Brandwave

Folgers vs Illy:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Folgers had more branded searches than Illy among coffee brands in the United States. Folgers had about 60,500 branded searches, while Illy had 40,500. Folgers made up 5.5% of all coffee brand searches we track, and Illy accounted for 3.7%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about coffee brands, Folgers appeared in one of the five answers and Illy in none.

Among coffee brands in the United States in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Folgers, about 49% more searches than Illy

Folgers 60.5K searchesIlly 40.5K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Folgers, mentioned in 1 of 5 answers, Illy in 0

Folgers in 1 of 5Illy in 0 of 5

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Top coffee brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Folgers was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Illy did not appear in any of the five answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Lavazza1st
  2. Peet's Coffee2nd
  3. Stumptown3rd
  4. Café Bustelo4th
  5. Counter Culture Coffee5th
  6. Folgers6th
  7. Intelligentsia7th
  8. Onyx Coffee Lab8th
  9. Death Wish Coffee9th
  10. +2 more
  11. Illy–
  12. +3 more

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
  • Intelligentsia1 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

+5 more

See every answer about coffee brands

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 26, 2026.

Is Folgers or Illy more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Folgers 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.

Folgers and Illy among coffee brands in the United States, by month

Share of searches by month for Folgers, Illy. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthPeet's CoffeeBlack Rifle CoffeeCafé BusteloLa ColombeFolgersDeath Wish CoffeeIllyLavazzaDunkin'Onyx Coffee LabStumptownBulletproofLifeboostCounter Culture CoffeeIntelligentsia
Oct 202539.2%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 202528.9%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 202520.8%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 202640.1%12%6.6%5.4%4.4%3.6%2.4%3.6%6.6%2%3.6%3.6%2%2%2%
Feb 202635.6%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 202636%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 202637.7%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 202645.5%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 202643.2%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 202641.9%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 202647%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 202640.9%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 Folgers and Illy comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Folgers was ahead of Illy in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Folgers’ share of searches among coffee brands in the United States moved from 4.3% to 5.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 60.5K.
  • 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?

1 change
  1. 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.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Folgers’ 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.

Folgers

1 branded search term

  • folgers

Illy

1 branded search term

  • illy coffee

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among coffee brands

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