illy Caffe Scura Coffee, Espresso, (Dark Roast, Black Band), 18-Count E.S.E. Pods (Pack of 2)

by illy

Product Features

• Individual wrapped pods. Individually servings of esprsso for use in ESE compatible machines
• Pack of two 18-count cans of Italian espresso coffee pods (36 total coffee pods)
• Made from pure Arabica coffee beans packed in CO2 to preserve freshness
• Simply pop a pod into your espresso machine and wait 30 seconds or less for a rich espresso
• Eliminates the mess of conventional grinding, dosing, and tamping

Product Description

illy has made it easy to prepare authentic Italian espresso at home with E.S.E., our innovative Easy Serving Espresso. Simply insert a pre-measured serving of illy (a pod) into an E.S.E.-compatible espresso machine, and in less than 30 seconds you have rich, robust espresso. The world's finest espresso coffee offers you a full selection for every method of preparation. So whether you're in the mood for regular or decaffeinated espresso, cappuccino, latte or brewed coffee, all you have to do is reach for a can of illy. One cup and you'll understand why illy is the #1 choice of 4-star chefs, culinary experts and coffee connoisseurs. We use a single blend of the finest 100% Arabica beans meticulously selected from around the world... skillfully roasted and air-cooled... then packaged in an air-free pressurized environment. The result: illy's distinctive and consistent taste and exceptional freshness provide an unforgettable coffee experience you won't find anywhere else!

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B001E5DYTY
• UPC: 003753918257
• Item model number: 7738
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,101 in Grocery & Gourmet Food (See Top 100 in Grocery & Gourmet Food)
  • #24 in Home & Kitchen > Kitchen & Dining > Coffee, Tea & Espresso > Coffee Pods
  • #29 in Grocery & Gourmet Food > Beverages > Coffee, Tea & Cocoa > Coffee > Pods

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Almost five stars, October 7, 2010

By 

MadMonk "RudeBuddhist" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: illy Caffe Scura Coffee, Espresso, (Dark Roast, Black Band), 18-Count E.S.E. Pods (Pack of 2) (Grocery)

Our office recently (and possibly misguidedly) voted a Starbucks machine off the island and replaced it with a couple of Bunn airpot makers. They're great for commercial coffee but that is also the problem: it tastes like mediocre diner coffee even when good beans are used. So I've taken matters into my own hands and picked up an Espressione Cafe Novecento espresso maker and have put it in the kitchen "on loan" to the company.

My first few attempts at pulling a decent shot with fresh ground coffee convinced me that I simply don't have the patience to learn the proper technique so, as the machine came with a pod portafilter, I decided to give that a shot (so to speak). Illy had the highest number of positive recomendations so I settled on them for my initial foray.

Simply put, I am impressed. The flavor is excellent, the output takes in the ballpark of 20-30 seconds a shot and has very good crema on about three out of every four shots. It can be tricky to properly seat the pod in the portafilter but moistening the pod first does help and that's a more a reflection on the filter design than the pod's.

The primary reason I can't give five stars (although I'd do four and a half if I could) is that even the Amazon price works out to almost a dollar a shot so my double Americano in the morning is only slightly less than I'd pay my favorite barista. And she has a really cute smile.

All in all, though, a very positive experience and I recommend the Illy pods.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Convenience for Espresso Lovers, March 14, 2007

By 

Steve M (San Francisco) - See all my reviews

Illy Dark Roast Pods provide a great-tasting cup of espresso with crema and without the mess of cleaning up all those grounds. The tin packaging is compact for easy storage, but I recommend keeping the opened pods in a vacuum container to maintain freshness. If you're willing to invest in two 18-pod tins, you can't beat the price on Amazon!

For a slightly different great taste and individual packaging to maintain freshness, try Espressione as an alternative, though the individual packaging requires additional storage space in your cupboard.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars good flavor, ese pods work, January 27, 2008

By 

C. Ferretti "tech head" (Montclair, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

These ese pods work, not mess. Flavor is quite good. Not as good as fresh ground, etc. For what it is, a good product, with a nice flavor.