Coffee roaster Illycaffè is set to double production at its home in Italy to meet rising demand for beans across Europe and North America.
In the first half of 2026, Illycaffè’s revenues grew 19% to €373m (£319m), led by volume rises in Italy and the US where sales grew 19%.
While green coffee prices remain high, organic growth helped the roaster overcome cost pressures to boost profits (EBITDA) by 10% to €53m.
CEO Cristina Scocchia said it was an “extraordinary first half” that “reflects the quality of our strategic decisions and the value of our people, and demonstrates the group’s ability to grow even in a particularly challenging market environment”.
It is now responding by opening a new roasting plant at its hub in Trieste in what Scocchia called a “fundamental milestone”.
Illycaffè is also attempting a new growth phase in the US with a major packaging partnership with Westrock Coffee.
Last year, the Italian roaster said it was exploring local production across the Atlantic, but will now continue roasting in Trieste and work with Arkansas-based Westrock for packaging and distribution in a multi-year deal focused on ready-to-drink coffee cans.
While coffee prices have retreated slightly from the record highs of last year, markets still remain above long-term norms and are too volatile for most roasters to begin lowering prices.
Giuseppe Lavazza, chair of the eponymous coffee firm, told the FT last month the industry needs at least two strong harvests in Brazil and Vietnam to rebuild depleted inventories, although unexpected rainfall in Brazil had slowed the current harvest, while El Niño and other weather risks could disrupt supplies.
Farmers were in a stronger position after several years of high prices and could afford to hold back coffee rather than sell immediately, he said, while roasters were buying cautiously to see whether prices would fall.
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