Bulletproof vs Illy:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Illy had more branded searches than Bulletproof among coffee brands in the United States. Illy had about 40,500 branded searches, while Bulletproof had 27,100. Illy made up 3.7% of all coffee brand searches we track, and Bulletproof accounted for 2.5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about coffee brands, neither Bulletproof nor Illy appeared in any of the five answers.
Who do people search for more?
Illy, about 49% more searches than Bulletproof
Who does AI mention more?
Both were mentioned in 0 of 5 answers.
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Top coffee brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, neither Bulletproof nor Illy showed up in any of the five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Peet's Coffee3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Lavazza3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Café Bustelo2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Stumptown2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Folgers1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Death Wish Coffee1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Onyx Coffee Lab1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Counter Culture Coffee1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers- Illy0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Bulletproof0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about coffee brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which coffee brand should I buy?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best coffee bean brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What is the best ground coffee?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“coffee beans”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“ground coffee”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 26, 2026.
Is Bulletproof or Illy more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Bulletproof and Illy by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 15 coffee brands we track, month by month, from searches in United States.
Share of searches by month for Illy, Bulletproof. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Peet's Coffee | Black Rifle Coffee | Café Bustelo | La Colombe | Folgers | Death Wish Coffee | Illy | Lavazza | Dunkin' | Onyx Coffee Lab | Stumptown | Bulletproof | Lifeboost | Counter Culture Coffee | Intelligentsia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 39.2% | 11.8% | 7.8% | 6.5% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 1.9% | 3.5% | 9.6% | 1.9% | 2.4% | 1.9% | 1.3% | 1.6% | 1.9% |
| Nov 2025 | 28.9% | 12.9% | 4.8% | 4.8% | 3.2% | 2.6% | 1.7% | 3.2% | 28.9% | 1.7% | 2.1% | 1.4% | 0.95% | 1.4% | 1.4% |
| Dec 2025 | 20.8% | 9.3% | 4.2% | 3.4% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1.3% | 2.3% | 46.1% | 1.5% | 1.9% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1% | 1.3% |
| Jan 2026 | 40.1% | 12% | 6.6% | 5.4% | 4.4% | 3.6% | 2.4% | 3.6% | 6.6% | 2% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 2% | 2% | 2% |
| Feb 2026 | 35.6% | 13% | 7.2% | 5.8% | 4.8% | 3.9% | 2.6% | 3.2% | 10.7% | 2.1% | 3.2% | 2.6% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 1.8% |
| Mar 2026 | 36% | 13.2% | 7.2% | 7.2% | 4.8% | 4% | 2.2% | 3.2% | 8.8% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 1.8% |
| Apr 2026 | 37.7% | 11.3% | 7.6% | 6.2% | 4.1% | 3.4% | 2.8% | 3.4% | 11.3% | 2.3% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.5% | 1.9% | 1.5% |
| May 2026 | 45.5% | 11.2% | 7.5% | 6.1% | 4.1% | 3.4% | 2.2% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 2.2% | 3.4% | 2.2% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 1.8% |
| Jun 2026 | 43.2% | 10.6% | 7.1% | 7.1% | 4.8% | 3.9% | 2.6% | 3.9% | 2.1% | 2.6% | 3.9% | 2.6% | 1.7% | 2.1% | 1.7% |
| Jul 2026 | 41.9% | 12.6% | 8.4% | 6.9% | 4.6% | 3.8% | 2.5% | 3.8% | 2.1% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 2.1% | 1.4% | 2.1% | 1.7% |
| Aug 2026 | 47% | 9.4% | 7.7% | 6.3% | 5.2% | 3.5% | 2.3% | 3.5% | 2.3% | 2.8% | 2.8% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1.5% |
| Sep 2026 | 40.9% | 10% | 8.2% | 6.7% | 5.5% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2% | 1.6% |
How has the Bulletproof and Illy comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands 2 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: Bulletproof took it in January 2026, Illy took it in April 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Bulletproof’s share of searches among coffee brands in the United States moved from 1.9% to 2.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 27.1K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Illy’s share of searches among coffee brands in the United States moved from 1.9% to 3.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 27.1K to 40.5K.
How did search popularity change for United States coffee brands in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Illy overtook Lavazza and 3 others to rank 7th among coffee brands in the United States, with 3.7% of the searches.
In September 2026, Bulletproof gained share of searches among coffee brands in the United States, from 1.9% to 2.5%.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Bulletproof’s and Illy’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Bulletproof
1 branded search term
- bulletproof coffee
Illy
1 branded search term
- illy coffee
Other head-to-heads among coffee brands
Peet's Coffee vs Black Rifle Coffee: compare popularity- Peet's Coffee vs Café Bustelo: compare popularity
Peet's Coffee vs La Colombe: compare popularity- Peet's Coffee vs Folgers: compare popularity
- Black Rifle Coffee vs Café Bustelo: compare popularity
- Black Rifle Coffee vs La Colombe: compare popularity
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