A Visit to Illy Gallery in New York

[Abe Carmeli]

Illy has recently opened a gallery exhibit in New York. They rented space in Soho, and converted it into a coffee house and an Illy related educational / promotional center. The Exhibit will be open through December 15. I stopped there one afternoon and took some photos for all of yous Illy deprived individuals.

The space design was minimalist. Very high ceiling, hardwood floors, white walls, huge glass windows, and a giant chandelier consisting of many of the Illy cup collections. There was an area with a flat screen TV running a promotional piece about growing and processing coffee, and a special section presenting currently selling Illy products. The Francis Francis Line and Illy cups.

The Chandelier

The Coffee House, a view from above

Can you say Francis 14 times?

Yes, she runs the place

They had two beautiful Faema E61 Legends in the main hall in full working order where Baristas pulled shots. (I'm using the term Barista very loosely here, more later).

The highlight for me was one Illy collection cup I was dying to put my hands on. It is the gold plated cup. White on the outside, gold on the inside. I saw it as I was looking at the chandelier from the top down. What a masterpiece. Last time I saw it on Ebay, it was going for over a thousand dollars.

The golden cup. OK, is robbing a bank morally wrong?

Some more pictures of the chandelier:

As you may guess, I was not there for the coffee

Darn, too far to reach and grab one

So how was the coffee you ask? I was hoping to meet Illy's Italian Baristas there, but unfortunately they were already back in Italy. They trained a few local folks and left. Here is how the Illy team dose distribute and tamp: Grind 14 grams, shake the portafilter horizontally to distribute and level the coffee (no fingers involved), tamp, short flush and pull the shot. It appears that 14 grams is the cosmic dosage limit according to Illy. The result in the cup reminded me of a strong cup of Folgers.

Notice the Cappuccino cup used here to pull me a straight shot.

Before I go, I want to leave you with this image:

The pod station - you've been a bad Barista

Yes, for $1.00, you can take a joy ride on a Francis Francis using a pod. I think I was punished enough for one day.

[lennoncs]

WOW!

Way cool chandelier!

sorry to hear about the coffee...but then again...maybe not...I know where in new york to get a great espresso

The conversation alone is worth the trip.

Sean

[Abe Carmeli]

sorry to hear about the coffee...but then again...maybe not...I know where in new york to get a great espresso

The conversation alone is worth the trip.

Sean

Sean my man,

It is high time I saw your ugly mug back on my terrace. I still owe you a report on my trip up north on Friday, I will file it tomorrow.

[HB]

Thanks Abe for the report!

That's an absolutely gorgeous Faema E61 Legend and the venue looked very artsy. After seeing several high-profile NYC restaurateurs praising the wonders of Illy on the gallery's website (link), I held a slim hope that the espresso would be worth the trip. You should have pushed the pretty-boy barista out of the way. Seriously, I'm a bit baffled why he's using a cappuccino cup when there's a rack of nice Illy demitasses within a foot of his nose. Maybe you were the only person to ask for a straight espresso?

[Abe Carmeli]

Thanks Abe for the report!

That's an absolutely gorgeous Faema E61 Legend and the venue looked very artsy.

Look at those portafilter handles. Artsy indeed. The entire coffee shop was a fusion between coffee and art. The art of making coffee however, was nowhere to be found. On the day I took the pictures, they were putting up a big screen to run a lecture about art. There is a big library in a separate room where most of the books have nothing to do with coffee and for the most part are all art books.

You should have pushed the pretty-boy barista out of the way. Seriously, I'm a bit baffled why he's using a cappuccino cup when there's a rack of nice Illy demitasses within a foot of his nose. Maybe you were the only person to ask for a straight espresso?

Man, I was really tempted to offer him 5 bucks for letting me pull my own shot. As to the cappa cup for my straight shot, he was unaware that you can use a double spout P/F and still get all the coffee into an Illy Demitasse. I let him run with it, out of curiosity, and asked him in the end what that was about.

[Abe Carmeli]

Now how would you like this one for a coincidence? A few hours after I posted this thread, detailing my pursuit of the golden Illy collection cup, it showed up on Ebay. Hah, what's one to do? Beware of what you wish for came to mind. I placed my bid, and watched it erased in a second by a flood of higher offers. It rested at $400.00 for a few days, but as things often are on EBay, the real action is in the last 30 minutes. I waited patiently for 2:00 p.m. today and placed a higher offer. It kept going up. When it reached $800.00 I knew I'm way out of my league here. My head goes: Must...not...reach...for...the...credit...card, but the cup pull was way too strong. I ended up with a second mortgage on my house, and I will be eating sandwiches for the next six months. But hey, at least I have an espresso cup

So what's all the fuss about? here are some closeup pictures.


The golden cup - If you are questioning my sanity, you are right on the money


A closeup - It is officially known as the Spirit Cup by the artist Marina Abramovic

[HB]

When it reached $800.00 I knew I'm way out of my league here.

You know you're crazy. Or maybe not? My own story is not as extreme, but had a similar ending. My wife bought me a set of Schwung espresso cups for Christmas - on sale for $80. I thought myself unworthy and returned them. A couple years later I find myself irrationally attracted to them and paid three times that price. Now I wish that she had bought the entire shelf.

Trivia question for you cup collectors: Do most Illy cups go up wildly in price over the years, or are there real "losers"?

[Abe Carmeli]

You know you're crazy. Or maybe not?

There is no maybe about it. Certifiable.

Trivia question for you cup collectors: Do most Illy cups go up wildly in price over the years, or are there real "losers"?

I have bought at least one set that sold for less than its original issue price. I am not sure if it was a steal or just a loser, but I love it. It is the 2001 PS1 collection. Perhaps it did not appreciate in value because the artists are not famous. However, the Golden Cup is on the other extreme. It has wildly appreciated in value since its issue in 2002 and with only 750 cups made, I see it climbing up to ridiculous numbers in the coming years.

[lino]

Hey Abe,

It was great to meet you in person. You didn't seem half as crazy then as this thread makes you sound!

... I see it climbing up to ridiculous numbers in the coming years.

In coming years!! I'd say it's already well past ridiculous!
As if that weren't enough, I did a little web research, and it appears it's a "dribble cup"! It's got a hole in the side! I can get one of those at Spencers for 2 bucks. Heh, I should put one of those on Ebay...


Well, humor aside, congrats on your find. At this point it seems a pity that they used one of those in the chandelier.


ciao

lino

[Abe Carmeli]

Hey Abe,

It was great to meet you in person. You didn't seem half as crazy then as this thread makes you sound!

Lino,

It took me a lot of effort to hold up the facade. I had a great time pulling shots with you, we should do it more often.

[HB]

However the Golden Cup is on the other extreme. It has wildly appreciated in value since its issue in 2002 and with only 750 cups made, I see it climbing up to ridiculous numbers in the coming years.

Does this mean it will remain closed up in a cabinet? I'm wondering what triumphant music would be appropriate for the emergence of a godshot destine for such a lovely vessel. Perhaps its display base should include a motion-activated microswitch to cue the choir of angels? Seriously, I use my collectibles knowing full well that I'll never sell them. Will you?

[Abe Carmeli]

Does this mean it will remain closed up in a cabinet? I'm wondering what triumphant music would be appropriate for the emergence of a godshot destine for such a lovely vessel. Perhaps its display base should include a motion-activated microswitch to cue the choir of angels? Seriously, I use my collectibles knowing full well that I'll never sell them. Will you?

Here is where it becomes surreal. This one is going to be a working cup. I intend to keep it on the cup warmer tray on top of my espresso machine, amongst pedestrian cups of a lesser breed. My hope is that the Golden vessel will attract a large number of Godly shots. I have broken at least one Illy collection cup in the past, and dare not think of the proposition of breaking that one. Will I ever sell it? I have no idea but I did not buy it for that purpose. How long I can keep it in one piece is unknowable.

[chelya]

Abe - when I was there I did not go to the second floor. What's in there?
I need to go back with my camera as well.

They used espresso cups for single shots only. When I asked for double ristretto (menu only had single ristretto) they said ok, but brought back a single ristretto in the espresso cup. I decided against saying anything.
Barista girl was brazilian.

[Abe Carmeli]

Abe - when I was there I did not go to the second floor. What's in there?

There is a small sample of Illy products on the 2nd floor, a few cup collection sets and coffee. I went up there to get a bird's eye view of the chandelier and the gallery.

[Niko]

Abe,
Did you break your cup yet?
I have yet to break my Fossil Cup....

[Fullsack]

Abe,
Thanks to your post, I can finally come clean about the 1998 David Byrne "Silver Cup" by illy I purchased for $500.00.

[Niko]

Doug,
that cup is beautiful!
Do you actually use it?

[Fullsack]

I never have. The cup is already in enough peril residing in earthquake country.

[Niko]

I haven't used mine either!
I'm afraid I'll bust the little fin-like handle off with my careless luck. If you're in Pacific Heights or another area with rock beneath you, your Illys should survive unlike my area in the Peninsula where you have to keep things boxed up incase an earthquake hits.
Thanks for reminding about that, I think I'll store that cup in its box now....

BTW, did you get those Bus Stop ones yet? I think I saw you win those on eBay a couple of weeks ago or so. I was interested in them at first but I saw you pop up so laid off them, the only thing more bids do is start raising the $$ for the seller anyways.

[Fullsack]

I If you're in Pacific Heights or another area with rock beneath you, your Illys should survive unlike my area in the Peninsula where you have to keep things boxed up incase an earthquake hits.
Thanks for reminding about that, I think I'll store that cup in its box now...

I'm in The Haight, but anywhere in California you can get a good shake, so error on the side of caution. The box is a good idea.

BTW, did you get those Bus Stop ones yet? I think I saw you win those on eBay a couple of weeks ago or so. I was interested in them at first but I saw you pop up so laid off them, the only thing more bids do is start raising the $$ for the seller anyways.

I'll pm you pictures when the Bus Stop cups arrive.

I owe you one for laying off. Let me know the next time you want to bid and I'll pass. These cups get bid up too high as it is.