Tasting notes & flavour profile
Intensity
Flavour notes
Flavour profile
Classico is the medium roast of illy's 100% Arabica blend, a unique blend of nine Arabicas. illy gives it an intensity rating of 5 out of 9 and describes it as follows: subtle, smooth notes of caramel, orange blossom and jasmine, followed by a sweet aftertaste, for those who enjoy a mild, velvety cup. A coffee to grind to suit your brewing method: espresso, lungo, moka pot or filter.
Compatible machines & brewing method
Espresso
Portafilter espresso machine or bean-to-cup machine, fine grind
- Grind
- Fine
- Dose
- 7 g
- Volume
- 25 to 30 ml
- Extraction
- 25 to 30 s
Lungo
Same dose, longer extraction for a lungo
- Grind
- Fine to medium-fine
- Dose
- 7 g
- Volume
- 90 to 110 ml
Moka pot
Moka pot over low heat, basket filled without tamping
- Grind
- Medium-fine
- Dose
- Full basket
- Heat
- Low
- Time
- 3 to 4 min
Filter coffee
Filter coffee machine or pour-over dripper, medium grind
- Grind
- Medium
- Ratio
- 60 g per litre
- Temp.
- 92 to 96 °C
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Frequently asked questions
What do illy Classico coffee beans taste like?
illy gives Classico an intensity rating of 5 out of 9. It is the medium roast of its 100% Arabica blend, with delicate notes of caramel, orange blossom and jasmine, and a sweet aftertaste: a mild, velvety coffee.
Which illy coffee beans should you choose?
- Classico (this product) — medium roast, 5 out of 9, caramel, orange blossom and jasmine.
- Intenso — dark roast, 7 out of 9, cocoa and dried fruit, with a rich, full-bodied aftertaste.
- Décaféiné — the same blend without caffeine (no more than 0,1%), 5 out of 9, caramel, chocolate and toast.
- Brasile — an Arabica exclusively from Brazil (Cerrado Mineiro), 5 out of 9, caramel and dried fruit.
- Colombia — an Arabica exclusively from the Colombian Andes, 4 out of 9, with delicate acidity, citrus and red fruit.
- Etiopia — a single-origin Arabica from Ethiopia, 3 out of 9, delicate, jasmine, orange blossom and camomile.
Which grind for each brewing method?
illy recommends this coffee for espresso, lungo, moka pots and filter coffee. Grind just before brewing: fine for espresso and lungo, medium-fine for a moka pot, and medium for filter coffee. In a bean-to-cup machine, pour the beans into the hopper and set the grinder to a fine to medium-fine setting.
How many cups does a 250 g tin make?
Around 35 espressos using 7 g each, or 25 double espressos using 10 g each. In a moka pot (around 15 g for 3 cups), a tin makes around fifteen pots.
Why is the coffee sold in a pressurised tin?
The tin pressurisation process was developed by Francesco Illy, the company's founder. The tin is hermetically sealed, and the air is removed and replaced with pressurised nitrogen: the roasted coffee is protected from oxygen and moisture. illy states that this process preserves its taste and aromas for up to two years in an unopened tin.
How should you store the coffee after opening?
illy recommends storing the tin away from light and heat, preferably in the fridge after opening, with the lid firmly closed. Warning: once opened, the rim of the tin may be sharp. For best results, use the coffee within a few weeks of opening.
Does Classico contain caffeine?
Yes: illy states a caffeine content of no more than 1,5%, as with all its 100% Arabica coffee. For a caffeine-free cup with a similar profile, choose illy Décaféiné coffee beans, with the same roast and intensity.
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