Are you looking for an exotic coffee that you can’t find anywhere else? Are you looking for the bean that simply has the best flavor? Napa Valley is one of the great coffee-producing regions of the world, and it is known for its unique flavor profiles and unparalleled quality. I remember compiling a tasting note for best Italian coffee several years ago, and I was surprised at how many coffee lovers I sent it to.
What Makes Italian Coffee Beans So Special?
Italian coffee beans are roasted in an Italian style, so they exhibit a rich, full-bodied flavor with hints of caramel and dark chocolate. These beans get their distinctive taste from the volcanic soil in Italy’s central region. The volcanic soil imparts a rich, earthy flavor to the beans, which are then roasted in an Italian style. This combination results in a coffee with a full-bodied flavor and deliciously rich aroma.
When it comes to coffee, Italian beans are in a class of their own. This demand for great beans has encouraged Italian roasters to invest in high-quality roasting equipment, which brings out the beans’ natural flavors and aromas to create a full-bodied, complex coffee that is utterly irresistible.
Many roasters add their own signature touch to the beans before roasting them. Whether it’s the beans’ final destination or whether the roaster plans to sell them to other roasters, they always get the same roast treatment.
Here’s a list of the Best Italian coffee Beans that I’ve compiled over the years that you may want to consider sampling:
- Illy Classico – Best Overall.
The coffee bean represents the life and vision of the Dutch—the people who founded the country. The Italian espresso is considered the world glared at. Rail-thin beans, rich in flavor, must be brewed perfectly to make an invigorating cup. Illy Classico is an exceptional roast, probably because it pairs perfectly with Illy’s long-standing reputation for producing the best espresso.
This medium roast coffee consists of only 9 of the finest Arabica coffee sources worldwide. This flavor features a rich and balanced taste with notes of caramel and chocolate.
- Lavazza Crema E Gusto – Best Ground Coffee.
Lavazza origins lie in the Italian brewing tradition, where coffee is brewed by stirring freshly ground coffee beans with hot water and steam. Lavazza Crema e Gusto combines the Italian artisanal tradition of Lavazza with the contemporary innovation of Italian coffee-making.
This is the best espresso blend for cappuccino lovers. It’s 30% Arabica and 70% Robusta, which makes for a distinctively delicious coffee, a delicate yet powerful coffee with a lot of cream and accents of vanilla and chocolate.
- Lavazza Gran Filtro – Best Dark Roast.
Lavazza Gran Filtro is dark-roasted, with notes of chocolatey spice. The full-bodied taste, rich aroma, and smooth texture remain consistent throughout the cup.
It has a bold taste with Cocoa and Caramel aromatic notes. 100% all-natural Arabica coffee is best used in drip coffee maker or French press.
- Lavazza Super Crema – Best Medium Roast.
Lavazza Super Crema is a medium roasted coffee, offering a rich and balanced taste. The coffee is blended from a long, careful selection of the finest Arabica beans, carefully roasted in a classic Italian blend.
This is a lightly roasted medium coffee with a nutty flavor and smooth finish. Best used with an espresso machine.
How To Brew Italian Coffee Like A Pro At Home Or Work?
Every Italian coffee enthusiast loves to brew coffee according to their favorite coffee setting at home. Different people have different favorite coffee settings, but all of them are best when brewed using the appropriate coffee settings.
Espresso: This is the most popular Italian coffee setting and is the easiest way to make Italian coffee. Espresso is produced from a high-pressure espresso machine and is a highly concentrated shot of espresso. The espresso is prepared by brewing around 19 grams of ground coffee in 97 ml of hot water and then combining the two. Espresso coffee is a well-established tradition in Italy and offers a distinctive, strong flavor.
Lungo: Lungo is a style of brewing coffee that uses hot water and steam to brew coffee that is somewhere between espresso and brewed coffee. Lungo is an Italian brewing method, and the Italian cappuccino is one of the most commonly ordered beverages in the United States.
In Italy, lungo is generally referred to as cappuccino, but in the United States, the term is used to describe the beverage that results when espresso is added to hot water.
Cappuccino: Cappuccino is a mixture of espresso powder and steamed milk. The milk gives it a creamy, velvety texture, and the espresso gives it a strong taste. The cappuccino is prepared by brewing around 19 grams of ground coffee with 97 ml of hot water and then combining the two. The frothed milk is then added to make a rich, creamy beverage that signals the onset of the workday for many people.
Cafe Latte: Cafe latte is a mixture of espresso and steamed milk. Cafe latte is sometimes called “white coffee” because it lacks color. Cafe latte is prepared by brewing around 19 grams of ground coffee with 97 ml of hot water and adding steamed milk.
Café Macchiato: Café macchiato is a coffee beverage that is prepared by adding strong espresso to hot water. The strong coffee flavor gives the coffee a concentrated taste and a creamy, rich texture. The Starbucks company started selling a café macchiato in the early 1970s as an alternative to its signature espresso-based beverages.
How To Store Your Italian Coffee At Home To Extend Its Lifespan?
Keeping Italian coffee beans fresh is important to extend their lifespan because it guarantees delicious flavor and aroma when you brew the coffee. There are several ways to store coffee beans to extend the lifespan of your coffee, by storing the coffee in airtight containers, storing them in a refrigerator or freezer, or using vacuum bags that trap in the air to preserve the freshness of the beans.
Storing in Air Tight Container: When coffee beans are roasted, they have a certain shelf life, and they lose their freshness over time. Once they are exposed to the air, they begin losing freshness, which is why it is recommended to store coffee beans in airtight containers. Airtight containers keep your coffee fresh by maintaining a constant temperature, which prevents the coffee from dehydrating during storage. Most airtight containers come with airtight lids, making it easy to store and reseal the containers once you have finished using them.
Storing in a Refrigerator: When storing your coffee beans in the refrigerator, make sure to use the containers that have been out of direct sunlight. Keeping coffee in direct sunlight causes the coffee beans to lose their freshness, which can lead to the development of molds. Keeping the coffee beans in the refrigerator also helps keep them from developing an off-flavor or becoming stale. If you’re someone that likes to keep coffee on hand so that you can brew a cup whenever you want, storing them in the refrigerator is a great way to preserve their freshness.
Storing in Vacuum Bags: Vacuum bags are an excellent choice for preserving your coffee beans. Vacuum bags have the ability to keep all moisture out of the container, so the beans will be fully preserved and won’t develop any mold or off-flavors. Vacuum bags also help protect the beans’ freshness. When coffee is put in a vacuum bag, all of the air is sucked out of the bag and the container. This reduces the amount of oxygen in contact with the beans, which prevents off-flavors and mold growth. Vacuum bags also make storing coffee simply because they eliminate the need to sterilize containers and keep the lid on the container so that no air can get inside.
I hope this guide, along with other facts, has helped you choose the best Italian coffee beans. Happy brewing!
