All About Coffee Blends: Exploring the Flavours of Caffé Prima House Blends
We make four distinct coffee bean blends, each with a different roast level, origin combination, and purpose.
The main differences come down to three factors:
- roast level (medium to dark),
- crema production (how thick and long-lasting),
- and flavour intensity (balanced vs bold).
Lighter roasts like Espresso and Roma work better for certain drinks and brewing methods. Darker roasts like Continental and Italian Mahogany create bolder, more intense coffee.
Choosing the right blend depends on what you’re making and how you like your coffee.
Here’s what you need to know:
Quick Blend Comparison
| Blend | Roast Level | Origins | Flavor Notes | Crema | Body | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Espresso Blend | Medium | Brazil, Guatemala, Vietnam | Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, nutty | Moderate, golden-brown | Well balanced | Espresso base for lattes, cappuccinos, flat whites |
| Roma Blend | Medium | Brazil, Honduras, Vietnam | Citrus, nutty finish | Thick, velvety | Medium-full | Everyday drinking, Americanos |
| Continental Blend | Medium-Dark | Brazil, Vietnam | Dark cocoa, hazelnut brittle | Rich, persistent | Full, intense | Bold espresso, milk drinks with strong coffee flavor |
| Italian Mahogany | Dark | Arabica & Robusta blend | Cinder-toffee, cocoa dust | Very thick, long-lasting | Full-bodied, intense | Traditional espresso, cappuccinos |
Roast Level Scale: Light → Espresso & Roma (Medium) → Continental (Medium-Dark) → Italian Mahogany (Dark) → Very Dark
Quick answers to common questions:
- Best for flat white: Continental or Espresso Blend
- Best for Americano: Roma Blend
- Thickest crema: Italian Mahogany
- Most versatile: Espresso Blend
- Best with oat milk: Espresso Blend
- Best for Moka pot: Continental or Italian Mahogany
Here's everything you need to know about each blend: origins, roast profiles, brewing recommendations, and which drinks they work best for.
Espresso Blend
Our Espresso Coffee Blend is the quintessential coffee shop workhorse designed to deliver consistent, crowd-pleasing flavor across all your favorite espresso-based drinks. This blend brings together Brazilian and Guatemalan arabica beans for sweetness and complexity, balanced with Vietnamese robusta for body and crema.
Roasted to a medium level, this blend strikes the perfect balance between preserving bright, recognizable flavors and developing the caramelized sweetness that makes milk drinks sing. The result is a versatile coffee that tastes excellent whether pulled as a straight shot or combined with steamed milk.
Beans used: Brazil, Guatemala Arabica, Vietnam Robusta
Roast: Medium
Taste profile: Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, nutty
Body: Well balanced
Crema: Moderate thickness with a golden-brown color that lasts 2-3 minutes
Best for: The foundation of your daily coffee shop favorites: flat whites, lattes, cappuccinos
Continental Blends
One thing that unites all traditional continental coffee blends is their dedication to balance and richness. No matter where you go in Europe, these blends are crafted to create a harmonious flavour profile, combining the smooth finesse of arabica beans with the bold intensity of robusta.
Take Italian blends, for example—they lean heavily on dark roasts, coaxing out deep, chocolatey tones with a touch of caramel sweetness. This makes them ideal for espresso, with a thick crema that’s as much a part of the experience as the coffee itself.
Then there’s Portugal, where the blends tell a slightly different story. Medium-dark roasts strike a balance between strength and smoothness, producing a bica—a small, punchy espresso that’s bittersweet and often enjoyed with a sprinkle of sugar.
Our signature Continental Coffee Bean Blend is a delightful nod to Europe’s finest coffee traditions, but it carves out a unique identity that sets it apart. Drawing inspiration from both Italian espresso culture and the balanced finesse seen in other continental styles, this blend delivers the best of both worlds.
With Brazilian Arabica beans providing smooth, complex flavours and Vietnamese Robusta adding a bold, earthy edge, it achieves a harmonious balance that’s both intense and indulgent.
Roasted to a medium-dark profile, this blend showcases rich notes of dark cocoa and hazelnut brittle, creating a flavour experience that is both deep and nuanced. The robusta beans, including bold monsooned varieties, lend the coffee a stout body and a lingering aftertaste—perfect for those who savour a bold, memorable finish.
With its intense flavour and robust character, Caffé Prima Continental Blend leans closer to the Italian tradition of strong, bold espressos, but its unique combination of origins and nuanced roast gives it a charm all its own.
Beans used: Brazilian Arabica & Vietnamese Monsooned Robusta
Roast: Medium-dark
Taste profile: Dark cocoa and hazelnut brittle
Body: Full, intense, with a lingering finish
Crema: Rich and persistent, lasting 4-5 minutes, excellent for latte art
Best for: Bold traditional espresso, milk drinks where you want a strong coffee flavour
What our customers say:
Roma Beans
Inspired by the fast-paced lifestyle of Rome, these blends are ideal for quick espresso shots that can be enjoyed every day. Roma blends embody the Italian approach to coffee—strong, energising, and always enjoyable.
The beans are usually roasted to a medium-dark or dark level, bringing out their bold flavours. This roasting style enhances rich, earthy notes with undertones of chocolate, nuts, and a hint of caramel.
Our popular Roma Beans perfectly embody the concept of everyday enjoyment, offering a harmonious blend of bold flavour and smooth character that makes your daily coffee ritual special.
Our Roma Beans are expertly blended with premium beans from Brazil, Honduras, and Vietnam. This trio creates a celebration of flavours, combining the rich sweetness of Brazilian arabica, the lively brightness of Honduran beans, and the bold intensity of Vietnamese robusta. It’s all about balance—each origin playing its part to deliver a coffee that’s both robust and refined.
Roasted to a medium level, Roma Blend offers a rich profile that’s well-balanced and refreshing.
It leans into earthy, nutty undertones with just the right amount of sweetness, complemented by subtle hints of citrus that add a refreshing brightness. And then there’s the crema—a thick, velvety layer that crowns each cup, a nod to its Italian espresso roots.
What sets this blend apart is its versatility, balance and sophistication. It offers a softer, well-rounded side to your coffee that makes it perfect for any time of day.
Beans used: Brazil, Honduras, and Vietnam
Roast: Medium
Taste profile: Citrus hints with a nutty finish
Body: Medium-full with earthy undertones
Crema: Thick and velvety, lasting 3-4 minutes, one of our best for crema production
Best for: Everyday drinking, Americanos, black coffee
What our customers say:
Italian Blends
Italian coffee blends are the cornerstone of espresso culture. We love them for their bold flavour and unmatched craftsmanship.
These blends are traditionally a mix of arabica and robusta beans, carefully combined to achieve the perfect balance of smoothness and strength. Arabica adds sweetness, subtle acidity, and complexity, while robusta contributes body, depth, and the rich crema that defines a great espresso.
Italian blends are typically roasted darker to create bold, rich flavours with notes of chocolate, caramel, and toasted nuts. This roasting style also reduces acidity, resulting in a velvety-smooth cup.
We wanted to replicate this smoothness and add some fine tones to it. That’s why we created the Italian Mahogany Blend.
Italian Mahogany Beans
Our Italian Coffee Bean Blend delivers a truly exceptional experience. This premium blend combines the finest arabica and robusta beans, meticulously dark roasted to bring out its unique flavour profile. The result? A coffee with a cinder-toffee sweetness and a subtle dusting of cocoa in the aftertaste, both indulgent and unforgettable.
Strong yet perfectly balanced, this full-bodied espresso offers a distinctive depth without being overpowering. The robusta beans create a rich, long-lasting crema, while the arabica adds smoothness and complexity, making every cup a luxurious treat. Whether enjoyed as a bold espresso shot or as the base for a velvety cappuccino, this blend excels in delivering an authentic Italian coffee experience.
With its refined taste and unmistakable character, this blend honours the rich tradition of Italian coffee while standing out as a unique and memorable choice.
Beans used: Arabica and Robusta blend
Roast: Dark
Taste profile: Cinder-toffee sweetness with a dusting of cocoa in the aftertaste
Body: Full-bodied, intense, luxurious
Crema: Very thick, long-lasting (5+ minutes)—the richest crema of all our blends
Best for: Traditional espresso, cappuccinos, strong milk drinks
What our customers say:
Detailed Recommendations
For a bold and versatile coffee experience: If you love strong, full-bodied coffee with a rich, lingering finish, the Continental Blend is your perfect match. Its medium-dark roast and notes of dark cocoa and hazelnut brittle shine in both black and milk-based drinks. The robusta in this blend ensures that the flavours remain bold and well-balanced, even when paired with milk, making it ideal for lattes or flat whites.
For smooth, everyday enjoyment: If you're after a coffee that's approachable and perfect for any time of day, the Roma Beans blend is a fantastic option. Its medium roast, hints of citrus, and nutty finish create a lighter, refreshing profile. Roma Beans work beautifully in black coffee, and their well-rounded flavours also complement milk perfectly, offering a gentle balance that's never overpowering. This is your go-to for Americanos.
For indulgence and rich tradition: If you enjoy a luxurious, full-bodied coffee experience with layers of flavour, the Italian Mahogany Blend is an unmatched choice. Dark roasted to perfection, it boasts cinder-toffee sweetness and a dusting of cocoa in the aftertaste. The depth and intensity of this blend are robust enough to cut through milk, making it ideal for creamy cappuccinos or indulgent lattes where every sip feels like a treat.
For coffee shop classics done right: If you want reliable, consistent coffee that works in every popular drink from flat whites to cappuccinos, the Espresso Blend delivers exactly what you need. Its balanced medium roast, chocolate notes, and excellent milk compatibility make it the foundation of great coffee shop drinks at home.
Why does your preference for milk matter?
Milk softens some of the coffee's natural bitterness and acidity as it amplifies sweetness and creaminess. A blend with bold, rich flavours like the Continental or Italian Mahogany will stand out in milk-based drinks, creating a coffee-forward experience. Lighter blends like Roma Beans or Espresso Blend offer a balanced, mellow experience where coffee and milk work in harmony rather than competition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Caffé Prima blend is best for flat white? Continental Blend and Espresso Blend are both excellent choices. Continental creates a bold, coffee-forward flat white with strong cocoa and hazelnut notes. Espresso Blend offers a more traditional, balanced flat white with milk chocolate sweetness. Choose Continental if you want intensity, Espresso Blend for everyday drinking.
Which blend works best for Americano? Roma Blend is our top recommendation for Americanos. Its citrus and nutty notes hold up beautifully when diluted with water, creating a complex, interesting long black. Continental and Italian Mahogany also work but produce a much bolder, heavier Americano.
Which blend has the strongest crema? Italian Mahogany produces the thickest, longest-lasting crema (5+ minutes), followed closely by Continental Blend (4-5 minutes). Both have high robusta content, which creates that rich, velvety crema. Roma Blend also produces excellent crema (3-4 minutes), as it's better than Espresso Blend for crema thickness.
What's the difference between Espresso Blend and Roma Blend? Both are medium roasts, but Roma includes Honduran beans that add citrus brightness and complexity, making it better for black coffee and Americanos. Espresso Blend uses Guatemala instead, creating a more chocolate-forward, traditional espresso flavor that works better in milk drinks. Roma has thicker crema.
Continental vs Italian Mahogany—which should I choose? Continental is medium-dark with cocoa and hazelnut notes, bold but still balanced. Italian Mahogany is dark roasted with cinder-toffee sweetness, more intense and traditional. Choose Continental for everyday bold coffee, Italian Mahogany for an authentic Italian espresso bar experience, or if you drink espresso neat.
Which blend works with oat milk? Espresso Blend is our best performer with oat milk - the chocolate and nut notes complement oat's natural sweetness perfectly. Continental Blend is also excellent if you want a stronger coffee flavor that cuts through the oat milk's creaminess.
Can I use these blends in a V60 or pour over? Roma Blend actually works well in pour-over; its medium roast and citrus notes shine in filter brewing. Espresso Blend is okay, but not ideal. Continental and Italian Mahogany are too dark for filter brewing and will produce heavy, flat cups. For pour-over, we recommend exploring our single-origin range.
Which blend is best for bean-to-cup machines? Espresso Blend and Continental Blend both perform excellently in automatic machines. Espresso Blend requires less maintenance due to lower oil content. Continental produces exceptional crema even from entry-level machines. Roma also works very well.
Do I need different grind sizes for each blend? All blends work at a standard espresso grind (fine, like table salt) for espresso machines. You may want to go slightly coarser with Continental and Italian Mahogany if you find them too intense. For the Moka pot, use medium-fine for all blends. For pour-over, only Roma is recommended, at medium grind.
Which blend is best for cappuccino? All four blends make excellent cappuccinos, but for different reasons:
- Italian Mahogany: Traditional Italian cappuccino, bold and luxurious
- Continental: Coffee-forward with cocoa notes
- Espresso Blend: Balanced, everyday cappuccino
- Roma: Bright, interesting cappuccino with citrus notes
Can I drink these blends black? Roma Blend is best for black coffee; it has the most complexity and interesting flavor notes. Italian Mahogany also works well if you enjoy bold, low-acid espresso shots. Espresso Blend is okay black but designed for milk. Continental is quite intense for black drinking.
How fresh should the beans be for good crema? For optimal crema, use beans within 2-8 weeks of roasting. Very fresh beans (under 5 days) can produce excessive, bubbly crema. Beans older than 2 months will have noticeably thinner crema. All our blends are packed fresh to ensure you get the best crema at home.
Which roast level has the most caffeine? Espresso Blend and Roma Blend (both medium roast) have slightly more caffeine than Continental and Italian Mahogany (darker roasts), as darker roasting reduces caffeine content slightly. However, the difference is minimal—robusta content matters more, and all our blends contain robusta for strength.
Enjoy your cuppa!
To choose your perfect option, explore our range of 1 kg coffee beans that includes both expertly crafted blends and single origins.