Intelligentsia El Gallo Blend vs Intelligentsia Organic Decaf House Blend

The verdict

Intelligentsia El Gallo Blend is narrowly ahead, 8.5 to Intelligentsia Organic Decaf House Blend's 8.3. It leads on value per kilo.

Who each one suits

Intelligentsia El Gallo Blend

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

Scores higher on value per kilo.

Intelligentsia Organic Decaf House Blend

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

How they score, criterion by criterion

Both are scored the same way against the rest of their category, from what their makers publish. The weight is how much each criterion moves the total. How the score works

CriterionWeightIntelligentsia El Gallo BlendIntelligentsia Organic Decaf House Blend
Freshness & Roast Date Transparency20%10.010.0
Sourcing Transparency & Ethics16%6.86.8
Value Per Kilo14%9.08.7
Packaging & Freshness Retention10%8.08.0

What each one costs

Price$18.50$18.50
Cost per kg
The figure that decides what the choice costs over a year, not on the day.
$44.75/kg$46.08/kg

Where they differ

Every specification the two makers publish differently. Everything they match on is in the full table below.

Intelligentsia El Gallo BlendIntelligentsia Organic Decaf House Blend
What sets it apartOrganic certified Mexican beans at medium-light, the lightest of the El seriesOrganic and decaffeinated together on a single Mexican origin
Brew MethodsV60Automatic Drip
Decaf in the range✕✓
Decaffeinated—✓
OriginColombia, EthiopiaMexico
Price per kg44.75 USD46.08 USD
Roast LevelMedium-lightMedium
Roast ProfileBrightComforting
Tasting NotesMilk chocolate, honey, stone fruitChocolate, lime, caramelized sugar

Pros and cons

From each full review, written from the same published facts as the scores above.

Intelligentsia El Gallo Blend
  • +Organic certification and Direct Trade on the same bag, for a dollar over the entry blends.
  • +Roasted light and filed for a V60, which is unusual honesty about how it should be brewed.
  • +Single country of origin, so the apple sweetness reads more clearly than in a multi-country blend.
  • +Whole bean or ground at the same price, with a subscription and a 5 lb option.
  • −A light roast pointed at pour over is more work than an automatic drip blend.
  • −Wrong bag for espresso or for milk drinks.
  • −Only two sizes, and the larger is 2.27 kg to keep fresh.
Full Intelligentsia El Gallo Blend review →
Intelligentsia Organic Decaf House Blend
  • +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.
Full Intelligentsia Organic Decaf House Blend review →

Every specification, side by side

Intelligentsia El Gallo BlendIntelligentsia Organic Decaf House Blend
Price
Price$18.50$18.50
Who it suits
Best forpeople who want apple + raw sugar from a direct trade roasterpeople who want apple + raw sugar from a direct trade roaster
What sets it apartOrganic certified Mexican beans at medium-light, the lightest of the El seriesOrganic and decaffeinated together on a single Mexican origin
Specifications
Bag Sizes340 g (12 oz)340 g (12 oz)
Brew MethodsV60Automatic Drip
CertificationsOrganicOrganic
Decaf in the range✕✓
Direct Trade✓✓
Farm or Cooperative Named✕✕
FlavouredNot flavouredNot flavoured
Decaffeinated—✓
OriginColombia, EthiopiaMexico
Price per kg44.75 USD46.08 USD
Roast Date Printed✓✓
Roast LevelMedium-lightMedium
Roast ProfileBrightComforting
Roaster CountryUnited StatesUnited States
Roaster Country CodeUSUS
Roaster NamedIntelligentsia CoffeeIntelligentsia Coffee
SeasonalYear roundYear round
Ships toUS, worldwideUS, worldwide
Ships to NoteShips internationally as well as within the US. The roaster does not publish a country list, and import duties fall to the buyer.Ships internationally as well as within the US. The roaster does not publish a country list, and import duties fall to the buyer.
Origin structureBlendBlend
Subscription Available✓✓
Tasting NotesMilk chocolate, honey, stone fruitChocolate, lime, caramelized sugar
Whole Bean or GroundWhole bean, GroundWhole bean, Ground

Intelligentsia El Gallo Blend vs Intelligentsia Organic Decaf House Blend: common questions

Which is better, Intelligentsia El Gallo Blend or Intelligentsia Organic Decaf House Blend?

Intelligentsia El Gallo Blend scores 8.5 against 8.3, both computed from published specifications rather than opinion.

Is Intelligentsia El Gallo Blend or Intelligentsia Organic Decaf House Blend cheaper?

Intelligentsia El Gallo Blend starts at $18.50, and Intelligentsia Organic Decaf House Blend at $18.50. Per kg they work out at $44.75/kg and $46.08/kg.

Who is Intelligentsia El Gallo Blend for?

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

Who is Intelligentsia Organic Decaf House Blend for?

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

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