Take a sip of Italy’s coffee culture as you enjoy our pick of Italian ground coffee to suit every palate
It’s no secret that Italians love their coffee.
In coffee bars right across Italy, locals only drink milky variations such as cappuccino for breakfast (and never after 11 am), while espresso is drunk standing at the bar and served at a temperature that allows it to be downed in a few mouthfuls as a quick pick-me-up throughout the day.
If you don’t have the luxury of an espresso machine at home, filter coffee is the next best bet for your caffeine kick.
We’ve tasted several varieties including classy arabicas, a robust, Neapolitan espresso, and some blended full-bodied Italian ground coffees.
The best Italian ground coffee to buy in the UK
1. Editor’s favourite Italian ground coffee: Caffè Torinese Italian Blend
From Crosta & Mollica | Price £3.99 for 227g
Crosta & Mollica began in the Italian countryside and is officially certified as a B-Corporation, becoming the first UK-based Italian food brand to achieve this status.
Recently launched onto the market and available exclusively in Waitrose, we just had to try the Caffè Torinese ground coffee blend.
This aromatic Italian blend of sweet and fruity arabica (90 per cent) and the more woody, nutty robusta beans (10 per cent) is suitable for most coffee machines including cafetières, filter machines and moka pots.
Expertly roasted and blended in the northern Italian city of Turin to create a silky-smooth full-bodied coffee, the rich brew has an intensely rich and well-rounded flavour and irresistible aroma with notes of chocolate and toasty bread.
Rating: 5/5
With a smooth, drinkable texture and well-roasted finish, this is the perfect choice for your daily caffeine fix to enjoy at any time of the day.
2. Sant’eustachio Il Caffè Filtro
From Sous Chef | Price £9.50 for 250g
Sant’Eustachio Il Caffè is a roaster and coffee shop in the heart of Rome, and they’ve been serving their wood-roasted coffees since 1938.
The coarser size of this Filtro 100 per cent arabica is ideal for coffee filters, percolators and cafetières.
Rating: 4/5
Deeply rich and velvety in texture, with sumptuous bittersweet dark chocolate undertones, and a deep and irresistible aroma.
3. Caffè Vergnano 1882
From Caffè Vergnano | Price £5.82 for 250g
Caffè Vergnano have been mainstays of Italian coffee culture for more than 140 years.
This lightly roasted espresso ground coffee is pure arabica with a gentle aroma. It produces a rich coffee with a pale, golden crema. Buy it on Amazon UK.
Rating: 4/5
This arabica brew has a smooth, mellow flavour and fresh, acidic bite that makes it perfect for a morning cappuccino or macchiato.
4. Carluccio’s Caffè Napoli Espresso
From Carluccio’s | Price £5.90 for 250g
The Carluccio’s name is synonymous with genuine Italian ingredients, and their espresso blend of smooth arabica and robusta beans makes a typically Neapolitan coffee that’s rich and dark with a thick crema.
Rating: 4/5
Robust and with a distinctive rich aroma, this Neapolitan coffee has great flavour, with a smooth texture for easy drinking.
5. M&S Italian Rich Roast
From Marks & Spencer | Price £3.10 for 227g
This Fairtrade-certified coffee is roasted in the UK but takes its inspiration from Italian coffee culture.
Using 100 per cent arabica beans in a rich roast produces a medium-fine ground coffee with a delightful depth of flavour for any time of day.
Rating: 4/5
Another Italian coffee at a good price: rich and complex with notes of chocolate and nougat, yet smooth textured. Great with steamed milk.
6. Kimbo Espresso Napoli
From Kimbo | Price £4.20 for 250g
The Neapolitan Kimbo brand has been supplying ground and bean coffee to Italian cafés for more than 50 years.
This dark roast blend yields a deliciously drinkable espresso to instantly transport you to a coffee bar in Naples on a sunny day.
Rating: 3/5
This classic Neapolitan ground coffee makes a perfectly punchy espresso, rich and robust with a subtle fruitiness and long lasting crema.
7. Best value Italian ground coffee: Bellarom Italian Roast
From Lidl | Price £2.19 for 227g
Another 100 per cent arabica ground coffee, this is a dark roast suitable for French presses and filter coffee machines.
With quality on a par with more expensive brands, it packs a caffeine punch and is super-smooth and drinkable.
Rating: 3/5
A very pleasant ground coffee at a very reasonable price. There’s fresh acidity with a lemony bite, making it a good after-dinner coffee.
Find more of our favourite Italian food and drinks to enjoy at home in our Buy Italia! archives