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Tasting notes & flavour profile
Intensity
Flavour notes
Flavour profile
Passionale is Lavazza’s interpretation of traditional Italian espresso for the A Modo Mio system, and the most full-bodied of the range’s 100% Arabica blends, with an intensity of 11 out of 13. What sets it apart is precisely that it achieves this strength while remaining 100% Arabica: where most intense Italian blends rely on Robusta for body and crema, Lavazza achieves this through its selection of origins — Brazil, South Asia, Central and South America — and a deep dark roast. This explains its positioning: strength without rusticity.
In the cup, the company describes the profile as “balanced, full-bodied, mild” — three words that seem contradictory but describe the result well: a dense body and persistent crema, dominated by chocolate notes and a slightly caramelised touch from the roasting, with very low acidity and noticeable but restrained bitterness. The long finish is one of the blend’s strengths, with a chocolate aftertaste that lingers after you finish your cup.
What the 36 capsule format changes — and what it doesn’t. The official net weight of this box is 270 g, or 7,5 g per capsule: exactly the same dose as in the box of 16. The coffee in the cup is therefore completely identical; only the quantity per box changes. This is a notable difference from some value formats in the range, which contain less coffee per capsule — here, the larger format makes no compromise on the dose; it simply lowers the cost per cup and means you need to restock less often.
Compatible machines & brewing method
Full-bodied espresso
Insert a capsule into the A Modo Mio machine and press the short coffee button — the standard extraction for this blend
- Dose
- 7,5 g per capsule
- Volume
- 30 to 40 ml
- Extraction
- ~25 s
- Result
- Dense body, persistent crema, chocolate
Intense ristretto
Deliberately shortened extraction — concentrates the body and chocolate note, and reduces the lingering bitterness
- Dose
- 7,5 g per capsule
- Volume
- 20 to 25 ml
- Extraction
- ~18 s
- Who it’s for
- Those who enjoy a very concentrated coffee
Long lungo
Use the long coffee button on the machine — the dark roast works well with a longer extraction, unlike mild blends
- Dose
- 7,5 g per capsule
- Volume
- ~100 ml
- Result
- Lighter, with more pronounced bitterness
- Use
- Morning mug, office coffee
Cappuccino and macchiato
Passionale espresso followed by frothed milk — the 11/13 intensity is precisely what allows the coffee to hold its own against the milk
- Base
- 1 capsule, ~30 ml
- Milk
- 100 to 150 ml, frothed
- Volume
- ~180 ml
- Tip
- A mild blend would be overpowered by the milk
Machine compatibility
Box of 36 capsules · Compostable capsules · certified to EN 13432
Compatible machines:
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Frequently asked questions
How does this differ from the box of 16 Passionale capsules?
The coffee is exactly the same; only the quantity differs. Both boxes contain the same Passionale blend, with the same dose of 7,5 g per capsule — the official net weight of this box is 270 g for 36 capsules, so the weight per capsule is the same as in the 16 pack. The flavour, intensity and extraction are therefore identical.
- Box of 36 (this product) — lower cost per cup, less frequent restocking. Suitable for regular consumption or a household with several coffee drinkers.
- Box of 16 — a trial or top-up pack, handy for trying the blend or switching between varieties without stocking up.
This is worth clarifying, as some other products in the range have a lower coffee weight per capsule in the larger pack. That is not the case here.
Are these capsules compatible with my A Modo Mio machine?
With the vast majority of A Modo Mio machines, but not all — and this is what you need to check before ordering. On its official A Modo Mio collection page, Lavazza states that its compostable capsules are not compatible with the following models: Espria, Espria+, Magia, Magia+, Fantasia, Fantasia+.
Compatible machines: Jolie, Jolie&Milk, Jolie Evo, Voicy, Deséa, Idola, Tiny, Tiny Eco, Piccina, Minù. If you are unsure about an older model, you will find its name underneath the machine or at the back of the drip tray.
Incompatible systems, however, are Lavazza Blue and Lavazza Espresso Point (which are professional systems), Nespresso, Dolce Gusto, Delta Q and illy Iperespresso. The A Modo Mio capsule has a format specific to its system. See the available A Modo Mio machines.
How should compostable capsules be disposed of?
A Modo Mio capsules are compostable and certified to EN 13432-2002 by TÜV Austria — but this certification covers industrial composting, which has an important practical consequence:
- Do not put them in a home compost bin — garden compost does not reach the temperatures needed to break them down.
- Do not dispose of them with green waste from your garden.
- Check your local council's waste sorting guidelines: organic waste collection schemes vary between local authorities, and not all accept compostable packaging.
If there is no suitable collection scheme near you, put the capsule in your general household waste. If you open the capsule, the coffee grounds can easily be composted or used around the base of plants.
This information comes from the official Lavazza page. Always refer to the information on your packaging.
How long does a box of 36 capsules last?
36 espresso, one capsule per cup. A guide to how long a box lasts:
- 1 espresso per day — just over a month.
- 2 espresso per day — around 18 days.
- Two-person household, 2 cups each — around 9 days.
- Weekend use only — two to three months.
For storage, the capsule is hermetically sealed: unlike coffee beans or ground coffee, which oxidise within a few weeks of opening the pack, coffee in a capsule retains its aromas as long as the capsule has not been pierced. A box of 36 can therefore be kept without any problem until the date shown on the packaging, stored at room temperature and away from light.
Is Passionale the most full-bodied A Modo Mio blend?
No — but it is the most full-bodied of the 100% Arabica coffees in the range, and that is precisely what makes it distinctive. Intenso is more powerful, thanks to its use of Robusta. Passionale achieves its 11 out of 13 without using any, purely through the choice of origins and a dark roast.
To help you choose, from the most full-bodied to the mildest:
- Intenso — an Arabica and Robusta blend, the most powerful in the range, with notes of cocoa and spice. The classic Italian espresso, with a more rustic character.
- Passionale (this product) — 100% Arabica, dark roast, notes of chocolate and caramel. A dense body without rusticity.
- Delizioso — also 100% Arabica, but with a floral, slightly sweet profile. The middle-ground choice.
- Soave and Dolce — the mild profiles in the range, the latter designed for a lungo.
Recommendation: Passionale if you want intensity with aromatic finesse, Intenso if you want maximum Italian-style strength.
Is there a decaf or are there other options in boxes of 36 capsules?
Yes to both:
- Decaffeinated — Lavazza DEK Cremoso A Modo Mio, for your evening coffee.
- Another box of 36 — Lavazza Dolce A Modo Mio 36 capsules, with a mild profile that contrasts with Passionale. Please note: its coffee weight per capsule is lower, which is not the case here.
- Larger quantity — the A Modo Mio capsule multipack brings together several boxes for those who drink a lot of coffee.
See the full A Modo Mio range: all blends, the decaffeinated option and the available pack sizes.
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