Two essential Lavazza coffees, two slightly different profiles. Compare their intensity, flavour and uses to choose the coffee beans that best suit your machine and habits.
Lavazza Crema e Aroma Expert
A rich, intense and creamy coffee, particularly suited to those who enjoy full-bodied espresso and milk-based drinks with character.
View Crema e Aroma Expert
Lavazza Crema Classica
A balanced, smooth and velvety coffee, ideal for everyday drinking, whether as an espresso or a lungo.
View Crema ClassicaAre you looking for intense, creamy Lavazza coffee beans suitable for everyday drinking? Two products are particularly similar: Lavazza Crema e Aroma Expert and Lavazza Crema Classica.
Both coffees combine Arabica and Robusta and have a medium roast. Yet the results in the cup are not quite the same. Crema e Aroma Expert focuses more on intensity and character, while Crema Classica favours a smoother, more velvety profile.
Lavazza Crema e Aroma Expert vs Crema Classica: a quick comparison
| Feature | Crema e Aroma Expert | Crema Classica |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Coffee beans | Coffee beans |
| Blend | Arabica & Robusta | Arabica & Robusta |
| Lavazza intensity | 11/13 | 10/13 |
| Roast | Medium | Medium |
| User profile | Rich, intense and creamy | Rich, balanced and velvety |
| Dominant notes | Fruity, woody, dark chocolate, spices | Cocoa, dark chocolate |
| Body | Pronounced | Smooth |
| Crema | Thick and generous | Creamy and long-lasting |
| Espresso | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Lungo | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ |
| Cappuccino / latte | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Ideal user | Full-bodied coffee lovers | Balanced coffee lovers |
Lavazza Crema e Aroma Expert: an intense, generous espresso
Lavazza Crema e Aroma Expert belongs to Lavazza's professional Expert range. It was designed to produce a rich, consistent and particularly creamy cup.
With an intensity of 11/13, a medium roast and a blend of Arabica and Robusta, it has a more pronounced character than Crema Classica.
What does Crema e Aroma Expert taste like?
It is the stronger of the two coffees in our comparison. In the cup, its profile is clearly aimed at those who enjoy coffee with body.
- Generous body.
- Bold initial flavour.
- Pleasantly lingering aromas.
- Fruity and woody nuances.
- Hints of dark chocolate and spices.
- Generous crema.
The result is particularly well suited to those who enjoy authentic, full-bodied Italian espresso, without necessarily opting for an extremely dark roast.
Who is this coffee for?
We particularly recommend Crema e Aroma Expert if you:
- enjoy intense coffees;
- mainly drink espressos;
- want a generous crema;
- like the coffee flavour to come through clearly in a cappuccino;
- use an automatic bean-to-cup machine at home or in the office;
- are looking for a versatile coffee with plenty of character.
✓ Its strengths
- High intensity.
- Very good results as an espresso.
- Generous crema.
- Comes through well in milk-based drinks.
- Bold flavour profile.
Worth knowing
- May be too intense for those who enjoy very mild coffees.
- Its character is more pronounced in a short espresso.
- For a smoother lungo, Crema Classica will often be the better choice.
Lavazza Crema Classica: smoother and more balanced
Lavazza Crema Classica also belongs to the Expert range. It offers a rich, balanced blend with a velvety texture and an intensity of 10/13.
The difference in intensity compared with Crema e Aroma Expert is only one point, but it is most noticeable in the overall balance of the cup.
What does Lavazza Crema Classica taste like?
Crema Classica has a more indulgent, broadly appealing profile, with notes reminiscent of cocoa and dark chocolate in particular.
We would recommend it if you are looking for:
- a smooth coffee;
- noticeable but moderate intensity;
- restrained bitterness;
- indulgent notes;
- a coffee that is enjoyable as an espresso or a lungo.
It has enough character to make a true Italian espresso, while remaining more approachable than Crema e Aroma Expert.
Who is this coffee for?
Crema Classica is an excellent choice if several people use the same machine and do not necessarily share the same preferences.
- Morning coffees.
- Coffee breaks at the office.
- Everyday espressos.
- Lungos.
- Relatively mild cappuccinos and lattes.
What is the difference between Crema e Aroma Expert and Crema Classica?
1. Crema e Aroma Expert is more intense
This is the easiest difference to identify: 11/13 for Crema e Aroma Expert compared with 10/13 for Crema Classica.
If your priority is a powerful coffee with a pronounced presence on the palate, Crema e Aroma Expert has the edge.
2. Crema Classica is smoother
Crema Classica places more emphasis on balance. Its cocoa profile and velvety texture make it particularly well suited to everyday drinking.
It will often be a better fit for a family or office where some people enjoy espressos while others prefer lungos.
3. Both produce a lovely crema
These two Arabica/Robusta blends are particularly appealing to those who enjoy rich, creamy espressos.
If you own an automatic coffee machine and are looking for a lovely layer of crema, both coffees are very good choices.
Which Lavazza should you choose for an automatic coffee machine?
Whether you own a Delonghi, Philips, Jura, Krups, Siemens or Melitta machine, or another espresso machine with a built-in grinder, both coffees can be used every day.
Your choice should mainly depend on the type of drink you make most often.
Crema e Aroma Expert or Crema Classica for breakfast?
That mainly depends on how you like to start your day.
For a short, powerful espresso, we would choose Crema e Aroma Expert.
For a lungo with toast or pastries, Crema Classica is particularly enjoyable thanks to its smoother character.
If you enjoy a morning cappuccino, you may also prefer Crema e Aroma Expert when you want the coffee flavour to remain prominent after adding milk.
Which coffee should you choose for an Italian-style espresso?
Both coffees are well suited to the style sought by many Italian espresso lovers: body, a generous crema, intensity and a sufficiently developed roast to produce an expressive cup.
You want balance: Crema Classica.
How should you set up your machine for these coffee beans?
There is no universal setting: it depends on your machine, the temperature, the amount of coffee used and your preferences.
We recommend starting with a medium grind setting and then adjusting gradually.
- If the coffee flows too quickly and seems too weak, try a slightly finer grind.
- If extraction is very slow and the espresso becomes too bitter, use a slightly coarser grind.
- With Crema e Aroma Expert, a relatively concentrated extraction brings out its character particularly well.
- With Crema Classica, you have more scope to vary the cup volume, from espresso to lungo.
Which Lavazza should you choose for your preferences?
| You are looking for... | Our choice |
|---|---|
| The most intense | Crema e Aroma Expert |
| The most balanced option | Crema Classica |
| A full-bodied espresso | Crema e Aroma Expert |
| An easy-drinking everyday coffee | Crema Classica |
| A generous crema | Both |
| A coffee for cappuccino | Crema e Aroma Expert |
| A lungo | Crema Classica |
| A coffee for the office | Crema Classica |
| Cocoa / chocolate notes | Crema Classica |
| A more pronounced flavour | Crema e Aroma Expert |
Our verdict: Crema e Aroma Expert or Crema Classica?
There is really no wrong choice between these two Lavazza coffees. They simply meet two slightly different expectations.
Crema e Aroma Expert
Choose this if you are looking above all for an intense, full-bodied and rich espresso. It is also our choice for cappuccinos where the coffee needs to come through clearly.
Discover Crema e Aroma ExpertCrema Classica
Choose this if you are looking for a smoother, more balanced and more versatile coffee. It is an excellent choice for an automatic coffee machine used every day.
Discover Crema ClassicaFAQ: Crema e Aroma Expert and Crema Classica
Which is stronger: Crema e Aroma Expert or Crema Classica?
Lavazza Crema e Aroma Expert is the more intense of the two. It has an intensity rating of 11/13, compared with 10/13 for Crema Classica.
Which should you choose for an espresso?
For a strong espresso, we recommend Crema e Aroma Expert. For a smoother, more balanced espresso, choose Crema Classica instead.
Which should you choose for a cappuccino?
We favour Crema e Aroma Expert: its greater intensity allows the coffee flavour to remain more prominent after milk is added.
Is Crema Classica a mild coffee?
With an intensity rating of 10/13, it is still relatively intense. It is better described as more balanced and smoother than Crema e Aroma Expert, rather than a truly mild coffee.
Do both coffees contain Robusta?
Yes. Both coffees combine Arabica and Robusta, which contribute in particular to their body and crema.
What is their roast level?
Both have a medium roast, allowing them to maintain a good balance between body, intensity and aromatic expression.
Can you use these coffees in an automatic bean-to-cup machine?
Yes. Both of these whole bean coffees are perfectly suited to automatic bean-to-cup machines and can be used at home or in a professional setting.
In conclusion
When choosing between Lavazza Crema e Aroma Expert and Lavazza Crema Classica, the difference comes down mainly to the level of intensity and the profile you are looking for.
Lovers of strong coffee will naturally tend to prefer Crema e Aroma Expert. Those looking for an easy-drinking everyday coffee that can satisfy a range of tastes will probably find what they are looking for in Crema Classica.
