Spend 73 minutes with the father of the modern-day espresso industry! In this interview filmed at the Four Seasons Hotel in Milan, Italy, Ernesto Illy shares his expansive knowledge of specialty coffee and his optimistic philosophy for the future of the beverage.
Dr. Illy has been the chairman of illy caffe of Trieste, Italy since 1963, and is well known in the specialty coffee industry, both for his expertise and for the positions he has held in many international coffee organizations.
On June 2, 1994, he was granted the title of Cavaliere del Lavoro [Knight of Industry] by Italian President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro. In April, 1997, he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Specialty Coffee Association of America.
Dr. Illy is former president and founder of ASIC [Association Scientifique International du Café Paris], the international body that studies the biological, chemical and physical aspects of coffee, and today serves as senior vice president of the organization.
