In 1933 Francesco Illy created a coffee production and sales business in Trieste. In 1935 he patented the forerunner of espresso machines and a modern preserving system, making it possible to export coffee to bars all over Italy. In subsequent years he took the culture of espresso coffee over national borders and in 1957 a department was set up for producing tins, with the advent of products for home consumption. In 1974 pre-portioned coffee was perfected so that people could enjoy bar-quality espresso at home. Then Matteo Thun designed the white cup: in 1992 the first artist series came out, followed by designer tins. Thus, in 2000, the University of Coffee was created and three years later, the Illy Bar Concept project, the chain of Italian-style coffee bars worldwide, which would become Espressamente Illy in 2005. Now present in over 140 countries, the Illy group controls Domori, fine quality chocolate; Dammann Frères, tea; Mastrojanni wines; and holds shares in Agrimontana jams and pastries, and Gromart ice cream.
