Highground Organic Instant Coffee vs Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic
AheadHighground Organic Instant Coffee
8.3/ 10
Not publicly stated
Visit Highground Organic Instant Coffee →
The verdict
Highground Organic Instant Coffee is narrowly ahead, 8.3 to Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic's 8.2. It leads on convenience & format and sourcing transparency.
Who each one suits
Highground Organic Instant Coffee
Freeze-dried organic at supermarket money, hot or iced
Scores higher on convenience & format, sourcing transparency.
Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic
people who want specialty coffee from a direct trade roaster
Scores higher on process & cup quality, packaging & shelf life.
How they score, criterion by criterion
Both are scored the same way against the rest of their category, from what their makers publish. The weight is how much each criterion moves the total. How the score works
| Criterion | Weight in category | Highground Organic Instant Coffee | Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Process & Cup Quality | 30% | 9.0 | 10.0 |
| Convenience & Format | 20% | 8.5 | 7.5 |
| Sourcing Transparency | 18% | 7.3 | 2.7 |
| Packaging & Shelf Life | 16% | 6.7 | 10.0 |
What each one costs
| Price | Not publicly stated | $13.00 |
| Cost per cup The figure that decides what the choice costs over a year, not on the day. | Not published | $2.60/cup |
Where they differ
Every specification the two makers publish differently. Everything they match on is in the full table below.
| Highground Organic Instant Coffee | Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | — | $13.00 |
| Best for | Freeze-dried organic at supermarket money, hot or iced | people who want specialty coffee from a direct trade roaster |
| What sets it apart | Organic and fair-trade certified, freeze-dried, and published as dissolving in cold water | Freeze-dried rather than spray-dried, and the only instant here profiled as an espresso |
| Bean Type | 100% Arabica, medium roast | — |
| Certifications | Fairtrade, Organic | None claimed by the maker |
| Coffee Grams per Bag | — | 4.5 |
| Decaf in the range | — | ✕ |
| Direct Trade | — | ✕ |
| Dissolves in Cold Water | ✓ | — |
| Packaging Type | Jar | Sachet |
| Packaging Type Note | The jar states it is a 30% recycled plastic jar. | — |
| Preparation | — | Just add water or milk, per the box |
| Price per Serving | — | 2.60 USD |
| Resealable | — | ✕ |
| Roaster Country | — | United States |
| Roaster Country Code | — | US |
| Roaster Named | — | Intelligentsia Coffee |
| Servings per Pack | More than 40 per jar | 5 |
| Ships to | US | US, worldwide |
| Ships to Note | Confirmed on Amazon US, which is where this link points. Availability in other Amazon stores has not been checked, and a regional store may substitute a different product. | Ships internationally as well as within the US. The roaster does not publish a country list, and import duties fall to the buyer. |
| Origin structure | — | Blend |
| Subscription Available | — | ✓ |
| Tasting Notes | — | Dark chocolate, raw sugar and marshmallow |
| Tasting Notes Note | — | Intelligentsia's own words, printed on the box. |
Pros and cons
From each full review, written from the same published facts as the scores above.
Highground Organic Instant Coffee
- +Organic and Fair Trade certified, which only Mount Hagen and Terrasoul also carry here
- +Freeze dried, 100% Arabica medium roast, more than 40 servings a jar
- +Highground publishes it for cold water as well as hot
- −A 3.53oz jar, which is a fraction of the Anthony's 14oz
- −A jar rather than sticks, so it stays at home
- −No price and no origin published
Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic
- +Freeze dried from Intelligentsia's Black Cat espresso blend, with published notes of dark chocolate, raw sugar and marshmallow
- +Single-serve sachets with a subscription available
- −$2.60 a serving, dearer per cup than any other instant here
- −Five servings a pack
- −Not resealable, and Intelligentsia claims no certifications and no direct trade for it
Every specification, side by side
| Highground Organic Instant Coffee | Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ||
| Price | — | $13.00 |
| Who it suits | ||
| Best for | Freeze-dried organic at supermarket money, hot or iced | people who want specialty coffee from a direct trade roaster |
| What sets it apart | Organic and fair-trade certified, freeze-dried, and published as dissolving in cold water | Freeze-dried rather than spray-dried, and the only instant here profiled as an espresso |
| Specifications | ||
| Bean Type | 100% Arabica, medium roast | — |
| Certifications | Fairtrade, Organic | None claimed by the maker |
| Coffee Grams per Bag | — | 4.5 |
| Decaf in the range | — | ✕ |
| Direct Trade | — | ✕ |
| Dissolves in Cold Water | ✓ | — |
| Flavoured | Not flavoured | Not flavoured |
| Packaging Type | Jar | Sachet |
| Packaging Type Note | The jar states it is a 30% recycled plastic jar. | — |
| Preparation | — | Just add water or milk, per the box |
| Price per Serving | — | 2.60 USD |
| Process Method | Freeze-dried | Freeze-dried |
| Resealable | — | ✕ |
| Roaster Country | — | United States |
| Roaster Country Code | — | US |
| Roaster Named | — | Intelligentsia Coffee |
| Servings per Pack | More than 40 per jar | 5 |
| Ships to | US | US, worldwide |
| Ships to Note | Confirmed on Amazon US, which is where this link points. Availability in other Amazon stores has not been checked, and a regional store may substitute a different product. | Ships internationally as well as within the US. The roaster does not publish a country list, and import duties fall to the buyer. |
| Origin structure | — | Blend |
| Subscription Available | — | ✓ |
| Tasting Notes | — | Dark chocolate, raw sugar and marshmallow |
| Tasting Notes Note | — | Intelligentsia's own words, printed on the box. |
Highground Organic Instant Coffee vs Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic: common questions
Which is better, Highground Organic Instant Coffee or Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic?
Highground Organic Instant Coffee scores 8.3 against 8.2, both computed from published specifications rather than opinion. Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic is still ahead on process & cup quality.
Is Highground Organic Instant Coffee or Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic cheaper?
Highground Organic Instant Coffee starts at Not publicly stated, and Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic at $13.00. Per cup they work out at Not published and $2.60/cup.
Who is Highground Organic Instant Coffee for?
Freeze-dried organic at supermarket money, hot or iced
Who is Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic for?
people who want specialty coffee from a direct trade roaster
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