GUSTO CREMA BLEND

Tastes Like: Milk Chocolate, Cream, Dried Fig

Why I'm Obsessed: Don’t call it a comeback – Caffe Umbria’s coffees are back at Bean Box! Couldn’t we all use a dose of Italian coffee romance? Caffe Umbria’s roots go all the way back to Perugia, Italy, in the 1940s, where the Bizzarri family built their first roastery. When his family moved to Seattle from Italy, roaster Emanuele Bizzarri became the third generation in a family of roasters, and Caffè Umbria carries that family tradition today. You can find Umbria at Four Seasons and Ritz Carlton hotels all over the world – and now, your kitchen. Che figata! (so cool!)

Insider secret work sharing: great espresso blends make awesome drip coffees … and exceptional cold brew! One of my favorites from Umbria’s menu is their Gusto Crema Espresso Blend, a coffee that’s always been one of my go-tos for its heavy chocolate flavor and sheer versatility. Umbria calls this house espresso their “love language”. Oh yes. In the cup: smooth chocolate fudge, an exceptionally creamy body, and a finish with just a whisper of dried fig. Think: the filling of a fig newton. Low acidity, a little toasty in the finish, this medium roast delivers classic Italian coffee with a modern, Seattle-specialty touch. The richness and body that make Gusto Crema sing as espresso translate beautifully to a long, slow cold brew extraction. Deeply chocolaty, silky, sweet, this is iced coffee done right. Try it by itself, or with cream, or— call it Maryna-style— wrap a scarf around your neck, throw on some white sunglasses, and add a shot of sambuca to your mug. It’s about to be an Italian coffee summer. Are you in? Join us in welcoming Caffe Umbria back to the Bean Box fam, and let’s all start our mornings like we’re on a sunny balcony in Perugia.

Bottom Line: You'll love this coffee if you believe great things don't need reinventing, your ideal dessert is a simple dark chocolate truffle, or you're already planning your Italian coffee summer.