esspresso - what Lavazza?

[w00dy]

went shopping in a Tesco about 5 times the size of my local one today and found they sold tubs of Lavazza Club, apparently at the top of their range. I'm loath to ditch the Qualita Oro i drink now as i find it exellent - is the club worth the near double price, or should i just try some illy?

I'm pretty new to the home esspresso game, but got myself a Gaggia machine a couple of months ago. There's such a sea of different types i've pretty much (totally to be honest) stuck to the main Lavazza grinds. whats the PH collective thought on coffee?

P.s. I'm drinking some now - been up nearly 23 hours via a nightsift and a gallon of the stuff

>> Edited by w00dy on Friday 15th July 14:17

[craigw]

try illy, I did & never looked back.

[Nuggs]

Hi Woody.

I flit between Illy and Lavazza Qualita Ora, both are excellent coffees.

Lavazza Club's good too, but tbh I (i) struggle to see that it's much better than Illy/LQO, (ii) struggle even more to justify the price hike* and (iii) find Club just a bit too smooth for me.

I like my espresso with a bit of kick, so I'll stick with my Illy/LQO

*I bought a few packages of Club in Italy last year, and it was jolly expensive even there

[munky]

I'm nearly through a tin of qualita oro, haven't tried the others yet. What have you got to lose though, a few quid? Not as if you can't go back.

Haven't had a cappucino yet today, had better rectify that forthwith!

[w00dy]

I was in Italy last week and mostly drinking illy I didn't get the chance to stock up though - my case half full of the girlfriends stuff put paid to that

[Nicol@]

Just go for the Illy, ignore that lavatory stuff.

(sorry but I will be biast, I work for the company that is sole distributor of Illy in the UK).

And I hate coffee....lol

[cinque]

im 1/2 Italian, form THE province that invented good food. Illy. nuff said make sure your machines pump is up to it, the waters pure & scorching hot & enjoy.

[Selmer]

I find Illy and Lavazza equally good but Tesco and co seem to do special two-fers on Lavazza for about the same price as a tin of Illy. The crema on the Lavazza seems to last longer IMO, if drunk as an espresso.
BTW, water shouldn't be too hot as above post suggests. Your drink'll taste burnt.

[cinque]

Selmer said:

I find Illy and Lavazza equally good but Tesco and co seem to do special two-fers on Lavazza for about the same price as a tin of Illy. The crema on the Lavazza seems to last longer IMO, if drunk as an espresso. BTW, water shouldn't be too hot as above post suggests. Your drink'll taste burnt.

temp. depends on your choice of weapon & will vary. Whacking it through a Gaggia under pressure, will prob. see water at just below boiling, via a moka temp will be higher. I prefer moka for its strength & purity of liquid.

Nothing tastes worse than weak / tepid or indeed burnt coffee.

[mxdi]

I will be honest, I know that Illy and Lavazza are the best two, but for the life of me I cant taste the difference. Same with tea, cant taste the difference in that either.
Having said that you wont catch me buying cheap tea and coffee!

[EmmaP]

I've always gone for Lazazza, but have recently switched to Co-op's own Italian blend. It is excellent, cheaper than Lavazza at about £2.19 per pack, and, best of all, it's fair trade. I would heartily recommend that you folks give it a go.

[Zod]

I've had some very bad tins of Lavazza beans and I find Illy a little light. My preferred method is to ask what beans they use anywhere I find the coffee to my taste (i.e. not Starbucks or any other chain) and ask to buy a bag.