Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic vs Starbucks Premium Instant Coffee Blonde Roast
Ahead
Starbucks Premium Instant Coffee Blonde Roast
8.0/ 10
Not publicly stated
Visit Starbucks Premium Instant Coffee Blonde Roast →The verdict
Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic is narrowly ahead, 8.2 to Starbucks Premium Instant Coffee Blonde Roast's 8.0. It leads on process & cup quality and packaging & shelf life.
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.
Starbucks Premium Instant Coffee Blonde Roast
Somebody who drinks Starbucks and wants the same cup without the shop
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 | Starbucks Premium Instant Coffee Blonde Roast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Process & Cup Quality | 30% | 10.0 | 9.0 |
| Convenience & Format | 20% | 7.5 | 8.5 |
| Sourcing Transparency | 18% | 2.7 | 5.0 |
| 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 | Starbucks Premium Instant Coffee Blonde Roast | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $13.00 | — |
| Best for | people who want specialty coffee from a direct trade roaster | Somebody who drinks Starbucks and wants the same cup without the shop |
| What sets it apart | Freeze-dried rather than spray-dried, and the only instant here profiled as an espresso | A light roast instant, which almost nothing else in this category is |
| Bean Type | — | Arabica, blonde roast |
| Certifications | None claimed by the maker | — |
| Coffee Grams per Bag | 4.5 | — |
| Decaf in the range | ✕ | — |
| Direct Trade | ✕ | — |
| Dissolves in Cold Water | — | ✓ |
| Dosing | — | Scoopable rather than a fixed sachet, so the strength is yours to set |
| Packaging Type | Sachet | Tin |
| Preparation | Just add water or milk, per the box | — |
| Price per Serving | 2.60 USD | — |
| Process Method | Freeze-dried | Microground |
| Process Method Note | — | The tin reads INSTANT & MICROGROUND COFFEE. |
| Resealable | ✕ | — |
| Roast Level | — | Light |
| Roast Level Note | — | Printed on the tin as STARBUCKS BLONDE ROAST. |
| Roaster Country | United States | — |
| Roaster Country Code | US | — |
| Roaster Named | Intelligentsia Coffee | — |
| Servings per Pack | 5 | 35 |
| 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 | Bright and caramelly |
| Tasting Notes Note | Intelligentsia's own words, printed on the box. | Starbucks' own words, printed under the product name. |
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
Starbucks Premium Instant Coffee Blonde Roast
- +Scoopable rather than a fixed sachet, so the strength is yours to set, which no stick format allows
- +About 35 servings a tin, Arabica blonde roast with published caramel notes
- +Starbucks publishes it for hot or iced
- −A 3.17oz tin, so it stays at home
- −No process method is published: it does not say freeze dried
- −No certifications, origin or price published
Every specification, side by side
| Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic | Starbucks Premium Instant Coffee Blonde Roast | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ||
| Price | $13.00 | — |
| Who it suits | ||
| Best for | people who want specialty coffee from a direct trade roaster | Somebody who drinks Starbucks and wants the same cup without the shop |
| What sets it apart | Freeze-dried rather than spray-dried, and the only instant here profiled as an espresso | A light roast instant, which almost nothing else in this category is |
| Specifications | ||
| Bean Type | — | Arabica, blonde roast |
| Certifications | None claimed by the maker | — |
| Coffee Grams per Bag | 4.5 | — |
| Decaf in the range | ✕ | — |
| Direct Trade | ✕ | — |
| Dissolves in Cold Water | — | ✓ |
| Dosing | — | Scoopable rather than a fixed sachet, so the strength is yours to set |
| Flavoured | Not flavoured | Not flavoured |
| Packaging Type | Sachet | Tin |
| Preparation | Just add water or milk, per the box | — |
| Price per Serving | 2.60 USD | — |
| Process Method | Freeze-dried | Microground |
| Process Method Note | — | The tin reads INSTANT & MICROGROUND COFFEE. |
| Resealable | ✕ | — |
| Roast Level | — | Light |
| Roast Level Note | — | Printed on the tin as STARBUCKS BLONDE ROAST. |
| Roaster Country | United States | — |
| Roaster Country Code | US | — |
| Roaster Named | Intelligentsia Coffee | — |
| Servings per Pack | 5 | 35 |
| 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 | Bright and caramelly |
| Tasting Notes Note | Intelligentsia's own words, printed on the box. | Starbucks' own words, printed under the product name. |
Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic vs Starbucks Premium Instant Coffee Blonde Roast: common questions
Which is better, Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic or Starbucks Premium Instant Coffee Blonde Roast?
Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic scores 8.2 against 8.0, both computed from published specifications rather than opinion. Starbucks Premium Instant Coffee Blonde Roast is still ahead on convenience & format.
Is Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic or Starbucks Premium Instant Coffee Blonde Roast cheaper?
Intelligentsia Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic starts at $13.00, and Starbucks Premium Instant Coffee Blonde Roast 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 Starbucks Premium Instant Coffee Blonde Roast for?
Somebody who drinks Starbucks and wants the same cup without the shop
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