In-depth review
Lavazza Super Crema Review
In-depth review of Lavazza Super Crema: 60/40 Arabica-Robusta blend, medium espresso roast, crema performance, and who should buy it.
Lavazza Super Crema Whole Bean Coffee
The home-espresso standard: a 60/40 Arabica-Robusta medium roast in a 2.2 lb bag built for crema.
- Blend: 60% Arabica, 40% Robusta
- Roast level: Medium espresso roast
- Origins: Brazil, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Vietnam
Our verdict
Super Crema earns its reputation as the default home-espresso bean. The 60/40 Arabica-Robusta blend delivers the dense, persistent crema that 100% Arabica bags struggle to match, the medium roast stays sweet under milk, and the 2.2 lb bag makes daily espresso economical. The honest costs: no roast date on the bag, and a Robusta edge that light-roast drinkers will taste as bitterness. For home espresso on a budget, it is the easiest recommendation in this guide. See how it compares in Light vs Dark Roast and Arabica vs Robusta, or browse Best Coffee Beans.
What we like
- 60 percent Arabica, 40 percent Robusta blend produces dense, persistent crema
- Medium espresso roast balances sweetness with enough body for milk drinks
- 2.2 lb (1 kg) bag is economical for daily espresso drinkers
- Sourced from Brazil, Colombia, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam for blend consistency
What to watch out for
- Robusta content adds bitterness that light-roast drinkers will notice
- Bag has no roast date, only a best-by date, so freshness is harder to verify
- Medium roast lacks the brightness pour-over drinkers expect
Who it is for
Home espresso brewers who want thick crema, milk-drink sweetness, and an economical 2.2 lb bag.
Blend and crema
The 60 percent Arabica, 40 percent Robusta formula is the classic Italian espresso architecture. Robusta produces more crema volume and a thicker texture than Arabica, plus extra caffeine and body. In the cup this means a dense, hazelnut-colored cap that survives milk pouring. The trade is flavor: Robusta brings woody, bitter notes that the Arabica majority, from Brazil, Colombia, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam, works to balance.
Roast level and flavor
Lavazza roasts Super Crema to a medium espresso level, lighter than the dark roasts of Death Wish or Starbucks Espresso Roast. That choice preserves the aromatic notes Lavazza lists, hazelnut and brown sugar, with hints of honey, almonds, and dried fruit. In milk drinks the sweetness reads clearly; as straight espresso it is balanced rather than intense. Drinkers coming from dark roasts may initially find it mild.
Freshness and value
The 2.2 lb (1 kg) bag is the value story: per pound, it undercuts every 12 oz specialty bag here by a wide margin. The freshness story is weaker: the bag carries a best-by date rather than a roast date, so you cannot know how long ago it was roasted. Buying from high-turnover sellers mitigates this, and the blend's roast profile is forgiving of age compared to delicate light roasts.
How it stacks up
Against illy Classico, Super Crema wins on crema and price per pound (2.2 lb bag versus 8.8 oz can) but loses on smoothness: illy's 100% Arabica is never bitter where Super Crema's Robusta can bite. Against Death Wish Coffee, Super Crema is the sweeter, more balanced daily drinker while Death Wish brings darker roast intensity and higher caffeine in a 1 lb organic bag. Choose Super Crema for balanced everyday espresso; illy for smoothness; Death Wish for intensity.
Key specifications
- Blend
- 60% Arabica, 40% Robusta
- Roast level
- Medium espresso roast
- Origins
- Brazil, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Vietnam
- Bag size
- 2.2 lb (1 kg), whole bean
- Tasting notes
- Hazelnut and brown sugar, per Lavazza
Sources: Lavazza official product specifications, Major retailer product listings, Published coffee gear reviews
What owners report
Owners praise
- Owners praise the 60 percent Arabica, 40 percent Robusta blend for dense, persistent crema
- Many owners say the medium espresso roast balances sweetness with enough body for milk drinks
- Owners like the 2.2 lb bag being economical for daily espresso drinking
Common complaints
- Some owners notice bitterness from the Robusta content that light-roast drinkers will pick up on
- A common complaint is the bag carrying only a best-by date, so freshness is hard to verify
- Owners note the medium roast lacks the brightness pour-over drinkers expect
Also consider
illy Classico Whole Bean Coffee
The smooth Italian: 100% Arabica from nine origins, sealed in a pressurized can for freshness.
- Blend: 100% Arabica, nine origins
- Roast level: Medium (Classico)
Sources: illy official product specifications, Major retailer product listings, Published coffee gear reviews
Check current price
Lavazza Qualita Rossa Whole Bean Coffee
The value Italian: a medium roast of Brazilian Arabicas and African and Indian Robustas in a 2.2 lb bag.
- Blend: Arabica and Robusta
- Roast level: Medium
Sources: Lavazza official product specifications, Major retailer product listings, Published coffee gear reviews
Check current priceResearch-based assessment. TheBrewLedger has not hands-on tested this product; this evaluation synthesizes manufacturer specifications, retailer documentation, and published expert reviews.
Questions, answered
Is Lavazza Super Crema good for espresso machines?
Yes, it is blended and roasted specifically for espresso. The Robusta content produces thick crema under pressure, and the medium roast extracts forgivingly on home machines. It also works in moka pots and drip brewers.
Why is there no roast date on the bag?
Lavazza prints a best-by date rather than a roast date, which is standard for large commercial roasters but unhelpful for freshness tracking. Buy from sellers with high turnover, store the beans airtight away from light, and use within a few weeks of opening.
Is Super Crema bitter?
It can taste bitter to palates used to 100% Arabica, because of the 40% Robusta content. Brewed as espresso with proper grind and ratio, most drinkers find it balanced; in milk drinks the bitterness disappears into sweetness.
Super Crema vs Qualita Rossa: which Lavazza?
Super Crema is the espresso-first bag: 60/40 blend, medium espresso roast, built for crema. Qualita Rossa is the value bag: a medium roast blend at a lower per-pound price, good for moka pot and drip. For espresso, choose Super Crema.