"In may we took a cruise on Norweigan Cruise Lines for 7 days around the Adriatic.
A few days before we left I was offered to bid on a suite.
I did and got it, Gee Wow!
Best part of the trip was the Lavaza espresso maker.
i would estimate its value at $ 4,000.00.
When i came home I searched the web for espresso machines.
I settled on a Cuisinart 200 at around $150. I takes loose espresso and ESE's.
So I ordered 20 ILy, 20 Lavaza and a 45 pkg. southern Italy collection sampler.
It looks like the skill of tamping the loose coffee grounds is a skill that makes all the difference in the coffee delivery.
I rated each sample for taste and cream foam. And ability to hand open the packages. That varied more than the product inside
Some required a pair of scissors.
Then I went back to Amazon and was fascinated by that weird looking man on your packaging.
150 pod in a box from you folks was was good deal.
So without tasting first, I placed an order.
I am very happy.
Packages open easily, flavor is robust as I hoped, and foam is good!
And I read about Mr. Borbone, Interesting person.
And I will look for you shops when i travel again."

This blend contains less robusta than their red blend, but enough to give it that thicker texture and sharp flavor needed to stand out in a cap or latte. It is perfect for my wife's morning indulgences, which include flavored syrups as well. For those who want to make Starbucks-style drinks at home, this pod does the trick.

As straight espresso or cafe Americano, the blue is one of the better robusta blends out there. I still prefer pure Abrabica pods, but if these are all we have on hand, I can make myself a decent cup of joe.

Easy to use, with no fuss dealing with coffee grounds. Have a DeLonghi Semi-Automatic Pump Espresso Maker.

I Don't really get much of a cream (most likely due to the machine we have)

Cream isn't important, as I used the espresso to make Latte's.

Not super strong, however, again it is most likely due to the amount of milk I use in my Latte. Would be perfect for straight espresso, or a cappuccino.

Can attest to the fact that the coffee is both smooth and flavorful. No bitter taste.

Tried the ESE pods from Illy, espresso. Did not like the taste. This coffee is 10 times better.

Would buy again.

Disappointed in these and returned them. It's a great idea and would make cleanup much, much easier. But, the pods didn't produce the crema which is essential to a good cup of expresso. I'm still looking for ESE pods that will provide crema...Also, these are environmentally friendly compared to a K cup or similar pods. I won't use K Cups because they can't be recycled and the ESE pods can. Have to keep as little out of the garbage stream as well can...

I think this is a very good quality espresso. It may be unfair, but I remove 1 star just because I like their Miscela GOLD a lot better. Yes, it is a bit more expensive being 100% arabica (the Blu has some robusta), but I like the Gold a lot better and will only buy the gold from now on.