| Freshly ground coffee is definitely better, the only minor drawback being that there are generally more pre-ground varieties available than there are beans.
I'm a big fan of the Illy red lable beans, the only drawback being price! Lavazza Crema e Gusto makes a fantastic espresso for a lower price (although normally avaiable pre-ground only). The surprise budget inclusion to my approved espresso-bean list is the Sainsbury's Green-Lable bean, available both whole and ground. It makes a really smooth and rich espresso. |