Starbucks
Espresso Roast Whole Bean
6.7Fair
The dark, caramelly blend behind Starbucks café espresso since 1975, in whole-bean bags for home machines.
4
illy
Classico Whole Bean (Medium Roast)
A smooth 100% Arabica Italian espresso blend with caramel, orange blossom and jasmine, sealed in a nitrogen-pressurized tin.
7.1
Fair
Coffee Reviews score
See the breakdown →
Community
—/10
- Roast
- Medium
- Format
- Whole bean
- Caffeine
- Regular
- Price per serving
- $1.04 / cup
- Caramel
- Orange Blossom
- Jasmine
Certified B Corp
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Last reviewed October 17, 2026 by the Coffee Reviews editors · How we score
A smooth 100% Arabica Italian espresso blend with caramel, orange blossom and jasmine, sealed in a nitrogen-pressurized tin.
illy Classico is the medium roast of illy's single signature 100% Arabica blend, sold whole bean in a pressurized tin and a 500 g bag. illy lists notes of caramel, orange blossom and jasmine, a flavor intensity of 5 out of 9, and promotes the lack of bitterness. Reddit fans call it a benchmark traditional espresso, while critics point to its high price per kilo and limited origin detail.
Best for
- Fans of classic, low-acid Italian espresso
- Moka pot brewing
- Shoppers who want a dependable grocery-store tin
What we like
- Pressurized nitrogen tin keeps beans stable on the shelf
- Smooth, low-bitterness 100% Arabica blend
- Versatile across espresso, moka, pour-over and French press
- Easy to find in grocery stores and on Amazon
Watch-outs
- High price per kilo for a supermarket coffee
- No origin, farm or process disclosure on the product page
- Beans can be months past roast by the time you open them
Flavor profile
What it tastes like.
In the roaster’s words
“A smooth taste with intricate notes of caramel, orange blossom and jasmine that culminates in a sweet finish. Flavor intensity 5 of 9.”
- Caramel
- Orange Blossom
- Jasmine
- acidity
- body
- sweetness
- bitterness
LightMediumDark
How it scored
The breakdown.
7.1Fair
Cup score out of 10, weighted across five factors.
- Flavor & cup quality30%7.6
A smooth, low-bitterness traditional espresso that some Reddit users rank above local roasters, while specialty-focused reviewers find it unremarkable.
- Quality & freshness20%7.7
Nitrogen-pressurized tins keep beans stable for up to two years per illy, and Reddit users note a roast date on the bottom of the tin.
- Value20%6.5
About $1.04 per 15 g cup in the 8.8 oz tin (≈ $0.91 in the 500 g bag), expensive for a supermarket espresso.
- Sourcing & transparency15%6.0
illy says it is a Benefit Corporation with a sustainable supply chain, but the product page names no origins, farms or prices.
- Community love15%7.4
A cult classic among traditional-espresso fans, but often dismissed on r/espresso and given a lukewarm first review by Whole Brain Coffee.
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What people are saying
From the forums.
Verbatim from Reddit, forums and long-term owner write-ups — linked so you can read the full thread.
“It’s my go to coffee since then. It just murdered all the stuff my local roasters sell and it was on a phase where I bought like 300€ worth of beans to find the right one.”
“To be fair, the Illy Classico tin has a roast date on the bottom. The ones I can find in my local supermarket were roasted less than 3 months ago. They are also packed in nitrogen, so they don't stale very fast. They are delicious.”
“For traditional profile Italian style the whole bean version of the Illy Classico is pretty darn good. Not going to get much love here on this forum, but it's a solid representative of traditional espresso.”
“Illy Classico is Italian dark roast. While I’m rather into that conventional style and not a very big fan of light roasts, I think Illy is overpriced for what it is where I live, 35€ per kilo or above.”
Details
The particulars.
- Species
- Arabica
- Format
- Whole bean
- Caffeine
- Regular
- Best brewed as
- Espresso, Moka pot, Pour-over, French press, Drip machine, Lattes & milk drinks
- Certifications
- Certified B Corp
- Typical price
- $17.29 for 8.8 oz tin (checked October 2026)
- Servings
- ≈ 17 cups at 15 g per cup (8.8 oz / 250 g tin); the 500 g bag is $30.49 (≈ $0.91 per cup)
Community
Member tasting notes & discussion.
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Discussion
No discussions yet.
Own illy Classico Whole Bean (Medium Roast)? Ask a question or share your recipe — you’ll be the first.
FAQ
Good questions.
Is illy Classico a dark roast?
No. illy sells Classico as its medium roast; its Intenso is the darker roast of the same blend. Some drinkers still describe Classico as a traditional Italian roast.
How long does an unopened tin stay fresh?
illy says its pressurized packaging replaces air with inert nitrogen at higher pressure, helping the beans keep their taste and aroma for up to two years. Once opened, grind just before brewing and use the beans promptly.
Is illy Classico 100% Arabica?
Yes. illy describes Classico as a blend of 100% Arabica beans and lists a flavor intensity of 5 out of 9.
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