BEST ITALIAN COFFEE BRANDS: PRO PICKS FOR COFFEE OR ESPRESSO
I’ve been enjoying these bold and flavorful Italian coffees every time I need a quick sensory trip to espresso’s homeland.
Close your eyes. Imagine you’re sitting in an outdoor coffee bar on the streets of Rome, sipping a perfectly sweet Italian espresso and nibbling biscotti.
Feels good, right?
To recreate the experience at home without the cost of a plane ticket, get your hands on one of these best Italian coffee brands.
At A Glance: Amazon Links
- TOP PICK: Illy Classico
- GREAT VALUE: Lavazza Espresso Italiano
- FOR ESPRESSO: Danesi Espresso Gold
The 6 Best Italian Coffee Brands In 2026
I taste-tested dozens of coffee beans to compile this list of six top Italian coffee brands. While their exact natures vary, all feature the intense flavor and heavy body that have become synonymous with rich and authentic Italian coffee.
| image | product | details | |
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| No products found. | Illy Classico |
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| No products found. | Lavazza Espresso Italiano |
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| No products found. | Pellini No. 82 Vivace |
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| No products found. | Lavazza Super Crema |
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| No products found. | Danesi Caffe Espresso Gold |
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| No products found. | Kimbo Coffee Espresso Napoletano |
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1. Illy Classico
Roast: Medium
- Flavor profile: Chocolate, caramel
- Varietal: 100% Arabica
- Grind: Whole bean, drip, espresso
Illy Coffee is one of the best coffee brands from Italy, equally popular within the country and worldwide. The Classico is their flagship blend, and it’s such an iconic taste of Italy that it seemed silly to put anything else in my top spot.
The Classico is a meticulously crafted mix of nine Arabica coffees sourced around the world and roasted to a perfect crowd-pleasing medium. The result is a smooth, rich, and full-bodied cup with balanced flavors of chocolate and caramel and a bit of toast from the roasting process.
This is one of the few coffees on this list that I enjoy equally for filter coffee and espresso.
You can buy Illy beans in standard bags or their famous pressurized, oxygen-free tins, and I definitely recommend the latter (1). Not only does it guarantee fresher coffee, even when buying from Amazon, but they’re handy to have around and reuse.
2. Lavazza Espresso Italiano
Roast: Medium
- Flavor profile: Caramel, ripe fruit
- Varietal: 100% Arabica
- Grind: Whole bean, ground
This delightful 100% Arabica blend from Lavazza takes the budget award by virtue of being the cheapest coffee on this list, but it also happens to be one of my favorites. If not for its low price, I would have nominated it as the Runner Up.
It’s an incredibly aromatic brew with unusually fruity and floral notes on the nose. The flavor is sweet and bright. My first sip was heavy with caramel, juicy stone fruits, and honey.
I love drinking this coffee as straight espresso shots, as opposed to in a caffè latte or cappuccino. It deserves to shine on its own. If you prefer a milder body, try brewing it with an Aeropress with a paper filter for a perfect cup of Italian coffee.
3. Pellini No. 82 Vivace
Roast: Dark
- Flavor profile: Bold, dark chocolate
- Varietal: 90% Arabica, 10% Robusta
- Grind: Whole bean
Pellini No. 82 Vivace sounds a bit like the title of an Italian opera, and maybe that’s fitting because the bold taste and rich aroma of this coffee will bombard your senses in much the same way. To me, a good dark roast should be something of a diva – intense and attention-grabbing – and these beans absolutely deliver.
The No. 82 Vivace is a dark chocolate bomb of a coffee. At one point, I made myself a latte with these beans that drank almost like a mocha. It’s exceptionally smooth, heavy-bodied, and very low in acidity.
The 90/10 coffee blend of Arabica and Robusta beans offers a nice balance that maintains the sweetness and complexity of Arabica but adds the rich crema, gentle earthiness, and punchy caffeine hit of Robusta. It’s equally great for espresso or specialty Italian café drinks like lattes and cappuccinos.
4. Lavazza Super Crema
Roast: Medium
- Flavor profile: Brown sugar, hazelnut
- Varietal: 60% Arabica, 40% Robusta
- Grind: Whole bean, ground
Lavazza’s Super Crema is made from a blend of 60% Arabica and 40% Robusta beans. Though it’s the heaviest concentration of Robusta beans of any coffee on this list, their quality is clearly quite high. I found they added a lovely nutty flavor rather than any rubbery or woody notes.
The extra Robusta is what gives this coffee its name (2). If you enjoy a rich and dense crema atop your espresso, these are the beans for you.
I prefer these medium roast beans for espresso or Moka pot more than drip coffee. The taste is very sweet and surprisingly light, almost refreshing, with an unexpected fruity aroma. I particularly love this one in the summer as an iced Americano.
5. Danesi Caffe Espresso Gold
Roast: Medium
- Flavor profile: Honey, caramel
- Varietal: 100% Arabica
- Grind: Whole bean, ground, E.S.E. pods
If I’m being honest, any coffee on this list is great for espresso; Italian roasters have absolutely mastered the espresso blend. So if another flavor profile appeals to you more, I won’t object.
However, having pulled shots with all the beans on this list, the Danesi Espresso Gold was the one I most enjoyed as straight espresso or ristretto shots, while some of the more intense beans struck me as better for milk-based drinks.
This is a very sweet and heavily aromatic coffee with flavors of honey, caramel, and a slight fruity brightness. I found it less bitter than most espresso blends but with the expected low acidity, heavy body, and velvety mouthfeel. The crema layer is thin but dense.
If you’re not in the mood for espresso, I was pleasantly surprised to find these beans make a wonderful cold brew – not something I traditionally associate with Italian coffee. Brewing cold yields a super smooth, sweet, and refreshing summer drink!
6. Kimbo Coffee Espresso Napoletano
Roast: Dark
- Flavor profile: Chocolate, toasted cereals
- Varietal: 80% Arabica, 20% Robusta
- Grind: Whole bean, ground
Most of the coffee on this list is available in a pre-ground format, but when I was tasting, I thought the Kimbo Espresso Napoletano kept its flavor the best. I suspect that has a lot to do with its dark roast and inherent intensity. Even if totally stale, this coffee would probably still have more flavor than most.
The batches I brewed had the classic bold dark chocolate profile with an incredible natural sweetness reminiscent of molasses.
This was backed by a hint of toasted grain flavor from the Robusta beans. It’s a rich brew with a heavy body and creamy mouthfeel.
Unfortunately, it’s only available in one grind size, which I wouldn’t recommend for an espresso machine unless you have pressurized filter baskets. I enjoyed it most brewed with my Moka pot to emphasize its full body, but you can use a drip machine or even a French press.
I have to say that I think this coffee would make a delicious espresso, so if you have access to a burr grinder, I’d definitely recommend buying the whole beans and grinding at home.
How To Choose The Best Italian Coffee Beans
Italy is the homeland of espresso, and its coffee culture is world-famous, but you can’t actually grow coffee in Italy. There’s no such thing as an Italian coffee bean.
Instead of a coffee-growing climate, Italy has some of the world’s best at sourcing, blending, and roasting quality coffee beans. If you want to taste that expertise for yourself, here are some tips to get you started.
Illy And Lavazza Dominate
Illy and Lavazza Coffee are by far the most renowned Italian coffee brands. With over two centuries of experience between them, either one is a safe bet for coffee lovers after a surefire taste of Italy.
What’s the difference between Lavazza and Illy coffee?
Illy is considered higher-end, which is reflected in the price. They use 100% Arabica beans, so Illy coffee has more delicate flavors and refined sweetness. It’s an excellent choice for both espresso and filter coffee.
Lavazza offers both Arabica and Arabica-Robusta blends, which are less expensive and higher in caffeine. The Robusta adds a darker, earthier flavor and ensures a thick layer of crema. Lavazza is a great choice for espresso, Moka pot, and French Press.
Medium And Dark Roasts Run The Show
Italians prefer medium-to-dark roasted coffee because traditional Italian coffee culture centers around espresso. Darker roast coffee beans are more porous, which means you can extract their flavor faster. This is crucial when pulling a 25-second espresso shot (3).
With espresso, light roasts are at risk of being under-extracted and tasting sour. So many people roast darker for espresso, to ensure the beans are very soluble.
Medium and dark roasts will be most Italian roasters’ area of expertise, so shopping this range ensures you’ll get the authentic Italian experience, particularly if you’re making espresso coffee.
Flavor profiles vary with the exact nature of the beans, but you can typically expect notes of chocolate, nuts, caramel, or earthiness, with a natural sweetness, full body, and low acidity.
Buy Whole Bean If You Can
I always recommend buying whole bean coffee and grinding it yourself as close as possible to brewing for the best flavor. However, coffee brands from Italy are pretty forgiving for pre-ground coffee beans because their flavors are so bold.
If you are buying pre-ground coffee beans, pay attention to the grind size. Most North American brands only offer one grind size designed for drip coffee machines, but Italian brands are more likely to offer an ultra-fine espresso grind. Make sure you get the right grind for your brewing method.
If you want Italian coffee for your Nespresso machine, take a look at Segafredo Coffee from Massimo Zanetti Beverage Group.
Don’t Fear The Robusta Bean
Robusta is a divisive varietal in the coffee industry, often considered lower quality than the Arabica bean. But when done right, it adds value to an espresso blend. It contributes a dark, earthy flavor, which nicely balances the sweetness and acidity of the Arabica, and it gives a denser, foamier crema (4).
For us, the most beautiful properties of Robusta coffees are the thick, foamy crema, the body, and the absence of acidity.
Some tasters feel it has an unpleasant rubbery taste, but growers will tell you that it has more to do with poor processing than with the bean itself. So there’s no reason to shy away from Robusta beans, especially in the hands of Italy’s skilled roasters. If you’re brewing the Italian way, using an espresso machine or a Moka pot, they add incredible character to your cup.
The Verdict
Italy is the homeland of espresso, making it the perfect place to find the find the bold and rich flavors you crave. This year, my choice for the best Italian coffee brand is Illy Classico, a well-balanced and approachable brew. One sip of its smooth chocolate and caramel flavors will transport you straight to a Roman coffee shop.
FAQs
The most popular brands of coffee within Italy are Lavazza and Illy. Illy’s Arabica coffees are preferred by northern Italians, while southern Italians prefer the strong flavor of Lavazza’s Arabica-Robusta blends. Most Italians consider Illy to be a higher-end product for use in espresso, while Lavazza is preferred for stovetop brewing at home.
The best coffee drink to try in Italy is the classic cappuccino, which combines equal parts espresso, steamed milk, and milk foam for a perfectly balanced beverage. Italians typically only drink cappuccinos in the morning; they are considered a breakfast drink due to their high milk content.
Italian roast coffee is one of the darkest roasts. It is also known as Dark French, Heavy, or Neapolitan coffee roast. The beans will be a nearly black color and coated with an oily sheen (5). They’ll have a very toasted flavor, almost bordering on charred.
References
- Illy. (n.d.). Quality Loves details. Retrieved from https://www.illy.com/en-us/live-happilly/from-bean-to-cup
- Wang, X., Lim, L-T., Tan, S., Fu, Y. (2019). Investigation of the factors that affect the volume and stability of espresso crema. Food Research International. 116, 668-675. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2018.08.095
- Pines, H. (2019, July 8). Roasting for Filter Coffee vs. For Espresso. Retrieved from https://perfectdailygrind.com/2019/07/roasting-for-filter-coffee-vs-for-espresso/
- Impallomeni, F. (2019, October 23). Can Fine Robusta Be Considered Quality Coffee? Retrieved from https://perfectdailygrind.com/2019/10/can-fine-robusta-be-considered-quality-coffee/
- A Taste of Culture – Italian vs. French Coffee. (2019, December 25). Retrieved from https://coffeebros.com/blogs/coffee/dont-buy-italian-roast-coffee-until-you-read-this
