Italy is famous for its coffee culture, but you can experience Italian coffee beans without traveling halfway across the globe.
Few things are as fun and relaxing as having a cappuccino on the porch and watching the sunrise in the morning.
I especially like using Italian espresso beans to make the occasion extra special.
Whether you are looking to have a quiet morning or just a getaway in a mug, Italian coffee beans offer an amazing variety of flavors! Let’s take a look at some wonderful Italian coffee bean brands.
By Jackalyn Beck.
What To Look For When Buying Italian Coffee
Italian coffee beans are some of the best in the world. The country boasts a rich history of coffee production, and, as you probably know, Italy has some of the most famous coffee shops in Europe.
Still, there are a few things you should keep in mind when buying Italian coffee.
They have a reputation for being high quality because of how they’re grown and processed. Because of this, they tend to be more expensive than other kinds of beans because they take more time and effort to produce.
They also use different kinds of methods to process their beans than many other countries do.
These methods produce a better-tasting cup of coffee that tends to have a dark, rich flavor.
So if you like strong, acidic, or bitter flavors in your coffee, Italian coffee is a great choice for you!
Likewise, you might brew with different methods and go for drinks like a simple espresso shot or Americano. Moka pots are also a wonderful option!
If you prefer lighter flavors, go for lighter roasts or choose different brewing methods. You can also still go with an espresso shot but maybe in a latte or mocha.
I’m a big fan of well-made cappuccinos!
There is something so picturesque and pleasing about how they fill the mug to the brim. Plus, I’m a sucker for microfoam.
Is Coffee Grown In Italy?
If you’re thinking about going on vacation to Italy, you might want to consider visiting some of the country’s many famous coffee plantations.
There are a lot of reasons why that would make sense, why else would the country be famous for coffee?
Actually, there aren’t many (technically any) plantations actually located in Italy.
They’re located in other countries, like Ethiopia and Brazil!
There is an area called the “coffee belt” and Italy isn’t in that zone.
So, while inventive people from Morettino have grown coffee on a small scale, the country probably won’t mass produce its own green coffee beans anytime soon.
This means that while your favorite Italian restaurant may have some delicious espresso on its menu, it probably isn’t serving up any actual Italian-grown coffee beans.
Italy is famous for coffee processing and culture, not coffee production.
This doesn’t make Italian coffee any less special. In fact, it goes to show how much attention and care goes into the roasting and processing of Italian coffee beans.
Italian Coffee Bean Brands
If you want to get your hands on some Italian coffee beans then there are several brands available online or at local retailers. Here are some of my favorites.
Segafredo Zanetti
Segafredo Zanetti is a coffee chain that has over 350 cafe locations throughout Europe and North America.
The company was initially started by an Italian coffee merchant named Massimo Zanetti.
The brand is now actually owned by the Massimo Zanetti Beverage Group, which also owns other popular brands like Kauai Coffee and Hills Bros.
Despite its Italian origins, Massimo Zanetti’s first cafe was actually opened in Paris.
However, the brand is still considered an Italian coffee company and offers a wide variety of coffees.
Caffè Vergnano
Caffè Vergnano has been around since 1882 and is making a name for itself in uncharted territory – compostable coffee pods.
While many brands have tried to make compostable or otherwise biodegradable coffee capsules, it’s a surprisingly difficult task.
The pods have to be sturdy enough to withstand an intense amount of heat and water, but soft and made of materials that will eventually break down.
While the brand offers everything from whole-bean coffee to pink Moka Pots, I am especially impressed that they make multiple kinds of compostable coffee pods.
If you are interested in learning more about zero-waste coffee pods and how difficult they are, check out this video by James Hoffman!
Italian Espresso Coffee Brands
Espresso is one of the most common ways to drink coffee in Italy.
So most companies offer espresso beans, but Illy is one of the most widely recognized brands.
Filicori Zecchini
Filicori Zecchini was started in 1919 by Aldo Filicori and Luigi Zecchini.
While they are most well-known for their coffee beans, they also have a few coffee shop locations.
What I especially like about this brand is that they offer comprehensive, step-by-step guides on how to brew their coffee.
From the Moka Pot to my beloved Chemex, they have tips on how to brew with a variety of different methods.
To boot, they even offer a coffee school for baristas. While that might seem like a small thing, I appreciate their dedication to education and helping customers get the most out of their coffee.
If you are buying coffee directly from their website (or just want to compare), they actually list recommended brew methods for each coffee.
Pellini
Pellini sells top-notch espresso beans with bold, rich flavors.
Something unique that Pellini does is blend Arabica and Robusta coffee.
This results in a budget-friendly, bold but smooth coffee.
If you are a fan of strong flavors, definitely check out Pellini’s many options, their No.82 Vivace is especially popular.
They sell whole beans, ground coffee, and coffee pods.
They even have some Nespresso-compatible options.
Italian Coffee Brands In The USA
Sometimes it can be difficult to find Italian coffee in the states. That’s why Lavazza is one of my favorite Italian coffee brands.
Lavazza
Lavazza is probably one of the most well-known Italian coffee brands.
This brand has been around for a long time, and it’s still one of the most popular Italian coffees in America today.
It’s easy to see why: Lavazza offers a wide range of delicious blends that are perfect for any occasion.
Whether you prefer strong or mild flavors, Lavazza has something to satisfy your taste buds.
Lavazza can be found at many grocery stores and specialty shops, where it is sold both in single-serve packages and in bulk.
The brand also sells single-serve coffee machines and other in-home systems, similar to Nespresso.
I am actually a bit biased because I enjoy Lavazza’s coffee and have gotten to have it multiple times. I especially like their espresso beans, in particular their Super Crema whole beans.
They have lovely sweet and nutty notes but my favorite part is the wonderful mouthfeel from the crema. They are best in an espresso machine but I liked to do mine in an Aeropress.
Illy
Illy is an Italian coffee company that has been around since 1933 when Francesco Illy developed his first coffee machine, which was a forefather of modern espresso.
They’ve continued that tradition and are still known for their espresso machines, but also make a wide variety of other coffees.
They are one of the biggest Italian coffee companies but can still be a bit difficult to find in U.S. grocery stores.
You can, however, buy their coffee through sites like Amazon. I haven’t gotten to try it yet, but I’ve heard good things about their whole-bean Classico Coffee.
Famous Coffee Brands In Italy
Since Italy is so famous in the coffee world it isn’t surprising that many famous coffee brands come from Italy.
While large companies are less likely to do things like small-batch roasting, they can be easier to find and usually offer a wide variety of options.
Nespresso is a great example of this.
Nespresso
While Nespresso doesn’t usually sell coffee beans, it is an extremely famous coffee brand.
That said, the brand is only kind of Italian.
According to their site, “Italy is at the core of Nespresso’s DNA.” Although Eric Favre, a Swiss engineer, technically invented the Nespresso system back in 1976.
Still, for one reason or another, the brand is often associated with Italian espresso and this list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Nespresso.
I really enjoy whole-bean coffee and have never been a big fan of coffee pods. So Nespresso isn’t my favorite. That said, I did really enjoy James Hoffman’s video of him trying every single pod.
Bialetti
Bialetti is extremely famous for its traditional Moka Pot and, more recently, has begun to be known for its coffee as well.
While the brand will probably always be known for the infamous Moka Pot and its other brewing systems, espresso lovers should give their coffee a try.
While most of their coffee is optimized for Moka Pots, they have a surprising variety of options.
From Nespresso compatible pods to whole-bean coffee, Bialetti offers a little something for everyone!
