Best Selling Italian Coffee – The Top Ten List

Comments

1. Mia says

   February 9, 2018 at 12:03 am

   Hi Alex,

   Any thoughts on Miscela d’Oro? I recently tried it in a few different restaurants…a couple in NYC and also in Phoenix. I actually really liked it but am wondering if you have tried it?

   • Alex Roe says

     February 12, 2018 at 3:03 pm

     I have tried it, Mia, but, personally, I prefer Crema e Gusto because it’s closer to the coffee I get in Italian coffee bars. But if you like it, great!

     Best,

     Alex.

2. Jorge says

   February 4, 2018 at 10:58 pm

   I like Segafredo and Lavazza i live in Spain and i usually buy Marcilla which is a decent coffee.

   • Alex Roe says

     February 7, 2018 at 10:56 am

     Good to hear Segafredo and Lavazza are available in Spain. I didn’t know of Marcilla coffee – a Spanish brand now owned by a Dutch company. Don’t think it is sold in Italy probably because of the massive competition from Italy’s own coffee roasters.

     Best,

     Alex

3. Coit says

   January 30, 2018 at 6:57 pm

   I have used Lavazza for about 12 years. I have had to change to different models twice. It is rich expresso with no bitterness…..love it. Now, I am having to change again from the Lavazza Bar to (expresso ground brick) to either Lavazza in blu expresso grind, or Lavazza caffe expresso fine ground, both in cans. So I came to your site searching for another brand. I do not like either one as I enjoyed Lavazza Bar. Do you have a suggestion? My supplier says they are discontinuing the Lavazza Bar.
   Great article.

4. Robert McEwan says

   January 13, 2018 at 4:02 pm

   I’m new to Lavazza picked up ORO because it was dearest , i’ve not tried gusto is this better

   • Alex Roe says

     January 23, 2018 at 1:12 pm

     Hi Robert,

     I tend to prefer Crema e Gusto to Oro, so I think it is better. I’d say it’s worth your while trying it. If you do, and have a spare moment, pop back and tell me what you thought of it. It tends to work very well in Bialetti mokka cooker top coffee makers.

     Best,

     Alex

5. Lisa says

   January 10, 2018 at 3:11 pm

   Thank you for this post!!! For years i’ve used Cafe Bustelo in my Bialetti Brikka coffee maker and it’s quite good. BUT, now I’m in Canada where they don’t sell it and I bought another Italian brand that wasn’t good. I found your post and they sell the Lavazza Crema e gusto. OH MY GOD. I haven’t been to Italy yet but the flavor is just like Cafe Creme in France. I’m in heaven. Grazie mille!!!!!!!

   • Alex Roe says

     January 23, 2018 at 1:09 pm

     Hi Lisa,

     Lavazza Crema e Gusto is, as you’ve found out, well worth trying. It tends to work very well in stove top coffee makers. Not always as good as an Italian coffee bar coffee, but very similar and sometimes even better!

     Glad you found this post useful 🙂

     Best,

     Alex

6. Ivan says

   June 5, 2017 at 1:47 am

   Alex,
   How is italy’s single espresso different from US or elsewhere? What are the flavors in italys espresso? Is it creamy and chocolaty? I would love to try.

   Thanks and GodBless

   Ivan

   • Alex Roe says

     June 5, 2017 at 10:48 pm

     Hi Ivan,

     I did try a single shot espresso in the US – in New York – but it didn’t compare to what I get here in Italy. It was too watery and not as flavorful in my opinion. I’ve no idea what coffee blend was used either but it just wasn’t the same. A good Italian espresso has a creamy head on it and is not watery.

     I’ve also tried so-called espressos in the UK. Far too much water and they were not up to much either even though the coffee machine looked Italian.

     Italians just seem to have a knack of making good expresso and Italian blends of coffee also make a big difference too. There are special schools for barrista here but I guess most of those who work in bars here in Italy are taught by others.

     The best way to try a real Italian expresso is to come to Italy and to pop into more or less any bar – there’s no shortage of them!

     Best,

     Alex

   • Lisa says

     January 10, 2018 at 3:21 pm

     Ivan,
     My espresso is exceptional and very much like what I drank in France. I’ve never had anything in any US coffee shop that tastes as good as mine, in my opinion, especially now that Alex’s post alerted me to Lavazza. I use the Bialetti Brikka 2 cup stove top coffee maker. It has a pressured valve which is unique to stove top makers. It makes the foamy crema, which tends to be the key to a wonderful shot. The cost of the Brikka is $65 or so. I bought the Lavazza Crema e gusto and it is superb. Absolutely tastes like I am in Europe. My 2 cents. As you can see I am quite passionate about my coffee. Cheers.

7. Mehmet Kemal Koksal says

   January 23, 2017 at 9:37 pm

   Espresso for me is a passion, not only addiction. My day always feels something missing without it, and living in a country where the traditional coffee such as Turkish and Bosnian sometimes put me in difficult positions. I am not a Starbucks person and I can never understand the logic of adding too much water on pure espresso, as one Italian friend of mine said, what the Americans drink in that big cartoon cup reminds me of a soup. Coffee is something we drink for joy for so many centuries, it shouldn’t be reduced simply to the need of caffeine.

   The origin of the word ‘coffee’ comes from the Arabic word ‘qayf’ which means joy, let’s not forget this, I know I am aware of the differences when it comes to personal taste, but I speak for general. When it comes to espresso brand, I never judge them by their price or how famous they are in the market.

   Lavazza has a very good advertising and that is what makes them so successful.

   Illy has a very strong and tasteful taste which Lavazza can never quite reach even with their %100 Arabica Qualita Oro, but as Alex said this is personal.

   Recently when I was on a hunt to discover a good espresso I came across San Giusto. Apparently San Giusto is also from Trieste, the Illy Town as I call it.

   When I drank San Giusto for a moment I lost myself, it was everything I searched for. It had the taste of Illy, but it wasn’t as tough as it is, it had a bit softer taste which made me go for double. Another thing when it comes to a good espresso is how well Barista does his or her job. Because when the machine and coffee spoon is not cleaned well, it will for sure taste stale even if you put there the best espresso of your choice :). I know I wrote a very long comment, but could you guys suggest me an espresso machine, I hate capsules, but I also don’t want to go so expensive. Something in between 100 to 150 euros, any suggestions?

8. alessio says

   January 6, 2017 at 1:49 am

   Hello

   What do you think about QUARTA caffe? is it a good coffee?

   • Alex Roe says

     January 6, 2017 at 10:44 am

     Have never heard of it Alessio. The company has been around for 60 years so it’s coffee must be OK. If I can find some here in Milan, I’ll try it and test it on various Italians I know too to find out their opinions.

     Thanks for mentioning it.

     Best,

     Alex

9. Elly says

   September 10, 2016 at 9:08 pm

   Hi, I’m really curious about Lavazza crema gusto. It’s creaminess sounds interesting.

   But I have a few questions ;

   Is italian coffee generally espresso-like & bitter?

   Can I make Lavazza Crema Gusto with regular drip coffee machine at home?

   Also, you (&others) mentioned that Lavazza & Illy have different tastes & that it depends on personal taste.

   Well, I love full bodied coffee with a moderate sweet/cocoa/nutty after taste. I really dislike Sour and citrusy coffees. So I guess acidity is what I hate in my coffee. body & creaminess is a plus.
   Btw, for an unknown reason, some coffee brands (like molinari espressos) specially if made in the cafe gives me anxiety and a weird feeling in stomach.

   So…do you think I should get Illy or Lavazza crema gusto?

   (Btw, I usually drink my coffee plain).

   • Alex Roe says

     September 11, 2016 at 8:12 pm

     Hi Elly,

     Yes, Italian coffee can be very bitter which is why sugar is often added (even if the best Italian blends should not require sugar, or so I’ve been told). In cup Quantities are tiny – like a shot of whiskey – Italians don’t drink mugfuls of coffee. Or you can make cappuccinos – with the right coffee machine.

     To make Lavazza Crema e Gusto, you should use either a moka expresso maker or an espresso machine (which might be what you mean) Don’t think filter coffee makers will work too well, but have never tried.

     Yes, Lavazza and Illy do have different flavours – I like both but prefer Lavazza. Best thing to do is to try both.

     If Italian coffee is made very strong, it can cause stomach pains – some strong blends of coffee will do this too. I’ve never had problems with Lavazza Crema e Gusto.

     As mentioned before, you need to try both to decide. You might prefer Illy to Lavazza – but you won’t know until you try them!

     Best,

     Alex

10. Dominic says

    June 26, 2016 at 9:22 pm

    Cafe Aiello is amazing. It’s hard to find in the states. It is very popular in Southern Italy. I have to order it online. I think it’s a good mix of the quality of Lavazza and Illy.

    • Alex Roe says

      June 26, 2016 at 10:45 pm

      There’s lots of interesting coffee in Italy, Dominic but it can be hard to find online. Nespresso pods with non Nespresso coffee are quite common here too. But the brands with the greatest marketing might remain, for now, Lavazza and Illy.

      I’ll keep an eye out for Cafe Aiello but it may not be so easy to find up here in the north where I live.

      Thanks for the coffee tip.

      Best,

      Alex

11. Meg says

    March 25, 2016 at 7:46 pm

    Oh yes! We love the Espresso bar cremosa. It adds a little extra froth at the first sip!

12. Meg says

    March 25, 2016 at 4:33 pm

    In southern Italy, Naples – Monte di Procida to be exact we use Kimbo. I’m afraid that Illy coffee does not hold a candle to the whole bean that Kimbo offers. I’m surprised it’s not on the list. Lavazza is almost a joke in our Italian family. I’m surprised to see it so popular among the list. However, as my husband owns an Italian restaurant we do use the lavazza pods for Espresso and reserve stove-top Kimbo for special guest (mostly Italian people) and whole bean ground for at home. I must say, I’ve never tried the whole bean Lavazza and you have perked my interest to try it! Thanks so much!
    Meg

    • Alex Roe says

      March 25, 2016 at 4:47 pm

      Hi Meg,

      I know some do live Kimbo but it’s not as well known outside Italy as Illy and Lavazza which is probably why it’s not on the list. Which Kimbo blend do you like? Let me know if you have a moment and I’ll add it 🙂

      Best,

      Alex

      • Bon B. says

        November 18, 2017 at 6:43 am

        I just got back from a conference in Napoli. Asked everybody including concierge & restaurant personnel what they use for the best at home & they all said Kimbo Gold. Brought some home, of course! When I was on Capri had a great cup at the café on the main square & the waiter said they all use bulk beans from the same supplier but I wasn’t familiar with the name. Viva Italia!

13. Roberto says

    January 6, 2016 at 2:42 am

    We discovered Lavazza Crema e Gusto in New Zealand several years ago, preparing it in a Bialetti stovetop coffeemaker. We bought it home to California and it did not taste the same (as good). Since we serve ours with a good amount of cream (cafe creme ?) we think it is the quality of cream available in NZ and/or the (tap) water which is also far superior in NZ.

    • Alex Roe says

      January 6, 2016 at 11:44 am

      Hi Roberto,

      From my own experience, the combination of Lavazza Crema e Gusto and a Bialetti stovetop maker does produce pretty good coffee – but I am in Italy and use Italian water – which in the north tends to be lime rich. I wonder whether the water makes a difference. While not the cheapest way of making an espresso, you could try finding and using an Italian bottled water brand and see if that makes a difference.

      The ‘crema’, by the way, refers to the froth on top of the coffee (which cannot easily be obtained with a stovetop maker) – Italians rarely, if ever, add cream to their coffee – though may occasionally have a coffee with canned whipped cream squirted on top.

      Nowadays, many Italians are using capsule fed coffee makers which can be bought for fairly reasonable sums and refillable capsules can be found too. I hear lots of good things about (non-Italian) Nespresso makers – so you might like to invest in one or find a friend who has one and see what you think of the coffee it makes before spending any money. For a really good cup of espresso, you need something similar to the kinds of coffee machines found on Italian bars but these are very expensive. Gaggia coffee machines, I am told, are good if a little pricey. One again, though, see if you can try before you buy – if, that is, you want to buy.

      Happy perfect espresso hunting 🙂

      Best,

      Alex

      • Roberto says

        January 6, 2016 at 9:32 pm

        We have a Nespresso Pixie capsule machine that we are very pleased with. We live in a condominium with little kitchen counter space so a full sized expresso machine is not an option. Unfortunately, as far as I know, there are no refillable capsules for this machine and the price for them has ratcheted up by about 20% since we purchased it about 3 years ago.

        We use the stovetop (Bialetti) about once or twice a week for variety.

        • Alex Roe says

          January 6, 2016 at 10:41 pm

          Ah ha, Roberto, another Nespresso fan! Well, you can find refillable capsules for Nespresso Pixie machines – some can be found here: Gdmug Refillable Capsule for Nespresso Coffee Machines

          Quite a few others are available too, including some rather expensive stainless steel capsules.

          Crema e Gusto should taste pretty good via the Pixie – once you get the quantity worked out. Happy experimenting! 😉

          Best,

          Alex

          PS I’m an Amazon.com affiliate so if you purchase capsules using the link, I may make a little coffee money.

14. Linda says

    September 19, 2015 at 1:11 am

    My son was recently in Rome and brought me back a can of Illy Filter Coffee- Gusto Morbido , to try. Well, I was very pleased with it because this has been the first time I was able to drink coffee without the acid “kickback”. I tried many different coffees but noticed that if they had any hint of acid in them, i would get symptoms- but not with this coffee. The problem lies with the fact that I do not know where in the USA I can get this coffee. I called Illy and they said that particular coffee is not sold here. Is there any way I can find a distributor that would be able to get me this coffee?

15. milad h s says

    August 7, 2015 at 12:08 am

    what about filicori zecchini?

    • Alex Roe says

      August 7, 2015 at 11:10 am

      What about filicori zecchini? Have never heard of it. Tell us more, Milad.

16. It's me Alba says

    May 28, 2015 at 7:14 pm

    Thanks Alex for the useful information, for sure the italian coffee is definitely one of my favorite. I’d like to recommend you if you don’t mind my website where I write about italian coffee machines, coffee pots and so on although I must tell you is in spanish I really did my research there;) If you have the chance would be awesome if somehow you could link to my article. Take care!

17. Giovanni says

    May 12, 2015 at 4:49 pm

    When buying coffee one must consider that arabica beans costs much more than robusta beans. The crema e gusto ranked 1st here is an arabica/robusta mix with an high content of robusta. Thus crema e gusto is less valuable than the qualita oro and Illy which are 100% arabica. In general arabica is more aromatic has a fruit-like acidity and is not bitter, the robusta is bitter has more body and astringency. Ultimately It is matter of personal taste but the price must correlate with the % of arabica content.

    • Alex Roe says

      May 12, 2015 at 6:07 pm

      Well, it sounds as if you know coffee, Giovanni. As you say though, it’s a question of personal taste at the end of the day and Crema e Gusto fits mine perfectly – as I explain, it’s the only coffee I’ve tried in our stove top moka which produces a taste which is close to that I get Italy’s coffee bars.

      The best thing for people to do is to try different coffees and that will help them decide which one they like best 🙂 Some people prefer Illy to Lavazza and vice versa – personal taste, but are good everyday coffee brands.

      Cheers,

      Alex

18. Dimitrios says

    May 11, 2015 at 8:18 pm

    Hello
    I am a Barista and former owner of a Cafeteria . As a customer in another cafeteria when asking for an espresso lungo instead of pulled lungo i get a normale with a small pot of hot water to be added. When i complain they say it is company policy.
    My question: what is your recommended method of brewing a lungo and if hot water is to be added what is the difference between a lungo and an americano?

    • Alex Roe says

      May 11, 2015 at 9:06 pm

      Hi Demitrios,

      In which country have you been asking for a lungo? In Italy, the process is the same as for making an espresso, except the cup is left in the coffee machine for a little longer. For a caffe Americano, the process is the same, except a bigger cup is used and the a greater quantity of water is allowed to drip through the coffee into the cup.

      As you probably know, Italian espresso machines drip water through coffee grounds. The longer the water is allowed to drip, the greater the quantity of coffee is produced. Have never heard of water being added to espresso after it has come out of the machine. Very strange.

      Best,

      Alex – Italy resident and regular caffe lungo consumer.

    • LV says

      February 1, 2016 at 9:16 pm

      Hmmm… Soon I know Americano is prepared by adding hot water to single espresso or should be prepared that way. At least these are Americano roots.
      In fact or as per urban legend maybe 😉 American soldiers were asking for traditional in America coffee mug prepared presto-presto… thus italian baristas invented that quick method – adding hot water to espresso.

      In Lungo that additional water is also brewed not simply added. Lungo and Americano may look the same but taste different. Americano is more mild and never bitter. In Lungo you simply extract too much. Brew too long. With good chances to overbrew. 🙂

      A friend of mine from Naples says, that Lungo is wrong coffee and Americano is no coffee. :))

19. Stephen says

    February 1, 2015 at 6:20 pm

    Just noticed this post again in the side bar. It got me wondering what inroads the Nespresso phenomenon is making into the market. We use it, as do an increasing number of people we know. We buy our pods in Florence. Every time we go there we have to join a queue and wait up to 15 minutes to pick them up. I guess the purists would reject Nespresso but a lot of people seem to be using it.

    • Alex Roe says

      February 1, 2015 at 8:54 pm

      Funny you should mention Nespresso. Apparently the coffee capsules make very good coffee and Nestle has been pushing their capsules very heavily using George Clooney. Lavazza and Illy haven’t been pushing capsules as hard – but they should so. Owing to the crisis, more and more Italians are resorting to coffee machines to save them having to spend cash in Italy’s coffee bars.

      That Nespresso is not Italian does not seem to be putting Italians off. Time for Lavazza etc to pay catch-up or lose out.

      Cheers,

      Alex

20. Morrison says

    December 28, 2014 at 11:59 pm

    Lavazza Crema e Gusto is one of my favorites for many years too, i can’t make up my mind between Lavazza and Illy so i change once in a while 🙂

    • Alex Roe says

      December 29, 2014 at 11:34 am

      Hi Morrison,

      Lavazza Crema e Gusto produces very good results in stove top coffee makers I find, and I think the taste is very close to that of coffee made in Italy’s coffee bars which is why I like it a lot.

      We rarely have Illy coffee at home – very much a Lavazza house – but I do have Illy coffee when out and about. The flavor is a little different and some Italians do prefer Illy over Lavazza. There are other brands to try. If you haven’t tried it, you might like Segafredo coffee which can be found beyond Italy’s borders.

      Best,

      Alex

21. Soleil says

    December 6, 2014 at 11:09 am

    Hi
    It would be great if you can tell me about Molinari Caffe. Is it one of the best in Italy, top 10? quality,taste, popularity, etc?
    Best,
    Soleil

    • Alex Roe says

      December 7, 2014 at 1:36 pm

      Hi Soleil,

      Molinari Caffe is fairly well known in Italy – not as well known as Lavazza and Illy. Molinari’s 1808 blend is relatively well known.

      Molinari is a Modena based coffee roaster so it’s probably a common brand in cafes in the city and the area too, probably – but I don’t know. I’d really have to go to Modena to find out.

      Actually, there are lots of coffee roaster brands in Italy which people outside of Italy know little or nothing about. This is because these coffee roasters more or less exclusively target the Italian market.

      The brands you find in cafes in Italy are not always the brands you’ll find on the shelves of stores in Italy.

      The best selling brands of coffee outside of Italy reflect how well certain Italian coffee roasters market themselves at an international level.

      If you have tried Molinari coffee and like it, then fine. I hope you can find it although I do know it can be found on Amazon.

      Best,

      Alex

22. VASILEIOS says

    September 16, 2014 at 11:24 am

    Hi, I am from Greece and I am looking for the perfect espresso brand quite a long. I have tried almost all the brands here in Greece and I thing that i have found my favourite brand: JACOBS arabica exclusiva. I brewed this coffe to many machines from krups to wega and the outcome is the same. Strong, tasteful espresso. Recommend to everyone

    • Alex Roe says

      September 16, 2014 at 11:35 am

      Hi Vasileios – good to hear you like Jacobs coffee but its not coffee produced in Italy which is what this post is all about.

      Still, if you like it, go for it! 🙂

      Cheers,

      Alex

      • VASILEIOS says

        September 16, 2014 at 10:24 pm

        hi alex again and thanks for your reply. I would like to correct you, no offense, but JACOBS ARABICA EXCLUSIVA and JACOBS ESPRESSO INTENSO are made in Piemonte, Northern Italy, but they don’t say who’s the manufacturer. Nevertheless, JACOBS filter coffee is not made in Italy, whereas, JACOBS espresso is indeed made in Italy.

23. john soultatos says

    April 28, 2014 at 1:44 pm

    hi from grecce iam illy fan and i think is the best coffe in the world…

24. Ginger Rogers says

    January 19, 2014 at 6:04 pm

    I would like to start a coffee business here in the U.S. with Italian coffee brands. I have been to Florence and Rome and love every drop of coffee I could get my hands on. I would love to share the experience with my fellow Minnesotan’s that will not have to same opportunities for travels. Any advice will be welcomed.

25. Eddie Caccavari says

    April 24, 2013 at 10:29 pm

    How does SEGAFREDO compare with Illy & Lavazza?

    • Alex says

      November 12, 2013 at 6:59 am

      I’d personally say that Segafredo is miles better than Lavazza or Illy. Segafredo would have to be my favourite of the chain coffee brands.

      • Alex Roe says

        November 12, 2013 at 10:09 am

        Everyone has their favourites, Alex 🙂

        Cheers,

        Alex

        • VASILEIOS says

          September 16, 2014 at 9:51 pm

          hi alex again and thanks for your reply. I would like to correct you, no offense, but JACOBS ARABICA EXCLUSIVA and JACOBS ESPRESSO INTENSO are made in Piemonte, Northern Italy, but they don’t say who’s the manufacturer. Nevertheless, JACOBS filter coffee is not made in Italy, whereas, JACOBS espresso is indeed made in Italy.

          • Alex Roe says

            September 16, 2014 at 10:14 pm

            Hi again Vasileios – no problem re the correction – thanks. I’ve hunted for Jacobs coffee and but can’t understand German. Have you got a link to where it says JACOBS ARABICA EXCLUSIVA and JACOBS ESPRESSO INTENSO are roasted in Piedmont?

            Thank you,

            Alex

        • francesco says

          January 19, 2016 at 11:43 am

          hello I am Francesco from Italy

          I need your cooperations for find a new distributor of coffea club coffee espresso Italiano
          can u help me?

          Thanks

          Francesco

          • Alex Roe says

            January 21, 2016 at 5:52 pm

            Hi Francesco,

            Where are you from in Italy? By the way, you should check your website – there are some strange links – does not give a good impression to potential distributors. Sort out the problems and I’ll re-add the link to your site.

            I could write a post about coffee club’s search for distributors which might help.

            Cheers,

            Alex

26. Paris Platanias says

    April 18, 2013 at 8:11 pm

    I like Lavazza in cappuccino coffee if the coffee shop knows how to roast a coffee and not burn it!!

27. Sochib Sanusi says

    December 3, 2012 at 1:49 am

    Dear Sir,

    I am interesting to buy Lavazza coffee crema e gusto, how much price in us.dollars and my address in jakarta, Indonesia.

    thank you.

28. Michela C says

    February 9, 2012 at 8:39 am

    Here in the UK Lavazza and Illy are the only italian coffee brands I can easily find.
    My vote is for Lavazza Crema e Gusto!
    Actually, I miss my Nespresso machine….that coffee is amazing (Roma is my favourite!) even if a little expensive.
    However, a good coffee for me is like home. At the end, like my english collegues say, I’m italian!

29. Rachel S says

    January 4, 2012 at 12:10 am

    I’m an Illy fan – however, I haven’t tried the Lavazza Creama e Gusto yet! I’ll look for it next time I’m at the store.

    • Alex Roe says

      January 4, 2012 at 1:45 am

      Illy is not bad coffee, I will admit, but I do really like Lavazza Crema e Gusto. Try it and let me know what you think.

      Ciao, ciao,

      Alex

30. LindyLouMac in Italy says

    September 17, 2011 at 11:49 am

    Lavazza gets my vote 🙂

    • Alex Roe says

      September 19, 2011 at 7:00 pm

      Lavazza gets my vote too!

      Best,

      Alex