Intelligentsia El Gato Blend vs Intelligentsia Organic Decaf House Blend

people who want chocolate + molasses from a direct trade roaster

Scores higher on value per kilo.

people who want apple + raw sugar 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.

• +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.