# Ranking Italian Coffees from Worst to God Tier

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDDzb7wmu6o
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/xDDzb7wmu6o
Generated: 2026-03-11T14:01:31.367+00:00

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## Quick Overview

The final ranking of 16 Italian coffee brands places Caffè Sant'Eustachio from Rome in the S-Tier as perfection, while Starbucks is relegated to D-Tier due to its burnt sugar taste, and Lavazza Qualità Rossa lands in B-Tier as the reliable but boring "Toyota of coffee."

**Key Points:**
- Caffè Sant'Eustachio is ranked S-Tier, described as a Roman legendary coffee that represents perfection.
- Starbucks Espresso Roast is ranked D-Tier because the presenter dislikes its burnt sugar flavor and considers it like a milkshake.
- Lavazza Qualità Rossa is placed in B-Tier, characterized as the reliable 'Toyota of coffee' that is in every grandmother's house but slightly boring.
- Caffè Borbone is placed in B-Tier, noted for its high caffeine content that 'punches you in the face.'
- Bialetti coffee beans are placed in C-Tier because the presenter believes they should stick to making Moka Pots, not coffee.
- The ranking criteria considered the roast profile (burnt vs. perfectly dark) and the bean type (Robusta vs. Arabica).
- The presenter encourages viewers to stop drinking dirty water and use a Moka Pot or espresso machine for better results.

![Screenshot at 00:00: The presenter introduces the topic by stating that coffee is a religion in Italy and proceeds to rank 16 of the biggest Italian coffee brands.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/xDDzb7wmu6o/00-00-00.jpg)

**Context:** The video features a taste test and ranking of 16 different Italian coffee brands, primarily instant or ground coffee intended for Moka pots or espresso machines, using a standard S to D tier list format. The presenter establishes clear criteria for ranking, emphasizing the importance of Italian coffee culture, the roasting process (not too burnt), and the flavor distinction between smooth Arabica and high-caffeine Robusta beans. The ranking reflects the presenter's subjective preference for authentic Italian espresso characteristics.

## Detailed Analysis

The video provides a tier list ranking of 16 Italian coffee brands based on taste, roast profile, and overall experience, judged by the presenter who insists on Italian standards. The S-Tier is reserved for Caffè Sant'Eustachio, described as a Roman legendary coffee that is 'perfection.' The A-Tier includes Caffè Vergnano 1882, a solid Northern roast from Torino known for smooth flavor and good crema. The B-Tier contains Pellini Espresso Superiore (professional grade, elegant and balanced), Illy Caffè (100% Arabica, very smooth and floral, but expensive), and Lavazza Qualità Rossa (the reliable but boring 'Toyota of coffee'). The C-Tier includes Borbone (high caffeine, very powerful), GIMOKA (smooth, good crema), and Passalacqua (a cult classic in Naples, perfection). The D-Tier includes Starbucks Espresso Roast (ranked low due to burnt sugar taste), Bialetti (whose coffee beans the presenter feels are inferior to their Moka pots), and Caffè Kimbo Napoletano (oily and intense, waking up the dead). The presenter strongly advises viewers to avoid drinking coffee made with 'dirty water' and instead use proper brewing equipment like a Moka Pot to experience these coffees correctly.

### Tier Placement Summary

- S-Tier: Caffè Sant'Eustachio
- A-Tier: Caffè Vergnano 1882
- B-Tier: Pellini, Illy, Lavazza Qualità Rossa
- C-Tier: Borbone, GIMOKA, Passalacqua
- D-Tier: Starbucks, Bialetti, Kimbo Napoletano

### Roasting & Bean Quality

- Italian coffee is defined by proper roasting (not burnt or too dark) and the balance between smooth Arabica and strong Robusta.

### Key Brand Assessments

- Sant'Eustachio is perfection, Vergnano is a solid Northern roast, Borbone is powerful caffeine, and Starbucks is dismissed for tasting like burnt sugar/milkshakes.

### Brewing Advice

- The presenter urges viewers to use a Moka Pot or espresso machine with filtered water, implying that instant coffee preparation methods degrade the quality of even good beans.

![Screenshot at 00:04: A close-up shot of an espresso machine portafilter being locked into the group head, illustrating the preparation context for high-quality espresso.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/xDDzb7wmu6o/00-00-04.jpg)
![Screenshot at 00:35: A visual representation of the coffee roast spectrum, ranging from light to very dark beans, used to explain the 'roast profile' factor in ranking.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/xDDzb7wmu6o/00-00-35.jpg)
![Screenshot at 00:40: A side-by-side visual comparison of two piles of coffee beans, labeled 'Robusta Versus Arabica,' highlighting the different physical characteristics of the two main coffee species.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/xDDzb7wmu6o/00-00-40.jpg)
![Screenshot at 01:53: The presenter places Caffè Sant'Eustachio in the S-Tier, signaling the top-rated coffee in the ranking.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/xDDzb7wmu6o/00-01-53.jpg)