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

The title says it all "over-hyped".

Obviously, with the price of this coffee going at $14 bucks a can, you would expect "the best coffee I ever made/drank!"..........wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've tried premium Starbucks, Lavazza, and a few select asian and german brands.....and all made from my awesome Italian moka pot.

So what does this coffee compare to??? It tastes very similiar to Lavazza Expresso (black can).

The body of the coffee does taste stronger and bolder than Lavazza......but not necessarily better.

I hate to say this, but the taste of this Illy coffee tastes very close to Starbucks "Houseblend"...but minus the bitterness of Starbucks.

The Lavazza Expresso tastes better. It tastes nuttier, smoother, with more of a "mocha" taste. Plus, the aroma from Lavazza itself is intoxicating alone......with the Illy brewing, well....let's just say "smells like regular coffee".

Is this Illy coffee smooth - yes
Is it bitter - no
Does it taste good - yes

BUT......Does it have character??? ------- ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!!!!!

The Lavazza Expresso (black can) has a distinctive taste (and smell) all to it's own.......the Illy does not.

To sum it up, it's all over-hyped on Illy Expresso coffee. For $14 a can, it's not worth it.

Save your money and buy Lavazza Expresso for half the price and for more "character" and taste!!!!

BTW.....I have no affiliation with Lavazza......just an avid coffee drinker.

Happy Coffee Drinking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This stuff is just fabulous, which is clearly why it gets top magazine ratings for Best Coffee AND why Illy can command such a high price even in this down market. Once you begin your day with it, nothing else seems to measure up.

Note that the Illy USA website offers a 6 pack for a dollar less per can ( i.e. $ 78.00 for 6 ) than Amazon's current price for 2 cans - and ordered from Illy any order over $ 75.00 gets free S/H. It would seem that Amazon should be able to get this price from Illy as well.

[ Also Note: the title of this review is coffee-type specific given as labeled on the can itself, since this is the only Illy coffee i have tried. ]

Great coffee. Makes excellent espresso. Lots of crema, nice aroma, well-balanced flavor.

This stuff sells for $11 a can at my neighborhood (California) grocery store, so I think Amazon is over-charging a bit. If you can't find it elsewhere for less, though, at least Amazon has free shipping...

This is the best coffee ever. It a wonderful flavor and has no bitter aftertaste. It is very much worth the money.

all reviews which compared illy cofee to lavazza were much in favor of illy. I tried both coffee made in Bialetti Moka Express Stovetop Espresso Maker.
My opinion - they definetely have different taste but no difference in quality. Lavazza tastes stronger, while Illy tastes softer. Thus, I cannot justify such significant difference in price - $13 per 8oz. for Illy and $5 per 8oz. for Lavazza. I personally liked Lavazza taste better.

Illy makes grind especially for Stovetop Moka Maker which I used. Apparently it is designed to be completely filtered out - so there is no tiny bits of grounded coffee in the final product and no powder left in cup when it is empty. For some reason I do like these little pieces in the mouth (probably it is not good for teeth). Lavazza makes just one standard ground coffee which in finer than Illy's Moka version.

Illy medium roast is one the best ground coffees around. I brew it drip-style with a Melitta 102 filter cone and get a perfect brew every time. This is one of the rare coffees that can be brewed very strong and still taste smooth. I pay about 6 euro a can locally but is well worth it. Illy medium roast is a great coffee that I highly recommend.

I bought this for my mom along with a cappuchino/latte set. She loved the expresso much more than the latte set. Great expresso at a really great deal!

Illy medium grind espresso is perhaps the best espresso or coffee I have ever tasted. I consider myself a coffee connoisseur, and I usually frequent all local coffee shops at any place I visit. My journey started with Nescafe instant when I was a teen, progressed to Starbucks (can't handle the burnt aftertaste), Peets, Green Moutain,etc, found temporary nirvana with Lavazza which I still have time to time, and found permanent nirvana with the Illy brand. The espresso is foamy, smooth, has a wonderful body and just plain delicious. It prompted me to invest in a Gaggia espresso machine just so I can make it at home everyday, and it has become a morning ritual. I enthusiastically recommend this coffee (preferably the medium grind, not the dark grind) if you are a true coffee lover.

%100 arabica coffee in its finest form. Makes great shots of espresso, latte or cappuccino but not americano. I did not give 5 stars due the high price. Besides I prefer some robusta mixed with arabica as it is the case with Lavazza Super Crema Espresso which is cheaper and better at least to me.

ATTENTION MOKA POT USERS: If you are looking for an illy espresso for your moka pot, this is NOT it. Despite what other reviewers are saying, this "fine grind" is so very wrong for your Bialetti and it simply will not work. The coffee will fall through the holes into the bottom reservoir and you'll end up with something that you really won't want to drink. Learn from my mistake and go get yourself an illy Moka Grind or illy Caffe Normale Whole Bean to grind yourself.

With that said, this is great espresso. I just don't know if my palate is sophisticated enough to make this worth the 2x premium over Lavazza. If you're a die-hard espresso connoisseur, you'll probably feel like this is worth every penny.

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.

Anyone who has spent any time in Italy will tell you this is authentic Italian espresso. Not only is it authentic, it is delicious. I was first turned on to Illy when I moved to North Beach, a little Italian neighborhood in San Francisco. I have not been able to find anything better. It is expensive, and my everyday espresso is Cafe Bustelo, but for true rich espresso with minimal bitterness, this is the bean for me.

love this coffee -bummer it costs a bit more than the others, but still my favorite

If you enjoy a fantastic cup of well roasted (not over-roasted) coffee, then this is for you. An ultrafine, delicate grind, almost like baby powder, with no waste. Just pure concentrate of perfect coffee. I do not work for Illy or Amazon, but simply love my morning cup.
Anyway, if you have struggled to find the perfect coffee, as I have, look no further. In my opinion, this is the most consistantly delicious coffee I've ever had. It comes pressurized in nitrogen I believe, to assure it's freshness. It is very potent, as the fine grind is intended for use in an espresso maker. I however, use it in my drip coffee maker with spring water and a paper filter, at about two-thirds the usual strength of a standard drip grind. Buy some for you, or as a gift for your favorite coffee addict friend. Enjoy!!

Great espresso, taste great consistantly. Plus, 2-pak deal is great, saves me tax AND no shipping charge. Great in this economy!