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TRIESTE, Italy – illycaffè celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award, established in memory of Ernesto Illy, son of the company’s founder, which honors more than three decades of virtuous collaboration with coffee producers worldwide.
Twenty-seven finalists have reached the final round of the tenth edition of the Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award. On November 6, they will gather in Rome to discover who will be named Best of the Best and Coffee Lovers’ Choice.
The finalists of this edition come from Brazil, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Nicaragua, and Rwanda. They were selected throughout the year by illycaffè’s quality laboratories, which analyzed samples from the 2024/2025 harvest and identified the best lots and producers, based on both quality parameters and the company’s sustainability practices.
“The EIICA Award, dedicated to my father, reaches its tenth anniversary this year. Since its launch, in the same year as Expo Milan, the world of coffee has changed profoundly. Knowledge and culture of coffee have grown, and regenerative agriculture has become increasingly widespread. At the same time, however, the climate crisis has negatively affected both harvests and markets.
We firmly believe that the pursuit of quality must go hand in hand with the pursuit of sustainability, creating what we call sustainable quality, with a production system capable of adapting to climate change. Regenerative practices are an example: they improve harvests, increase crops’ resilience to adverse events, and mitigate environmental impact. With this award we wish to thank all those who, season after season, produce and provide illy with the best coffee in the world,” said Andrea Illy, Chairman of illycaffè.
The 27 finalists of the Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award 2025, listed alphabetically, are:
Brazil:
- Fazenda Nova Esperança – Leda Terezinha Castellani Pereira Lima
- Fazenda Sequoia – Fazenda Sequoia Minas LTDA
- Fazenda Serra São Bento – Dimas Mendes Bastos
Costa Rica
- Coopelibertad R.L.
- CoopeSabalito R.L.
- Coope Tarrazú R.L.
El Salvador
- Finca Agua Caliente – J.J. Borja Nathan S.A.
- Finca Bolívar – Matorral de S.A. de C.V.
- Finca Villa Mercedes – Agroindustrial Yaya SA de C.V.
Ethiopia
- Gerema Adere Washing Station Plc – Legesse Sherefa P.L.C.
- Guji Uraga Tracon Washing Station – Tracon Trading P.L.C.
- Legudi Trading P.L.C.
Guatemala
- Finca Buena Vista – Plantaciones San Pablo
- Finca Hojarales – Empresa Agricola Industrial Hojarales S.A.
- Small Producers – Santa Cruz Naranjo
Honduras
- Finca Loma Linda – Humberto Pinto
- Finca Rancho Escondido – Elvin Suazo
- Finca Rio Frio – Jose Dario Enamorado Vallecillo
India
- Igoor Estate – Chennamallikarjun I. D.
- Margolly Estate – Tata Consumer Products Ltd.
- Nullore Estate – Tata Consumer Products Ltd.
Nicaragua
- Finca D’Andrea – Juan Carlos Belli
- Finca Los Arroyos – Yeca S.A.
- Finca Santa Matilde – Cafetales Santa Matilde S.A.
Rwanda
- Muhura Coffee Washing Station – Sucafina S.A.
- Mush Onyi Coffee Washing Station – Sucafina S.A.
- Ngamba Coffee Washing Station – Sucafina S.A.
The ranking for each of the nine finalist countries will be revealed on November 6 at FAO headquarters in Rome, during a special event where coffee producers will learn who has advanced to the final round of the Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award 2025.
The nine finalist coffee samples will then be evaluated by an independent multidisciplinary jury of international experts (including chefs, journalists, tasters, and professionals), who will analyze them and award the Best of the Best title.
Consumers will also have the opportunity to taste the nine finalist coffees and vote for their favorite through a series of blind tastings organized in the weeks leading up to the award ceremony. The most-voted coffee will receive the Coffee Lovers’ Choice award.
