Intelligentsia El Gato 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.

• +The flagship Black Cat profile rebuilt for filter brewing rather than sold into the wrong brewer.
• +Level with House Blend at the entry price of the range, so the choice is flavour not budget.
• +Comforting and chocolate-driven, which is the more forgiving of the two entry blends.
• +Origins, roast profile and flavour profile all published as structured tags.

• −Built for drip, so it is the wrong bag for an espresso machine despite the Black Cat association.
• −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.