¡Tierra! Selection

We've tried a lot of different coffees in our espresso machine and liked a few of them pretty well; typically we were paying $12 up to $18 per kilo bag at Sam's Club. While browsing different espresso/coffee sites the name Lavazza had repeatedly come up, so out of curiosity I splurged on a bag. This isn't a coffee that wows at first sip, but it was notably better than anything we had tried to date, including from the local coffee roaster. The color of the beans is lighter than the typical espresso or french roast, and the smell of the beans is light and pleasant. It doesn't promise an "intenso" kind of cup, and it doesn't deliver that; what it does deliver is nice and smoooooth, nice aroma and good coffee flavor but no bitterness. With every cup I come to appreciate it more, it is just yummy. If this coffee were the same price as what we can get locally, it would be our only coffee . . . but this is 50% more expensive at nearly $30 per bag. I had this coffee yesterday, and switched back to our previous coffee today (I'm sipping a cappuccino right now), gotta say the Lavazza is just better tasting, and not by a small factor. Take this as a warning: if you don't want to spend this much money on your daily coffee, don't try this coffee because you can't un-taste it! There's no hope for us, we're hooked- there might be other coffee out there that is as good, but you won't find it at a grocery or warehouse club; this is a coffee I can end the search on. Is it worth close to $30 a bag? I don't know, all I know is I want it, I need it . . . okay, yes it's worth it.

So, it looks like the reviews are mixed up between multiple products from Lavazza.. However, I am reviewing the Lavazza Tierra! Selection. From my research, this appears to be a product that is generally only sold to up-scale Bars and Cafes. Frankly, I would not classify myself as a discerning connoisseur of high-quality coffee. I am just a guy that enjoys multiple cups of black coffee everyday... I figured I splurge and see why this coffee was more expensive than what I typically buy... The answer is... cause, it is just better... I have trouble finding words to explain it... Strong, Rich, Dark Coffee, but... not bitter, kinda smooth... and I appreciate the obvious afternote hints of sweetness and chocolate after each sip. It is most certainly a quality product that I would recommend, if you can afford it.

Complex, maybe more nasal than some of the coffees I use in my Gaggia Classic. There's almost none of the Ethiopian velvety-slick feel, it's almost all European in taste, meaning the flavor tones are more coffee and less fruit and chocolate, the mouthfeel is clean and not coating/cloying. Great aroma from the crema, and great aftertaste, lasts twenty minutes or more easily. This makes a great straight doubleshot. I don't mix this one with milk/foam, it's good enough on it's own. I never have an issue with grind, pour/pull rate, or crema production. Not overly caffeinated, it doesn't have Robusta, causes very little 'over the temple' headache when overpulled/thin/underdosed, it's pretty temperature-insensitive. While I do appreciate some other coffees with thicker mouthfeel and darker flavors (Klatch Belle Espresso, Black Cat), this coffee is lighter and more 'focused' in flavor than those. I find I pull shots of this LaVazza about twice as often as I pull 'boutique' shots. Just solid coffee, and sets the bar for the standard bean I keep in my kitchen.

This is a great and not too expensive bean when properly brewed. In my espresso machine (a Profitec 700) I use a 9 second grind tamped to 30 pounds and 195 degree water. A good grinder is essential, as you'll want a uniformly fine grind to let all the flavor out. The result has good body and medium crema with a smooth flavor, not too acidic and with plenty of distinct chocolate notes. The beans are fairly uniform with a medium brown and dry surface. There are a few cracked and broken beans, but for the most part, the quality and consistency is very good. Although it's not quite up to the level of the finest Kona and JBM beans I like to brew, it's probably 90% of the quality and flavor at about a third of the price...this is my favorite inexpensive day to day bean. Note that the picture is incorrect - Amazon is shipping the brown-bagged Tierra Intenso product, not the blue.

I MAY change this to five stars later. This review is only after my first cup. I am used to ultra dark roasts like Starbucks Italian Espresso Dark Roast(the standard that they use for all lattes) and Cafe Bustelo, Cafe Pilon(both very dark Cuban roasts from Miami). I use a Delonghi Retro (Amazon, like all my stuff) and a Krups grinder(yes, also an Amazon purchase). I quickly dumped the whole bag into an air tight container. Aroma is on the low side, but pleasant. Beans are much lighter roast/color that I normally drink. Lighter by quite a bit. I read here in the reviews that the best espresso is NOT made with dark roasts. We will see. EDIT: Later this same day, I changed my rating to FIVE stars from four. I found out how to best make Lattes using this Tierra. You must pull STRONG double shots...Twenty seconds (2 oz) or less. Use MUCH less steamed milk than you use with a dark roast. I found out that about 35%-40% LESS milk helps you better experience the smooth, complex flavor of this Tierra. Warning: This bean may not look or taste High Octane, but it IS! The caffeine content seems through the roof, even compared to my Cuban beans. I never get buzzed from a double shot of Starbucks or Buslteo. I DO, from this Tierra. That is a good thing. Do NOT drink any of this before Doctor's physical. It will skew the BP and pulse results. I am not kidding. I ground some up, not too fine, to pull the best shots using my $99 Delonghi. My first double shot came out a bit underwhelming. I brewed a second double shot waiting 20 seconds instead of my usual 30 seconds. MUCH better. I may have to get used to the roundness and complexity of this coffee. I am used to "in your face" dark roasts. I may have to transition slowly by mixing my remaining dark roast with the Tierra. Maybe 75% Tierra and 25% Starbucks/Bustleo. Don't cringe. EDIT: That didnt work too well. But I find a blend that I loved: 95% Tierra and 5% Starbucks. When the Starbucks is gone, I will never buy again. Boycott due to their discriminatory hiring practices. Lucky I found this Lavazza. I do love it. Perhaps my taste in coffee/espresso is finally evolving. I bought this brand because of a guy on DIsqus I met while commenting on recent politics. Somehow espresso came up. He mentioned Lavazza. He drinks another type. I chose the Tierra. Did I choose well? Are there other types/blends of Lavazza I should consider? It is a bit confusing sifting through all the versions that Lavazza offers. Tierra users seem the most passionate. So, I went with Tierra...for now anyways. Two pounds is a LOT of espresso! And $16 per pound is a lot more than the $5 per pound that Bustelo costs me.

After getting a home espresso machine after months of anticipation, I was so excited to order these Lavazza beans after reading several positive reviews. Many have claimed that these are some of the best of the Lavazza line, but I have to firmly disagree. Although I have had delicious Lavazza coffee at restaurants, Lavazza's whole-bean coffee end needs to perform better quality control--despite an expiry date of August 2013, the beans I purchased have so far made just awful coffee, with a weak flavor, harsh acidity and a slightly stale taste as both drip coffee and espresso. I can't blame Amazon since the beans are indeed good for another 18 months, but buyer beware!

Delicious! Fast shipping!

This is our favourite coffee but it has doubled in price. Super Disappointing.