India will be major coffee sourcing hub: illycaffe

World espresso coffee leader, the Trieste-based illycaffe, is increasing its India sourcing and hopes to make India a major sourcing hub.

Last year, the Indian arabica component in illycaffe's total annual bean requirement of 14,000 tonnes stands at 17 per cent or about 4 per cent of Indian arabica coffee exports. Ernesto Illy expects this to grow by 10 to 15 per cent this year, according to Ernesto Illy, president illycaffe.

He said, the Indian arabicas, with their low bitterness, caffeine content and strong aroma had the right qualities for espresso vending.

illycaffe, which sells about 6.5 million cups a day in 45,000 restaurants and coffee bars across 105 countries, began sourcing from India in 1998.

The company expects its global sales to rise by 10 per cent, this year.

Besides India, illycaffe sources from 17 other countries. But Ernesto Illy said, India's share is seen to be rising and it is replacing other origin coffee.

He added, post-liberalisation the quality of Indian coffee had shot up, unlike other countries that floundered after opening up.

However, he said, the illycaffe's quality control unit at Trieste ensured stringent checks.

Just one quality short bean was enough to contaminate one million surrounding beans.

In India, Illy has an arrangement with Fresh and Honest "" that ties up with corporates and institutions to set up vending machines "" to vend coffee. Besides, illycaffe is available in star hotels as well.