Gate-side caffeine fix at BLQ’s T1
Right in Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport’s T1 departures zone, the Illy Shop sells both takeaway coffee and retail tins for carry-on. Expect standard Illy pricing for Italy: an espresso usually lands around a couple of euros, with cappuccino slightly higher. It’s post-security, so you can grab beans or pods without worrying about liquids rules.
The counter focuses on espresso-based drinks, Illy-style, pulled fast enough for a tight connection. If you like it short and strong, stick to a normale or ristretto; milk drinks like cappuccino and latte macchiato are there if you’re killing 20–30 minutes before boarding. Quality tracks what you’d find at a city Illy bar, which is decent for an airport shop.
Retail shelves carry Illy ground coffee, whole beans, and capsule formats, including the red 100% Arabica cans you see all over Italy. You can usually find 250 g tins, gift boxes, and some branded cups or small accessories. Prices run higher than a Bologna supermarket but acceptable if you need a last-minute food gift from Emilia-Romagna.
Lines can form in the early morning wave between 06:00 and 08:30, when BLQ pushes out a chunk of Schengen departures from T1. Service is quick, but a five-minute queue is normal at peak times. If your gate is at the far end of departures, factor in a 5–10 minute walk back before boarding begins.
Tip: If you want beans or tins, buy first, then order your drink, so you’re not juggling hot coffee while choosing between formats and sizes.