Customer Reviews

Lavazza Crema e Aroma Coffee Beans, 2.2-Pound Bag

5 star:		(57)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(21)

 

 

Espresso beans can be roasted in different ways. Lavazza and Illy represent the best of two different approaches to roasting beans for Italian espresso. Illy roasts their beans for a longer time, but at a lower temperature, than Lavazza. As a result of its higher roasting temperature the Lavazza is darker, and according to some people more robust, than Illy is.

At its best, when properly ground, tamped, and brewed, Lavazza espresso is a bit stronger tasting and also a little bit more bitter than Illy. The Lavazza espresso also has a very pure black color once brewed and when it is done properly it has a hint of licorice in the aftertaste. Personally, though, I prefer the Illy approach which is why I am giving this coffee four rather than five stars. But, even so, I certainly recognize the high quality of Lavazza. In my opinion Lavazza represents the very best of the widely available dark (as opposed to medium like Illy) Italian Espresso roasts.

Lavazza makes excellent espresso which for a widely available "mass-market" espresso a huge step up from the American drek like "Starbucks" or anything found found in local supermarkets. A bit more robust & flavorful than the fine but delicate Illy without the burnt harshness of Starbucks or "Gloria Jeans" or chain beaneries. Espresso should be flavorful but not burnt. It is also worth noting that most specialty shops or restaurant depots in this area will not have this particular Lavazza bean from my experience.

Lavazza makes several espresso bean varieties (and some preground) and this particular one is very good and one I've used for years with other Lavazza espresso. Nice crema, smooth taste and you are probably more limited by your espresso machine and barista skills than you are this espresso roast :-)

Making 3-5 cups daily of espresso one thing i really like about Lavazza beans are consistent in taste, texture and oily-ness, so you don't have to constantly tweak your grinder. I've tried many different brands & roasts but always seem to come back to Lavazza.

The Lavazza beans also stays "fresh" quite long after opening the bag. They taste the same the first day you open the bag as they do a few weeks later. This is very handy if you do not go through a few pounds every few days so you neither have to throw out beans nor go espresso shopping every few days. Who knows how long the Lavazza bags sit in storage, but I have never encountered a stale bag which speaks well for the consistency of this product.

I have used local roasters espresso beans and have found they typically do not hold it their flavor long. It seems the immediate "fresh" taste is great but in a few DAYS the local roasters beans fall off quickly in terms of being much drier (need to play with grinder every use) as well as become less flavorful and more bitter over time. Lavazza beans do not suffer from that problem which is another benefit.

Lavazza is probably not the beans for tweak-and-geekers who like home-roast (ie. char-broiled beans) and prepare espresso more than they actually like to drink and enjoy it's taste. For real-life espresso drinkers who appreciate fine Italian espresso, Lavazza is a good place to start.

I use these beans in a Jura Capresso SuperAutomatic. Jura-Capresso 13289 Impressa S7 Avantgarde Automatic Coffee and Espresso Center Everyone in our home likes the coffee because it has a refined taste. If you like a clear tasting coffee, with delicate notes, and a slight nutty taste, give this one a try. Coarseness of grind has a a very distinct impact on the taste, so be sure to try different grinds. I have noticed a slight variance from bag to bag as well, so if you aren't impressed, try a different lot. Also has excellent crema. Note also that the price for this item fluctuates frequently, so be sure to watch for sales.

Just made the first pot this Saturday morning for the wife and myself. Used a burr type coffee grinder and used my drip type coffee maker.
Used (3) scoops for 10-cups of coffee.
The aroma was great, the brew was dark and rich and the taste was superb.
So good as a matter of fact that we made an additional pot.
If you like a hearty and fulfilling cup of coffee I highly recommend this coffee.

If you want the best espresso coffee used in Italy ,,and i know ,i was born and raised there,,,then Lavazza espresso is the one...Richer than Lavazza oro and coffee bar quality,,,,I mean Italian coffee bar quality ..The very best you can put your hands on but you have to know how to make it right !!!!!!!

I am going to reveal my secret for the most awesome cup of coffee, guaranteed to make any woman love you.

1. Get a Bialetti Mokka Pot Bialetti Moka Express 3 Cup Espresso Maker 06799

2. Get a Saeco Conical Burr Grinder. Saeco GT-1 Titan Conical Burr Grinder

3. Get some Lavazza Crema e Aroma beans.

Procedure:
1. Grind the beans FRESH in the conical burr grinder. The Burr Grinder makes a HUGE DIFFERENCE since it gives an even grind and SQUEEZES out the oils from the beans. Cheap grinders just "blade smash" the beans. You can taste the difference, trust me.

2. fill the mokka pot with the fresh grind, BUT DO NOT PACK IT IN.

3. Set on stove, high heat, and wait for the sound... you'll know it when you hear it.

4. Pour and serve.

Three guarantees:
1. best cup of coffee ever.
2. the woman you make it for will love you forever.
3. You'll be awake for 8 hours.

Your welcome.

My family thrives on its Lavazza intake. The Crema e Aroma beans are prepared in our Jura-Capresso S-9, which stays on most of the day. The flavor is smoother and more full than Illy, which we used before discovering these beans as a result of an Amazon review. The crema is thick, rich and holds up well to the high pressure of the Capresso. While some reviews prefer to use another Lavazza for latte or other milk based drinks, we find that a fine grind and the strong setting on the Capresso result in delicious lattes.

We now take advantage of the subscription shipping to insure we never run out. If we get a little ahead in our supply, our daughter is thrilled to take an extra bag off our hands.

I would give this product an unqualified 5-star rating except for one flaw we have only noticed recently. In each bag there appears to be up to a half a dozen green coffee beans. When accidentally ground with the beans even one of these contaminating little nasty things will ruin an entire pot of coffee or destroy a cup of cappuccino with their awful taste. As a result, I now sort through the beans before putting them in airtight storage for daily use.

Aside from that one flaw, this is a fantastic product at a reasonable price, especially if you take the discounted subscription shipping.

Great taste! very creamy espresso with a natural sweet aroma, does not need any other cream or sugar to ruin such a rich taste.
The reason why your(to the previous reviewer) coffee tasted sour is because you failed to use a decent and suitable home espresso machine.
If you had used the right method and machine it would have been nearly impossible for you not to enjoy the great taste this coffee can offer.
These are very high quality espresso beans with a taste so full and rich that you would want to keep going back to it after tasting other coffees.

I have a saeco coffee maker and these coffee beans are great for this kind of coffeemaker. I have friends that had this coffee at my house and now won't buy any other brand anymore.

The roast is more smooth and mellow than Starbucks. I prefer it to Illy. Produces ample crema. It's a good value. After trying the first bag, I ordered several more. The Lavazza has become my daily espresso bean -- at least until the 8.8 pounds runs out! FWIW I grind with a Rancilio Rocky burr grinder, and my espresso machine is a Rancilio Miss Silvia.