Italian coffee company illycaffè is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its Easy Serving Espresso (E.S.E.) coffee pods with the launch of a new coffee machine.
The company is said to have introduced the first pre-dosed and compressed single-serving coffee pod in 1974, which became an industry standard in the 1990s.
“This marked a true revolution: with the perfect amount of coffee packed between two layers of filter paper and precisely pressurised, anyone could make an espresso as good as one served in a bar, right at home,” the company said in a statement.
Fifty years later, the company has launched the ILLY X2.2 E.S.E., a new professional coffee machine designed by architect and industrial designer Luca Trazzi.
“With its sleek, vintage-inspired design, the new illy machine is crafted for bars, restaurants, and hotels that cater to clients seeking top-quality coffee and a responsible, sustainable experience,” the company said.
illycaffè says the launch is in response to trends indicating 70 per cent of consumers prefer sustainable products, as well as 3.2 million Italian households purchasing coffee pods in 2023 – a 10 per cent increase from the previous year.
“We are proud to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the E.S.E. pod system, a technology that, for half a century, has embodied our dedication to innovation, quality, and sustainability – values that have always been integral to illy,” says Cristina Scocchia, illycaffè CEO.
“This commitment is also reflected in our new professional coffee machine, which combines sophisticated design with sustainable technology to ensure excellent coffee while respecting our planet.”
The illy E.S.E. pods are certified compostable and are available in Classico (double espresso and lungo), Intenso, and Decaf variants.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of E.S.E., illy will launch a multi-format online and offline communication campaign starting 18 November in Milan, Trieste, and Rome.
