Lavazza Decaf Espresso Bean, 1.1 lb

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.

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

Good quality

Delicious, smooth, full-bodied coffee. We use it in our espresso machine for our morning cappuccinos and couldn't be happier. For medical reasons I have to reduce my caffeine intake, but I don't miss it because this is so delicious. I'm not a fan of Starbucks because it is too bitter for me. Lavazza is far better and very similar to Illy but better priced.

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.

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

I’m trying to find a decaf that has some zing to it. This ain’t it. Tastes pretty much like warm brown water. If I did a blind taste test between warm water and this decaf, it would be very difficult to know which is which. Going back to my less expensive brown water while the search continues. Your mileage may vary.

Excelente calidad y sabor de un buen tostado italiano

Bester Koffeinfreier Bohnenkaffe seit langem.

One has very little or no choice of decaffeinated coffee beans in retail stores and supermarkets, so one has to buy from a specialist. I find the Lavazza DEK beans very flavourful and they make a coffee with good body which is suitable for breakfast and all day drinking. For cardiac reasons I have to cut down on my daily caffeine intake and these DEK beans fulfil the purpose admirably. I still drink Lavazza's Qualita Rosso if I need some caffeine during the day In fact, at evening committee meetings, when I serve this DEK coffee made in a cafetiere, none of my colleagues realises that the coffee is decaf. These beans are decaffeinated using the water process which accounts for their premium price. Cheaper decaf beans are solvent decaffeinated. A process that I am not comfortable with. Overall a good product and recommended. In my cafetiere I always use a medium grind setting using a burr grinder and infuse for 4 minutes before depressing the plunger. Don't ram the plunger hard down against the coffee grounds or you will extract the bitterness.

Magnífico pero muy caro

A little pricey but a good decaf