illy Caffe Normale Fine Grind (Medium Roast, Red Band), 8.8-Ounce Tins (Pack of 2)

10 Review to this product

• 

  emmadiane
  September 12th, 2010 on 7:04 am

  Rating

  I was recently at a very nice restaurant for dinner and this was the coffee they served. It was very rich and delicious. We raved about it so much that our server gave us some of the beans to take home. I’ve been addicted ever since. This is by far the best price I’ve been able to find.
• 

  Angela E. Mclaird
  September 13th, 2010 on 1:49 am

  Rating

  This is the coffee that is served in all the “coffee shops” in Italy. It is delicious. We love it so much we purchased 30 cans before we moved back to the United States. It tastes rich and full, especially when you make it with a stove top espresso pot. If you love real coffee that tastes like coffee than this is the brew for you.
• 

  D. Lim
  September 13th, 2010 on 4:09 am

  Rating

  I have been drinking starbucks espresso but decided to give this a try, I am so glad i did. This is by far the best espresso i ever had, and yea even better than starbucks!
• 

  John D. Bernstein
  September 13th, 2010 on 6:18 am

  Rating

  After having Illy at the espresso bars in Italy, well, no other espresso tasted good to me! Illy tastes great made in a good pump espresso machine. It also tastes great made in a steam espresso machine (e.g., a low end Krups) and a Moka (an Italian poor-man’s espresso maker). The rich flavor isn’t burnt tasting like many espresso roasts. Everyone I’ve made an Illy espresso for raves over the flavor compard to espresso from chain coffee stores.

  A tip when brewing espresso using a steam espresso machine: Shut off the valve before any steaem comes through the coffee. The high temperature steam will leach unwanted flavors into the coffee.

  I used to buy Illy at the local stores, but the prices were over $11 per can, sometimes $12. I was happy to see Amazon start carrying it at an even lower price.

  If you can’t find Illy a good runner-up is Lavazza, however, its flavor isn’t as intense as Illy.
• 

  K. Rodriguez
  September 13th, 2010 on 7:51 pm

  Rating

  First of all, I LOVE strong, smooth coffee. I had previously enjoyed the Illy dark roast espresso, and I thought that a lighter roast might be healthier, since it is roasted with less heat/ time. I tried this and was not disappointed. Do I prefer it to the dark (?); I have not decided, but it is equally tasty when made on my stove top percolator. Increasingly, I am shopping based on ethics AND value, so if anyone knows of an organic coffee as good as this, please post!
• 

  MBrian
  September 14th, 2010 on 3:01 am

  Rating

  I just got the Bialetti Milk and Espresso set and bought this coffee because it was recomended. It is the best coffee I have ever tasted in my life and I no longer need to go to Starbucks. I can make all those amazing drinks at home and mine are even better. I admit the cost is a bit much, but I pour the extra espresso and milk in a container and refrigerate for iced coffee drinks. So I never waste a drop. Also, the cans are neat looking and will make great cannisters in my kitchen cabinets. I love it so much I ordered another espresso/ milk set and more of this coffee as a gift. I ordered 2 more cans for me too. It is expensive but worth every penny!!! If you still need help to rationalize the cost, I will tell you that i get a big double shot Mochaccino in the morning and one or two servigs of iced coffee later in the day from one tiny pot-6 oz i think. I believe I got around 15 batches with one can. So figure what one trip to the coffee shop costs x your number of trips per week… uh huh staggering isnt it. So making great coffee at home acutally saves me money. Plus it is just incredibly good coffee. Much better than you can find anywhere else.
• 

  Flying Saucer
  September 14th, 2010 on 5:36 am

  Rating

  I’m comparing this to Lavazza Cafe Espresso and Lavazza In Blue. I’m not a coffee guru…I can’t really go in depth about the flavors, aromas, depth, etc….I can tell you that with Lavazza Cafe Espresso i get a palpable caffeine jolt from a 14 gram double espresso extracted over 20 seconds on my gaggia. Not really fond of the taste. I use Cafe Espresso for iced espressos and americanos. I can sort of taste some chocolate and nutty flavors, it does have a bit of a sweet taste, but it seems to have a lingering bitterness. Lavazza In Blue has a cleaner aftertaste and is more chocolatey. In Blue is a bit smoother as well. Illy Is my favorite, clean after taste, not bitter, smoother than both. Plus it seems to have a bit more caffeine kick…but i think that’s just mental or maybe because i drink Illy as a straight shot. If you don’t mind spending the money, I would buy Illy. If you find it ludicrous to spend $12 on 8 ounce coffee, which i doubt since you probably have a nice machine if you are reading this, I would buy Lavazza In Blue (i can get it for $8 at World Market). If you just want a preground espresso to make coffee drinks, or iced drinks and don’t want to spend too much nor buy a burr grinder and grind your own, i would get the Lavazza Cafe Espresso. Still waiting to try Oro and Illy Dark roast.
  
  Lavazza Cafe Espresso would get 3.5/5 from me. In Blue would get 4/5, Illy 4.5/5.
• 

  John D. Bernstein
  September 16th, 2010 on 4:18 am

  Rating

  After having Illy at the espresso bars in Italy, well, no other espresso tasted good to me! Illy tastes great made in a good pump espresso machine. It also tastes great made in a steam espresso machine (e.g., a low end Krups) and a Moka (an Italian poor-man’s espresso maker). The rich flavor isn’t burnt tasting like many espresso roasts. Everyone I’ve made an Illy espresso for raves over the flavor compard to espresso from chain coffee stores.

  A tip when brewing espresso using a steam espresso machine: Shut off the valve before any steaem comes through the coffee. The high temperature steam will leach unwanted flavors into the coffee.

  If you can’t find Illy a good runner-up is Lavazza, however, its flavor isn’t as intense as Illy.
• 

  Melissa S. Commons
  September 16th, 2010 on 6:20 pm

  Rating

  To be fair, I have not tried this in my drip coffee maker, only the Bialetti Moka Express 6-Cup Stovetop Percolator. The flavor is strong but smooth. It’s not as bitter/acidic as Starbucks (and I like Starbucks alot). Definitely recommend for the Bialetti.

  P.S. The tins are nice too. Great for re-use around the house.
• 

  A. J. Winslow
  September 17th, 2010 on 1:34 pm

  Rating

  I lived in Italy for 3 years and this was predominantly what all cafes used to make their espresso drinks. I am so pleased to be able to get this same high-quality espresso here in the U.S. It is far better than any other espresso in the world. Even so for those well known coffee shops on every corner…no offense to die-hard fans of the well-known chain (I confess I do drink their products when too lazy to make my own).