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Back with another steaming cup!
Source:
India Coffee
Italy based illycaffe, the world's leading roaster of quality Espresso coffee synonymous with fine coffee has returned to the county with the 2nd India Coffee Quality Prize for growers of quality Arabica Plantation A coffee beans. The resounding success of the first round awards saw the winners- Nagambika Estate from Chikamagalur- carry home a cheque for US$ 10,000 and a beautiful trophy.
The first and second runners-up were the Thambarekhan Estate also from Chikamagalur and the Warthully Estates, Bangalore. The winners were felicitated at a glittering function in Bangalore last October.
For those who came in late:
The illy Group was founded in Trieste, Italy in 1933 by Francesco Illy, who is also credited with having invented the first automated espresso machine. Over the past 70 years the group has made an important mark on the history of coffee, through its dedication to expanding the horizons of creativity while remaining in harmony with tradition.
Ilycaffe sells a distinct blend of 100 percent Arabica Coffee that is available in over 40,000 cafes, restaurants and markets in approximately 70 countries. The company operations, along with its only roasting, processing and packaging facility are located in Trieste, Italy. The group comprises several companies operational in North America, France, Germany, Spain and Benelux, employing approximately 500 people.
A worldwide leader in quality, illycaffe is dedicated to spreading the culture of extraordinary coffee around the world. Seeking perfection, illy makes coffee more than a mere drink, a cup that is savored and enjoyed both by human senses and spirit. More than 5 million cups of illy espresso are consumed on any given day around the world.
The foundations of illy philosophy are ethics and passion for excellence. In pursuance of these, illycaffe has devised very high standards, for itself and its partners, to ensure that an illy espresso is always perfect. In this endeavour illy adheres to and attempts to improve every aspect of the standards of quality, in production, in processes and customer services.
Furthering its quest for excellence, in 1991, illycaffe introduced the Brazilian Award for espresso coffee. This started a whole new movement in the Brazilian coffee growing circles- from the traditional approach of growing more coffee, the Brazilian growers started concentrating on the quality of the coffee beans. It helped identify newer regions (the scrublands) producing excelling quality coffee, as against the traditional coffee-growing region (southern Minas). Over the last 13 years, illycaffe's Brazil Award has come to be recognized as synonumous with the highest quality.
Emboldened by the results of the contest, the Government in Brazil has announced policies and plans to support its coffee growers and local associations joined the quality marathon. In Brazil, illycaffe has forged strong alliances with cooperatives, associations, government bodies, the coffee roasting industry, the scientific and academic communities dedicated to the study of coffee. Another quality reference point established by illy through its 12 years of presence in Brazil is its state of the art laboratory in Sao Paulo.
Time for a refill
The company started importing some coffee from india in 1996. they found good quality coffees and excellent growers, who are very serious and aware on quality. This gave illycaffe the inspiration to institute the india coffee quality prize for the best india grown coffee suitable for espresso.
Experts from illycaffe are attuned to recognise and appreciate the premium quality of coffee around the world. According to them, a significant characteristic of Indian samples they have examined was the coffee being well-prepared with high-body, positive bitterness and excellent aroma. With the continuation of the india coffee quality prize, illycaffe has demonstrated its faith in the coffee consiousness of Indian growers.
"From the very first year, our aim has been that the illycaffe india coffee quality prize should become the catalyst for a quality movement among the coffee growers in this country", says Andrea Illy, CEO of illycaffe. "We have been buying green coffee from india for over six years now, and find that Indian coffee compares well in terms of taste and organolectic characteristics, with that produced in Brazil and other parts of the world. I see great potential for continually growing partnership amongst us and Indian coffee planters."
Cupful of good news
For illycaffe, the award also makes sound business sense. Coffee exports from India have gone up in the 2003-04 fiscal. Total shipments for the calendar year were 30,927 tonnes, up from 29,170 tonnes in 2002-03. Permits have been issued for 1,48,430 tonnes as against 1,34,486 tonnes. ICO figures indicate that for the first time in five years, estimated world output is lower than consumption estimated. As a result, Indian growers have noted a 'growing appreciation' of Indian coffee in European and other nations. This is partly due to the Coffee Board's export promotion efforts and partly because of illycaffe's interest in Indian coffee.
As in the first round, the 2nd India coffee quality prize for Espresso will comprise a citation and a cash award of US$ 10,000 for the winner. The first and second runners up will be awarded US$ 7,000 and US$ 5,000 respectively. The best coffee in each region of growth in India, if it comes within the final 15 lots, will also be awarded a certificate of Regional Champion. Top 15 growers will also be awarded certificates of merit. An international jury will conduct the final evaluation in Italy, and the awards will be conducted in a transparent and scientific manner, so as to ensure that it is completely free and fair.
The winners and the Certificate of Merit holders join the elite ranks of suppliers of illycaffe, under illycaffe's unique purchasing strategy, the award enables the company to encourage growers to produce better quality. With an assure supply meeting their standards, illycaffe can offer growers of quality coffee beans higher than prevailing international rates, ensuring that the coffee farmers are not only able to sustain, but are motivated to produce coffee of the highest standard.
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For more details contact: Ms. Revati Rao, Megaron Marketing Support
Email: illyawards@megaronsupport.com, mobile: 9845054395
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