illy Espresso Tasting Pack with Decaf - beans - 3 x 250 g

illy espresso – with and without caffeine

illy's world-famous 100% Arabica blend in three variants. Classico is the classic, harmonious blend; Intenso (formerly Zwart) is darker-roasted and bolder; Decaffeinato is the same illy quality but caffeine-free – just as good, even late in the day.

What's inside?

illy Classico – balanced and smooth with notes of chocolate and caramel.
illy Intenso – full-bodied and bold, dark-roasted with a long finish.
illy Decaffeinato – decaffeinated, smooth and round with the full illy aroma.

3 x 250 grams of coffee beans, suitable for any espresso machine with a bean grinder. Prefer ground? Choose our ground espresso tasting pack with decaf.

Explore More

Sample packs Illy

More Information
Product code	CDJ-ILLY-ESP-BONEN-DECAF
Brand	illy
Produced in	Italy

Customer Questions

Which coffees are in the illy Espresso tasting pack with decaf in beans?

You get three 250 gram tins of whole coffee beans: illy Classico, illy Intenso and illy Decaffeinato. Classico is the mild, balanced roast, Intenso is the darker and stronger variant that used to be called illy Black, and Decaffeinato is the decaffeinated illy. Together that is 750 grams of coffee beans. The composition of this pack is fixed and cannot be changed.

Does this illy tasting pack with decaf contain whole beans or ground coffee?

This pack contains whole coffee beans, so you need a grinder or a bean to cup machine with a bean hopper. If you want ready ground coffee, choose the illy Espresso tasting pack with decaf in ground coffee. Mixing up beans and ground is the most common ordering mistake, so do check before you pay.

Can I mix the illy Decaffeinato beans with the regular illy beans?

Mixing works fine, as long as you choose two coffees with the same roast level. The roast determines your grind size and the flow time: if you mix dark with light, one bean is ground too fine and the other too coarse and you get bitter and sour in the same cup. So look at the colour of the beans and combine the Decaffeinato with the roast that comes closest to it, with Classico being lighter and Intenso darker. Start with half and half and then adjust your grind size to taste.

How much caffeine is in the illy Decaffeinato from this trial pack?

According to illy, the illy Decaffeinato contains less than 0.1 percent caffeine. That is the legal maximum for decaffeinated roasted coffee in the EU: a small amount of caffeine always remains, it is never truly zero. For comparison: for the illy Classico and Intenso in this pack, illy states less than 1.5 percent caffeine.

Why does my espresso made with illy Decaffeinato have less crema?

A thinner layer of crema is normal with decaf, because decaffeination makes the bean lose part of its oils. We advise dosing a little higher, setting a slightly coarser grind size and working towards a ratio of 1 to 2 in 25 to 30 seconds. A hotter brewing temperature often helps as well. The flavour stays full, but the crema is rarely as thick as with the caffeinated illy from this pack.