Looking for the best Italian coffee to buy? It depends on your taste and your brewing method. Here’s our selection, organized by profile, from people who drink these coffees every day.
For the Neapolitan taste (dark, full-bodied)
- Kimbo Espresso Napoletano — the classic “bar” coffee of Naples: chocolate, body, crema. An excellent all-rounder. → Kimbo brand guide.
- Passalacqua Mexico — the elegant choice: dark but soft, low acidity. → Passalacqua brand guide.
- Caffè Borbone (Rossa/Blu) — body and crema, excellent for pods and capsules too. → Borbone brand guide.
For a softer profile
- Lavazza — versatile and widely available, on average softer.
- Illy — 100% arabica, elegant and clean.
How to choose by brewing method
- Cuccumella: dark Neapolitan roast, medium-coarse grind. → The right coffee for the cuccumella.
- Moka: ground “for moka” or medium-ground beans. → The best coffee for the moka.
- Capsules/pods: Borbone is among the strongest.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the best Italian coffee? It depends on taste: for the Neapolitan profile, Kimbo, Passalacqua, or Borbone; for something softer, Lavazza or Illy.
Which is the strongest? The Neapolitan blends with robusta and dark roasts tend to be the fullest-bodied.