Is this good for a beginner with an espresso machine?

It can be, but the dark roast punishes bad extraction. Dial in your grind and dose carefully or it turns bitter.

Yes. It ships as whole beans, so you need a burr grinder that can go fine enough for espresso.

How does it compare with a medium roast espresso?

It is darker and heavier, with smoky molasses notes. Medium roasts taste brighter and more acidic.

Yes. The bold flavor cuts through milk better than a light roast.

Keep it sealed and away from light and heat. Split it into smaller airtight containers so the whole bag is not opened to air.

The listing describes it as single origin, though the beans are roasted in an Italian style rather than grown in Italy.

Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 134 ratings.

3 stores we checked sell it, including eBay, Coffee Bean Direct, Groceryeshop.

At Coffee Bean Direct, for $64.95, 18% under what the other stores charge, as of our latest check.

$64.95at Coffee Bean DirectChecked Nov 9

18% under what the other stores charge

Compared across 4 stores. Prices are checked against each store and labelled with when.