Nov 19, 2015, 9:40 am
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
United Airlines to Bring Customers Coffee's 'Gold Standard' with illy Premium Blend
CHICAGO, Nov. 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines and illycaffe are creating a new alliance that will offer the Italian company's delicious premium blend to delight customers on board and in United Club locations worldwide.
Beginning next month, United will offer illy's signature scuro dark roast and the coffee company's espresso in United Club locations at the airline's mainland U.S. hubs. Other lounge locations will offer illy in 2016, with the scuro dark roast coming to flights worldwide next summer.
Not Just a Cup of Coffee
Chosen after extensive testing with United customers and employees – including in-flight taste tests – illy reflects the airline's global network as well as United's commitment to creating an elevated, distinctive premium experience for its customers.
Based in Trieste, Italy, with more than 80 years of history in the coffee industry, illy's distinct flavor comes from a unique blend of the top one percent of Arabica beans, purchased directly from the best growers in Brazil, Central America, India and Africa.
Noted for its strong commitment to sustainability, illy's internationally certified supply chain includes farmers who earn above-market prices in exchange for meeting quality standards – enabling the company to offer world-class blends.
A recent Wine Spectator magazine article praised the coffee, saying it "has become a gold standard in high-end restaurants and five-star hotels around the world."
"Our collaboration with illy is helping to make the world feel a bit smaller and making flying that much more special, simply by way of a perfect cup of coffee," said Jimmy Samartzis, United's vice president of food services and United Clubs. "By serving the world's most well-known premium coffee in our clubs and on board, we are communicating an experience to our customers and our employees with the quality and care that comes with every cup."
"It's truly an honor for illy to be selected as the worldwide coffee partner for United Airlines. The process and final decision to choose illy demonstrates United's deep commitment to providing its customers the highest quality products and experiences," said Andrea Illy, Chairman and CEO of illycaffe s.p.a. "Our new relationship with United Airlines is also a testament to our passion for the best and recognition that the illy brand is the world's reference for coffee culture and excellence."
Illy will be complimentary on every flight and when offered in United's lounges.
CHICAGO, Nov. 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines and illycaffe are creating a new alliance that will offer the Italian company's delicious premium blend to delight customers on board and in United Club locations worldwide.
Beginning next month, United will offer illy's signature scuro dark roast and the coffee company's espresso in United Club locations at the airline's mainland U.S. hubs. Other lounge locations will offer illy in 2016, with the scuro dark roast coming to flights worldwide next summer.
Not Just a Cup of Coffee
Chosen after extensive testing with United customers and employees – including in-flight taste tests – illy reflects the airline's global network as well as United's commitment to creating an elevated, distinctive premium experience for its customers.
Based in Trieste, Italy, with more than 80 years of history in the coffee industry, illy's distinct flavor comes from a unique blend of the top one percent of Arabica beans, purchased directly from the best growers in Brazil, Central America, India and Africa.
Noted for its strong commitment to sustainability, illy's internationally certified supply chain includes farmers who earn above-market prices in exchange for meeting quality standards – enabling the company to offer world-class blends.
A recent Wine Spectator magazine article praised the coffee, saying it "has become a gold standard in high-end restaurants and five-star hotels around the world."
"Our collaboration with illy is helping to make the world feel a bit smaller and making flying that much more special, simply by way of a perfect cup of coffee," said Jimmy Samartzis, United's vice president of food services and United Clubs. "By serving the world's most well-known premium coffee in our clubs and on board, we are communicating an experience to our customers and our employees with the quality and care that comes with every cup."
"It's truly an honor for illy to be selected as the worldwide coffee partner for United Airlines. The process and final decision to choose illy demonstrates United's deep commitment to providing its customers the highest quality products and experiences," said Andrea Illy, Chairman and CEO of illycaffe s.p.a. "Our new relationship with United Airlines is also a testament to our passion for the best and recognition that the illy brand is the world's reference for coffee culture and excellence."
Illy will be complimentary on every flight and when offered in United's lounges.
UA serving illy’s world-class coffee
Jul 6, 2016 | 10:13 am
#256
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Jul 6, 2016 | 10:17 am
#257
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I even had a refill of the Illy, whereas I'd never managed more than a sip of the Freshpoo before. Not a fan of Starbucks so, IMHO, we are a long way ahead now.
Jul 6, 2016 | 10:35 am
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The illy iced cappuccino seems to be a new addition to the choice menu snack shop, $4.99 in Y (scroll all the way down to the bottom).
Jul 6, 2016 | 12:00 pm
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I love cold brew/iced coffee, particularly in summer, however, unless there is simple syrup (or some other flavor of syrup), it can't really be sweetened properly, as sugar will not mix with an iced drink. Same with iced tea, which is common to be unsweetened in the US outside of the south.
Jul 6, 2016 | 12:32 pm
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May I ask a serious question, please, without getting slammed, especially since I am not a coffee connoisseur and I rarely drink coffee. Exactly what was wrong with FreshBrew coffee? Was it where they got their beans from? Was it they used the lesser quality beans for their United fulfillment (and used the better beans for other contracts and sales)? Is it the way they process their beans? I know everyone says FreshBrew was terrible coffee. I am just curious what made it so terrible. Also, if it was so terrible, why didn't UA ever get FreshBrew to change and improve their product (I'm sure there had to be clauses in the contract about such issues). Thanks.
To me, and many others, the taste was horrible, and worse, it left a bad aftertaste.
There was a lot of speculation as to why, including possible at FL310 water didn't get hot enough, but that of course would include ALL coffee brewed in flight.
Jul 6, 2016 | 2:26 pm
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May I ask a serious question, please, without getting slammed, especially since I am not a coffee connoisseur and I rarely drink coffee. Exactly what was wrong with FreshBrew coffee? Was it where they got their beans from? Was it they used the lesser quality beans for their United fulfillment (and used the better beans for other contracts and sales)? Is it the way they process their beans? I know everyone says FreshBrew was terrible coffee. I am just curious what made it so terrible. Also, if it was so terrible, why didn't UA ever get FreshBrew to change and improve their product (I'm sure there had to be clauses in the contract about such issues). Thanks.
I have to believe United was only interested in paying a rock-bottom rate for its coffee, so the easiest explanation is that the beans were among the cheapest FreshBrew could deliver in the requisite quantities.
Jul 7, 2016 | 10:42 am
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For a flight over about 2 1/2 hours, one cup from the airport isn't going to cut it.
I don't really drink alcohol much so coffee is my lifeblood and good coffee is a treat.
Illy is good coffee. Quite drinkable. The Freshpoo stuff was atrocious.
I have my first packet of Illy decaf in my possession. The FA just handed it to me and asked me to try it later. It's in a packet similar to the Starbucks Via packets. Hoping for decent decaf as I'd prefer that on evening/redeyes when I want to sleep.
This is a major improvement folks. The FAs have been pretty universally excited about it too. I mean, really, who wouldn't be happy about offering your customers a GOOD product? Something they appreciate?
Small things like this are great for employee morale. When you're not ashamed of your product, you're a lot more likely to be happy at work ... And show it.
Jul 7, 2016 | 10:52 am
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So, with Illy actually getting brewed and drunk on board, what are the FA's going to hang in the lavs as an air freshener now? There was many a bag of FreshPoo hanging inside the lavs. Serious question, not an attempt at humor, mods please don't delete.
Jul 7, 2016 | 11:00 am
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Jul 7, 2016 | 11:11 am
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But if it is so good why would it get wasted on hanging in the lavs? I may be remembering wrong but I don't remember Starbucks ever getting hung in the lavs. It was actually a joke for a while that the FA's started doing it with the FreshBrew to use up the stock.
Jul 7, 2016 | 1:08 pm
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...Exactly what was wrong with FreshBrew coffee? Was it where they got their beans from? Was it they used the lesser quality beans for their United fulfillment (and used the better beans for other contracts and sales)? Is it the way they process their beans? I know everyone says FreshBrew was terrible coffee...
I've had terrific coffee in Vietnam, producer of supposedly inferior "robusta" type coffee, because the roaster knew how to roast that type of beans. I've also had the misfortune of tasting an over-roasted Blue Mountain coffee, supposedly among the best in the world, butchered by a boutique coffeeshop owner in Taipei, a friend of a friend, who proudly called it his "specialty roast" and has it for ~ US$7 on his menu.
Personally, I find the coffees of Dunkin Donuts, McCafe, and even Folgers and Maxwell House all drinkable on their own merits. I also find that some (not many) "specialty" coffees are well worth their premium. But FreshBrew, whatever they did with the beans, comes out tasting like tar and burned grass. It's still available on American Airlines, something specialty in the air.
Jul 9, 2016 | 9:42 am
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Had the illy on an ancient 738 Thursday and it had a slight aftertaste, like there was still brown swill residue left in the equipment.
Saw an FA drinking it pre-departure last night on DEN-SFO, which I consider a signal it's a success all around - when did you ever see crew drinking the old stuff?
Saw an FA drinking it pre-departure last night on DEN-SFO, which I consider a signal it's a success all around - when did you ever see crew drinking the old stuff?