Taste Radio

It’s the first name in espresso and, not coincidentally, the last name of our interview guest in this week’s episode. Illy has for decades been one of the world’s most enduring coffee companies and is renowned for its singular, signature blend of coffee, commitment to quality standards and ethical responsibility. Led by chairman Andrea Illy, the third-generation leader of the Italian company and one of the global coffee industry’s most influential figures, Illy revenues topped $540 million in 2018. As part of a wide-ranging conversation, Andrea spoke about his approach to running his family’s business and how it has evolved over the years, the three most important attributes for “good coffee,” how consolidation and climate change have impacted the industry and why Illy has long advocated direct trade with coffee farmers. He also explained his perspective that coffee should be treated with the same reverence as wine and why positioning it as an energy drink is “like using a Ferrari to go shopping.” This episod