Caffe Borbone Beans (Blue) - Whole Bean Coffee, 2.2-Pound Bag

Bitter and strong bust still a good coffee

This is the best espresso bean on the planet.

Bought from nicoletti coffee Bait and switch job

Just ok....won’t be ordering again

The best Coffee Italy has to offer. Very excited I can purchase it in the US.

I’ve been a dedicated espresso drinker since 1965 and have purchased most of the Italian brands. When we were in Italy last month, a couple from Verona recommended Borbone, so I thought I’d switch from Mauro Deluxe, my brand for the past several years and give it a try. Not much information on the 1 Kg package, just miscela blu and for automatic distributors, which I presume means those automatic espresso vending machines. No information about the ratio of arabica/robusta in the beans. The beans were a medium dark roast, typical of espresso made in Naples, however, I did not get the rich aroma that I am used to with a more expensive bean. I emptied my Ascaso flat burr grinder and ran some beans through to clear out the Mauro Deluxe, so I could taste just the Borbone blend. The first shot from my Nuova Simonelli Oscar had great crema and a nice walnut color, darker than the Mauro, aroma not so great. I knew right away that this blend had a high percentage of Robusta. Sure enough, it was much more bitter than the Mauro and other blends that I have purchased. Although coffee from Naples is usually a dark blend, it is not typically this bitter. Sorry, Borbone, you better stick to vending machines. I did see that there is also a gold blend, which appears to be Arabica, so that might be better, but the blu is not for me.

I am totally spoiled now. This is the only caffe I saw served in my grandparents town in Italy. Incredibly smooth, deep and rich, lacking in acide.

Best espresso coffee ever!