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TRIESTE, Italy – illycaffè, global coffee company known for its sustainable quality, is proud to announce the appointment of Michelin-starred chef Johannes Nuding to the illy Chef Ambassador program. Multi-award-winning and currently leading the restaurant Schwarzer Adler in Hall in Tirol (Austria), Nuding shares with illy a vision rooted in excellence and in the valorization of raw materials.
Johannes Nuding built his culinary identity in some of Europe’s most prestigious kitchens, working alongside legendary chefs such as Joël Robuchon and Pierre Gagnaire. He then reached the pinnacle of international gastronomy as Executive Head Chef of The Lecture Room & Library at the iconic Sketch in London, where he earned Three Michelin Stars.
In 2022, he chose to return to his Tyrolean roots to breathe new life, together with his wife Lilit, into the historic inn Schwarzer Adler: a building with more than four centuries of history, today transformed into an elegant and contemporary restaurant. In this setting, Nuding has developed a cuisine that enhances local and seasonal ingredients, interpreting them with innovation, sensitivity and profound respect for the environment.
This approach reflects the values of illy world: from the careful selection of the finest origins to the respect for their identity and the desire to elevate every ingredient through technique, knowledge and artisanal excellence. In 2025, the restaurant was awarded Two Michelin Stars, a recognition that confirms the quality and consistency of the path undertaken.
“In Johannes Nuding we have recognized an approach to cuisine that speaks our same language: care, research, authenticity. His ability to transform selected raw materials into profound sensory experiences is perfectly aligned with what we have always pursued at illycaffè. We are proud to welcome him as our Chef Ambassador and to build together a project that unites technique, sensitivity and a culture of excellence” emphasized Cristina Scocchia, CEO of illycaffè.
Thanks to the illy Chef Ambassador program, Nuding will have the opportunity, supported by the faculty of the University of Coffee, to combine the ingredients of the illy blend, composed of the nine finest qualities of pure Arabica from nine different origins, to create his own personalized coffee. The result will be a unique coffee, perfectly in harmony with his gastronomic style and sensory sensitivity. The blend signed by Johannes Nuding will be available exclusively at the Schwarzer Adler restaurant, sealing the synergy between two entities that share the same pursuit of excellence.
“From the very first sip of illy coffee I felt an immediate harmony: the same care and the same pursuit of quality. Meeting the team in Trieste and listening to their stories was truly inspiring: each person carries with them an authentic passion and a deep respect for the land and for those who cultivate it – commented Chef Johannes Nuding – This collaboration feels so natural to me: we bring together craftsmanship, nature and a shared commitment to creating an experience conceived with intention and respect. I cannot wait for everyone to taste what we have built together”.
The illy Chef Ambassador program, launched in 2017, is an exclusive initiative that brings together some of the world’s most prestigious chefs, divided into three categories: the Masters of illy Excellence, namely Michelin-starred chefs, the Sustainable Chefs, awarded the Michelin Green Star, and the Pastry Chefs, masters of contemporary haute pâtisserie.
For more information about the illy Chef Ambassador program: https://www.illy.com/chefambassador
