Intelligentsia Black Cat Analog Espresso vs Intelligentsia El Gato Blend

people who want chocolate + molasses from a direct trade roaster

people who want chocolate + molasses from a direct trade roaster

• +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.

• +The flagship Black Cat profile rebuilt for filter brewing rather than sold into the wrong brewer.
• +Level with House Blend at the entry price of the range, so the choice is flavour not budget.
• +Comforting and chocolate-driven, which is the more forgiving of the two entry blends.
• +Origins, roast profile and flavour profile all published as structured tags.

• −Built for drip, so it is the wrong bag for an espresso machine despite the Black Cat association.
• −Only two sizes, and the larger is 2.27 kg to keep fresh.