International Coffee Day: Four Italian Coffee Producers

At Eataly, caffè is a daily subject: how to buy coffee, how to brew the perfect espresso, how to make the morning (or afternoon) better. For International Coffee Day, celebrated on October 1st, here are four of our favorite coffee producers and the stories behind them. Stop by our stores or order your favorite coffee online to celebrate with us.

illy

In 1933, Francesco Illy founded illycaffè in Trieste, starting a legacy of coffee innovation. Two years later he invented the illetta espresso machine, considered the blueprint for modern espresso machines. In the 1940s he created a pressurized packaging method to preserve the freshness, aromas and flavors of the coffee as it traveled around the world.

His son Ernesto continued the legacy, using his doctorate in chemistry to understand the chemical nature of coffee and leading illy's expansion into consumers' homes. Today illy is still family-owned and renowned for the high-quality, smooth and balanced taste of its pure Arabica, selected from only 1% of the finest Arabica beans.

Lavazza

With more than 125 years of history, Lavazza was founded by the tenacious and intuitive Luigi Lavazza. In 1895 he acquired a small grocery store in the heart of old Torino and discovered a flair for coffee. Over generations, he and his family mastered the art and science of coffee.

Every step from farm to cup is carefully taken. When the beans reach the Lavazza facilities, professional coffee tasters pair them into blends, which are roasted to perfection and ground fine, medium or coarse. At select restaurants, diners can enjoy a free espresso with a meal through the "Espresso on Us" promotion.

Caffè Vergnano

Founded in 1882, Caffè Vergnano is one of Italy's oldest coffee roasting companies. The Vergnano family has nurtured the brand for nearly 140 years, championing authentic Italian espresso. The quality of its blends comes from a meticulous selection of the best coffee producers across the world and from slow, traditional roasting that enhances every element of the coffee.

Caffè Vergnano blends can be found in over 90 countries, in the best hotels, cafés and bars, and in over 190 Caffè Vergnano 1882 stores.

Caffè Borbone

Caffè Borbone was born in Napoli in 1997 as "L'Aromatika srl," in an area steeped in coffee culture and in the daily ritual that unites people. Its founder, Massimo Renda, drew on experience from a small family roastery and saw the business potential of distributors of automatic coffee machines.

With the purchase of the first machines to roast and produce pods and the creation of a structured sales team, Caffè Borbone was born. Dedicated to making single portions accessible to all, it soon became a reality in Italian homes and shops.