mjackson ♦ Shannon,

You are choosing a nice machine and what a nice gift. I would get a non oily bean such as Lavazza. That will work best. Unfortunately a Starbucks bean or Peetes is going to be to oily in order for your machine to work best. If you like the stronger flavor try the Super Crema from Lavazza. The oily beans will clog up your grinder and machine. I hope this helps and let us know if you have any more questions.

02-03-2012 8:40am |

mjackson ♦ Petr,

Thank you for the great question. After some research and looking into details on the percentage of robusta in Lavazza I have your answer. The coffee you are referring to in the sampler is the Super Crema which is a 80/20 blend. It does as the name applies make a great Crema. Please email or call with any other questions.

12-07-2011 5:17pm |

DRuff Hi Peter. Thank you for your question. The Lavazza Sampler pack is a very popular package. The coffee that you are referring to is the Super Crema, which is 80 percent arabica and 20 robusta. Adding a little robusta aids in producing the velvety crema this coffee is known for. I hope this helps. Feel free to ask any additional questions. Happy Brewing!

12-07-2011 5:19pm |

DRuff Hi Jesse Jesse. Lavazza is a great espresso to use in any machine. The sampler pack is very popular for people that want to try a variety of coffee by Lavazza. If you really want to treat yourself take a look at some of the micro-roasters that we have such as Atomic Cafe or Paradise Coffee. Pods are good for convenience, but nothing beats fresh ground coffee. I like to use pods when I'm entertaining as they are fast and easy. Feel free to call us when you get the machine should you need help.

12-02-2011 9:34am |

Michael Rosso ♦ Guillaume...Thank you for being a loyal Lavazza coffee drinker. I would suggest you take a look at either the Caffe D'arte Whole Bean Espresso Sampler or the Filicori Zecchini Whole Bean Espresso Samplers. Thanks.

04-06-2011 4:20pm |

TechMilanoItalia Susan, the Lavazza coffees will certainly not disappoint you. They are not overly intense, but each have a separate, distinct flavor profile that you will be able to discern. They are not bitter or burnt tasting like a lot of mainstream espresso blends. Give then a try, we're sure you'll fall in love with at least one, if not all three! =)

08-10-2010 6:12pm |

TechMilanoItalia No, the Lavazza beans tend to be a lot less oily than most beans out there but still give you a great flavor. We would highly recommend them for use in a Super-Auto.

07-14-2010 5:40pm |

WholeLatteLoveRep1 Hello Fred! The beans will last a surprisingly long time if kept in a cool, dry, air-tight location. I recommend a Tupperware container that you can store in a pantry or cupboard. (just not a cupboard above the stove ;-} )

04-15-2010 12:14pm |