Intelligentsia Black Cat Analog Espresso vs Intelligentsia El Gallo Blend

people who want chocolate + molasses from a direct trade roaster

people who want apple + raw sugar from a direct trade roaster

Scores higher on sourcing transparency & ethics, value per kilo.

• +Built and roasted specifically to hold up in milk, which most espresso blends only claim.
• +More forgiving of an imperfect grind than the lighter Classic, which matters on a home machine.
• +Direct Trade tagged, with the origin country named on the blend.
• +Identical price to the Classic, so the choice is about the cup rather than the budget.

• −A darker roast gives up the fruit acidity that makes the Classic interesting as a straight shot.
• −Only two sizes, and the larger is 2.27 kg of an oily roast to keep fresh.
• −About $42.55 a kilo, above Cooper's Cask at $33 and well above supermarket coffee.

• +Organic certification and Direct Trade on the same bag, for a dollar over the entry blends.
• +Roasted light and filed for a V60, which is unusual honesty about how it should be brewed.
• +Single country of origin, so the apple sweetness reads more clearly than in a multi-country blend.
• +Whole bean or ground at the same price, with a subscription and a 5 lb option.

• −A light roast pointed at pour over is more work than an automatic drip blend.
• −Wrong bag for espresso or for milk drinks.
• −Only two sizes, and the larger is 2.27 kg to keep fresh.