Grande ItaliaEspresso; Small Batch Artisan Roasted: Bar, Crema e Gusto, Whole Bean (2LB Bag, Pack of 2)

I use these beans in my Philips 1200 carina. I have used Lavazza crema and gusto beans and others and I have just not been able to get a good crema. My local Italian pastry shop uses these beans so I decided to try them and they perform really well in my machine. I am very happy with them. The crema is good enough to allow the sugar to float on it for a few seconds.

This is a pretty good medium roast coffee, but IMO there's a slight hint of over roasted taste. It's not bad like though.when your medium roast coffee tastes like you licked a dirty ashtray it's surely bad; this coffee is not that, but rather an alright medium roast if you don't mind a slight burnt taste

I'm a coffee nut. I've bought beans from dozens of vendors large and small. The Breville Barista Express at our house puts out 8 double shots of espresso every day, making coffee beans a budget line item. I have proven many times that I'll spend more to get great coffee; since discovering Grande Italia, I spend less.As time has passed I've come to prefer medium roasted beans for espresso. If that's what you like, this is a superb bean, consistent, subtle, flavorful, chocolaty, delicious. For variety I recommend switching off between the blue bag and the red bag, which is a slightly darker roast. It's a small but noticeable change and a tasty variation. Currently I'm mixing them together in the hopper.They don't claim fair trade or any of that, that I've seen. If these things are important to you check out Black Cat Analog beans from Intelligentsia. But be prepared to spend twice as much for coffee that's only equally great.

Wonderful caramel, and nutty notes. Great crema. Stop drinking burnt bean coffee it's not stronger, it's just over roasted. This stuff is really on another level. Just wish they offered the 1lb version for the crema e gusto. I like my beans very fresh and 2lbs would go stale as I'm the only one who drinks coffee in our home. My wife loves the decaf says its fantastic.

I find this blend to have a very high caffeine content, as well as extraordinary crema production, with an ok taste. Because of the high caffeine content, tremendous crema, and substantial amount of round (vs oval) shaped beans, I feel like this is probably close to a 50/50 blend of arabica / robusta...not necessarily a bad thing, but you can get similar blends that cost less. At the end of the day it's subjective...if you like it, buy it and enjoy, but I'll probably move on to something a little less potent.

Mama Mia, this is a great espresso. I consider myself a minor coffee snob, not a professional like some but a snob nevertheless.. Grand Italia is very flavorful, wonderful crema and very smooth. Usually I order an espresso from Italy but the Grand Italia is as good as any I have ever tried. This is now my "go to" espresso. UPDATE. Just started on my 4th bag of Grand Italia. Perfect favor and remarkably consistent.

Perfect crema, gentle on the taste buds, smooth. This truly is a blend representative of a bar blend in Italy. I have bought many times.

Loved the freshness and aroma of the beans. I Use in espresso, cappuccino machine throughout the day and night. Every cup has the same excellent flavor.