Illy vs. Lavazza Coffee Comparison Review

crazy by Editorial Staff | Updated on December 18th, 2022

Taking coffee is an everyday enjoyable experience for many coffee lovers, as many people enjoy this ritual every morning and sometimes during the day. It could be a cup of Italian coffee, a macchiato, an espresso, or a cappuccino. However, there is always a debate on which Italian coffee is the best. Many times, it is usually between the Illy and Lavazza.


Illy and Lavazza are very popular coffee brands throughout Italy, and in many other countries, they are also enjoyed. Before choosing the best brand, you need to understand each brand and how it can benefit you as a coffee lover. We have provided a detailed comparison of the two brands for you, guaranteed to help your decision-making process. 

Illy vs. Lavazza Coffee Review

If you love coffee, you may drink the Illy and the Lavazza. These companies have been making coffee for decades and know the game’s ropes. Illy and Lavazza have a larger consumer base and are more popular than coffee brands like Kimbo and Danesi. The two brands offer special types of coffee, but they differ in some ways. Before you choose one, you need to know their differences.

1. Brand Overview

Coffee from Illy and Lavazza may look very similar, but many things are different about these drinks. They both originate from Italy, but they are very different when it comes to flavor and aroma.

Illy

Lily was founded later than Lavazza in 1933 in Italy by Francesco Illy and named after the founder. The Illy brand is currently run as a family business, with a descendant of the founder now in charge of the business. In many countries, people take Illy coffee, known for its quality.

It is enjoyed by many because of its unique blend and three different types of roasts. Illy has continued to expand its product base. Recently, it introduced the arabica beans roast from different countries, including Brazil, Ethiopia, Costa Rica, Colombia, and India.

Illy, also known as Illy caffe, is one of the most famous Italian coffees globally. The brand’s name is from the founder’s last name, and until today, a member of the Illy family still runs the company. This brand only has a single coffee blend, just roasted to different roasting types.

Illy launched different blends of single-origin coffee not long ago from Guatemala, Ethiopia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, and India. Take note as well that Illy is 100% Arabica.

Target market

Ily is deemed to be more high-end than the Lavazza, and its presence is of more significance than the latter in the Italian espresso market. Thus, Illy is more expensive.

Flavors

Despite being at a higher price point, Illy remains popular globally. Its top seller is the medium roast Moka pot ground coffee. Illy coffee is generally considered sweet and velvety with caramel, toast, fruit, and chocolate notes. It also has a fragrant aroma due to its floral accents, honey, and almond content.

The Arabica beans the brand utilizes are sourced across four continents and are carefully chosen to maintain their high-quality status. As a result, Illy is loved by those who prefer a sweeter cup without bitterness.

Lavazza

Lavazza has been in the business for over 120 years and is known as one of the world’s oldest Italian coffee brands. It can be seen in numerous countries today but was found in Turin, Italy, in 1895. The company was named after its founder Luigi Lavazza just like Illy and is also a family-run business. When annual revenue is considered, Lavazza is the larger one of the two coffee brands. Lavazza also has more employees than Illy and is committed to ensuring sustainability in coffee production and quality.

Robusta and Arabica

Since we’ve mentioned that Lavazza is a blend of Arabica and Robusta, let’s break down the differences between the two.

  • Arabica accounts for 75% of the produced coffee, while Robusta accounts for just 25%.
  • Arabica has a sweeter taste and distinct flavors than Robusta.
  • Robusta beans are known to house more caffeine, thus, more antioxidants.
  • Robusta creates a more robust cup of Joe.

Target market

Lavazza’s pre-ground coffee is a buyer’s choice for Moka pot brewers. This is their top product making them loved by many Italian coffee lovers.

Flavors

For this category, let’s look into the brand’s most popular product, the Lavazza Gran Crema. The Arabica content gives mild acidity that balances the sweetness of the beans. In addition, they use washed Robusta beans to take the bitterness away and allow a deeper and more chocolatey flavor. This blend is a top seller in Europe and the US because it’s wonderful and works great with add-ons too!

2. Beans Used

 The coffee beans used by the two brands come from different countries. However, each company prefers particular types of coffee beans for its production. Illy produces coffee from 100% arabica beans and is r key producer of premium coffee. Some products from the Illy brand are also blends of robusta beans and Arabica beans produced under certain conditions.

Lavazza produces coffee mainly as a rich blend of arabica and robusta. On the other hand, 100% arabica coffee is made from Lavazza. 

3. Coffee Products Available

The two brands produce different coffee types to satisfy consumers’ needs and the high demand for numerous kinds of coffee. Illy manufactures five coffee products: whole coffee beans, k-cup pods, capsules, ground coffee, and capsules. These products have different varieties, like whole beans with seven types. 

Just like Illy, Lavazza also makes different coffee products to cater to the demands and needs of the market. They produce four coffee groups: instant coffee, whole beans coffee, espresso coffee capsules, and ground coffee, and these categories of coffee from Lavazza also have wide varieties. The whole beans category has a variety that is a blend of arabica and robusta. The other variety is one hundred percent arabica.

4. Coffee Aroma and Flavor

Illy

 Different aromas from the various types of coffee largely depend on the kind of coffee beans used. The Illy brand produces coffee with an aroma that is not commonly seen. It is a mildly acidic, sharp aroma with a pleasant and rich flavor.

The taste of Lavazza coffee reflects the blend of robusta and arabica coffee beans. The coffee has a soft color, and the aroma is that of chocolates mixed with fruits. The medium-roasted coffee beans used to make Lavazza give it the blend of flavors that consumers enjoy.

Many coffee types’ flavor depends on different factors, like the coffee beans’ freshness because fresh coffee will have a rich flavor. Another factor that affects flavor and aroma is the brewing method. Different flavors and aromas may be produced if different machines are used in brewing coffee.

Lavazza

5. Coffee Packaging 

Coffee packaging matters to many coffee drinkers. They choose coffee based on the aesthetics of the packaging or how portable or convenient it is. The packaging is also another factor that contributes to the freshness of the coffee. Illy and Lavazza brands put commendable efforts into packaging their coffee, but Illy pays attention to detail as their packaging involves airtight and high-pressure metal canisters and seals. They also use many safe preservation methods, like using methylene chloride.

Lavazza coffee packaging can be metal or paper, but their canisters are pressurized just like Illy packaging, and their paper packaging is vacuum-packed. These types of packaging used by both brands keep the coffee drinks fresh.

6. Average Beans Prices 

Different factors determine the costs of purchasing coffee from Illy and Lavazza, and these factors can be the type of coffee, quantity, and coffee roast. Therefore, it is impossible to give a definite price, but you save more when you purchase larger amounts of coffee from them. Lavazza is relatively cheaper when compared to Illy when making wholesale and retail purchases. Sometimes, buying in bulk is accompanied by free shipping, so it is a win-win

Which One is Better? 

Illy and Lavazza brands and now household names when coffee is considered, and they have made their mark in their country of origin and different countries of the world. It cannot be easy for anyone to choose one over the other, even with a coffee-drinking experience.

Each brand may satisfy some people’s needs and may not work for others, so you need to know your preference, which would help you decide between Illy and Lavazza. But if you are looking for a rich and unique coffee taste and you do not mind spending an extra few bucks, Illy is for you. On the other hand, if you are not looking to spend too much and want coffee with a good blend of flavors and mild acidity, choose Lavazza.

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Disclosure: No compensation or free products were received in exchange for writing this review.

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Editorial Staff

The editorial staff at Crazy Coffee Crave is a team of coffee enthusiasts & Baristas who enjoy the one thing we all think about as soon as we get up in the morning. Trusted by thousands of readers worldwide.