Espresso, moka and bean-to-cup drinkers
If you want a pronounced, full-bodied afternoon coffee, start with beans whose maker recommends your brewing method. Flavour descriptions such as cocoa or chocolate can then help you choose between blends.
Who is this choice for?
Shoppers comparing strength labels
If you are comparing packs from different roasters, use each maker’s intensity scale as a guide to its own range. Lavazza and illy use different scales, so their numbers are not a direct comparison.
Afternoon coffee drinkers considering caffeine
If you also drink tea or other caffeinated drinks, keep those in mind when choosing an afternoon coffee. A strong flavour does not tell you how much caffeine is in your cup; decaffeinated whole beans offer another flavour-led option.
What should you check?
Start with the flavour you want and your brewing equipment, then consider caffeine and how quickly you will use an open pack.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Bold flavour | Read the stated roast and flavour notes. Use an intensity number to compare coffees within the same maker’s range, not to compare caffeine across brands. | I want a rich-tasting cup, so cocoa, chocolate or woody notes matter more to me than a strength number alone. |
| Brewing method | Check whether the maker names espresso, moka, bean-to-cup, cafetière or filter preparation. Confirm that you are buying beans rather than ground coffee if you plan to grind them yourself. | My afternoon coffee needs to work with the equipment I actually use, not just carry a dark or intense label. |
| Caffeine | Do not treat roast colour or an intensity rating as a per-cup caffeine figure. Consider coffee alongside other caffeinated drinks; compare decaffeinated options by their stated flavour and brewing guidance. | For a later cup, I may prefer decaffeinated beans without giving up the flavour profile I enjoy. |
| Pack size | Check the pack quantity and its storage instructions. Waitrose & Partners advises grinding only the beans needed immediately before brewing. | If I make coffee occasionally, I want a pack I can use while its flavour still suits me. |
Common buying mistakes
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Reading intensity as a universal caffeine scale
Lavazza describes intensity in terms of a blend’s aroma and body. Illy uses its own rating scale, so numbers from the two makers cannot establish which cup contains more caffeine.
Compare ratings within one maker’s range. Across brands, read the roast, flavour notes and recommended brewing methods instead.
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Choosing a dark-labelled coffee without checking the brew method
Lavazza recommends Espresso Barista Intenso for espresso and moka, while illy lists INTENSO for moka, filter, espresso and lungo. The stated methods differ even when both coffees are described as intense.
Choose a bean that names the method you use, especially if your afternoon routine involves a cafetière or filter brewer.
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Assuming strong flavour settles the caffeine question
An intensity label describes taste characteristics, not the caffeine in a prepared cup. Other caffeinated drinks also contribute to what you consume during the day.
If caffeine matters to your afternoon choice, consider those other drinks and look at decaffeinated whole-bean options separately from flavour intensity.
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Buying a large bag without thinking about freshness
A larger pack can stay open longer if you make coffee infrequently. How you store and grind the beans then becomes part of the buying decision.
Choose a quantity that fits your routine, follow the pack’s storage directions and grind only what you need for each brew.
Brand references
These brand examples illustrate different labels and brewing guidance; their ranges are not directly comparable by intensity number.
Lavazza
Lavazza offers whole-bean blends with stated intensity ratings, including Espresso Barista Intenso and Decaf Intenso.
- Lavazza rates Espresso Barista Intenso 9/10 and describes it as full-bodied, with cocoa and woody notes, for espresso or moka.
- Lavazza’s intensity rating describes characteristics such as aroma and body; it is not a cross-brand caffeine measure.
Illy
Illy’s INTENSO whole beans are offered in a 250 g tin with guidance for several brewing methods.
- Illy rates INTENSO 7/9 on its own scale and lists moka, filter, espresso and lungo preparation.
- Its 7/9 rating cannot be compared numerically with another roaster’s intensity scale.
Taylors of Harrogate
Taylors of Harrogate is a brand to consider when comparing whole-bean and decaffeinated coffee for an afternoon cup.
- A decaffeinated whole-bean option provides a different starting point from selecting by a strong-roast label.
- Check the roast, flavour and brewing directions of the particular pack rather than assuming they apply across Taylors products.
Union
Union describes Revelation Signature Espresso as a dark roast intended particularly for espresso preparation.
- Union describes Revelation as bold and chocolatey and recommends espresso or bean-to-cup brewing.
- Those tasting descriptions are the roaster’s own; they do not provide a standardised strength comparison with other brands.
M&S
M&S offers French Style Coffee Beans among its whole-bean choices.
- M&S describes French Style Coffee Beans as dark roasted, 100% Arabica, full-bodied and bold.
- Check the information on the particular pack, including its brewing and storage directions.
Waitrose
Waitrose has a whole-bean coffee range for comparing individual packs and their stated characteristics.
- Waitrose & Partners advises grinding only the beans needed for a brew and using them straight away.
- A range listing does not establish a common strength scale for every coffee it contains; check each pack’s details.
Coffee options on Joybuy
These options include dark-labelled coffee for an afternoon cup, espresso-style beans and decaffeinated beans. Check each pack against your brewing method; one Costa listing needs particular care over whether the coffee is whole bean or ground.
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Costa Intensely Dark Amazonian Blend Coffee Beans 200 g
The dark-labelled blend is an option if that flavour direction appeals for an afternoon cup. The name identifies whole beans in a 200 g pack; check the pack’s brewing directions for your equipment.
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Espresso Italiano Cremoso Beans 1 kg
This espresso-labelled whole-bean option comes in a 1 kg pack. Check its stated brewing methods and consider how quickly you will use the beans after opening.
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Costa Coffee Intensely Dark Amazonian Blend No. 5 200 g
The 200 g No. 5 product is labelled for cafetière and filter coffee. Its product information conflicts on whether it is whole bean or ground, and on blend composition; confirm the exact pack before ordering, particularly if you need beans for a grinder.
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Lavazza Barista Intenso Beans 1 kg
These Intenso-labelled beans come in a 1 kg pack. Check the exact pack’s brewing guidance and plan for storing an open bag if you make coffee infrequently; the name alone does not establish caffeine per cup.
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Taylors Decaf Coffee Beans 200 g
These 200 g decaffeinated whole beans are an option if you want to reduce regular caffeine in an afternoon coffee. Check the pack’s brewing directions for your equipment rather than assuming a particular method or dark-roast flavour.
Frequently asked questions
Does a higher coffee intensity number mean more caffeine?
No: an intensity number is not a caffeine measurement. Lavazza describes intensity through characteristics including aroma and body, so use its scale to compare Lavazza coffees rather than treating it as equivalent to illy’s separate 7/9 scale.
Which beans should I consider for afternoon espresso or moka?
Lavazza lists Espresso Barista Intenso for both espresso and moka if you want a blend it describes as intense and full-bodied. Union recommends its dark-roast Revelation Signature Espresso for espresso or bean-to-cup brewing; check the stated method rather than assuming every dark roast suits the same equipment.
How should I handle beans after opening the pack?
Follow the storage instructions on the exact pack and grind beans as you need them. Waitrose & Partners advises grinding only the amount needed for a brew and using it straight away.
What if I also drink tea or other caffeinated drinks?
Consider coffee alongside those other drinks when choosing an afternoon cup. A bean’s roast or intensity label cannot tell you the caffeine in a prepared serving, so do not use it to calculate your intake.