – through which he brought an Italian product to the world – with strong ethical values, which he made the cornerstone of his life.
Fondazione Ernesto Illy
Established on October 30, 2008, the Fondazione Ernesto Illy is a corporate foundation created to honor, promote, and preserve the legacy of its namesake. Chaired by Anna Illy, the Foundation reflects the values and vision of Ernesto Illy, with ethics as its core principle – guiding human activities and fostering a sense of responsibility toward nature and humanity.
The Foundation fulfills its mission by advancing Ernesto Illy’s philosophy through initiatives in scientific research and innovation, education and outreach, and the development of sustainability and philanthropy projects focused on the coffee supply chain. Its activities primarily center on scientific exploration, coffee culture, and training for producers and supply chain stakeholders.
A significant focus is placed on agronomic research through initiatives such as the Virtuous Agriculture and Ernesto Illy Colloquia projects. These efforts aim to support coffee-producing countries and farmers, improve living conditions, and explore innovative solutions for the coffee crops of the future. Additionally, the Foundation emphasizes education through programs like the Master in Coffee Economics and Science, empowering individuals to contribute meaningfully to the global coffee sector.
