When owner Young Park decided to open this Southeast waterfront coffee shop, he wasn’t quite sure which coffee to serve. Then he tasted Illy and immediately found a winner. He tells Eater that he loved the coffee so much that he made his staff go under the two-week Artisti del Gusto program to become Illy-certified baristas.

Sixteen years ago, this Georgetown bakery first served Illy coffee. Then, it went for another brand. Four years ago, it brought Illy back to the menu because of the “recognition and quality,” said manager Martin Cotignola. “With the best pastry, we wanted the best coffee.”

Frosting’s website boasts of finding “true love” in Illy. Co-owner Todd Braken continues to laud the Italian coffee maker for its quality. After tasting a cappuccino at the popular Illy cafe inside the Renaissance Hotel, he said, “It was some kind of wow.” Braken also says Illy is a good partner. As an Artisti del Gusto cafe, the cafe also gets an illy-specific espresso maker, a rare offering in comparison to other surrounding cafes.

The Italian connection, says co-owner Nuno Freire of the Dupont Circle cafe, got him first hooked on Illy. This native of Portugal also speaks Italian so he instantly hit it off with the Illy reps when they courted him. “They were so nice,” he says. But the most important element, he continues, was the coffee: it was, by far, superior to the other European varietals, such as Lavazza and Nespresso, he and his co-owners vetted to be their shop's coffee.

When owner Minya Zeru took over Azi Cafe a few years ago, she made sure to keep Illy as the cafe's coffee purveyor. When asked why she decided to stay with it, Zeru perks up, saying she has personally loved it for years. It's a brand she knows growing up in East Africa.

This new addition to the H Street corridor, from the owners behind nearby Ethiopic restaurant, serves Illy coffee along with its pastries.

Those who want to enjoy Illy coffee in a more formal setting can head to Penn Quarter's Fiola Restaurant, which serves the coffe. "Love our Illy!" says co-owner Maria Trabocchi.

Falls Church cupcakery Pastry Xpo, adjacent to the Mosaic District development in Merrifield, is a partner with Illy.

The original location of Neighborhood Restaurant Group's Buzz Bakery serves Illy coffee; its sister restaurant in Ballston, though, offers MadCap.