Coffee brand Illy has introduced a line of whole-bean, single-origin coffees in North America that “highlight the most appealing taste notes” associated with four prolific coffee-producing countries.
The Arabica Selection includes four variants originating in Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia and Guatemala. Each one is custom-roasted to highlight the coffee’s caramel, fruity, floral or chocolate notes respectively.
The range was developed through an extensive research and development process that harnessed Illy’s institutional knowledge of coffee and its resources.
Over the past 24 months, Illy has collaborated with roasting experts at the company’s headquarters in Italy to create specific roasting profiles that spotlight the most aromatic and taste notes within each origin’s bean.
Massimiliano Pogliani, CEO of Illycaffè, said: “It all starts with the unique Illy blend, developed consistently year after year, that give us deep knowledge of the coffee origins combined with our direct trade model that works closely with coffee growers to produce the highest quality Arabica beans. From there, the full power of our scientific resources and expertise enter the equation, which in this case created proprietary roasting profiles for each origin to create extraordinary taste experiences for passionate coffee lovers.”
In essence, the single origins for Arabica Selection are the backbone of the blend, deconstructed in a way for coffee lovers to experience them individually and uniquely pronounced, the Italian company said.
The research and development process included chemical and sensorial analyses with over 50 roasting samples to fine tune each Arabica Selection variety. As part of the process, illy’s green (or pre-roasted) coffee department identified specific beans from each origin country that met criteria specially developed for Arabica Selection, which were then stored prior to roasting under optimal conditions for temperature and humidity.
All four coffees are available in 250ml tins with a retail price of $15, while the Brazilian and Colombian coffees are available in K-Cup format for $12 for ten pods.
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