Not so long ago Nespresso presented a series of tongue-in-cheek TV adverts with George Clooney and John Malkovich starring, and it already has more sophisticated and delightful things in store to please its consumers.

This time, the brand launched Nespresso N-Art campaign aimed at collaborating with modern artists to find innovative and inspiring ways for brand promotion. As part of this campaign, Nespresso invited Indian avant-gardist fashion designer Manish Arora to decorate its brand flagship store on Champs Elysees in Paris.

Pleated, pierced and crimped together just so, here comes the planet’s newest diva: Miss Illy, famed Barneys New York creative director Simon Doonan’s singular vision in illy espresso tins and foil, debuted November 16 in the Barneys New York holiday windows. Fresh and full-bodied as the primo Arabica she once so lovingly nurtured (her parts all fashionably recycled), Ms. Illy is the can’t-miss vixen centerpiece of the iconic retailer’s Madison Avenue flagship windows, themed “Have a Foodie Holiday” for 2010.

Starbucks Coffee Company celebrates the launch of the holiday season in the chain with the arrival of Starbucks® handcrafted holiday beverages in the iconic red cups. Starbucks invites customers to bring a friend to participating company-operated and licensed stores in the U.S. and Canada on November 18-21 to receive a free beverage when purchasing a holiday beverage of equal or lesser value, which includes the Caramel Brulée Latte, Peppermint Mocha, Gingerbread Latte, Eggnog Latte, Peppermint White Hot Chocolate and Peppermint Hot Chocolate.

On November 11, Starbucks Coffee Company signed Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) agreements with Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Science (YAAS) and People’s Government of Pu’er City, Yunnan Province. The company agreed to collaborate with the two governmental organizations to help local farmers promote responsible coffee-growing practices and develop localized high-quality coffee.

You get The Great Coffee Debate: a first-of-its-kind, frank, often surprising conversation about premium coffee’s present and future, held October 28 at The International Culinary Center in New York City, hosted by illycaffè, the premier Italian coffee brand and The International Culinary Center. Debate topics spanned farm to cup: growing and harvesting; purchasing and certification models; roasting and packaging dynamics; preparation methods; coffee at cafes and restaurants; consumer education.