LavazzaDecaf Espresso Bean, 1.1 lb - Pack of 2

So far, my favorite whole bean decaf coffee. Fresh tasting. Will purchase again.

I've done a lot of comparisons with different coffee for my espresso and cappuccinos, and for decaf, this is by far the best for me. I use a vintage Braun flat parallel plate 1980's vintage grinder on the finest setting, and feed that into my Philips fully automatic 4300, just so you know my setup (after lots of trials and different settings). I keep my Philips loaded with my caffeinated coffee beans, and use the grind bypass for decaf.This tastes fuller, a bit more of an after taste and a little smokier than my standard go-to caffeinated Lavazza Ultra Crema Barista, which I have settled on for my first / second coffee of the day. That is my reference, so so you know what I'm basing this review on.Taste is highly subjective, but for me, this is as good as it gets for a decaf for espresso.

Fantastic coffee, especially for decaf probably in the top five for decaf.

I have been mixing this with a local roaster's dark roast espresso beans (Alakef Espresso Primo) for a wonderfully balance 50/50 blend. Been using it for years.

This bean does have a clearly distinctive taste from the LavAzza Super Crema, which is an exceptional bean IMO. I wasn't sure what to expect for a decaf, but this bean is comparable to any caffeinated bean I've tried, I happen to like the super crema a bit better, but I think my wife was actually on the fence (tastes will vary of course). This bean does seem to require a bit coarser of a grind than the super crema, but only took me about 4 shots to get it dialed in.

I have spent over a month in Italy and been a long time user of several different espresso brands, including Illy. Most Americans grew up on high-caffeine Folgers with bitter Robusto beans. In the USA, many non-Italian brands also sell a dark "espresso roast". In fact, real Italian espresso coffees like Illy and Lavazza are quite smooth and drinkable, with a medium roast.That said, I have both regular and decaf Lavazza and regular Illy at present. I compared all three, and I find this decaf Lavazza tastes pretty close to regular Lavazza, as far as I can tell. It isn't quite as smooth as Illy, but its also half the price. FYI, I brewed this in a Saeco Classico espresso machine. Steam espresso machines, like the cheap Mr. Coffee or DeLonghi models brew at much too high a temperature, so the results are far more bitter.Lavazza is basically the cheap brand of Italian coffee--which is still superior to most American brands, of course. That said, a lot of buyers of Lavazza in the US are stepping up from their traditional Folgers or Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks, so their tastes are firmly rooted in the bitter, burnt arena. Lavazza is not that, but rather a fine Italian roast and blend. Illy drinkers tend to be a more sophisticated crowd. But for the money, Lavazza is a pretty good way to go.

I use the Lavazzo beans to make espresso in my Breville espresso machine. The machine shows the pressure, so I can make sure that the beans perform well. These beans are consistent every time! I've tried other brands, and I could never get the pressure to be consistent. These taste great and work every time!

I first got this for my wife, who can't have too much caffeine. Personally, I am quite the coffee snob and have always shunned decaf products of any variety, because the decaffeinating process usually ruins the coffee. Additionally, the characteristics of caffeine that enhance the coffee flavor is a large part of what I like about good espresso (tart, crisp). Well, my wife loved this coffee so much that I even tried it. While it isn't my primary choice, this is the first decaf I have had that is even a viable choice for me. My wife does Americanos with cream primarily and really likes this decaf, because it is sufficiently bold to come through that much dilution (water/cream) and still present a detectable and good flavor. I usually do straight espresso, preferring the Lavazza Caffe Espresso. But, on nights where I have already had my daily "limit" of espresso, but still want another espresso while I am working late, I will now do this decaf espresso straight. With my Gaggia Academia, it pulls a decent shot without all those horrible after tastes that usually come with decafs. Well, I guess this doesn't sound like a ringing endorsement, but my point is... this is the first decaf I have found that is good enough that I will even drink it. That's really saying something, actually. :)