• Coronavirus in Hungary
  • coronavirus
  • Budapest
  • Covid immunity certificate in Hungary
  • Covid immunity certificate/vaccine passport
  • Hungary border control
  • HelloMagyar
The Hungarian inventor behind the world-famous Illy coffeeThe Hungarian inventor behind the world-famous Illy coffeeThe Hungarian inventor behind the world-famous Illy coffeeThe Hungarian inventor behind the world-famous Illy coffee
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Society
  • Sport
  • Culture
  • Special Hungary
  • World
  • Contact Us
  • About us
  • About us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
✕
Support us
Eszter Vass Eszter Vass · 04/02/2017
· Culture

The Hungarian inventor behind the world-famous Illy coffee

drink History Hungarians abroad Italy

Did you know that the famous Illy coffee was founded by a Hungarian businessman and inventor? Ferenc Illy was also the first in the world to use vacuum packaging to keep roasted coffee fresh, and his invention, the first automatic coffee machine revolutionised coffee making. His company, illycaffé is over 80 years old, szeretlekmagyarorszag.hu writes.

Ferenc Illy was born on October 7, 1892, in Temesvár (Timișoara), in today’s Romania. At 22, he was conscripted into the Austro-Hungarian army and he served at several fronts during World War I. After the war, he settled in Trieste, Northern Italy, and this is where the story of coffee begins.

Trieste traded mainly in coffee at the time, as well as with tropical fruit, wine, oil, and building materials. Illy found work at companies dealing with cocoa and coffee roasting, and he fell in love with a Trieste woman. His grandson, Andrea Illy wrote that his grandfather had three great loves: Trieste, coffee, and the lovely Doris.

Francesco Illy. Photo: wikipedia.org

Illy was the first to use vacuum packaging for his coffee. With this method, he ensured that the coffee would retain its freshly roasted quality even after being transported. He also swapped oxygen for nitrogen to preserve the coffee for longer in the hermetically sealed containers.

Button

In 1933, Ferenc, or as he was known in Italy, Francesco, founded his own company, illycaffé. This was a brave endeavour, because over 60 coffee companies existed in Trieste at the time, dating back to the 1800s.

In 1935, Illy had another invention which revolutionised coffee making. He created the world’s first automatic coffee machine which used steam instead of pressurised water. The Illetta became the predecessor of today’s espresso machine.

Photo: illy.com

Illy devoted his entire life to his company. He died in Trieste in 1956, and his family continued his legacy. His son Ernesto, a food chemist, became the head of illycafé. Ernesto also established the Universitá del Caffé, which organises courses on high-quality coffee-making all around the world, including Budapest. Illycafé is currently run by the third generation of the family, Ferenc Illy’s grandson Andrea Illy.

Photos: illy.com, wikipeia.org, twitter.com/illyusa

Copy editor: bm

Source: szeretlekmagyarorszag.hu

drink History Hungarians abroad Italy
Share
Eszter Vass
Eszter Vass

Related posts

architecture-new york
17/05/2022

New York to host second Hungarian contemporary arts festival


Read more
capa center
17/05/2022

Capa Center: selection of the best Hungarian press photos of 40 years


Read more
Magyar Zászló Magyarország Hungarian Flag Hungary
16/05/2022

5+1 Useful tips to get you started with learning Hungarian!


Read more

1 Comment

  1. STORIA: Ferenc Illy, l'ungherese che rivoluzionò l'industria del caffè - East Journal says:
    02/05/2017 at 16:57

    […] più scemando e che ispira sempre molta nostalgia. Secondo suo nipote Andre, l’imprenditore aveva “tre grandi amori: Trieste, il caffè e […]

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

SUPPORT US
Latest news
  • New York to host second Hungarian contemporary arts festival
  • Hungary’s central bank: Coordinated fiscal, monetary policy needed to tackle inflation
  • Radical opposition slams new government structure
  • New government structure in line with Hungary’s interests, says Fidesz party’s group leader

Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign up to receive daily updates, news & stories about Hungary!

Select your location below or enter your country so we can deliver our morning newsletters to you in time.


Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.


.

About us

Contact us

© 2022 DailyNewsHungary. All rights reserved!
Posting....