LavazzaGusto Forte Espresso Beans 2.2 lbs

I was totally spoiled long ago with that Awesomely Hard To Find, and most perfectly black Espresso Roast one always gets at a True.. Italian Restaurant.. when I went to work for Gloria Jean's Coffee Bean back in 1990. The lady under whom I worked was not only a former childhood neighbor, but also had actually studied coffee in college.. While I found this fact a bit unusual.. She knew a tremendous about about it and passed a lot on to me.. That first cup of proper Italian Espresso spoiled me for life..I am very well known for my incredible and decadent Cappuccinos and Mochas and so on.. I have had many, many blends and types from all over the world ... From Jamaica Blue Mountain, to Kenya AA ---to Sumatra Mandheling to Vietnamese and even East Timorese roasts, and of course the inimitable and most fantastic Hawaiian Kona... Coffee is my passion... Between working at Gloria Jean's in the past and the other fact of half of my family travelling all over the globe and always sending me deluxe coffees.I will never forget that very first cup of Jo... I had never had coffee before, and said to myself, " Well?? If I am going to work at a " Proper " coffee shop.. I had better try it and possibly even learn to like/love it... So... If we are going to do this.. I am going to have the biggest, strongest, toughest, most potent and AWESOME coffee possible...So... we set that wonderful 5' tall grinder to Turkish ( heh ) and triple packed the basket (extra-firmly).. We then put it on that wonderful old Brass and Copper - Three Dome Gaggia with the Brass Eagle on top ( You all know the one ) and turned that bugger on... OOOOOOOHHHHHMG!!! HAHHAAHAHAH The machine started vibrating.. Pressure went up to just over 16lbs.. the over-pressure valves were tweeting just a bit and steam was going everywhere.. and the coffee was coming out like muddy syrup!! HAHHAHA We were all scared it was going to E'Splode!!, but it made it!!! and I had my very first cup of coffee ever..I looked at that cup of charcoal tar coffee * chuckles * and remembered Diana on " Waiting For God " and said, " 14 Sugars... Please Tom! " HAHAH ( In retrospect... these days I drink it strong and black, or with a bit of cream only ) I held my nose and tossed back that cup in one gulp and it really wasn't all that bad... Too sweet really, but I liked it... I came out from behind moments later, and then all of a sudden... it happened... The Coffee HIT!!! and I felt my first flush of jojo... I started laughing... and laughing... and just sliiiiiiid down the cases to the floor... laughing for almost 8 minutes... I was done from that point on... Forever in love with Kaffee!Café has been my number one beverage ever since, and I have made it my business to know as many blends and types as I can.. The Italians know coffee.. the heart of coffee.. better than anyone, in my opinion... They did... come up with Espresso and Cappuccino.. after all... but obtaining the sacred black roast is most difficult...The Italian Fellow below by the name of Walter is very correct about this coffee, as is Josie.. This is the REAL-DEAL Super Espresso roast.. It is an acquired taste... If you truly are passionate about super strong proper Italian Espresso/Cappuccino - etc.. Then this coffee is for you.. If you want lighter, but full flavor then go Gran Crema.. Lighter than that then either Crema & Aroma, or Super Crema... all of them are good... I personally.. have really wanted my True Italian Super Roast back for many many years.. This is One Cup Will Do You coffee... Please be sure you have it with food...I hope you all also enjoyed the most precious memory of my very first coffee.. It is a cherished one that still makes me laugh to this very day..Namaste...Au.

My wife and I have been trying different beans in a quest to find something good, strong and consistent. We found it with Lavazza Gusto Forte. Grinds consistently. Great flavor. Worth the price.

Bold and does the job as a morning quicker picker upper!

I bought this Lavazza coffee to brew with my Philips 5400 Lattego espresso machine. Most often I drink cappuccinos from it but every once in awhile will make an espresso or ristretto con panna. These beans have a very strong full flavor nearing bitterness. It's a lot stronger than the super crema and the Gran Reserva. I think you'd have to be a pretty hardcore espresso drinker to have this straight without any milk or sweetener I know I couldn't do it but it is great with a cappuccino and I still don't need to add any sweetener. If you don't like really strong espresso don't buy this and then complain about it later. Like another reviewer said you should go with a super crema or a milder roast. I will probably buy this again although I did like the Gran reserva of the best.

Taste is a personal preference. To my liking, I'd have given this one 5 stars. It's full, not bitter and its flavors are refreshing. Yet, you can expect a 7 or 8 months old product. The same happened with another "Gusto" I had. In more famous Lavazza lines, you can expect a 3 mo product. In the first few days, the extra product age won't be a big deal as the bag is freshly opened and the entrapped flavors are still there. But towards the end of the bag, the older product would be too ashy.

Been buying this brand for a few years. Haven’t had a bad cup of coffee. Makes great espresso and also use it for my regular coffee. Smooth taste. Not bitter. I would recommend this if you want a great cup of coffee!

If you like VERY DARK/BOLD coffee, I recommend this blend.Worth taking the time to grind the beans.Great cacao finish.

Why am I the only person who remembers that an "espresso roast" means the beans are black and oily? I find it astounding that Lavazza, a world-recognized, fancy-shmantzy Italian brand, has no clue that this is the case.No espresso "bite", no smokiness. Good enough for the regular coffee maker but a total waste in the espresso machine. I'm going back to Starbucks espresso roast, as they know what an espresso roast actually is.