illycaffè announces the finalists for the Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award 2024

27 producers from 9 countries compete in New York to win the award for the best sustainable coffee of the year

TRIESTE, Italy, Aug. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- illycaffè is proud to announce the 27 finalists for the ninth edition of the Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award. This award, named in memory of Ernesto Illy, the son of the company's founder, celebrates over three decades of virtuous collaboration with coffee producers. Two awards will be presented on November 12 in New York: the 'Best of the Best,' chosen by a jury of nine coffee experts, and the 'Coffee Lovers' Choice,' selected by consumers who participate in a week-long blind tasting in illy stores around the world.

Throughout the year, illycaffè's quality laboratories analyzed samples from the 2023/2024 harvest, selecting the best batches and producers based on both qualitative and sustainability criteria.

The finalists for this edition come from Brazil, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Nicaragua, and Rwanda.

"Sustainable quality is the result of a process that begins in the coffee plantations and requires constant innovation, research, and training. It means producing high-quality coffee with respect for the environment, biodiversity, human rights, and social well-being. The Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award has become an annual appointment with our best producers worldwide, with whom we have worked hand in hand for decades to ensure a prosperous future for people and the planet," comments Andrea Illy, Chairman of illycaffè.

The 27 finalists for the Ernesto Illy International Award 2024, listed alphabetically by country, are:

Brazil:
Fazenda São João - Décio Bruxel e Outros
Fazenda Serra do Boné - Matheus Lopes Sanglard
Fazenda Vila Oscarlina - Flávio da Costa Figueredo

Costa Rica
Coopelibertad R.L.
CoopeSabalito R.L.
Finca San Carlos de Marespi S.A.

El Salvador
Finca Agua Caliente - J.J. Borja Nathan S.A.
Finca Bolívar - Matorral de S.A. de C.V.
Finca San Rafael - Comercial Larin S.A. DE C.V.

Ethiopia
Darimo Washing Station Plc - Asma International Business Pvt Ltd
Gera Tracon Washing Station Plc - Tracon Trading P.L.C.
Jemila Amdela Washing Station Plc - Legesse Sherefa Pvt Ltd Co.

Guatemala
Finca Danilandia - Luis Arimany Monzón
Finca Santa Leonarda - Plantaciones Agropecuarias S.A.
Pequeños Productores Santa Cruz Naranjo

Honduras
Finca Diego Paz - Diego Paz Paz
Finca Don Miguel - Miguel Angel Pérez Guevara
Finca El Carmen - Jorge Aníbal Peña Maldonado

India
Coovercolly Estate - Tata Consumer Products Ltd.
Kajjehally Estate - S. Vasudevan
Margolly Estate - Tata Consumer Products Ltd.

Nicaragua
Finca Santa Ana - Aida Lila Zeledón Palacios
Grupo productores - Olam Nicaragua
SMS Cluster ECOM Nicaragua

Rwanda
Karenge Coffee Washing Station
Kibirizi Coffee Washing Station
Rwinyoni Coffee Washing Station

The ranking of each of the nine finalist countries will be announced on November 12^th at the United Nations in New York during an event where coffee producers will learn who has won the Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award 2024.

The previous edition of the Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award was won for the first time by Brazil, with the São Mateus Agropecuaria farm. This achievement is particularly significant as the coffee was produced using regenerative agricultural practices, which benefit the environment and health while producing exceptionally high-quality coffee.

illycaffè
illycaffè is an Italian family-owned company, founded in Trieste in 1933 which has always set itself the mission of offering the best coffee to the world. It produces a unique 100% Arabica blend composed of 9 different ingredients. The company selects only 1% of the best Arabica beans. Every day more than 8 million cups of illy coffee are served in over 140 countries around the globe, in the cafés, restaurants and hotels, in single-brand cafés and shops, at home and in the office, in which the company is present through subsidiaries and distributors.
Since its foundation, illycaffè has oriented its strategies towards a sustainable business model, commitment that it strengthened in 2019 by adopting the status of Benefit Company and in 2021 becoming the first Italian coffee company to obtain the international B Corp certification. Everything that is "made in illy" is about beauty and art, the founding principles of the brand, starting from its logo, designed by artist James Rosenquist, up to illy Art Collection cups, decorated by over 130 international artists, or coffee machines designed by internationally renowned designers. With the aim of spreading the culture of quality to growers, baristas and coffee lovers, the company has developed its Università del Caffè which today holds courses in 23 countries around the world. In 2023, the company had a turnover of €595,1 million. The illy single-brand network has 159 points of sale in 30 countries.

SOURCE illycaffè