Intelligentsia Black Cat Classic Espresso vs Intelligentsia Organic Decaf House Blend

people who want chocolate + molasses from a direct trade roaster

Scores higher on value per kilo.

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

Scores higher on sourcing transparency & ethics.

• +In continuous production since 1995 and a reference point in American specialty espresso.
• +The lightest espresso in the range, so it keeps fruit acidity most espresso blends roast away.
• +Roast profile, flavour profile, origins and trade terms all published as structured facts.
• +The 5 lb bag saves about seventeen percent per gram, a real discount by this site's standards.

• −A light espresso is unforgiving on a home machine with a grinder that cannot be dialled finely.
• −Only two sizes, and the larger one is 2.27 kg, which is a lot of coffee to keep fresh.
• −About $42.55 a kilo, above Cooper's Cask at $33 and well above supermarket specialty.

• +Water process rather than solvent decaffeination, which is the more expensive and better method.
• +Organic certification and Direct Trade on a decaf, which almost no roaster bothers with.
• +Only a dollar over the caffeinated House Blend, a smaller decaf premium than usual.
• +Named origin and published roast and flavour profile, same as the caffeinated range.

• −Decaffeination costs any coffee some of its aromatics, whatever the method.
• −The only decaf in the range, so there is no choice of roast or origin.
• −Only two sizes, and the larger is 2.27 kg to keep fresh.