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What Italian espresso beans actually are

Italian espresso is a method before it is a flavour. The bean is roasted slower and a shade darker than most North American roasts, so that under nine bars of pressure the oils come forward, the crema holds, and the shot tastes sweet rather than sharp. Italians almost never drink a single origin at the bar; they drink a blend, built so that the Arabica carries the aroma and a measured share of Robusta carries the body and the crema. That is the whole trick, and it is why a bag that says "Italian style" and a bag that says "roasted in Italy" are not the same thing.

What to look for on the label

Every bag on this page passes the same four-point test before Lusso Scelta agrees to carry it. The blend stated as percentages, because 100 percent Arabica and 60/40 are different drinks and neither is better. The roast named in words, not an intensity number. Whole bean, in a sealed bag with a one-way valve and a date printed on it. And roasted in Italy, not "to an Italian recipe" somewhere else. The line we currently carry is roasted in Bologna and earned its place by passing that test, not by its name.

Whole bean or ground, for a home machine

If you own a grinder, buy whole bean. Ground espresso starts losing aroma the day it is opened and is noticeably flatter inside two weeks; a sealed bag of beans keeps to the date printed on it and tastes right for three to four weeks after opening. If you do not own a grinder, our Italian espresso ground is the same blends, ground for espresso rather than drip.

How much to buy

A kilo is about 140 double shots. For one or two espresso drinkers that is five to seven weeks, which is inside the window where an opened bag still tastes as it should. Buy a kilo at a time, keep it sealed in the bag it came in, away from heat and light, and do not refrigerate it.

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People Ask

Questions people ask before they buy Italian espresso beans

What beans do Italians use for espresso?

Blends, almost always, and mostly Arabica with a share of Robusta. A typical Italian bar blend runs 70 to 90 percent Arabica for aroma and sweetness, with Robusta added for body, crema and a little extra caffeine. The south of Italy leans darker and heavier on Robusta; the north drinks lighter, more Arabica-led blends. Our Red (80/20) is the bar classic; the Black (60/40) is the southern style; the Platinum (100 percent Arabica) is the northern, lighter cup.

Which Italian espresso beans are the best?

The ones that state their blend, name their roast, seal the bag properly and were roasted in Italy. By that test the big houses (Lavazza, illy, Kimbo, Segafredo) are all legitimate, and so is the line we carry. Which is best for you depends on how you drink it: Red if you drink espresso straight and want the classic bar cup, Black if you mostly make cappuccino or flat white, Platinum if you like a lighter, brighter shot. Our guide to the best espresso beans explains what the label will and will not tell you.

Is illy or Lavazza better?

They are different, not better and worse. illy is a single 100 percent Arabica blend, medium roast, consistent to the point of being predictable; if you like illy you like illy. Lavazza is a range, from supermarket to bar grade, mostly Arabica-Robusta blends with more body and crema. If you have only ever had those two, the useful next step is a roaster who prints the blend percentage on the bag, because that is where the real differences start.

Whole bean or ground for a home espresso machine?

Whole bean if you own a grinder, every time; grind just before you pull the shot. Pre-ground espresso is the right choice only if you have no grinder or you use a moka pot. Either way, buy the smaller quantity you will finish in about a month, because an opened bag fades after that no matter how good the coffee was on day one.

Do you ship espresso beans across Canada and to the United States?

Yes. Orders leave Vancouver within one business day. In Canada, delivery is CA$4.50 in British Columbia and Alberta and CA$9.95 elsewhere, free on orders over CA$75, so a single kilo ships free. To the United States, delivery is US$18.50 and free over US$85, with prices shown in USD at checkout.

Do you supply cafés, hotels and restaurants?

Yes, across Canada and into the United States. We work with F&B teams that want a coffee their guests ask about rather than another commodity brand, and the usual first step is a 60-day pilot before any full partnership. Details on how that works are on our coffee supplier page for hotels and restaurants, or write to contact@lussoscelta.com.

Prefer a capsule or a cup to go with the beans? The same four-point test applies to our Nespresso-compatible capsules, and the porcelain espresso cups are made in Italy for a proper 30 ml shot. If you want to know what to look for in any Italian bag, read the guide to the best Italian coffee brands.