Illy Intenso Ground Coffee, Dark Roast, Arabica, Great for Espresso Preparation, 250g Tin

Delicious coffee with a stronger, fuller taste. My go-to choice and ideal for the first cup of the day to get you started. Grind size is fine for my cafetiere and aeropress. However, not for the first time the tin was delivered without its lid. This is the third time this year (I get it delivered every three weeks with the occasional emergency tin ordered separately). Once again I had to get the lid from the empty tin out of the recylcing bin to use on the new tin, which is kind of keeping in the spirit of recycling I guess, and not the end of the world but... once the vacuum lid is taken off there would have been no way to keep the coffee fresh. Especially annoying if the recycling had been collected before opening the new tin.

I’ve been buying illy Classico Filter Coffee regularly for a while now, and it’s become my go-to daily brew. It’s smooth, mild, and perfect for filter coffee machines or a French press. Even though it’s classed as a medium roast, it tastes lighter than many others, which makes it ideal for all-day sipping without being too strong or bitter. The aroma is absolutely lovely—you get that hit of fresh, sweet scent the moment you pop open the tin (and let’s be honest, opening a new tin of coffee is half the joy!). I’ve found it to be good value for money, especially given the consistent quality and balanced flavour. It tastes fresh straight from the tin, and the lid reseals well, keeping the coffee in great condition between uses. If I had one small warning—it’s about the initial opening. The tin is a bit pressurised, so when you pull the tab, the coffee can almost burst out if you're not careful. I recommend opening it slowly and on a flat surface. Not a huge issue, just something to be aware of. I’m now considering trying the whole bean version so I can grind it myself and fine-tune the flavour even more—especially if I want to control coarseness for different brew methods. Pros: ✅ Smooth, mild flavour – Perfect for all-day drinking ✅ Lovely aroma – Especially when first opened ✅ Great in filter machines & cafetières ✅ Good value – Premium feel without a sky-high price ✅ Lid reseals well – Keeps coffee fresher for longer Cons: ❌ Pressurised tin pops a bit on first open – Just be cautious and slow Final Thoughts: This is a reliable, quality coffee that delivers on taste, smoothness, and aroma. If you want something that’s easy to drink, great in a filter machine, and pleasantly fragrant, illy’s Classico filter grind is a great choice—and a lovely way to start the day. Would I recommend it? Absolutely. A classy coffee, without the fuss.

illy Classico Ground Coffee is a good tasting coffee that works well in my espresso machine and offers good value. I really appreciate the premium, pressurized tin and initially thought it would be great for preserving freshness - which it is, before you open it. However, a significant drawback is that the container isn't actually airtight once opened. The strong coffee smell constantly escaped and filled whichever cupboard I stored it in. When I cleaned the tin out for recycling, I tested this by filling it with water and turning it upside down - sure enough, it leaked from the lid, confirming the poor seal. Because of this, I had to transfer the grounds to a proper airtight container to keep them from going stale. While I enjoy the coffee itself, the tin isn't suitable for storage after being opened.

It’s a lovely coffee and when you open your cupboard door the the aroma is beautiful! But that’s the problem, once you’ve opened the TIN it’s not airtight and while the aroma is nice if you want to keep it fresh you really do need to repackage it into an airtight container. The taste is lovely and it goes well with my Sage Bambino Plus cappuccinos!

Wonderful flavour

Frustratingly lovely filter coffee, I can’t grind my fresh beans to this quality to make filter coffee as good. Grinding perfection in a tin

Makes a good espresso with my coffee maker. Very finely ground so I don't tamp the grounds too firmly.

Pleasant but disappointing flavour. I brought some of this coffee back from Italy years ago and remember being impressed with the delightful flavour. This coffee did not live up to that memory - and did not represent great value for money.