ROME, Italy \u2013 The awards ceremony for the tenth edition of the Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award, a flagship event in the sector that annually celebrates excellence and sustainability in coffee production, took place last night in the splendid setting of Palazzo Colonna in Rome.<\/p>\n
This year, the prestigious \u201cBest of the Best\u201d accolade was awarded to Rwanda, specifically the Ngamba Coffee Washing Station \u2013 Sucafina S.A.<\/strong>, represented by Emmanuel Akiba, for the outstanding quality and sustainability of its coffee, perfectly embodying the flavor characteristics illycaff\u00e8 seeks from various origins.<\/p>\n For the first time, the \u201cCoffee Lovers Choice<\/strong>\u201d award \u2013 given directly by consumers<\/strong> \u2013 was claimed by El Salvador, with Finca Villa Mercedes of Agroindustrial Yaya<\/strong>, represented by Juan Hos\u00e8 Herrera, further confirming the growing international appreciation for its unique and distinctive coffees.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award is a benchmark for promoting quality, transparency, and sustainability in coffee production,\u201d explains Andrea Illy<\/strong>, Chairman of illycaff\u00e8.<\/p>\n \u201cThe recognition granted to the winners has a significant impact on local communities, providing global visibility to producers and encouraging the adoption of environmentally and socially responsible agricultural practices. In a sector where quality arises from passion, tradition, and innovation, the award remains a fundamental tool for supporting the growth and competitiveness of producers in international markets.\u201d<\/p>\n The technical jury<\/strong> for the 2025 edition, made up of internationally renowned experts \u2013 technicians Carolina Casta\u00f1eda, Matilde Maria Montero and Philip Schluter, illy Chef Ambassadors Francesco Apreda, Caterina Ceraudo and Matteo Metullio, journalists Luis Manuel Blasco Alis, Pierre de Gasquet and Adriano Sack \u2013 selected the Best of the Best, evaluating the competing samples according to strict criteria of quality, aroma, and sustainability.<\/p>\n A new addition this year was the consumer jury<\/strong>, which gathered for the first time in the ITA Airways lounges in Rome, where illycaff\u00e8 is a partner, to present the Coffee Lover’s Choice award. For the occasion, the airline lounge was transformed into a venue for tasting and sharing, demonstrating the shared commitment to promoting Italian and global excellence.<\/p>\n The ceremony was attended by representatives from the global coffee supply chain<\/strong> and figures from institutional circles. Guest of honor was the renowned director and maestro Francis Ford Coppola<\/strong>, who mingled with well-known personalities from the entertainment industry such as Claudia Gerini and Alessandro Borghi.<\/p>\n The tenth edition of the International Coffee Award<\/strong>, which concluded at Palazzo Colonna<\/strong>, was rich in meaningful moments for the 27 finalists of 2025.<\/p>\n The event opened with participation in an audience with Pope Leo XIV<\/strong> at the Vatican and was further enhanced by a meeting at the FAO headquarters<\/strong>, where leading international experts tackled subjects such as regenerative agriculture and artificial intelligence, considered strategic levers for addressing the systemic crisis the coffee sector is facing.<\/p>\n These engagements provided a valuable opportunity for dialogue and exchange among key players in the supply chain, strengthening the link between production excellence, innovation, and social responsibility.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" ROME, Italy \u2013 The awards ceremony for the tenth edition of the Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award, a flagship event in the sector that annually celebrates excellence and sustainability in coffee production, took place last night in the splendid setting of Palazzo Colonna in Rome. This year, the prestigious \u201cBest of the Best\u201d accolade was […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":202983,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8155,8125,7274],"tags":[108585,18200,4848],"class_list":{"0":"post-202981","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-competition-between-baristas-bartenders","8":"category-large-scale-small-scale-coffee-roasters","9":"category-specialty-speciality-coffees","10":"tag-coffee-roasters-news","11":"tag-ernesto-illy-international-coffee-award","12":"tag-rome"},"pp_statuses_selecting_workflow":false,"pp_workflow_action":"current","pp_status_selection":"publish","yoast_head":"\n