Ernesto Illy, Chairman of Coffee Company, Is Dead at 82

NYTimes.com
Wednesday February 6, 9:38 pm ET
By DENNIS HEVESI

Ernesto Illy, who as chairman of Illycaffè, maker of an expensive brand of coffee, was renowned as a scientific perfectionist of coffee and especially as an evangelist of espresso, died Sunday in Trieste, Italy. He was 82.

His death was confirmed by Jessica Aptman, a spokeswoman for the company, who said the family did not want to disclose the cause of death.

“Our coffee is twice as expensive as the run-of-the-mill stuff, at least,” Mr. Illy told The New York Times in 2001. “Our goal is perfect beans, zero defects, and we think we get close to that.”

“Fine espresso paints the tongue,” he said of his favorite drink, which he made a product of precision.

Mr. Illy was praised for his leadership role in the industry.

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