For baristas and those in the coffee business, “Italy’s favorite espresso” likely needs no introduction. From humbly sitting in the background as the coffee beans of choice at many a local coffee shop to declaring itself proudly in major corporate partnerships, you can’t go far in the coffee business without seeing the Lavazza name again and again.
At a Glance: Best Lavazza Coffee
- Lavazza Qualita Oro Ground Coffee Blend, Medium Roast Our Top Choice
- Lavazza Qualita Rossa Ground Coffee Blend, Medium Roast
- Lavazza Crema E Gusto Ground Coffee Blend, Espresso Dark Roast
- Lavazza Dek Whole Bean Coffee Blend, Decaffeinated Dark Espresso Roast
- Lavazza Espresso Italiano Whole Bean Coffee Blend, Medium Roast
Lavazza is a company that claims to pursue “perfection in every cup.” Though many of us have had Lavazza made professionally by baristas, we wanted to see how this coffee holds up under homebrew conditions and which beans (if any) we liked.
To make a long story short, Lavazza coffee is an excellent coffee for lovers of more potent, darker coffees. It’s a brand that holds up as well in espresso machines as it does in your at-home drip coffee maker or French press.
Quick Summary: Best Lavazza Coffee
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Our Top Choice
Lavazza Qualita Oro Ground Coffee Blend, Medium Roast |
Check on Amazon → |
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Lavazza Qualita Rossa Ground Coffee Blend, Medium Roast | Check on Amazon → |
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Lavazza Crema E Gusto Ground Coffee Blend, Espresso Dark Roast | Check on Amazon → |
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Lavazza Dek Whole Bean Coffee Blend, Decaffeinated Dark Espresso Roast | Check on Amazon → |
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Lavazza Espresso Italiano Whole Bean Coffee Blend, Medium Roast | Check on Amazon → |
Five Best Lavazza Coffees
Lavazza has some excellent coffees on offer. Here are our top Lavazza Coffee picks.
| Name | Roast Type | Bean Type | Flavor | Cost | Best Brew Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lavazza Qualita Oro | Medium Roast | 100% Arabica | Balanced, non-acidic yet has hints of sweetness and floral flavors | Budget-Friendly | Espresso or Any Other Method |
| Lavazza Qualita Rossa | Medium Roast | Robusta/Arabica Mix | Full-bodied medium with rich espresso flavor | Budget-Friendly | Espresso or Any Other Method |
| Lavazza Crema E Gusto | Espresso Dark Roast | Robusta/Arabica Mix | Creamy, full-bodied, notes of spice | Budget-Friendly | Espresso or Moka Pot |
| Lavazza Dek | Decaf Dark Espresso Roast | 100% Arabica | Subtle, delicate, notes of roasted cereals | Average | Espresso |
| Lavazza Espresso Italiano Classico | Medium Roast | 100% Arabica | Light, yet robust with fruity notes and caramel and chocolate aromas | Average | Espresso or Any Other Method |
Lavazza Qualita Oro
For those whose coffee preferences lean toward a dark roast but don’t like the more burnt flavors of, say, an Italian roast, the Lavazza Qualita Oro (“perfect symphony”) is your coffee of choice. The high-quality coffee beans of the Qualita Oro come from primarily Central and South America.
The Qualita Oro is, as this information implies, a popular blend of six different Arabica beans. The blended nature of this coffee gives it the universal appeal that it currently enjoys.
Indeed, there is little fault to be found with the Qualita Oro. This coffee hits the palate just right: it’s dark enough that the acidic taste of coffee typical of light roasts isn’t present, but a sweet and refined profile nevertheless lingers on the tongue.
Expect the smells from your favorite coffee machine to be floral and aromatic as this coffee brews and for the color of the coffee to be dark with golden cream.
If you’re someone who loves the ends of the spectrum in terms of coffee roasts (that is, extremely light blondes or pitch-black darks), the Qualita Oro might not be for you. For everyone else, have at it.
Lavazza Qualita Rossa
The Qualita Rossa, another Lavazza favorite, is an unusual mixture of robusta and arabica beans that gives the final cup a very well-rounded, balanced flavor. With beans from South America and Africa, chocolatey aromatic notes complement the full taste of the coffee.
The Qualita Rossa is a coffee that (like most of Lavazza’s selections) is technically for an espresso machine. Still, we think you’ll find that any brewing method works with the Qualita Rossa.
Like the Qualita Oro before it, the Qualita Rossa has a medium taste, one in which the acidity of a lighter roast is gone. However, the full flavor of the espresso coffee bean is still detectable.
Lavazza Crema e Gusto Classico
As the Italian name implies, the very intense Crema e Gusto Classico is a creamy-tasting cup of coffee.
This coffee is one to enjoy at any time of day: the soft, full-bodiedness and spiced notes dancing on the tongue with every sip make the Crema e Gusto Classico just as enjoyable at 7:00 in the morning as it is at 3:00 in the afternoon.
Part of what gives the Crema e Gusto its creamy flavor is the Brazilian Arabica beans that blend so nicely with the Southeast Asian Robusta.
The Crema e Gusto is undoubtedly a dark roast, with amber crema and a very dark color coming out of the coffee maker.
If you’re a coffee aficionado who loves darker roasts, you have to try the Crema e Gusto Classico. This roast is delicious in the coffee preparation methods that accentuate the flavors of dark coffees: espresso and French press, for example.
If you’re someone who likes a light roast, the Crema e Gusto may be one to skip.
Lavazza Dek (Decaffeinated Coffee)
If you’re someone who doesn’t want caffeine, Lavazza makes an incredibly impressive decaf that all regular coffee lovers can enjoy. The Lavazza Dek is much lighter than the roasts we’ve featured so far, but the Lavazza Dek still retains the flavor of high-quality Italian coffee.
Expect a softer, subtler tone to the taste of the Lavazza Dek. The well-balanced aroma is equally soft and subtle, with notes of dried fruit wafting up from the cup.
The Lavazza Dek uses 100% Arabica beans sourced from Central America. Though the taste is high-quality, it’s also somewhat subtle. We’d describe the intensity level of this medium roast Lavazza Dek as “delicate.”
You may opt for the Lavazza Dek if you have a subtle palate. If you’re a decaf drinker but don’t want to give up coffee, the Dek is definitely for you. If you’re someone who wants a coffee with a strong, pack-a-punch flavor, however, the Lavazza Dek may not be your roast.
Lavazza Espresso Italiano Classico
Of the Lavazza Espresso Italiano series, the Classico is our absolute favorite. This roast will appeal to many casual coffee drinkers: it has a robust flavor but isn’t overly dark or light.
Fruit notes characterize the taste of the Classico, while caramel and chocolate smells emanate from the cup. The flavor is strong, but it falls closer to the light-roast side of coffee. You can expect the acidity that is absent in the darker roasts.
If you’re someone who loves the taste of authentic Italian espresso, the Classico is the coffee for you. Even in a drip machine, the strong, bold flavors of Italy come through powerfully in the Classico cup.
What To Know About Lavazza Coffees
Beyond the five coffees, we’ve looked at today, Lavazza has many selections to choose from. Here are some things to know about Lavazza Coffees.
Not All Lavazza Coffees Are 100% Arabica
Although it’s a significant trend in the coffee-making world to sell 100% Arabica beans, Lavazza Coffee doesn’t do that. Many of their coffees are a balanced blend of arabica and robusta.
Take, for example, the first two coffees we reviewed today: the Qualita Oro and Qualita Rosso. Both use a blend of arabica and robusta coffee beans.
You May See Lavazza Coffees Promoted For “Moka Pot”
If you’ve seen Lavazza coffees, you’ve likely seen the words “Moka Pot” along with them. Part of the success of the Lavazza brand has to do with its optimization for the Moka pot. The Moka pot is simply a stovetop coffee maker.
The Moka pot is a way to prepare your coffee the Italian way without a fancy espresso machine. Whether or not coffee tastes better with a Moka pot is subjective, although The Guardian wrote a nice piece on the subject a few years ago.
Besides impacting the taste of the coffee, coffee makers have different impacts on water usage and material resources during production. You can read some sustainability comparisons between the Moka pot and other coffee makers here.
FAQs
Have any lingering Lavazza questions? Here are some of the questions we get asked the most.
What Type of Coffee is Lavazza?
Lavazza is a brand advertised as “Italy’s favorite espresso.” That being the case, you typically make Lavazza in espresso machines or Moka pots.
At the same time, however, Lavazza is a massive international brand with tons of coffee-making options. Narrowing down Lavazza to one kind of roast is impossible. As we’ve seen in this article, Lavazza coffees run the gambit from light to dark roasts, decafs to cafs, 100% arabicas to arabica-robusta coffee blends.
Are Lavazza Coffee Beans Any Good?
If you’re going to trust someone who writes for a coffee blog, we’d say emphatically yes. Lavazza Coffee beans are good. However, as coffee connoisseurs, we understand this coffee’s not for everyone.
There are people in the world who only drink Folger’s — if you’re that kind of person, you may be better off leaving the Lavazza beans on the shelf.
What Is the Difference Between Lavazza Rossa and Oro?
Although Lavazza’s Rossa and Oro blends are parts of their Qualita series and, as such, are both medium roasts, they are different coffees. The major difference emerges due to the locations from which the beans were sourced.
Rossa beans are from South America and Africa, while Oro beans are primarily from Central and South America. The differences are somewhat subtle, but in the end, Oro is more floral while Rossa is more chocolatey.
Final Thoughts
Lavazza is a very high-quality brand with excellent coffees for all kinds of coffee makers. In our tasting of these coffees, we’ve found that many of Lavazza’s coffees retain the rich flavor and fullness of espresso even in a drip machine.
If you like bold flavors in your coffee, Lavazza is a choice for you. At the same time, however, we understand it’s not for everyone. Lovers of softer, lighter coffees may go for different roasts that aren’t as optimized for espresso.
Thanks for reading. If you’re interested in Italian coffees, you might want to check out our article on Illy vs. Lavazza coffee. Happy sipping!
