Review · Beans and ground coffee
Lavazza Qualità Rossa review: blend, formats and how it compares to Oro
Lavazza's red-pack blend mixes arabica and robusta for a fuller, chocolatey cup. Here's how Lavazza describes it, the formats sold in the UK, prices on 3 Oct 2026 and how it differs from Qualità Oro.
This Lavazza Qualità Rossa review covers the red-pack blend sold at Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and other UK shops: what Lavazza says is in it, which formats you can buy, what it cost on 3 Oct 2026, and how it differs from the gold-pack Qualità Oro. We haven’t tested this in person. Our verdict is based on Lavazza UK’s product pages, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons listings, and prices checked on 3 Oct 2026. Read how we compare.
Lavazza Qualità Rossa review: the short answer
Buy the 1kg bag of beans if you have a grinder or a bean-to-cup machine. It was £22.50 at Sainsbury’s, checked 3 Oct 2026; check price at Morrisons.
Who it isn’t for: anyone without a grinder; you’ll need ground coffee instead.
Get the ground 2 x 250g pack for a moka pot or espresso machine without a grinder. It was £11.65 at Sainsbury’s and at Morrisons, checked 3 Oct 2026.
Who it isn’t for: cafetière users who want a coarse, cafetière-only grind; Lavazza lists French press, but says Rossa is ideal for espresso and moka.
Skip Rossa if you like lighter, fruity or floral coffee. Lavazza describes Qualità Oro that way instead.
What it costs right now
All prices were checked on 3 Oct 2026:
- Beans, 1kg: £22.50 at Sainsbury’s, checked 3 Oct 2026. See Rossa beans 1kg at Sainsbury’s
- Beans, 1kg at Morrisons: Check price at Morrisons. See Rossa beans 1kg at Morrisons
- Beans, 1kg at Lavazza UK: £22.50 at Lavazza UK, checked 3 Oct 2026. See Rossa beans at Lavazza UK
- Beans, 250g and 500g: £6.25 and £12.00 at Sainsbury’s, checked 3 Oct 2026.
- Ground, 250g: £6.25 at Sainsbury’s and at Morrisons, checked 3 Oct 2026. See Rossa ground 250g at Sainsbury’s
- Ground, 2 x 250g: £11.65 at Sainsbury’s and at Morrisons, checked 3 Oct 2026, and 500g was £11.50 at Lavazza UK, checked 3 Oct 2026.
Per kilo, the 1kg bag of beans is the cheapest way to buy Rossa: £22.50 a kilo at Sainsbury’s, checked 3 Oct 2026, against £25.00 a kilo for a single 250g pack.
Who it isn’t for: if you get through coffee slowly, a 1kg bag may lose freshness before you finish it.
What’s in Qualità Rossa
Lavazza UK lists Qualità Rossa as a blend of arabica and robusta, with coffee from Africa, South America and Southeast Asia, at a medium roast and an intensity of 5/10.
Lavazza describes the beans as a golden-crema coffee with a warm colour and hints of chocolate and dried fruit. It describes the ground coffee as dark, with a velvety texture and chocolate notes.
For preparation, Lavazza UK says Rossa is ideal for espresso and moka. Its ground coffee page also lists filter and French press as methods.
Who it isn’t for: anyone looking for a single-farm or speciality coffee.
Formats you can buy
- Whole beans: 250g, 500g and 1kg bags at Sainsbury’s, checked 3 Oct 2026.
- Ground coffee: 250g and 2 x 250g packs.
- Nespresso-compatible capsules: 10 capsules for £4.25 at Sainsbury’s and at Morrisons, checked 3 Oct 2026. Our guide to the best Nespresso pods compares cheaper options.
- A Modo Mio capsules: 16 for £6.25 at Sainsbury’s, checked 3 Oct 2026. Our guide to Lavazza A Modo Mio pods explains that system.
Who it isn’t for: Vertuo owners; we didn’t find a Vertuo version.
Qualità Rossa vs Qualità Oro
Both are medium roasts with an intensity of 5/10 on Lavazza UK, but they’re built differently:
- Blend: Rossa is arabica and robusta. Oro is 100% arabica, per Lavazza UK.
- Flavour notes: Lavazza lists chocolate and dried fruit for Rossa beans, and floral and fruity notes for Oro.
- Coffee from: Africa, South America and Southeast Asia for Rossa, and Central and South America for Oro.
- Price: Oro beans were £22.00 for 1kg at Sainsbury’s, checked 3 Oct 2026, close to Rossa’s full price.
If you like a fuller, chocolatey cup with milk, Rossa is the more likely fit. If you drink espresso black and like it lighter and more aromatic, Oro is the one Lavazza pitches that way. Our Lavazza Qualità Oro beans review has more on it.
Who it isn’t for: if you can’t decide, don’t start with a kilo. Rossa 250g beans were £6.25 at Sainsbury’s, and Oro 250g beans were £6.50 at Sainsbury’s, both checked 3 Oct 2026.
Downsides
- Robusta in the blend. Fine for many espresso drinkers, but not for 100% arabica fans.
- Not a cafetière-specific grind. Lavazza lists French press for the ground version, but pitches it mainly at espresso and moka, so a pack sold as cafetière grind may leave less silt.
- Prices move. Check price at Morrisons for the 1kg bag on the day.
- No owner review summary. We haven’t summarised owner reviews for this page.
Where to go next
For a wider look at the brand, see our Lavazza Crema e Aroma vs Super Crema comparison, or browse our coffee beans guide.
FAQ
Is Lavazza Qualità Rossa 100% arabica? No. Lavazza UK lists it as a blend of arabica and robusta.
Is Rossa stronger than Oro? Lavazza UK gives both an intensity of 5/10. Rossa is described as fuller and more chocolatey.
Can you use Qualità Rossa in a bean-to-cup machine? Yes, buy the whole beans. The 1kg bag is the cheapest per kilo.
Is Lavazza Qualità Rossa good for a moka pot? Lavazza UK says it’s ideal for espresso and moka.
Verdict
Lavazza Qualità Rossa (beans and ground coffee)
An easy-to-find supermarket espresso blend with arabica and robusta, pitched as fuller and more chocolatey than Qualità Oro. The 1kg bag of beans is the cheapest per kilo.
Pros
- Pro: Sold at Sainsbury's, Morrisons and Lavazza UK
- Pro: Beans, ground, Nespresso-compatible and A Modo Mio formats
- Pro: 1kg beans bag at Morrisons and Sainsbury's
- Pro: Lavazza lists it for espresso and moka
Cons
- Con: Contains robusta, so not for 100% arabica fans
- Con: Ground version is pitched mainly at espresso and moka
- Con: 250g packs cost more per kg than the 1kg bag
- Con: Supermarket prices change often
- Best for
- Anyone after a fuller, chocolatey espresso or moka coffee from the supermarket
- Who it isn't for
- People who prefer lighter, floral coffee or 100% arabica blends
See it on the maker's site: Lavazza's UK page for the Qualità RossaLink: Lavazza's UK page for the Qualità Rossa. Not an affiliate link.
Sources
- See Rossa beans 1kg at Sainsbury's (sainsburys.co.uk)
- See Rossa beans 1kg at Morrisons (groceries.morrisons.com)
- See Rossa beans at Lavazza UK (lavazza.co.uk)
- See Rossa ground 250g at Sainsbury's (sainsburys.co.uk)