Intelligentsia Coffee vs Kicking Horse Coffee

Drinkers who want a named farm, a published process and a roaster that has been doing direct trade since before it was a marketing word

Certified organic and fairtrade coffee at a price supermarket blends charge

• +Nineteen coffees reviewed, the deepest range on this site, plus two gift sets
• +Twelve origins named including Brazil, Ethiopia, Kenya, Costa Rica and Guatemala
• +Three roast levels from medium-light to medium-dark, in ground and whole bean, with a subscription
• +A published price per kilo from $42.55, so the range can be compared

• −No roast date is printed, which is unusual for a specialty roaster at this level
• −$42.55 to $126.26 a kilo is a wide spread with little to explain it on the listings
• −Six of its instant and single-origin coffees publish no tasting notes at all

• +Certified Organic, Fairtrade and Kosher across the range, which is three certifications where most roasters carry one
• +Green coffee only: no preservatives, additives, fillers or flavourings, stated for every coffee
• +Five coffees and two gift sets, roasted in a facility the maker says makes only coffee
• +Detailed published notes and a separate aroma description on every bag

• −No origin countries are published for any coffee in the range
• −No roast date is printed
• −283g bags throughout, among the smallest here