Costa’s chief taster insured for £10 million
9 March 2009
Lloyd’s, the world’s leading specialist insurance market, has insured the tongue of Gennaro Pelliccia, Costa Coffee’s Italian Master of Coffee, for £10 million.
Gennaro Pelliccia personally tastes every single batch of raw coffee beans at the company’s roastery in London, before they are roasted and shipped to its stores.
Speaking about the insurance policy, Pelliccia said: “In my profession, my taste buds are crucial. My 18 years of experience enable me to distinguish between thousands of flavours. My taste buds also allow me to search out any defects, which help guarantee Costa’s unique Mocha Italia blend.”
The average tongue has approximately 10,000 taste buds, which means Costa has in effect insured each of Pelliccia’s taste buds for £1,000.
This is not the first time Lloyd’s has insured a tongue. Wine tasters for supermarkets and wine merchants have also taken out policies. And a Dutch wine maker, Ilja Gort, last year insured his nose for €5m.
A Lloyd’s spokesperson said: “Lloyd’s is the pre-eminent place in the world for the insurance of people, whether it is individual body parts or dealing with particular facial characteristics that are necessary for people to pursue their occupations.”
Last updated on 09 Mar 2009
