Intelligentsia Frequency Blend vs Intelligentsia Organic Black Cat Espresso
The verdict
Intelligentsia Organic Black Cat Espresso is the better buy on our scoring, 8.5 to Intelligentsia Frequency Blend's 8.0. It leads on sourcing transparency & ethics and value per kilo.
Intelligentsia Frequency Blend costs $1 less.
Who each one suits
Intelligentsia Frequency Blend
people who want chocolate + molasses from a direct trade roaster
Intelligentsia Organic Black Cat Espresso
people who want caramel + stone fruit from a direct trade roaster
Scores higher on sourcing transparency & ethics, value per kilo.
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
| Criterion | Weight in category | Intelligentsia Frequency Blend | Intelligentsia Organic Black Cat Espresso |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freshness & Roast Date Transparency | 20% | 10.0 | 10.0 |
| Sourcing Transparency & Ethics | 16% | 5.7 | 6.8 |
| Value Per Kilo | 14% | 8.8 | 9.0 |
| Packaging & Freshness Retention | 10% | 8.0 | 8.0 |
What each one costs
| Price | $17.50 | $18.50 |
| Cost per kg The figure that decides what the choice costs over a year, not on the day. | $42.55/kg | $44.75/kg |
Where they differ
Every specification the two makers publish differently. Everything they match on is in the full table below.
| Intelligentsia Frequency Blend | Intelligentsia Organic Black Cat Espresso | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $17.50 | $18.50 |
| Best for | people who want chocolate + molasses from a direct trade roaster | people who want caramel + stone fruit from a direct trade roaster |
| What sets it apart | Brazil and El Salvador, the only Salvadoran component in the Intelligentsia range here | The organic Black Cat, on Ethiopia and Mexico rather than the Classic's Brazil and Costa Rica |
| Brew Methods | Automatic Drip | Espresso |
| Certifications | None claimed by the maker | Organic |
| Origin | Brazil, El Salvador | Colombia, Ethiopia |
| Price per kg | 42.55 USD | 44.75 USD |
| Tasting Notes | Golden raisin, raw sugar, cocoa | Caramel, honeydew, grape |
Pros and cons
From each full review, written from the same published facts as the scores above.
Intelligentsia Frequency Blend
- +The cheapest Direct Trade coffee in the range, level on price with two blends that carry no trade tag.
- +Built as an everyday crowd pleaser, which is the right brief for a household bag.
- +Dried fruit and sugar give it more character than a neutral house blend.
- +Origins, roast profile, flavour profile and trade terms all published as tags.
- −Designed to please everyone, which means it is nobody's favourite cup.
- −No organic certification, where El Gallo and Illumination carry both that and Direct Trade.
- −Only two sizes, and the larger is 2.27 kg to keep fresh.
Intelligentsia Organic Black Cat Espresso
- +Certified organic and Direct Trade on the same bag, which is an uncommon pairing.
- +Ethiopian and Mexican components give the Black Cat profile a different route to the same place.
- +Tagged Comforting rather than Traditional, so it keeps more character than the darker Analog.
- +Only a dollar over the standard Classic for the certification.
- −About $44.75 a kilo, above the standard Black Cat and well above supermarket espresso.
- −Organic certification narrows the farm pool, which can make a blend harder to hold steady across seasons.
- −Only two sizes, and 5 lb is a lot of an espresso blend for a household.
Every specification, side by side
| Intelligentsia Frequency Blend | Intelligentsia Organic Black Cat Espresso | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ||
| Price | $17.50 | $18.50 |
| Who it suits | ||
| Best for | people who want chocolate + molasses from a direct trade roaster | people who want caramel + stone fruit from a direct trade roaster |
| What sets it apart | Brazil and El Salvador, the only Salvadoran component in the Intelligentsia range here | The organic Black Cat, on Ethiopia and Mexico rather than the Classic's Brazil and Costa Rica |
| Specifications | ||
| Bag Sizes | 340 g (12 oz) | 340 g (12 oz) |
| Brew Methods | Automatic Drip | Espresso |
| Certifications | None claimed by the maker | Organic |
| Decaf in the range | ✕ | ✕ |
| Direct Trade | ✓ | ✓ |
| Farm or Cooperative Named | ✕ | ✕ |
| Flavoured | Not flavoured | Not flavoured |
| Origin | Brazil, El Salvador | Colombia, Ethiopia |
| Price per kg | 42.55 USD | 44.75 USD |
| Roast Date Printed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Roast Level | Medium | Medium |
| Roast Profile | Comforting | Comforting |
| Roaster Country | United States | United States |
| Roaster Country Code | US | US |
| Roaster Named | Intelligentsia Coffee | Intelligentsia Coffee |
| Seasonal | Year round | Year round |
| Ships to | US, worldwide | US, worldwide |
| Ships to Note | Ships 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 structure | Blend | Blend |
| Subscription Available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tasting Notes | Golden raisin, raw sugar, cocoa | Caramel, honeydew, grape |
| Whole Bean or Ground | Whole bean, Ground | Whole bean, Ground |
Intelligentsia Frequency Blend vs Intelligentsia Organic Black Cat Espresso: common questions
Which is better, Intelligentsia Frequency Blend or Intelligentsia Organic Black Cat Espresso?
Intelligentsia Organic Black Cat Espresso scores 8.5 against 8.0, both computed from published specifications rather than opinion.
Is Intelligentsia Frequency Blend or Intelligentsia Organic Black Cat Espresso cheaper?
Intelligentsia Frequency Blend starts at $17.50, and Intelligentsia Organic Black Cat Espresso at $18.50. Per kg they work out at $42.55/kg and $44.75/kg.
Who is Intelligentsia Frequency Blend for?
people who want chocolate + molasses from a direct trade roaster
Who is Intelligentsia Organic Black Cat Espresso for?
people who want caramel + stone fruit from a direct trade roaster
Keep comparing
More Intelligentsia Frequency Blend matchups
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More Intelligentsia Organic Black Cat Espresso matchups
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- Intelligentsia Organic Black Cat Espresso vs Intelligentsia Illumination Blend
- Intelligentsia Organic Black Cat Espresso vs Intelligentsia Black Cat Analog Espresso
- Intelligentsia Organic Black Cat Espresso vs Intelligentsia Black Cat Classic Espresso