Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic vs Jot Dark Ultra Coffee Concentrate
Ahead
The verdict
Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic is narrowly ahead, 8.2 to Jot Dark Ultra Coffee Concentrate's 7.8. It leads on process & cup quality and convenience & format.
Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic costs $13.6 less.
Who each one suits
Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic
people who want specialty coffee from a direct trade roaster
Scores higher on process & cup quality, convenience & format, packaging & shelf life.
Jot Dark Ultra Coffee Concentrate
The organic, fair trade Jot, at the same price as the uncertified one
Scores higher on sourcing transparency.
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 Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic | Jot Dark Ultra Coffee Concentrate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Process & Cup Quality | 30% | 10.0 | 9.0 |
| Convenience & Format | 20% | 7.5 | 6.5 |
| Sourcing Transparency | 18% | 2.7 | 7.7 |
| Packaging & Shelf Life | 16% | 10.0 | 6.7 |
What each one costs
| Price | $13.00 | $26.60 |
| Cost per cup The figure that decides what the choice costs over a year, not on the day. | $2.60/cup | $1.90/cup |
Where they differ
Every specification the two makers publish differently. Everything they match on is in the full table below.
| Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic | Jot Dark Ultra Coffee Concentrate | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $13.00 | $26.60 |
| Best for | people who want specialty coffee from a direct trade roaster | The organic, fair trade Jot, at the same price as the uncertified one |
| What sets it apart | Freeze-dried rather than spray-dried, and the only instant here profiled as an espresso | — |
| Certifications | None claimed by the maker | None published |
| Coffee Grams per Bag | 4.5 | — |
| Direct Trade | ✕ | — |
| Dose per Serving | — | 1 tablespoon |
| Format | — | Liquid concentrate |
| Hot or Cold | — | Both, and it mixes into cold milk without clumping |
| Origin | — | Colombia, Sumatra |
| Packaging Type | Sachet | Glass bottle, 6.8oz |
| Preparation | Just add water or milk, per the box | — |
| Price per Serving | 2.60 USD | 1.90 USD |
| Process Method | Freeze-dried | Liquid ultra-concentrate (20x), brewed then concentrated |
| Resealable | ✕ | — |
| Roast Level | — | Dark |
| Roaster Country | United States | — |
| Roaster Country Code | US | — |
| Roaster Named | Intelligentsia Coffee | Jot |
| Servings per Pack | 5 | 14 |
| Ships to | 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. | — |
| Storage | — | Refrigerate after opening |
| Subscription Available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tasting Notes | Dark chocolate, raw sugar and marshmallow | Bold, complex, effortlessly smooth |
| Tasting Notes Note | Intelligentsia's own words, printed on the box. | — |
Pros and cons
From each full review, written from the same published facts as the scores above.
Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic
- +Freeze dried from Intelligentsia's Black Cat espresso blend, with published notes of dark chocolate, raw sugar and marshmallow
- +Single-serve sachets with a subscription available
- −$2.60 a serving, dearer per cup than any other instant here
- −Five servings a pack
- −Not resealable, and Intelligentsia claims no certifications and no direct trade for it
Jot Dark Ultra Coffee Concentrate
- +$1.90 a cup, or $1.43 on the subscription, under specialty instant
- +The bolder of Jot's two core blends, for anyone who finds Original too mild
- +Organic Colombian and Sumatran beans, in Jot's own words
- +Stirs into cold milk without clumping, so an iced latte takes seconds
- −Refrigerated once opened
- −About fourteen cups a bottle
- −No certification or certifier shown on the product page
- −No roast date, processing method, producer or tasting notes published
Every specification, side by side
| Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic | Jot Dark Ultra Coffee Concentrate | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ||
| Price | $13.00 | $26.60 |
| Who it suits | ||
| Best for | people who want specialty coffee from a direct trade roaster | The organic, fair trade Jot, at the same price as the uncertified one |
| What sets it apart | Freeze-dried rather than spray-dried, and the only instant here profiled as an espresso | — |
| Specifications | ||
| Certifications | None claimed by the maker | None published |
| Coffee Grams per Bag | 4.5 | — |
| Decaf in the range | ✕ | ✕ |
| Direct Trade | ✕ | — |
| Dose per Serving | — | 1 tablespoon |
| Flavoured | Not flavoured | Not flavoured |
| Format | — | Liquid concentrate |
| Hot or Cold | — | Both, and it mixes into cold milk without clumping |
| Origin | — | Colombia, Sumatra |
| Packaging Type | Sachet | Glass bottle, 6.8oz |
| Preparation | Just add water or milk, per the box | — |
| Price per Serving | 2.60 USD | 1.90 USD |
| Process Method | Freeze-dried | Liquid ultra-concentrate (20x), brewed then concentrated |
| Resealable | ✕ | — |
| Roast Level | — | Dark |
| Roaster Country | United States | — |
| Roaster Country Code | US | — |
| Roaster Named | Intelligentsia Coffee | Jot |
| Servings per Pack | 5 | 14 |
| Ships to | 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. | — |
| Origin structure | Blend | Blend |
| Storage | — | Refrigerate after opening |
| Subscription Available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tasting Notes | Dark chocolate, raw sugar and marshmallow | Bold, complex, effortlessly smooth |
| Tasting Notes Note | Intelligentsia's own words, printed on the box. | — |
Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic vs Jot Dark Ultra Coffee Concentrate: common questions
Which is better, Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic or Jot Dark Ultra Coffee Concentrate?
Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic scores 8.2 against 7.8, both computed from published specifications rather than opinion. Jot Dark Ultra Coffee Concentrate is still ahead on sourcing transparency.
Is Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic or Jot Dark Ultra Coffee Concentrate cheaper?
Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic starts at $13.00, and Jot Dark Ultra Coffee Concentrate at $26.60. Per cup they work out at $2.60/cup and $1.90/cup.
Who is Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic for?
people who want specialty coffee from a direct trade roaster
Who is Jot Dark Ultra Coffee Concentrate for?
The organic, fair trade Jot, at the same price as the uncertified one
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