illycaffè Acquires 80% of «Capitani»
Dubai, September 3, 2025 (Qahwa World) – Italian premium coffee brand illycaffè has announced the acquisition of an 80% stake in Capitani, a Como-based manufacturer of single-serve capsule coffee machines for the home market.
The move is part of illycaffè’s strategy to strengthen its European supply chain and reduce reliance on non-European suppliers, as the global coffee sector faces mounting pressures from soaring green coffee prices and new tariffs on exports, particularly to the United States, the company’s second-largest market after Italy.
CEO Cristina Scocchia emphasized that the investment in Capitani reflects illycaffè’s ongoing transition from a traditional coffee roaster to a holistic systems company. She said: “The geopolitical context, trade barriers, tariffs, and rising raw material costs are significant challenges, but we have chosen to continue focusing on Made in Italy and innovation, investing in our country and strengthening the Italian production chain.”
Founded in 1979, Capitani specializes in designing and producing single-serve coffee machines primarily for the home market. The company operates a 43,000 sq ft production facility in Solbiate con Cagno and has been a long-standing supply partner for illycaffè. In 2024, Capitani generated revenues of approximately €20 million.
Under the deal, set to close in October 2025, the Capitani family will retain a 20% stake. The new partnership aims to double Capitani’s revenues within five years by leveraging synergies, industrial efficiency, and innovation capabilities.
illycaffè reported record revenues of €630 million in 2024, up 6% year-on-year, with net profits rising 42% to over €33 million and EBITDA up 19% to €110 million.
In the first half of 2025, the company posted an 11% increase in revenues compared to the previous year, reaching €319 million (~$370 million). However, illycaffè expects slower growth of 7–10% in the second half due to record-high coffee costs and the newly introduced 15% tariffs on European coffee exports to the US.
For illycaffè, acquiring Capitani is a pivotal step in reinforcing domestic production and protecting the Italian identity of its products. By combining Capitani’s industrial expertise with illycaffè’s global reach, the partnership is set to boost competitiveness in the fast-growing European capsule coffee market, where at-home consumption continues to expand rapidly.
