Lidl San Marco coffee prices: how much does it really cost and is it worth it?

Looking for the price of San Marco coffee at Lidl? This pure Arabica coffee is one of the products regularly on special offer at the German chain. Between the different formats, price variations and one-off offers, it’s not always easy to find your way around. Here’s everything you need to know about San Marco coffee prices at Lidl and how to make the most of your purchases.

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A coffee enthusiast for over 15 years, I’m dedicated to sharing my in-depth knowledge of the art and science of coffee. From bean selection to roasting and preparation techniques, I explore every aspect of this fascinating beverage to help you discover the best of coffee.

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The price of San Marco coffee at Lidl in 2025

San Marco coffee is available in several formats at Lidl, with prices varying according to current promotions.

Formats and prices

The most common format is the 3 x 250g pack (750g in total) of pure Arabica ground coffee. During promotional periods, this format is generally available for around €3.99, giving a price per kilo of around €5.32/kg. This represents a substantial saving on the usual price, which can be as much as €11.96 for 750g, depending on the period.

For the Intenso range in 500g packs, the price is around €7.99 on special offer, or €15.98/kg. This stronger ground format is aimed at coffee lovers with a strong character.

Promotions on San Marco coffee at Lidl follow an irregular pattern. There are usually offers several times a year, often with instant discounts of 30% or more. The most frequent promotional periods are at the beginning of the week, typically from Wednesday to the following Tuesday, as is usual at Lidl.

San Marco: a French brand with an Italian positioning

Contrary to what its packaging might suggest, San Marco is a French brand created in 1986. It now belongs to the Italian Segafredo group, but remains a French creation that relies on Italian imagery to seduce consumers.

San Marco coffee is positioned as an “Italian-style” product, with visual references to Venice and St Mark’s Square. This marketing strategy aims to evoke the culture of espresso coffee and the transalpine art of living, even if the roasting and distribution remain adapted to the French market.

The brand offers mainly 100% Arabica coffee, with industrial roasting to ensure consistent blends. The beans come from different growing regions, with no precise indication of origin on the packaging of the standard versions.

San Marco vs Bellarom: which Lidl coffee should you choose?

At Lidl, there are two brands of coffee beans and ground coffee: San Marco and Bellarom, the chain’s private label. Their positioning is very different.

Bellarom: the champion of value for money

Bellarom Classico Espresso coffee was tested by UFC-Que Choisir and scored a remarkable 15.3/20 out of 28 references analysed. Its price per kilo is around €29.64/kg, making it excellent value for money according to the consumer tests.

The experts particularly appreciated its controlled medium roast, fruity notes and smooth creaminess. The level of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) found was well below the regulatory thresholds, guaranteeing optimum safety.

San Marco: a more premium positioning

San Marco is in a slightly higher range than Bellarom. On special offer at around €5.32/kg for the 3x250g format, it remains very affordable, but is positioned as a product with a stronger brand identity.

The difference lies mainly in image and marketing. San Marco is banking on its ‘Italian’ heritage and offering a wider range of coffees (organic, intenso, different strengths). The taste quality remains in line with supermarket coffee standards, with an industrial roasting process that favours regularity over exceptionality.

The quality of San Marco coffee: what is it really worth?

San Marco coffee is an industrially roasted product, designed to meet volume and regularity requirements. This does not mean that it is of poor quality, but that it takes a different approach to speciality coffees.

Aromatic profile

San Marco pure Arabica coffee has floral, fruity and chocolate notes, according to official descriptions. The artisanal roasting claimed aims to reveal the aromas of the Arabica beans selected. In reality, the roasting process remains industrial with large volumes, which guarantees a certain consistency but limits the expression of the most subtle nuances.

User feedback describes the coffee as ‘reliable’ and ‘decent’, particularly for its price. It is well suited to everyday consumption without any particular pretensions, whether as an espresso or a filter coffee.

Preservation and freshness

As with any industrial coffee, organoleptic qualities are inevitably lost between roasting and consumption. Vacuum packaging helps to limit this oxidation, but the coffee naturally loses flavour over the weeks.

To make the most of your experience, store your coffee in a dry place, away from air and light, after opening. Drink within 2 to 3 weeks of opening to make the most of the aromas.

When should you buy San Marco coffee at Lidl?

To get the best price, you need to adopt a few buying strategies.

Spot promotions

San Marco coffee is regularly the subject of promotions at Lidl, usually several times a year. These offers appear in the weekly catalogues, often with discounts of 30% or more.

To make sure you don’t miss out on any bargains, check the Lidl catalogue online every week, or sign up for alerts from websites specialising in supermarket promotions. Applications such as Kimbino, Bonial or PromoCatalogues centralise this information.

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San Marco coffee beans

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The most favourable periods

Coffee promotions tend to be concentrated in certain periods:

  • Beginning of the year and post-holiday period
  • Back to school in September
  • Off-peak periods when Lidl is looking to boost traffic

The 3x250g format on special offer at €3.99 represents the best value for money we’ve seen. At this price, you save almost €8 compared to the normal price, which is worth stocking up on if you’re a regular coffee drinker.

Alternatives and comparisons

If San Marco coffee isn’t on special offer at the time of your visit to Lidl, there are several alternatives worth considering.

At Lidl

Bellarom Classico: as mentioned above, this is the best value for money according to the tests. At around €30/kg, its taste quality has been recognised by the experts at UFC-Que Choisir. Its balanced flavour profile makes it suitable for most preparations.

Bellarom Bio: for consumers concerned about the environment, Lidl also offers 100% Arabica organic versions, generally at around €4.99 for 250g.

Other brands

To make a true comparison, you need to look at prices per kilo:

  • Organic Carrefour arabica coffee: around €20-25/kg
  • L’Or Absolu: €40-50/kg depending on promotions
  • Carte Noire: €40-45/kg
  • Lavazza: €35-45/kg

San Marco coffee at €5.32/kg on special offer is in the most affordable segment of the market, similar to the private labels of other chains.

Our verdict on Lidl San Marco coffee

San Marco coffee from Lidl is an interesting option for consumers looking for a decent coffee at an affordable price. During promotional periods, with the 3x250g format at €3.99, the value for money becomes really attractive.

This coffee is perfect for :

  • Everyday consumption without looking for exceptions
  • Small budgets who want a decent coffee
  • Those who appreciate well-balanced Arabica profiles
  • Italian-style espresso lovers

On the other hand, lovers of speciality coffees or those looking for complex aromatic profiles and precise origins will be more inclined to choose artisan roasters or premium brands.

The best strategy is to take advantage of promotions to stock up reasonably (2-3 packs maximum to maintain freshness), while bearing in mind that Bellarom, Lidl’s private label, offers potentially better value for money according to independent tests.

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