Intelligentsia Illumination Blend vs Intelligentsia Organic French Roast Blend

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

people who want chocolate + molasses from a direct trade roaster

Scores higher on value per kilo.

• +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.

• +Organic certification and Direct Trade on a dark roast, which is rare on a specialty menu.
• +The roast intention stated plainly as extended roasting for a semi-sweet, heavy body.
• +Single named country of origin behind the darkest blend they sell.
• +Only a dollar over the entry blends despite two certifications.

• −A French roast narrows what any coffee can show, however carefully it is done.
• −Filed for drip, so it is not the bag for an espresso machine despite the depth.
• −Only two sizes, and the larger is 2.27 kg to keep fresh.