Intelligentsia El Diablo Blend vs Intelligentsia Illumination Blend

people who want chocolate + molasses from a direct trade roaster

Scores higher on value per kilo.

people who want caramel + stone fruit from a direct trade roaster

Scores higher on sourcing transparency & ethics.

• +A dark roast priced level with the medium blends rather than discounted below them.
• +Single country of origin behind a dark blend, which is more coherent than most.
• +The only dark filter blend in the range, so it fills a real gap on the menu.
• +Roast profile, flavour profile and origin all published as structured tags.

• −Dark roasting narrows what any coffee can show, whatever the roaster intends.
• −Only two sizes, and the larger is 2.27 kg to keep fresh.

• +Ethiopian coffee in an everyday blend, at well under single origin prices.
• +Organic certification and Direct Trade on the same bag.
• +Caramel gives the stone fruit a base, so it works in a drip machine rather than needing a hand brew.
• +Origins, roast profile, flavour profile and trade terms all published as tags.

• −$2.50 over the entry blends, and El Gallo carries the same two certifications for $1.50 less.
• −An Ethiopian-led blend varies more between harvests than a Brazilian one.
• −Only two sizes, and the larger is 2.27 kg to keep fresh.