Illycaffè announces countries participating in Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award

Illycaffè has announced the nine countries whose Arabica beans will participate in this October's Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award (EIICA). After comprehensive sampling and analysis of Arabica beans from the 2017/2018 harvest at Illycaffè's quality lab, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, India, Nicaragua and Rwanda were named EIICA participants. The award, now in its third year, recognises coffee growers who demonstrate excellence in achieving sustainable quality. “From the seed of an idea that my father planted in Brazil nearly 30 years ago has sprouted a movement to propagate sustainably grown, higher-quality coffee around the world, and with it, better recognition, knowledge, and well-being of growers – the most important stakeholders in all of coffee,” says Andrea Illy, Chairman of Illycaffè. “The Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award honours this legacy, and the women and men who work tirelessly to give the world their best.”  Related stories:
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Illy’s recipe for happiness An expert jury will evaluate the growers’ beans in three different preparations – espresso, drip and cold brew – to determine nine finalists. Illycaffè will then bring 27 growers, three per country, to New York City for a ceremony in the Delegates Room at the United Nations on 4 October. That evening, 27 growers and their countries will be honoured at an EIICA gala at Rockefeller Center's Rainbow Room. There, a sole Best of the Best honouree will be announced from among the nine finalists, and a Coffee Lovers' Choice award will be given to the grower whose beans were voted best by consumers, through blind tastings held at Illy stores around the world.  For more information, visit www.illy.com.