How illy On The Go Is Redefining Self-Service Coffee in the UK

Front view of the illy “on the go” coffee station with a Schaerer coffee machine, digital display, cup and accessory shelves, syrup bottle, branded counter controls and prominent illy and B Corp branding.

The 'illy On The Go" self-service concept with Schaerer Coffee Soul.

illycaffè, Beanology, Schaerer and GMS Espresso have joined forces to bring premium coffee enjoyment to the British self-service market. The concept captures the spirit of the times and meets the expectations of discerning coffee lovers. With no barista behind the counter, the ‘illy On The Go’ self-service coffee bar offers consistently high drink quality and underlines illycaffè’s brand promise to deliver Italy’s No.1 premium coffee.

Rather than focusing on individual machines, SEB Professional Beverage takes a holistic perspective: how each brand works together to solve real operational challenges and ensure guests have a smooth experience.

Vicki Mozden, Head of Marketing at Beanology

“We’ve

identified

clear

gap

the

self-service

market:

consumers

are

looking

for

convenience,

but

are

longer

willing

compromise

quality

sustainability.”

Hands holding roasted coffee beans over a wooden background.

An Opportunity Spotted by iIly

100 % Arabica coffee beans with a distinctive flavour profile and enjoyment in every cup: illycaffè is worldwide synonymous with quality. This promise now meets a UK market where speciality to-go coffees are part of everyday life, yet expectations have risen significantly. Above all, coffee connoisseurs and younger audiences now expect more than simple availability. They look for coffee that convinces in taste, brand story and social responsibility. illycaffè recognised this shift as a clear opportunity to anchor a premium self-service offering in the British market. The aim was to create a range that meets the high expectations of this target group in terms of flexibility, quality and sustainability.

Technology at its Heart

Meeting this demand is no easy feat. The desire for a broad range of coffee specialities – including on-trend drinks with plant-based alternatives – puts additional pressure on the technology. From the outset, it was clear to Beanology that illy’s quality promise would only work with coffee machines that deliver consistently to this standard. This is where Schaerer comes into play.

The Schaerer Coffee Skye and Schaerer Coffee Soul form the technical backbone of illy On The Go. The decision to choose these models followed an intensive selection and development process. The focus was not only on performance data. Much more important was the question of whether illy’s characteristic 100%

Arabica blend could be reproduced in a fully automatic machine at a quality level comparable to a baristacrafted espresso. Schaerer provided the answer. In extensive tests, the machines showed that they can translate illy’s flavour profile into a self-service environment with reliable consistency. Both the Schaerer Coffee Skye and the Schaerer Coffee Soul are designed for high-traffic locations and deliver high-quality drinks even at peak times. Operation is deliberately simple, with few steps, clear selection and quick dispensing. The concept is rounded off by a strong focus on sustainability: up to 95 per cent of the materials used for the illy On The Go stations are recycled.

“Machines with intuitive touchscreen allow to deliver high-quality coffee in under 60 seconds – no barista skills needed, for a seamless on-the-go experience without compromising on quality.”

Vicki MozdenHead of Marketing Beanology

illy “on the go” coffee station positioned in a modern hotel lobby with a wooden wall backdrop, lounge seating and text promoting it as a coffee-on-the-go solution for hotels, universities, golf clubs, spas, offices and premium convenience stores.

illy “on the go” coffee station in a lounge environment with text highlighting that the station is made of 95% recycled products, including 30% made from waste ground coffee.

A smiling couple walks with iced coffees near a gas station, enjoying a sunny day.

Target: 1000 stations within the next five years

The initial installations cover a variety of sectors, including hotels, golf clubs, retail outlets and an aviation training centre. The primary focus is on 4-5* hotels, universities, corporate offices leisure clubs and premium retail chains. In this context, the geographical location is less important than the natural alignment. illy's strategic intents to become leader in the premium on the go sub-segment by working with partners that reflect the same focus on a premium experience for their customers. This strategy seems to be spot on:

“Feedback from Beanology and illycaffè is consistently positive, particularly with regard to the end-customer experience. The solution is perceived as high-quality and intuitive, making premium coffee effortlessly accessible in everyday life. At the same time, real-world use demonstrates just how reliably Schaerer’s machines perform, even under heavy usage.”

Vicki Mozden, Head of Marketing at Beanology

About Beanology

Beanology is a UK-based coffee-to-go solutions provider with a strong focus on sustainability and circular product concepts. The company develops sustainable coffee and beverage formats for the out-of-home market in close collaboration with technical and operational partners. Its areas of focus include resource-efficient packaging solutions, coffee ground recycling and scalable concepts for major clients in the retail, corporate and infrastructure sectors. With an experienced team specialising in sales, vending and retail management, Beanology considers itself a driving force for sustainable coffee solutions in the UK market.

About Beanology

About GMS Espresso

GMS Espresso Servicing is a specialist service provider with over 20 years’ experience in the UK coffee machine market. The company looks after around 11,000 coffee machines from leading manufacturers and serves more than 3,000 customers across the United Kingdom. Its focus is on maintenance, technical support and ensuring the reliable operation of coffee systems. A team of specialist technicians ensures rapid response times and continuous machine availability. In addition to servicing, GMS Espresso offers selected machine solutions and helps customers to optimise their systems, always focusing on operational reliability and long-term performance.

About GMS

About illy

illycaffè is a premium coffee company with an international presence, based in Trieste, Italy. The long establishedbrand is synonymous with high-quality, 100 % Arabica coffee blends, produced using a rigorous quality and roasting process. illy’s products are used worldwide in the catering, hospitality and office sectors. In addition to the coffee itself, illy has developed a comprehensive ecosystem centred on the perfect cup of coffee – including brewing systems, machine partnerships, training programmes and design and brand experiences. The company places great emphasis on consistent standards for taste, preparation and brand identity. A central component of the corporate strategy is sustainability throughout the entirevalue chain – from direct collaboration with coffee farmers and training programmes to regenerative and circular approaches in production and packaging.

About illy

Published May 26, 2026

Want to know more?

Do you have any questions or would you like to learn more about our world? Then you are welcome to contact us.

'illy On The Go’ is Transforming The Concept of Self-Service Coffee

Vicki Mozden, Head of Marketing at Beanology

An Opportunity Spotted by iIly

Technology at its Heart

Target: 1000 stations within the next five years

About Beanology

About GMS Espresso

About illy