Intelligentsia Coffee vs Origin 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

UK and European buyers who want light-roast speciality coffee shipped fast

• +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

• +Roasted and despatched the next working day on orders placed before 23:59, which is the tightest published roast-to-post window of any roaster here.
• +One or two 250g bags go in a letterbox-friendly parcel, so a delivery does not need anybody at home and does not sit in a depot losing freshness.
• +Ships worldwide from Cornwall - UK, EU, US and beyond - where most roasters on this site ship domestically only.
• +A certified B Corp roasting since 2004, with seven coffee shops of its own, so the sourcing claims are backed by certification rather than adjectives.
• +Free UK delivery over £35, and a subscription that ships free on every order regardless of value.

• −Priced in pounds, so North American buyers pay a converted price plus £14.95 shipping before any import duty.
• −Import duty and local taxes outside the UK are the buyer's responsibility, and Origin states it does not cover them.
• −Orders outside the UK are capped at 1.75kg, above which you have to email for a quote rather than simply checking out.
• −Roasts light in the Nordic-influenced tradition throughout, which is a narrower house style than roasters offering a full light-to-dark range.
• −Subscription management is through their iOS and Android app, with no web route stated.