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 20, 2016 | 4:03 pm
#301
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I suspect you're in the minority. On my 777 flight last Sunday, people in F were asking for refills and commenting to the FA's how much better it was than Freshpoo.
Jul 20, 2016 | 4:04 pm
#302
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just wondering if it was just me.
Jul 20, 2016 | 4:42 pm
#303
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FWIW my 4am cup pre-arrival HNL-SFO today was more enjoyable than the 5am one I got from Peet's on the level that connects to the parking garage/tram.
Jul 20, 2016 | 6:11 pm
#304
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Jul 20, 2016 | 7:42 pm
#305
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UA isn't doing a good job brewing it IMHO. The coffee is leagues better than FreshPoo was, but filter packs with not enough coffee in them still make weak coffee, and if they use the "potable" water tanks for the water to brew them, that's going to be an issue, too.
Jul 20, 2016 | 8:49 pm
#306
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I agree with being weak in the air. On the ground at ore departure it was really good but in the air, it wasn't as good. Better than the old stuff but it was a but weak for me at 35K.
Jul 20, 2016 | 11:45 pm
#307
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I like the new coffee...
when I first tried it. Full disclosure, probably the best possible way to taste good, SFO-IAH on the 788. That said, they had no milk (what is up with that?) so with the half and half packs and sugar. Good coffee taste, no aftertaste, a very good cup of airline coffee. Dare I say better than what Delta is serving at this point. 
On a 738 tomorrow, I'll see if it tastes as good at 8000 feet with an older plane's H20 system.
But to give credit where due. ^ to this change.
On a 738 tomorrow, I'll see if it tastes as good at 8000 feet with an older plane's H20 system.
But to give credit where due. ^ to this change.
Jul 21, 2016 | 7:10 am
#308
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Isn't the taste affected by the altitude...hence the difference between illy on the ground and in the air? obviously, you can do some amendment to the mix to make it closer to the same. Didn't a lot of folks like the PMUA Starbucks even if they didn't like Starbucks from their own cafes.
I haven't had a chance to try it in the air yet, will get my first opportunity in a couple of weeks. Given Spin88s even praised it, UA must have done something right. I did have it in the Club at IAD last month, and it was pretty good there.
I'm curious to how people think it is compared to other carriers who serve Illy onboard - and I'm referring to a similar comparison on say the blend they serve in economy to UAs, not say, ANAs menu in premium. I believe NH serves Illy in Y as well, and it was pretty good with them.
I haven't had a chance to try it in the air yet, will get my first opportunity in a couple of weeks. Given Spin88s even praised it, UA must have done something right. I did have it in the Club at IAD last month, and it was pretty good there.
I'm curious to how people think it is compared to other carriers who serve Illy onboard - and I'm referring to a similar comparison on say the blend they serve in economy to UAs, not say, ANAs menu in premium. I believe NH serves Illy in Y as well, and it was pretty good with them.
Jul 21, 2016 | 7:26 am
#309
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Well, it's not even on the same planet as what OS serves, with an entire menu devoted to coffee. But it's an improvement.
Now, if UA would only bring back the PMCO espresso machines...
Now, if UA would only bring back the PMCO espresso machines...
Jul 21, 2016 | 8:31 am
#310
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Wonder if the Polaris soft-product launch will include some better coffee options...espresso, cappuccino, etc?
Drinkable coffee is a good start, but still lags other airlines offerings.
Drinkable coffee is a good start, but still lags other airlines offerings.
Aug 2, 2016 | 10:36 pm
#311
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Good news / bad news...
No plans for espresso machines onboard.
But apparently in first you can ask for cold bottled espresso for free, or pay for it in economy.
Q: Will you offer Illy espresso or just basket brewed coffee?
A: We will not add espresso machines onboard. We do, however, offer illy’s cold bottled espresso drink complimentary in premium cabins and for purchase in economy on domestic flights.
https://unitedairtime.com/your-quest...brewed-coffee/
Anyone try that?
No plans for espresso machines onboard.
But apparently in first you can ask for cold bottled espresso for free, or pay for it in economy.
Q: Will you offer Illy espresso or just basket brewed coffee?
A: We will not add espresso machines onboard. We do, however, offer illy’s cold bottled espresso drink complimentary in premium cabins and for purchase in economy on domestic flights.
https://unitedairtime.com/your-quest...brewed-coffee/
Anyone try that?
Aug 2, 2016 | 11:14 pm
#312
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Good news / bad news...
No plans for espresso machines onboard.
But apparently in first you can ask for cold bottled espresso for free, or pay for it in economy.
Q: Will you offer Illy espresso or just basket brewed coffee?
A: We will not add espresso machines onboard. We do, however, offer illy’s cold bottled espresso drink complimentary in premium cabins and for purchase in economy on domestic flights.
https://unitedairtime.com/your-quest...brewed-coffee/
Anyone try that?
No plans for espresso machines onboard.
But apparently in first you can ask for cold bottled espresso for free, or pay for it in economy.
Q: Will you offer Illy espresso or just basket brewed coffee?
A: We will not add espresso machines onboard. We do, however, offer illy’s cold bottled espresso drink complimentary in premium cabins and for purchase in economy on domestic flights.
https://unitedairtime.com/your-quest...brewed-coffee/
Anyone try that?
Aug 3, 2016 | 7:18 am
#314
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Good news / bad news...
No plans for espresso machines onboard.
But apparently in first you can ask for cold bottled espresso for free, or pay for it in economy.
Q: Will you offer Illy espresso or just basket brewed coffee?
A: We will not add espresso machines onboard. We do, however, offer illy’s cold bottled espresso drink complimentary in premium cabins and for purchase in economy on domestic flights.
https://unitedairtime.com/your-quest...brewed-coffee/
Anyone try that?
No plans for espresso machines onboard.
But apparently in first you can ask for cold bottled espresso for free, or pay for it in economy.
Q: Will you offer Illy espresso or just basket brewed coffee?
A: We will not add espresso machines onboard. We do, however, offer illy’s cold bottled espresso drink complimentary in premium cabins and for purchase in economy on domestic flights.
https://unitedairtime.com/your-quest...brewed-coffee/
Anyone try that?
Aug 3, 2016 | 7:30 am
#315
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