In the historic streets of Trieste, an often overlooked town on Italy’s Istria peninsula, there is an aroma of coffee in the air. Dating back to the early 18th century, when the tax on coffee beans arriving at its port was waived, the city has had a deep association with coffee and was the main entry point for coffee beans into Europe. In the historic centre, visitors can still find some of the original coffee houses, modelled on those found in Vienna at the time and, each year, the city hosts the Trieste Coffee Festival.
Back in 1933, the city was also the place where the international coffee company, Illycaffé was born. Founded by Francesco Illy, the company has gained a reputation for its forward-thinking approach to business and coffee. In 1935, Francesco first invented the ‘Illetta’, considered the blueprint for modern espresso machines, which revolutionized coffee preparation. He also came up with an innovative method of packaging coffee, based on pressurization, which enabled Illy’s first ever exports to Sweden and Holland during the 1940s, and this method remains the standard for preserving and enhancing coffee’s freshness during transport and storage.
Illy’s innovation has straddled every era since it was founded. The company invented the first pre-measured espresso pods, for instance, which meant that people could make café-quality espresso at home for the first time. In 1988, Francesco introduced and patented a photo-chromatic means to identify the highest quality beans, one by one, right at the source, which ensured the highest quality coffee in the cup. While the 1990s saw the creation of the Illy Art Collection; a new logo for the brand designed by renowned pop artist James Rosenquist, and the establishment of the Brazil Award which recognizes excellence in coffee cultivation.
These days, under the guidance of Andrea Illy, the grandson of Francesco, and CEO Christina Scocchia, Illy is synonymous with not only offering premium Italian coffee in over 140 countries worldwide but also having a commitment to sustainability and investment into small coffee growers throughout the world.
The company produces a unique 100% Arabica blend, composed of nine different ingredients, and it selects only 1% of the best Arabica beans in the world. Every day, eight million cups of Illy coffee are served in over 140 countries around the globe.
Since its foundation, Illy, which has a turnover of €567.7 million, has had a focus on a sustainable business model, and in 2021 it became the first Italian coffee company to obtain a B Corp certification. The brand also has a commitment to art and beauty, from the James Rosenquist-designed logo to the Illy Art Collection cups, which have been decorated by over 125
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One of the most picturesque villages in the Tirol, Alpbach is not the place for a rip-roaring après ski scene, but its clutch of classic wooden chalet hotels, traditional stube restaurants and quiet bars make it a great choice for a restorative mountain break. Alongside the perfectly groomed pistes accessed by the Wiedersbergerhorn gondola, are easy snow-shoeing trails, a 7km toboggan run and torchlit hikes. Mountain huts dot the Alpbachtal-Wildschönau valley, serving käsespätzle (Tirolean macaroni cheese) and spiced gluhwein. Stay at the Post, a charming, family-run hotel in the heart of the village – and the best value in town.Doubles from £138 B&B; hotel-post.co.at
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I recently put caviar on an extra-toasty Cheez-It, and I’m obsessed. I took my inspiration from Alexis Cervasio, proprietor at hip Boston market EBO & Co. and proponent of putting caviar on everything,
The Tokyo skyline is known for its ulta-sleek 5-star hotels perched high above the city overlooking walled gardens, centuries-old royal palaces, and majestic Mount Fuji. But the soaring cityscape was taken to new heights this year with the addition of Bulgari Hotel Tokyo, which occupies the 40th-45th floors of Tokyo Midtown Yaesu ultra-skyscraper.
Weaving your way through wooden stalls on a reindeer-drawn sled, savoring the aroma of roasted almonds, and sipping on gløgg—the region’s twist on mulled wine—are just some of the highlights of a visit to a Christmas market in Scandinavia.