For a bold cup, choose beans whose stated roast, flavour and recommended brewing method match the coffee you make; the highest intensity number alone is not a reliable way to compare brands. A dark espresso blend may suit milk drinks, while a rich, smoother blend may suit someone who dislikes dark-roast bitterness. For a weekly shop, balance bag size against how quickly you use beans after opening.
If you regularly make espresso, moka or milk drinks, check for beans recommended for your brewer and a flavour profile that will suit those drinks. Lavazza and Union each describe specific blends for espresso-style preparation.
If you are weighing a 1 kg bag against a smaller pack, consider how quickly your household uses beans and follow the chosen product’s instructions after opening.
A high intensity label need not decide the purchase. Taylors of Harrogate describes its Rich Italian beans as rich and smooth, without the bitterness it associates with darker roasts.
Start with the cup you want and the brewer you use, then choose a pack size you can manage after opening.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Roast and flavour | Read the roast description, flavour notes and the brand’s explanation of its intensity scale. Lavazza describes intensity in terms of aroma and richness; Waitrose says longer roasting produces a more intense flavour and less acidity. | I want a bold cup, but I would rather choose between dark-roast character and a smoother rich blend than rely on a number from different brands. |
| Brewing method | Check the methods named for the particular beans. Union recommends Foundation for espresso or bean-to-cup; illy lists moka, filter, espresso and lungo for its Intenso beans. | My beans need to suit the brewer I actually use, especially if the household makes more than one type of coffee. |
| Bag size and storage | Compare the stated pack weight with your usage and read that product’s instructions after opening. Storage guidance differs between the cited Waitrose and M&S beans. | A large bag appeals if we use beans regularly; otherwise, I would prefer less coffee open at one time. |
| Caffeine information | Check bean composition and any product-specific caffeine information separately from roast or intensity. Waitrose says robusta can contain up to double the caffeine of arabica; that does not give the caffeine content of a particular cup. | If caffeine matters to me, I cannot judge it from how strong the coffee tastes. |
Lavazza describes intensity through aroma and richness. Its 9/10 label cannot establish that a different brand’s 7/9 coffee is less suitable for your taste.
Use the label as one clue, then compare roast descriptions, bean composition, flavour notes and brewing guidance.
A weekly-shop bag can remain open well beyond one week. The cited Waitrose Espresso Beans advise use within two weeks of opening for the best taste, while storage directions differ for the cited M&S beans.
Choose a pack size around your household’s usage and follow the instructions on that particular pack.
A larger opened bag also leaves more beans to store under those instructions.
An intensity label describes flavour characteristics, not the caffeine content of a serving. Waitrose notes that caffeine also varies with bean type.
Check the product’s bean composition and caffeine information rather than estimating caffeine from its roast or intensity label.
The stated preparation methods differ: Lavazza presents Espresso Barista Intenso for espresso and moka, while illy lists filter among the methods for Intenso.
Start with your usual brewer and check the guidance for the exact beans you are considering.
Lavazza’s Espresso Barista Intenso is a 1 kg Arabica-and-Robusta blend presented for espresso and moka.
illy Intenso offers a 500 g whole-bean option for households using several brewing methods.
Rich Italian is an option for shoppers interested in a rich, smooth coffee rather than choosing by a very dark-roast description.
Union describes Foundation as its darkest, Italian-style roast, intended for a strong flavour.
M&S Italian Style Coffee Beans provide a supermarket whole-bean option; the cited product is a 454 g bag.
Waitrose provides roast and bean-type guidance alongside its whole-bean range.
These whole-bean options include a smaller dark-labelled bag and two 1 kg espresso-labelled bags. Compare their pack sizes and check the individual brewing and storage guidance against your weekly routine.
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For a weekly shop where you prefer to open a smaller bag, this dark-labelled whole-bean option comes in a 200 g pack. Check the pack’s preparation and storage directions for your routine.
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This espresso-labelled 1 kg bag is a format to consider if your household uses beans regularly. Check its stated roast, recommended brewing methods and directions after opening rather than assuming the name denotes a dark roast.
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This 1 kg Intenso-labelled bag is worth considering when regular use makes a larger pack practical. Confirm the exact product’s roast and brewing guidance on its listing or pack; its name alone does not establish a dark roast or a caffeine level.
Not necessarily. Lavazza uses intensity to describe characteristics including aroma and richness, so check roast, flavour notes and brewing guidance as well as the number. Scores on different brands’ scales are not directly interchangeable.
No: a roast or intensity description does not give the caffeine content of your cup. Waitrose says caffeine varies with bean type and that robusta can contain up to double the caffeine of arabica; check information for the particular coffee if caffeine matters to your choice.
Look for beans whose maker recommends them for the espresso-style coffee you use in milk drinks. Union describes Foundation as a dark roast for espresso or bean-to-cup and says its body works through milk; that description applies to Foundation, not every dark roast.
Follow the directions on the particular bag. Waitrose advises keeping its cited Espresso Beans airtight at ambient conditions and using them within two weeks of opening for the best taste; the cited M&S Italian Style beans give different refrigerator and freezer instructions. Consider whether you will use the pack within its stated quality guidance before choosing 1 kg.
GOV.UK explains that a best-before date relates to food quality, whereas a use-by date relates to safety. Check the date and the product’s storage directions when choosing a bag for the weekly shop.