To choose espresso to take to your holiday rental, first find out what machine is available. Whole beans need a built-in grinder or a separate coffee grinder, ground coffee must suit the brewing method, and capsules must match the system. Next, compare the blend’s stated composition and flavour profile with the group’s tastes, then choose an amount that suits your stay and can be stored properly once opened.
If you haven’t yet confirmed what equipment your rental has, choosing the right coffee format matters more than the brand or roast profile. Lavazza’s brewing guidance and the compatibility information from illy show why it’s important to identify the machine first.
If several people will be sharing the coffee, compare the stated profiles of 100% Arabica and Arabica-Robusta blends. Two smaller packs with different compositions may offer more choice than one large pack.
Choose a pack size to suit the number of coffee drinkers and cups you expect to make. If you’re taking home any leftover coffee, make sure you can seal it and protect it from light, heat and moisture, as Lavazza recommends.
For espresso at a holiday rental, check the machine first, then think about the group’s taste preferences. The amount to take and whether you need a decaffeinated option will help you make your final choice.
| Criteria | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Machine compatibility | Ask for the machine model or a photo. Check whether it has a built-in grinder, what brewing method it uses for ground coffee, or which capsule system it takes. | If I don’t know what machine is available, I want to avoid taking coffee I can’t use. Around 36% of consumers would make compatibility their top priority. |
| Blend profile | Read the composition and roast descriptions. Compare intensity scores only within the same range. | When the group has different tastes, I’d rather choose from several profiles than settle on one blend for everyone. Taste would be the top criterion for around 29% of consumers. |
| Quantity and storage | Estimate how many cups you’ll need and choose a pack you can finish or store in an opaque, airtight container. | For a short stay, I want to avoid leftovers without running out of coffee. Around 21% of consumers would put the amount to take first. |
| Decaffeinated option | If you’d like one, choose a separate product in a format that also suits the machine. | If someone in the group wants decaffeinated coffee, I want to be able to make them a cup without changing machines. Around 14% of consumers would make this their priority. |
Whole beans need a built-in grinder or a separate coffee grinder. A capsule labelled as compatible with Nespresso Original won’t necessarily work in another system.
Ask for the machine model or a photo before you set off. If you can’t identify it, wait until you see the machine before choosing a format.
An intensity score describes a product’s profile within its range; it isn’t a universal measure of taste or caffeine content.
Also check the composition, roast and tasting notes provided by the manufacturer. Compare intensity scores within the same range rather than across brands.
An opened pack could leave you with coffee to transport and store after your stay.
Estimate how much the group will need before choosing a pack size. Lavazza recommends keeping opened coffee away from light, heat and moisture in an opaque, airtight container.
A single blend won’t meet a request for decaffeinated coffee. This option also needs to suit the brewing method available.
If someone wants decaffeinated coffee, plan to bring a separate product once you’ve confirmed the machine, particularly if it uses capsules.
Lavazza offers whole bean and ground coffee for a range of home brewing methods.
illy offers 100% Arabica coffee, including Classico, Intenso and Forte whole bean profiles, as well as other formats.
Carte Noire offers espresso products in whole bean and capsule formats, including 100% Arabica coffees and Arabica-Robusta blends.
Carrefour offers own-brand whole bean coffee, including Espresso, Barista Blend, 100% Arabica and decaffeinated products.
E.Leclerc offers ground and whole bean coffee under its Plantation and Bio Village brands, among others.
These products include capsules, ground coffee and whole beans for a stay at a holiday rental. Choose from them only once you’ve confirmed the machine, then compare the number of cups you expect to make with the amount in the pack.
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Worth considering if your rental has a machine that takes these capsules and ten cups will be enough for your stay. Check the exact system before buying.
Box of 10 espresso capsules.
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Worth considering if the rental machine takes ground coffee and the amount suits your group. Check the recommended brewing method for this product.
Two 250 g bags, 500 g in total.
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A decaffeinated option to consider for a few cups during your stay, provided the machine takes these exact capsules.
Box of 10 aluminium capsules.
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Worth considering if a built-in grinder or a separate coffee grinder is available and your group expects to use a 500 g pack. The beans must be ground before brewing.
Stated intensity: 10/13, according to the scale shown for this product.
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Worth considering for a group with a built-in grinder or separate coffee grinder, who expect to use this amount or take the rest home.
1 kg pack with screw cap; reseal after opening.
Wait until you’ve identified the machine before buying a specific format. Ask for a photo or the model: whole beans need a built-in grinder or a separate coffee grinder, while capsules must match the machine’s system.
Choose by comparing the profiles described on the packs, rather than assuming a particular composition guarantees a specific taste. Lavazza describes Robusta as stronger and harsher; if preferences differ, two smaller packs may let everyone choose.
Keep it in an opaque, airtight container, away from light, heat and moisture, following Lavazza’s advice. Also plan how you’ll transport any leftovers after you leave.
Don’t assume the same grind will suit both machines. Check the brewing method recommended on the pack; Lavazza treats the moka pot as a method distinct from an espresso machine.