Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic vs Mount Hagen Organic Freeze Dried Instant Coffee
AheadMount Hagen Organic Freeze Dried Instant Coffee
8.7/ 10
Not publicly stated
Visit Mount Hagen Organic Freeze Dried Instant Coffee →The verdict
Mount Hagen Organic Freeze Dried Instant Coffee is the better buy on our scoring, 8.7 to Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic's 8.2. It leads on convenience & format and sourcing transparency.
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, packaging & shelf life.
Mount Hagen Organic Freeze Dried Instant Coffee
The instant to buy if you have decided instant is beneath you and want to be proved wrong
Scores higher on convenience & format, 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 | Mount Hagen Organic Freeze Dried Instant Coffee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Process & Cup Quality | 30% | 10.0 | 9.0 |
| Convenience & Format | 20% | 7.5 | 8.5 |
| Sourcing Transparency | 18% | 2.7 | 10.0 |
| Packaging & Shelf Life | 16% | 10.0 | 6.7 |
What each one costs
| Price | $13.00 | Not publicly stated |
| Cost per cup The figure that decides what the choice costs over a year, not on the day. | $2.60/cup | Not published |
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 | Mount Hagen Organic Freeze Dried Instant Coffee | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $13.00 | — |
| Best for | people who want specialty coffee from a direct trade roaster | The instant to buy if you have decided instant is beneath you and want to be proved wrong |
| What sets it apart | Freeze-dried rather than spray-dried, and the only instant here profiled as an espresso | Freeze-dried, organic and fair-trade, in glass, and it dissolves in cold water |
| Bean Type | — | Arabica |
| Certifications | None claimed by the maker | Fairtrade, Organic |
| Coffee Grams per Bag | 4.5 | — |
| Decaf in the range | ✕ | — |
| Direct Trade | ✕ | — |
| Dissolves in Cold Water | — | ✓ |
| Origin | — | Papua New Guinea, Peru and Honduras |
| Origin Note | — | Mount Hagen names the blend on its own site as the finest Arabicas from Papua New Guinea, Peru and Honduras. The jar does not carry it. |
| Packaging Type | Sachet | Jar |
| Preparation | Just add water or milk, per the box | — |
| Price per Serving | 2.60 USD | — |
| Process Method Note | — | Printed on the jar as FREEZE-DRIED. |
| Resealable | ✕ | — |
| Roaster Country | United States | — |
| Roaster Country Code | US | — |
| Roaster Named | Intelligentsia Coffee | — |
| Servings per Pack | 5 | 50 per jar, approximately |
| Ships to | US, worldwide | US |
| 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. | Confirmed on Amazon US, which is where this link points. Availability in other Amazon stores has not been checked, and a regional store may substitute a different product. |
| Origin structure | Blend | — |
| Subscription Available | ✓ | — |
| Tasting Notes | Dark chocolate, raw sugar and marshmallow | — |
| 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
Mount Hagen Organic Freeze Dried Instant Coffee
- +USDA Organic and Fair Trade, freeze dried, roughly 50 servings a jar
- +Mount Hagen publishes it for cold water and milk as well as hot
- +Arabica in a glass jar rather than plastic
- −A 3.53oz jar, and no price published
- −A jar does not travel, which is what the same maker's sticks are for
Every specification, side by side
| Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic | Mount Hagen Organic Freeze Dried Instant Coffee | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ||
| Price | $13.00 | — |
| Who it suits | ||
| Best for | people who want specialty coffee from a direct trade roaster | The instant to buy if you have decided instant is beneath you and want to be proved wrong |
| What sets it apart | Freeze-dried rather than spray-dried, and the only instant here profiled as an espresso | Freeze-dried, organic and fair-trade, in glass, and it dissolves in cold water |
| Specifications | ||
| Bean Type | — | Arabica |
| Certifications | None claimed by the maker | Fairtrade, Organic |
| Coffee Grams per Bag | 4.5 | — |
| Decaf in the range | ✕ | — |
| Direct Trade | ✕ | — |
| Dissolves in Cold Water | — | ✓ |
| Flavoured | Not flavoured | Not flavoured |
| Origin | — | Papua New Guinea, Peru and Honduras |
| Origin Note | — | Mount Hagen names the blend on its own site as the finest Arabicas from Papua New Guinea, Peru and Honduras. The jar does not carry it. |
| Packaging Type | Sachet | Jar |
| Preparation | Just add water or milk, per the box | — |
| Price per Serving | 2.60 USD | — |
| Process Method | Freeze-dried | Freeze-dried |
| Process Method Note | — | Printed on the jar as FREEZE-DRIED. |
| Resealable | ✕ | — |
| Roaster Country | United States | — |
| Roaster Country Code | US | — |
| Roaster Named | Intelligentsia Coffee | — |
| Servings per Pack | 5 | 50 per jar, approximately |
| Ships to | US, worldwide | US |
| 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. | Confirmed on Amazon US, which is where this link points. Availability in other Amazon stores has not been checked, and a regional store may substitute a different product. |
| Origin structure | Blend | — |
| Subscription Available | ✓ | — |
| Tasting Notes | Dark chocolate, raw sugar and marshmallow | — |
| Tasting Notes Note | Intelligentsia's own words, printed on the box. | — |
Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic vs Mount Hagen Organic Freeze Dried Instant Coffee: common questions
Which is better, Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic or Mount Hagen Organic Freeze Dried Instant Coffee?
Mount Hagen Organic Freeze Dried Instant Coffee scores 8.7 against 8.2, both computed from published specifications rather than opinion. Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic is still ahead on process & cup quality.
Is Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic or Mount Hagen Organic Freeze Dried Instant Coffee cheaper?
Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic starts at $13.00, and Mount Hagen Organic Freeze Dried Instant Coffee at Not publicly stated. Per cup they work out at $2.60/cup and Not published.
Who is Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic for?
people who want specialty coffee from a direct trade roaster
Who is Mount Hagen Organic Freeze Dried Instant Coffee for?
The instant to buy if you have decided instant is beneath you and want to be proved wrong
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