Buying illy coffee

About illy

illy was founded by Francesco Illy in Trieste, Italy in 1933 and is still based there. Every illy coffee we sell is the same blend of 100% sustainably grown Arabica from growing regions around the world, which illy describes as smooth, rich and full-bodied, balanced and never bitter. The cans are packed in an air-free, pressurised atmosphere that seals in the aromas and oils, so an unopened can keeps well in the cupboard.

Three roasts

  • Medium roast: illy's classic roast, with notes of caramel and chocolate, rated 4 out of 5 for strength.
  • Intenso dark roast: roasted at a higher temperature for an intense, robust cup with deep cocoa and a hint of caramel, rated 5 out of 5.
  • Decaf: the same blend decaffeinated, with caramel and chocolate and a lingering sweetness. illy says its decaf contains no more than 0.1% caffeine.

Choose the format for your machine

  • Whole beans for any espresso machine or bean-to-cup machine with a grinder: Medium Roast beans and Intenso beans, both in 250g cans.
  • Ground coffee, finely ground for machines that take tamped coffee and fine enough for a stovetop: Medium Roast ground, Intenso ground and Decaf ground.
  • E.S.E. pods are 7g paper pods, individually wrapped, pre-dosed and tamped for E.S.E.-compatible espresso machines. Medium roast comes in 18 packs and 200 packs, with dark roast and decaf in 18 packs. Use one pod per espresso and two for a double.
  • iperEspresso capsules hold about 7g of ground illy and fit only the iperEspresso system: Francis Francis X1, X7, X7.1, X8, Y1 and Y1.1 machines and the Gaggia for illy. They come in medium roast and Intenso. They do not fit Nespresso machines.

Brewing illy

illy's general guidance for a single espresso is 7g of coffee for 25g in the cup in 25 to 30 seconds at 90°C, and for E.S.E. pods one 7g pod for 25ml in 20 to 25 seconds. The ground cans also work in a moka pot: fill the basket without pressing the coffee down and brew on low heat.

Delivery and subscriptions

Order by 3pm Melbourne time on a business day for same-day dispatch. Delivery is a flat $9.95 on orders under $200 and free on orders over $200, Australia-wide. The 250g cans of beans and ground coffee are available on Subscribe & Save, which takes 10% off regular deliveries, weekly, fortnightly, every three weeks or monthly. Cafés and offices can apply for a business account for B2B pricing on coffee, up to 25% off RRP.

FAQs

Which illy coffee fits my machine?

Whole beans suit any machine with a grinder. The ground cans suit espresso machines that take tamped coffee and moka pots. E.S.E. pods fit espresso machines with an E.S.E.-compatible portafilter. iperEspresso capsules fit only the iperEspresso system (Francis Francis X and Y series and Gaggia for illy). Check your machine's manual if you are unsure which it takes.

Do illy E.S.E. pods fit a Nespresso machine?

No. E.S.E. (Easy Serving Espresso) pods are 44mm paper pods holding about 7g of ground coffee, made for E.S.E. pod espresso machines and some standard machines with a pod adapter. illy's iperEspresso capsules do not fit Nespresso machines either. They are made for the iperEspresso system only.

What is the difference between illy medium roast and Intenso?

They are the same 100% Arabica blend at two roast levels. The medium roast is illy's classic, with caramel and chocolate notes and a strength rating of 4 out of 5. Intenso is roasted at a higher temperature for a more intense, robust cup with deep cocoa, rated 5 out of 5.

Which machines take illy iperEspresso capsules?

illy lists the Francis Francis X1, X7, X7.1, X8, Y1 and Y1.1 and the Gaggia for illy as compatible. Each capsule holds about 7g of ground illy and comes in medium roast and Intenso.

How much caffeine is in illy decaf?

illy says its decaffeinated coffee contains no more than 0.1% caffeine. We stock it as ground coffee in a 250g can and as E.S.E. pods, both medium roast with caramel and chocolate notes.

Can I buy illy coffee on subscription?

Yes, for the 250g cans of beans and ground coffee. Subscribe & Save takes 10% off deliveries every week, fortnight, three weeks or month. Pods and capsules are sold as one-off orders. Delivery is a flat $9.95 under $200 and free over $200, and businesses can apply for a business account for B2B pricing on coffee, up to 25% off RRP.